The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-20
four DANCING FEET
NOTHING RISKED NOTHING
GAINED.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 80.


81 must get more money" Gertie
said to herself. IF Fagin won't give
it to me I'll have to try somewhere
else
Mrs. Cummings perhaps may not
have meant to- but ever since Gertie
had told of Len O'Connor's proposal.
that she had refused him, her mother
had carried a slightly regretful air
whenever his name was mentioned.
She wasn't very well, her fine laundry
ing more for themselves-and living
costs were soaring. Gertie had told
her Len had said he would help with
the family if she married. him, and
poor Mrs. Cummings tired out with
her struggle to live had exaggerated
what might after all have been very
little help.
Jennie will have to go to work.
she told Gertie. ut isn't fair anyway
that you should do it ALL
Jennie can't stop school now, ma!
Why I'd do anything to keep her there
till she is finished, I'd-almost marry
Len O'Connor."
well, I don't see how we're going
to keep clothes on her back. and Tim
needs a pair of shoes" Tim always
needed shoes, land oh, wen. 'spose
twill be this way till I die"
There. there, ma! Don't get SO
blue. I'll go early tonight and ask
@s'.i ioi is4s
wish me luck, Lilly!' Gertie said
as the two girls separated at the
corner.
what do you mean?"
I'm going to ask Fagin for a raise.
We have got to keep Jennie in
school" 1t had become an obsession
with Gertie, to have this younger sis
ter educated.
well, of all the nervei You're get
tin So a month more now than Rosen-
burg paid you"
IT know, but have got to have
more" Gertie said stubbornly. Mas
laundry work isn't doing as well as
it was-she says folks are doing lot
of their own fine things because the
times are hard. So I'm going to ask
him. You told me they paid those
girls in the swell-nice places as much
as $50 a week. Fagin has told folks
I am as good as any of them-I heard
him.
HE might throw you out.
"I know-Tve thought of that, but
I have got to risk it. / read in one
of my books nothing risked nothing
gained" and 1 guss it's true. If he
lets me go I'll just keep going to-the
big places till get in"
"'Weli, I never! didn't think you
had the nerve"'
when you've got to, guess anyone
has it-nerve to do things"
NSCI L y
Gertie asked as she entered the office
in response to his call come in!''
yes, what is it?'' a look Gertie
took to be anxiety crossed his face, and
it gave her courage-that and the
thought of Jennie.
Mr.. Fagin, must have more
money If I stay with you any longer
Her voice trembled a little, but she
looked fearlessly at him. Nothing
risked. nothing gained" running thru
her mind.
I'm giving you a lot more than you
got at Rosenburg's."
81 know you are, but ] must have
more. I'm worth more. You know L
am
Fagin looked sharply at her.
Some one been putting high flynn
notions into your head. Or have
we'll, how much do you think you're
worth, young lady?"
This was her chance. Gertie's cour-
age rose, it was for Jennie. that she
might have the education she lacked,
and continually regretted.
Il want S25 a week." her voice was
steady, she continued to look directly
at Fagin.
THE devil you do. That's more'n
double what you're getting" Then
angrily: (Which of them fellows has
been trying to get you away from
me?"
1t was on the tip of Gertie's tongue
to say mo one but instead, almost to
her own surprise, she said:
You got me away from Rosenberg.
Mr.. Fagin-and it wouldn't be any
worse for others to try to get me away
from you. 1 told you 1 was worth
more. I'm putting it up to you"
I'll split the difference, I'll give
you SIS a mouth"
No, 1 must have SIS a week or I'll
have to CO., Gertie replied firmly.
'-All right, L suppose I'll have to
give it. to you! But I'd give good
deal to get hold of the bloke whose
tryin' to steal my girls
THANK you, Mr.. Fagfn." A little
enigmatic smile played about Gertie's
lips at his last words. 1t was true,
what it said in her book. Nothing
risked, nothing gained"
Jennie could stay in school. Jennie
would be educated.
(To be continued.)