The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-24
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
NELILES WONDERFUL IDEA.
CHAPTER "a

NELIdES WONDERFUL IDEA.
CHAPTER "a
:dea!" Nellie said. Their simple din
ner was out of the way, it was raining
SO no one would come, and they were
busily mending.
Hold on to it tight! You may new
er have another" Gladys joked.
Cora, how much do we spend
month? Everything! Here, give me
that stocking. I'll mend 1t for you
while you figure. Count everything
but carfares and lunches, and of
Cora smiled, not. suspecting any
thing that was in Nelhe's mind. but
always willing to please her. and TAX
ing a pencil and paper she figured
quietly for some little time.
This is all 1 think except the ex-
ras your extravagant ladyship brings
in and won't tell US what they cost"
Nellie threw down the stocking and
studied the figures.
'tI believe we can do It," she said
after a moment
''Do what?" both girls asked at
once.
go to housekeeping on our own:
Some of the girls in our office do, and
they don't earn any more than We do.
They got little three-room flat with
tiny kitchen, and girls. just think! a
bathroom, and they keep house. They
do just what we do; buy hot lunch,
Sundays"
"But-furniture- Gladys inter-
rupteds her eyes shining. If they only
could! They all hated the rooming
ienient than many Iandladies, and only
occasionally was cross about their
makeshift meals
That's why I didn't say anything
before. That stuck in my crop, too.
But I talked with one of the girls
about it, and it really doesn't cost
much unless you want to be stylish,
and have a piano. o."-Nellie's idea OF
extreme luxury.
Tell us about it-all they said,.
'.Tney bought two iron beds at a
secondhand place and couch. One
of them slept on the couch. They
bought three Chairs and ate off a dry
goods box until they could afford a
table. Then every week they bought
something. The stove was already IN
! the flat, and it was heated. They got
few things to cook with and some
plates. But she said now they Eere
real comfortable, even had ruffled
muslin curtains at the windows.
wouldn't it be just heavenly"
Indeed it would" Cora sighed. too
heavenly for us to consider am
afraid. Then who would give US ref
erences?''
DO you have to have them to get
a fIat?" Nellie asked.
"Of course! Two kinds 1 guessI one
that we are good, respectable girls,
and another that we are good for the
rent We don't know any one to ask
for the last, altho we might manage
the other"
There's always a way, If one can
find it, Nellie said soberly. Lets all
think it over and see if we can't do it.
My heart will be broken if we can't.
I've been thinking about 1t for days"
Wen think about it too-and
40 1n6 6xrC
said. but wouldn't it be fine. Cora.
if we could? We could divide the
work so it wouldn't be hard on any
one of us-no harder than it is here
Not so hard L think because we'd have
stove.'
well, come on to bed. I've set the
ball rolling" Nellie yawned, frankly
sleepy in spite of her enthusiasm.
which Cora had scarcely dampened
for more than a moment in spite of
her talk of references.
While eating their breakfast the
next morning the subject was again
discussed, and Nellie was rejoiced thai
Cora was a bit more enthusiastic.
'I think we have a few things at
home mother isn't using since she
gave up housekeeping. old things shc
couldn't bear to sell. A chest of draw
ers an old fashioned drop leaf table
that was her grandmother's, and per-
haps a chair or two. It has been SO
long since I saw them I can't remem-
ber just how much there was.
My we'd be gorgeous with all
those things! Simply gorgeous!" Mel
lie delightedly exclaimed.
Seems to me>the first thing to find
out is If we can find a place near
the subway cheap enough" Gladys
lets go hunting Saturday after
noon? 1t won't be any harm even If
we can't take one and We might find
something" Nellie said. will you,
Cora ?"
yes, altho I feel it is rather fool
ish," her voice wistful.
'"Then that's >that!' Nellie sprang
up and hurried with the dishes. 1t
was her week to do them. but she
talked as fast as she worked. and both
girls caught much of her enthusiasm
before they went to work.
(Tomorrow-A successful quest.)