The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-13
four DANCING FEET
GERTIE TAKES KODAK PICTURES
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER al.

GERTIE TAKES KODAK PICTURES
CHAPTER 76.
Tom had done as they planned for
Jennie. He had loaned her $500, put
it in the bank in her name. She had
given him her note for 1t with in
terest.
Not that it is worth a scrap now,
Tom" she said, but if live it shall
IT you die III pay it," Tim had
sturdily declared, much to their
amusement.
Tom Norris was not a rich man as
We speak of them nowadays. But he
owned his ranch free and clear, and
had a fair income from investments
left him by an uncle. He could well
afford to help Jennie, yet admired
her spirit of independence. Before
they finished their talk she had said:
IT'S all right for you to help Ma
little, Tom, because Gertie was so good
to her always. But Tim and Will
not need anything we can't pay back.
shall soon be teaching, and by the
time Tim is ready perhaps I can let
him go to some college. There's a
two years agricultural course now in
some colleges, and he declares he is
going to be either a ranchman or d
farmer. I don't see the difference,
but he seems to know
There's a good deal of difference.
Jennie. as you'll find out when you
visit the ranch"
All these things added to Gertie's
happiness. To know that her mother
would not miss the support she gave
her, to know that Jennie's future was
provided for; that she would be
teacher, that plans were being made
for Tin-what more could girl ask
Tom had kodak and he taught
Gertie to use it. She developed a real
flair for the picture quality in a
scene, and spent many hours taking
and developing pictures of her home
and the surrounding country to send
her mother.
81 expect the walls are covered with
them she said Iaughingly to Tom,
as she wrapped package of her
latest shots to send them.
"Of course they are! You didn't
them out of sight, did you?" He had
taken to calling his mother-in- law
Ma Cummings" Gertie as well as
the others had always called her
had called his own mother, mother"
always.
Mo- guess not, Mrs. Arnold
would have to see them all anyway! I
often wonder about Lilly, Tom, Ma
doesn't say anything more about her.
I'm afraid she and Len don't get along
very well. He wasn't a bad sort
either-makes good money-and Lilly
thinks a lot of that. 1 used to be very
fond of Lilly-when we were little We
menced to dance at the same time.
And until I went to the Olympic we
were just like sisters I really, saw
more of her than of Jennie"
Don't worry about Lilly. dear.
She never was your kind, never. You
were too unsophisticated to know it,
too innocent. But Lilly and you were
as far apart as the poles
'I don't know what you mean, Tom.
Lilly was always good girl"
a
dear. But she was a silly, selfish girl
An overdressed, vain sort of girl who
would care very little for any one but
herself, 1 imagine. I don't want to be
hard on her, know how friendly you
were, but-she wasn't the right kind,
that's all.''
Talking with Tom about Lilly had
increased Gertie's desire 10 hear from
her mother asking many questions,
and telling her to be sure and answer
them all. She had written Lilly once
since she came west, had sent her a
picture of the ranch house, but had
heard nothing from her.
Its hard to give up a girl you've
known all your life" she said to her
self as she sealed her letter. II wish
perhaps can ask her to come and
If Tom-Tn wait and see what ma
says
Yet the idea became fixed. Poor
Lilly who loved nice things, and hated
life when she couldn't have them She
would enjoy a visit to the ranch, the
guest room was dainty and had its
private bath. 1t would seem wonder
full to Lilly.
(Tomorrow-Gertie hears about Lilly.)