The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-28
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
THE GIRLS RENT A FLAT.


The three girls found the agent of
the house waiting for them, talking to
Dugan.
'Dugan's telling him how nice I
ami" Nellie whispered.
Nellie Riley, If you don't keep still
shall-going to Mr.. Robinson as you
did has made me absolutely unable to
think" Gladys said. And really,
neither she nor Cora, had recovered
from the dazed condition into which
Nellie's action had thrown them.
This is Mister Hurd, the agent"
Dugan said.
Mr.. Hurd~smiled on them, then,
with an air of embarrassment said:
"Glad to meet you, young ladies!"
He perhaps had expected to- see girls
quite different from the three quietly
dressed, and rather handsome ones
standing before him. But he, like
Dugan, kept his eyes on~Nellie.
IT'S US is glad to see you. Mr..
Hurd," she said before the other two
could speak, because we want you to
be very nice to us. and to be after
fixfn' up this flat for u.s."
I'll do what I CANAL am al
lowed to do-if-" he stammered
bit. Cora understood and said quietly.
Here are our references, Mr.. Hurd.
think you will find them satisfac-
tory" She dared not look at Gladys
as she handed him Mr.. Robipson's.
Very good! 1 see you have under
stood what we need" he said, his en-
OdIIdSSAlc11L llOl Qu1l0 SOHOs we nave
to be extra careful in renting now
adays. Business amt So good, and
when you rent by the month you have
to look out, especially with ladies'"
He stopped, flushing a deep red. ST
don't mean your kind, Miss now he
turned to Cora, but you would be,
surprised the stories some tell to get
in; then the owl they put up when
We have to make them get out" He
was very common man. yet he had
oxyf n nT1fI xy fr1fn dnd rhoF Hn
compliment to the girls.
He read the references carefully.
Very good" he said again. "Yod
can have the flat. People like them,
paper unless it is all right. The man
what owns the place is in Europe, and
if let undesirable people in, or peo-
pie who don't pay, why I'd lose my job
mighty quick" Sf-l
Nellie could scarcely contain her
self, and the other two looked very
happy. But Cora, the expense in her
mind, bargained for the remainder of
the month, and with her list in her
hand, a pencil to jot down whatever
Hurd asto the repairs.
Mr.. Dugan says you will paper this
room,' she said. They had been talk
ing in the living room. will you
floor? We can not \afford to carpet
it,"
well, I don't know as I can prom
Use all that. I'll paper and if this is
the only room that you want fixed
I'll paint it-but the floor-I hardly
think 1 can promise that-but what
else is there besides this room? L
can't do more than 1 am allowed but
of course for good tenants that stay
that have good references vii try
to do all I can"
'Shure, don't we know that!' Nell
lie interrupted. And wen stay! You
can depend on us. And if you'll make
it nice for us We will take awful good
care of it, AS she finished. he looked
smilingly at her and replied:
I'D be pretty hard man if I didn't
do all could for you"
THAT little minx!'' Gladys said, SO
low no one but Cora heard.
Now we'll look at the kitchen, but
before we do, Mr.. Hurd, will you let
US select the paper for this room
Well keep to the price you fix"
Eyes, and Dugan here will bring
you our book of samples"
THE kitchen must be painted, walls
and woodwork. 1t is very dirty, and
we couldn't enjoy our food cooked IN
it," Cora told him as they stood in
the tiny kitchen scarcely big enough
to hold them ALL
"If do this, I can't quite see my
way to do all you want in the other
room. Paint isn't as cheap as it used
to be, neither is labor. Now that
floor in the living room-that will
have to have two coats to make it look
decent, really should have three. It's
poor lumber"
''In pay for the paint if you'll put
it on" Nellie broke in.
That's a bargain. But that is all I
can do. Paint the woodwork of the
front room, paper it, and put the paint
on the floor if you pay for it, and
paint the kitchen one coat.
viii you do it at once?" Cora
asked. 1--WE want to come right in
1--WE got a man can get right at it,
Miss" Dugan said, addressing Cora,
but looking at Nellie.
(Tomorrow-A special delivery letter.)