The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-11
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
NELLIE AND GLADYS HELP CORA

Chapter 49.
Occasionally the three girls enter
tanned in their little flat, but very
simply, and always on a Friday Of
was very strict about the time their
guests left. She said to Nellie and
Gladys, kindly but firmly:
There shall be no breaking of the
Sabbath where live. I can pay that
respect to my father, and to his call
| ing"
Nellie, as usual, had her little joke:
''Cora's the bouncer, I'm the cook,
and Gladys is the reception commit
tee!" but in spite of their fun-making,
both girls respected and loved Cora
too well to go against her wishes. So
| always at 1880, their guests made
preparations for departure.
These simple, infrequent gatherings
were good for the girls, gave bit of
| zest and spice to their lives which
] otherwise would have become hum
drum because of a sameness. Nellies
oatmeal cookies, either lemonade or
| coffee, some home made candy usual
| ly constituted the refreshments. And
always there was the little bunch of
| flowers she purchased, and her gay
| spirits, to add to the occasion.
Cora now yielded to their wishes
and often brought a bundle of work
home, work that must be- finished by
| the morning. They had hired a sec
| ond-hand typewriter and one of the
three would work all the evening, or
! Gladys and Nellie take turns.
"Geei I'll be a lawyer myself If you
bring home much of this stuff Nellie
said as she worked. Among Cora's
| first clients was a law firm. They
had given her briefs and similar ma
terial and occasionally she had taken
i the work home. At first the technical
terms, the foreign-to her-phrase-
ology bothered Nellie, and hindered her
speed. But after a bit with her usual
quick grasp of anything in which she
was interested, the girl did the work
as well as Cora could.
Didn't I telH you the experience
would be good for Is?' Gladys asked.
| Really, Nellie, I think we should pay
| Cora for letting us help her"
'Nonsense!" Cora replied laughing
ST feel as if I should pay you two a
regular salary should have to have
it were not for your help. 1 thought
when I first started that an inexperi-
enced girl whom I could get for a
small salary would do, but I find the
work brought me needs one of expert
ence, one that would demand a good
salary-and just yet I don't know
where it would come from"
| tMr. George says you're a wonder"
| Nellie put in. 81 heard him tell his
father you'd been very gritty to start
out for yourself. The old gentleman
is a dear too (Nellie never spoke dis
respectfully of the elder Mr.. Fallon-
as she had of Mr.. Robinson), he said
they must give you all their extra
work as long as you did it well. He's
going away on a vacation soon. He
isn't very well, and the doctor says he
must rest"
"wiI you lose your job if he goes?"
Mop, it was funny the way I found
out! I expect my face was comical
enough when they talked about it. l
know my heart was in my shoes, and I
had a lump in my throat as big as a
| tea cup. Ali at once Mr.. George looked
ened, for he said sort of quick like:
Don't think you will be idle when
! father is gone, Miss Riley. You will
have his mail and the rest of the time
help me. 1 think we will move your
desk into my ROOM Geei but 1 felt
funny! First I was hot, then cold, the
relief was so great Then I felt weak
and faint. I was glad I was sitting
| down, 1 know my legs would have
wobbled fearfully if had been stand
ing"
You are very lucky, Nellie! have
a fairly good place but they aren't
very considerate," Gladys said. Some
times get awfully tired working with
4 out a word of appreciation-altho !
expect they thing I ought to know if
keep me. But can't~help thinking ii
wouldn't hurt if they would say:
Your work is done very we'll or some
thing like that. I am just machine
with pair of hands,"
st guess there aren't many men like
Mr.. George" Nellie said, and as they
now often did, Cora and Gladys ex-
changed glances-Cora's anxious. Lit
tie Nellie must not think too much OF
her Mr.. George" it could only bring
/ her unhappiness.
/ (Tomorrow-Gladys occasionally
/ shows bitterness.)