The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-20
four DANCING FEET
TOM NORRIS is INTRIGUED WITH
GERTIE.
BY JANE PHELPS

GERTIE.
Chapter A.
The dancing, ordinary beyond ex-
preston, scarcely claimed the atten-
ton of the people at the tables. Yet
to judge from the rapt look on Tom
Norris face it might have been the in
comparable Pavlowa herself who, in
the rose dancing gown of theatrically
demure cut, engaged his attention.
There he is again." Lilly Arnold
whispered to .Gertie. He sure is
hipped on you, Cert And that fellow
with him. he's rich. One 81 the girls
told me about him, and"
'Sh-s. the boss is looking
Tom Norris could not tell whether
or not Gertie had seen him until, when
the number was finished, she looked
straight at him, while a slow blush
known that it-that glance-was the
result of Lilly's teachings, that it was
caused by Gertie's attempt to be
good fellow and jolly him along he
he did not know, so he bowed gravely,
then smiled in answer to the smile she
sent him.
Walton returned to his bachelor
quarters alone. Tom had waited until
the last number then gone to the side
walk and waited for Gertie. Lilly
came out with her, but a. tall thin
fellow stepped toward her and tucked
h6T INTO the CROOK Oh MS arm AT
the same time that Tom stepped up
to Gertie.
May I walk home with your" he
asked. Il have seen you dance be-
fore"
YES. saw you" Gertie took the
for some thin silk stockings like
LilIy's? The girls in the dressing room
had -rathed poked fun at her because
she didn't have any. They all dressed
m hnY- nh 81, g,
tights they saw her thick stockings,
her ugly, plain cotton undertakings
But what they didn't see, or know,
was that most of her small salary went
to help the widowed mother, to give
the younger children the schooling
they must have. Gertie never talked
of herself, her family as did so many
of the girls, sometimes making their
helpfulness the excuse for actions
which only dire need of the money
could excuse-even if that could
At the door Tom stood a moment
holding the little hand Gertie had laid
in his.
May I come and see you? 1t is too
late to ask to come in
''Why-I-there is no place to have
company Gertie thought of the two
little rooms, the mother and four chill
dren, even her room across the hall
shared with Lilly-no she could not
picture this young man with the good
manners, the refined speech, in her
home.
Then will you go out with me? Go
riding? 1 will bring a car for you to-
morrow. no. today-it is today, you
trust my driving"
I'm not afraid" She lifted serious
eyes to his. Goodnight" Before
he could murmur his reply she had
fled He listened until he heard her
steps stop at the top of the second
flight of stairs, and a door open, then
shut.
Pretty hard hit, Ell Tom ?" Edgar
bantered when Tom came into the
apartment where his host sat smoking
and awiting him.
mo, not so very. She's a peach,
tho, Edgar. And she is all right.
Don't look SO doubtful I can't tell you
how I know. but I'd stake my life on
that girls goodness"
Going to call, I suppose %
No asked to, but she said she
had no fit place to receive callers.
There is a large family and, I judge,
like, but I asked her to go motoring
with me tomorrow afternoon"
I'm not laughing. Don't get seri-
Gus with her, that's all. Have your
good times Toni guess you feel the
need after living a year on the ranch
but stop short of danger. 1t doesn't
pay to get tangled with that sort.
Breach Of promise or blackmafl usual
ly follows
you haven't much faith in women,
have your" Tome wondered, as he
asked the question, what had made
the young lawyer so skeptical.
mot in girls of that Glass;
But, man, there are foolish girls
to pick and choose even from the best
society. Why not believe a girl is
good until she is proved bad?'
Because it is too late then !
Deliver me from a hard-heade1 !
lawyer who analyses emotions-and |
people,
With much yawning and laughing !
the two tumbled into bed, no more |
being said the subject. But, late |
as it was, it was long before Tom Nor |
ris closed his eyes because of the |
memory of other eyes-dark, serious
eyes that looked trustfully into his.
(Tomorrow-Gertie proves her
unseIfishness.)