The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-06-15
A Girls Face
and Fortune
BY JOHN PALMER

Il wish the men wouldn't poster
me So" said Gertie Miller, as she
stepped out OF the shop door OF Brad
J bury's.
II ever girls face was her for
tune, II ought To have been the ease
with Gertie. Yet no sooner had she
left Bradbury's than she saw the men
begin 10 ogle her.
She passed on with shrug OF her
shoulders. In fact she was too light
hearted 10 care that day. She had
applied TO Bradbury's for an increase
Of salary, and had been turned down.
She had given notice. Afterward the
manager had asked her 10 reconsider.
Gertie had laughed at him.
Why mott She had nice little
sum in the savings bank. and she
could afford 10 take a holiday. And
| just now she was on her way TO meet
Leslie, AT the corner of Fifth avenue.
Leslie was her fancy boy, and they
really expected To be married some
day. Leslie was going TO take her
out in his car. Why wouldn't a girl
feel good in that bright sunshine, go
Ing to meet her boy, even IL the men
did stare at her
There he was-that little persistent
| fellow who always followed her as
soon ms she left the shop. For a week
| past he had been lying in wait for
her. Now he came hurryng up. He
walked beside her mincingly.
the little man pleadingly.
saw, cut IL out :" said Gertie. 81
don't want you hanging around me
with yeur proposals. know your kind.
II only takes girls mo- to make them
think they cant do without her."
Say that's one for warm day."
said the little man, wiping his fore
head.
1--WE got better than that II you
don't quit kidding me-" said Gertle.
kidding? See here. Miss Miller I'm
honest, am. Five hundred dollars"
kid you make me sick!" said
Gertie.
She passed on. The little man knew
her we'll enough, but TO others she was
only a cipher-a cipher with the most
beautiful face that ever drew the
stares OF q Broadway crowd.
"Oh, Lord, there's the fat One!" said
Gertie.
The fat one was watching for her
at the corner of the block. He raised
his hat as Gertie hurried by.
'Say, what's your hurry?' he de-
manded.
Gertie turned around.
"See here. once and for all it's mo-
TO you and all your kind, you cheap
piker," she said Indignantly.
Come and have a little lunch and
and something fizzy know about,
said the fat man. Maybe you'll feel
more like talking things over. What's
the sense Of acting in this way?
girls got to earn her living, hasn't
she?"
II can earn better living than you
can give me- Gertie retOrted.
Eluding the fat mans outstretched
arm, she hurried on, though conscious
that he and the little man were fellow
Ing her. And at the corner of the
block she gave a little cry Of Joy.
For there stood Leslie.
Great Great!" he CALCULATED, feast
Ing his eyes upon her beautiful face.
"Oh. Leslie said Gertie. half laugh
Ing and half crying, ''those chaps sure
have been Fostering me to death.
Every time I go out into the street
they accost me- There they are. trail
ing after me now"
(Which one d'you like betterT asked
Leslie.
Gertle wrinkled her forehead. Il
guess the fat ones the better proposi-
ton of the two. He's got the cash"
she answered. But I'm just sick OF
them"
"Never mind IL you're sick OF them
or not you need the money" said Les
lie IF yon'll take my advice you'll
have little talk with the fat one
and hear what he's got to say"
"Do you think | ought to, Leslie"
asked the girl doubtfuIly.
"Surest thing you know" Leslie an
swered. "You can't live on air, Gertie,
and till we get married we need every
cent we can save"
Gertle turned and marched mourn
fully up to where the fat man, emit
ting wheezy coughs, trailed in her
| direction.
"See here, I've been thinking things
over" she said "and If you're Johnny
on-the-spot with the mazuma, it's up
to you But ! want sixty berries per-
"SIxyv berries Whew I" calculated
the fat one "Well, l guess you're
worth II, grille. We got to get that
face and head Of yours In our shop
window to advertise our hair tonic,
and / always said we wouldn't make
big sales till we got that little peach
that sat in front of Bradburys. Slxty's
yours, and you can start in Monday.
He took off his hat and wiped his
! bald head.