The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-23
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
UNDER MISS JONES' WING.
CHAPTER 60.

CHAPTER 60.
"Miss Jones, may I speak to you
before you go to your luncneon
Nellie asked.
why not lunch together. then you
will have plenty of time to tell me
what you wish ?" a
Nellie flushed with pleasure as she
accepted the invitation After they
were seated in a quiet corner Of a
nearby restaurant, Miss Jones said:
What is it. Nellie ?"
you know Cora-Miss BAKERS
beau was killed
Yes, it was very sad"
"She promised him IL anything ever
happened to him she would go ana
live with his mother-and sne WenI
Yesterday. I've got to find place to
| live. We've given up our rooms
even if I could get other girls in with
me it wouldn't be the same without
Cora"
mo. and it might be risky, unless
YOU knew the girls pretty we'll. 1t is
hard to find people who are congeniai
| in close quarters and daily intimacy
What kind of a place are you think
ing Off"
where there are nice, refined people:
A boarding house, l think, instead OF
| Just rooming. l have looked thru a
| lot of advertisements, but 1 don
4 know much about such things. GOOD
localities, and all. Cora was always
the one who decided things. But l
can afford a decent place where rel
nice people live."
"Yes-" rather absently Miss Jones
unused, Yes" Then: How would
YOU like to live in the house where
1 am? Don't get excited, as Nellie
gasped happily, Il don't know that
\ Mrs Doty has any vacant rooms.
She's very ladylike person." she
smiled, "a brokendown gentlewoman
forced thru loss of money and friends,
to taking paying guests as she calls
them. But the atmosphere OF the
house is good. 1t is clean ana the
food fair. I'm not going nome 70
! dinner tonight, but I'll give you a note
to her, and you can see her rlght
away if YOU like. 1t isn't often she
has a vacancy. But you may be
lucky"
"Oh. YOU are so goodi I've been
awfuily unhappy over losing Cora. l
felt as If were beginning to live all
over again. But-oh, l do hope she
,, will have room for me-"
, IT hope 50, too, but If she hasn's,
! find a place"
J Nellie went directly from the office
to Mrs. Doty's. 1t was an 'old-fash-
Toned brick house on one of the side
, streets off from Irving Place. Mrs.
: Doty had hesitated when she saw
NoIlie's youthful face, but Miss Jones
y recommendation appeased her fears
I and she said:
. fortunately for you I had a small
. room vacated this morning. 1t is on
r the top floor. ] am sorry 1 haven't
one lower down"
: at am used to climbing stairs"
Nellie said happily. Il should get
, lazy IL 1 didn't have to-
{ VERY well, / will show it to you
: The room was very tiny, just a
! small hall bedroom. But 1t was as
Ineat as wax altho the carpet was Old
and faded; the bed a narrow white
t iron one, scarcely more than cot
[ but the bedding immaculate, There
e was a small oak dresser and wash
n stand, but the bowl and pitcher were
splashed with gay flowers, and
neither cracked or Clipped as Nellie
< recalled they were at Mrs. Thomp-
3 sons. The window curtains were of
: cheap, coarse material, but freshly
q Numbered, and they, too, had ram
I bling design of gay flowers for Dor
" der.
: When NelIie-after saying she
would take the room, would move in
at once-asked about the price of
. room and board, she gasped.
''Ten dollars week without lunch
: cons" Mrs. Doty informed her.
l Could she pay it. and dress decent
ly, and have enough for lunches, ear
4 fare, etc.? Yet how was she to learn
: the things she wanted to know; how
become accustomed to being with re-
q fined people at table, and SO on. I'M
, less she did?
II will come in a day or two"
Nellie said as she paid the first week s
: board in advance. The understand
: ing being mat she paid from the mo-
ment she rented 1t, no, matter how
long it took her TO take possession.
II can't afford to lose a day." Mrs.
Doty told her.
That night, as Nellie packed her
trunk, she said aloud;
Il am beginning a new life-I won
: ider-what it will bring me?"
(To be continued.)