The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-19
A Stenoerdpher's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
NELLIE ENVIES MIR. FALCONS
NIECE
Chapter 80.

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| NIECE
| Chapter so.
ST guess we are apt to take one per-
son as an example, especially if we
are disappointed in them. and mis-
judge others because of them" Gladys
said apropos of Mary Norton's story.
Women aren't very kind to their
own SEX" Mary said refiectively. II
have a friend, in fact there were three
girls, nice girls too, who tried to rent
a little cheap flat OF a woman agent
| She almost insulted them, said she
didn't like to rent to women-Single
| women. She was particular to keep
the property she handled respectable
When my friend told her they were
all straight and honest, she said all
single women and girls said that. So
| the girls went to a man agent-Shey
had nice reference, from their land
lady where they had lived and one OF
| the girls had one from her employer.
He gave them nice little two room
flat with a kitchenette, and was aw-
fully nice about fixing it UP. I guess
! that telephone girl was right. Women
| haven't been in business long enough
to be tactful, not many of them"
your friend was simply unfor-
tunate the same as you were. be-
lieve most women would be kind.
thoughtful. OF course they want their
work done the same as a man does. I
should hate TO think the two you have
spoken of were typical employers"
Gladys said, then: You must go to
Miss Mcbride. She will find work for
you, and you will change your mind
about women bosses. She runs big
agency, and she's as kind to the girls,
takes as much interest in each one
an if they were her own sisters. She
just got a Zine position for Nellie.
I'll give you a note to her. I've known
her a long time, and it may get you
in a bit sooner il she has a vacancy
you are fitted for"
Tears rolled down Mary Norton
checks. She was terribly discouraged,
and kindness was more than she could
bear.
Nellie made a cup of tea. and they
chatted until 1880, when Cora came
in looking happy and bright. She
greeted the guest pleasantly, and when
she heard she was out of work, told
her to take Gladys advice and go at
once to Miss Mcbride. She told Mary:
She suits tie girl to the employer.
There's no time wasted running
around"
But Mary Norton never took tho
note to Miss Mcbride. In crossing the
street she was hit by a motor car,
and died in a hospital before morn
ing. Had it net been for the note in
her bag, no one could have identified
identity.
1t saddened the three girls for days;
that she should have left them SO en-
coura ged, even happy, and then So
: God sure does act queer some
times" Nellie said, but perhaps He
has His reasons" Her faith in a God
was supreme. yet she professed no
religion, never went to church. as
Gladys and Cora did.
Nellie had been with "Fallon &
Son. a week Her pay envelope held
SIS. Her hands trembled when she
took it from the cashier, and she went
into a dark corner of the hall on her
way out to count it. She could
scarcely wait to get home to tell the
good news; now she could do her full
share. and have something for clothes
as we'll.
you know, Miss Mcbride saii
they'd give it TO me if they thought
was worth it!'' she said gleefully to
Cora and Gladys. They think I am
doing WE'LL Hurrah It's great to be
rich!'' She flourished the bills in her
hand.
you've never said a word about the
Son. You've only talked about the
father. Cora said. Us the son
mot very! About IS. guess. He's
got gray hair. a little patch over each
ear. never see him only when he
comes In TO speak to his rather. But
oh. girls, I was SO disguised with my
What about?" Cora asked.
why there's a girl I'm sort of en-
vious of-she calls the oId man 'un-
cle'-she's been there twice. She isn't
n bit older than am, but you should
hear her talk, so easy and natural too.
She spoke to me, pleasant, and you
should have heard her laughing ana
talking with her uncle. Even when
she joked she was SO sweet and used
such lovely language. She stayed
quite a while. Mr.. George, that's the
son, was going to take her to some
yacht srace. She was an dressed in
white flannel, a cute cap on her YET
low curls-her hairs boDoed just like
mine, only hers is gold color. instead
of a musty brown. Do you know,
Cora. I'd be almost willing to die if
could talk like she does, sling the
words SO easy"
What good would it do you if you
were dead? And you never will talk
as she does until you stop using so
much slang"
IT know--but, Cora, slang e2press&s
what l mean. I haven't words like
she uses to4ten what I want to. She
made funny speeches. awfully funny
ones. Her uncle was laughing most of
the time she was there. Oh, deari
Will I ever know anything"
(To be continued-)
! HIs 1