The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-08
four DANCING FEET
GERTIES LAST NIGHT AT THE
OLYMPIC.
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter 70,

GERTIES LAST NIGHT AT The
OLYMPIC.
Chapter ~.
Hello, ma! Where's the girls?''
Tim had come home. His entrance
had been effected in regular boy fash
ion, and he had emphasized his greet
ing to his mother by throwing both
arms about her, and dancing her
about the kitchen until she begged
him to stop and let her get her breath.
Its good for sore eyes to see you,
Jimmie dear! But why didn't you
write you was comm ??
Wanted to surprise you! See If
you was glad to see me. Say, Cert,
you're sure some lucky girl! Gee!
But that ranch is some place to live!
Believe me, know what I'm talking
about. Toms coming in a few days,
had business in Chicago, so put me on
the train and sent me on. Gave me
money to go into the dining car to all
my meals, and 1 had a berth in the
sleeping car. I'm some little traveller,
I am! Say, If you want to know any
thing about how to act on the cars,
Just ask mel"
There was no need to ask how Tim
felt, he was the picture of health,
brown and sturdy.
TOMS fixing things fine for you,
Gertie. I promised not to tell, SO
don't ask any questions, put you're in
luck! Say, ma. I'm going to be a
rancher like Tom when get grown
up, and have Chink and animals and
everything like he does only you are
going to be my housekeeper, Ell, ma :?
How'd you like that?.
Zine, sonnyi"
''Then that's fixed! I killed a snake
and brought you his skin, and a
horned toad, and"
"Bless the boy-wasn't you scared
Scared! Not on your life! Boys
don't get scared of things on a ranch.
I hated to leave my pony something
awful. I cried once when there wasn't
me, and was awful shamed, but he
pretended he didn't see. He's some
Chink! I learned a lot rrom him. can
talk Chink talk too. JUST wait till the
boys hear me-"
All day he kept them interested and
laughing. Gertie began to have some
idea what a ranch was like in listen
ing to him. Mrs. Cummings forgot
how she had missed him, ana glor.ed
in~his chatter, adniring the horned
toad and the snake skin to his hearts
content.
THE grub was awful good" he told
them at dinner, but nobody can beat
you, ma. when it comes TO cooking.
told Mrs. Black so too. They had
more different things, but they didn't
taste no better. I guess I drunk five
quarts of milk day, ma, and eat!
You never saw the way I put things
and the Chink pinched me to see"
How'd we ever live without him ?"
Jennie aeked after he had gone to bed.
He sure is lively!" his mother
smiled. He'll keep JUS from missin'
Gertie too much. It's almost like
being out there to hear him tell about
it."
Tom would be with them the next
day. The day after Gertie was to be
married.
The night befora che reoai,,a5 rr,o,,,,.
message telling when he would arrive
had been her last at the Olympic. She
had been surprised and delighted by
the gift of a dozen solid silver spoons
from Fagin, and a wonderful box of
/ flowers from the girls in the revue. 1t
had been quite wonderful the scene
IN the dressing room-the girls all
congratulat1ng her, everyone so kind,
and Fagin beaming on them all.
Il felt like was a real actress or
something when they all made such a
fuss over me, and 1 couldn't keep the
tears back when the girls gave me the
flowers. I never thought they liked
me very well because 1 had the solo
dances"
! People are most kind-hearted,"
Mrs. Cummings said, as she helped
arrange the flowers. These will keep
| until after you are married"
They make. the room lovelyi"
Gertie replied. Tom will be pleased
that everyone was so nice to me-"
Others remembered Gertie too even
tho she was to be so quietly mar
ried. The teacher sent her a pretty
negligee with a cute little cap to
| match. Lilly gave her a pair of white
kid gloves, and some of the more
intimate neighbors dubbed together
and bought her a lamp.
Her new trunk was partly packed,
everything would be put in before
they went to bed. She-was to be mar
ried in her travelling dress. 1t hung,
with her hat, in the closet. Mrs
Cummings had declared that on Ger
ties last day at home nothing but
necessary work should be done. Yet
they all managed to keep busy-until
Tom came. Then he carried Gertie
off for ride in the park, longing to
have her to himself for a bit.
Don't stay too long, Tom. You'll
soon have her all the time" Mrs
Cummins called after them.