The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-04
FOUR DANCING FEET
GERTIE IS ADVISED.
BY JANE PHELPS



Chapter 16
! What did he say? Is he going to
give me raise too?" Lilly had waited
with impatience. She needed money,
| too!
''Oh, Lilly, never said a word about
you. l don't know why I forgot, and
l didn't sign the paper either. I got
| 1t here, and I'm going to get up and
go to school with Jennie in the morn
ing and show it to her teacher. They's
lot in it can't understand, big words
never saw
Was Rosenberg mad cause Won
wouldn't sign it?'
mo, he wasn't mad, but he looked
queer L don't know LiIly-but some
thing made me not sign my name.
was going to, had the pen in my hand
l promised to tell him tomorrow night
after ma had seen it. 1 didn't say
anything about Jennie or the teacher
Then contritely she added: IT won't
forgit about you tomorrow night,
Lilly"
BE sure you don't, I need a hat
and some shoes. and how I am going
to get them unless I get a raise,
don't know.
TN sure ask!'
Jennie was delighted when she
found Gertie was going to school with
her. to talk to the teacher, yet she
would have liked to have given her
opinion first. But we can't have every
thing! So she chatted gleefully of
teachers smartness'' as they walked
to the school, early so they could talk
before the bell rang for school to open.
The teacher was already there when
they arrived.
Miss Thompson, this is my sister,
Gertie, and she wants to ask you
something" Jennie spoke a bit shyly.
yet with a certain pride.
Yes, Miss Gertie, what can I do for
you?" She looked with interest at the
lovely face before her.
ct told her what you said, Miss
Thompson, about signing papers. She
dances, and her boss wants her to
sign a paper for a raise, and I told
her what you said, so we brought it
to take breath as she explained for
Gertie.
Miss Thompson took the paper and
read it over carefully. Then as she
reread parts of it a look of disgust,
followed by one of pity, crossed her
face. HOW these poor people were in
weighed into signing papers like that
men taking advantage of their ignor-
ance. Il was wicked. There should
be a law against it.
My dear Miss Gertie, am glad you
brought this to me-. Do you want to
at this small salary for five years. no
matter if others offer you ten times as
much?"
''Why, no, I didn't know I couldn't
go If wanted to-" Gertie's dream OF
dancing in a better place fitted be-
Sore her.
'cWell you couldn't! He would have
YOU arrested if you worked for any
one else for five years. He owns you
according to this!" She never had
come in contact with a public dancer
before and was interested. This girl
TIM he yxynlIld
helm her understand that on no ac-
count must she sign such a paper.
And If the child's dancing was worth
anything, it must be worth more than
the salary offered, even at the dollar
a week more he had conditionally
promised.
Have me arrested Gertie gasped,
growing white.
"Yes. These men. men like him,
have no honor in such matters. I
were worth a good deal more than he
pays you, and is afraid of losing you;
so has tried to tie you down before
you realize you might do better. or
some other dance hall manager OFFERS
you a better salary"
81 guess-do you think might get
into better place? One where nice
people go?"
about cabaret dancing, altho 1 shall |
get a friend of mine to take me to see
you" |
What shall I do about this?''
Gertie touched the paper in her hand, |
her eyes dancing with delight at the
thought of the teacher going to see |
her
''Take it back to him, Say you |
will not sign the paper. You will stay |
along from week to week just as you |
have been doing, If he gives you the /
raise"
Suppose he won't! Suppose he
-e1ls me to go?"
He won't, If he does I'll help you |
get some one who knows about |
these things to try and get you in |
another place. But you must be firm. |
[ believe you'll get your raise and he'll /
keep you. Under no consideration /
sign that paper. Why. I believe he |
could even prevent your getting mar |
RED If you did" She had spoken
Ehimsically, but Gertie didn't under |
stand that, and it was perhaps as well |
.he did not-sign any paper that |
would make it impossible for her
Tom, Not on her life,
(Tomorrow-Gertie refuses to sign
contract.)