The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-09
A Stenographer's
Romance
BY JANE PHELPS
WHAT A WORKING GIRL NEEDS

WHAT A WORKING GIRL NEEDS.
Chapter As.
The girls persuaded Nellie not to
appeal to Mr.. rFallon. Instead they
asked Hilda Moore and several girls
they knew to contribute. and SO Sc
cured for Della a decent burial. the
three girls advancing a part of the
money. William had given all he
could spare, and they had made up
the amount necessary to secure a rest
ing place for the poor girl.
The girls, touched by the story, all
contributed as generously as possible
| so that the burden should not fall too
heavily upon any one person. But the
sadness remained with them some
| time after poor Della was laid away.
| Neither Nellie nor Gladys ever re-
| ferred to the conversation they had
| had regarding Gladys temptationsat a
time when she was alone and lonely.
| But Nellie often thought of it, and 1t
made her love for the little flat glow
fiercely.
"a home! That's what girls need, a
place of their very own, not a board
| ing house" she said to herself Life
/ is sure hard for some of us. Gee but
| I'm lucky to have this place to live
and such a nice job! No man could
put it over me, but they might if them
| travelling men at Miss Carter's hadn't
told me more'n they meant to-
Once she said something of this to
Cora.
in another persons place" Cora had
| replied. so we never should Judge
harshly. Your experience at Miss Car
ter's might have made some girls hard
and reckless, instead of cautious"
IT guess a girl has to have some
| thing besides work in her life-if 1t
is only home with other girls-girls
she can talk to! I nearly died, Cora,
when L was in that rooming house
alone, before 1 went to Mrs. Thomp-
sons. 1t would have been easy to get
desperate-yet 1 never could see Civ
ing up your freedom to be a doorma4
for any man who already has a wife.
1t just makes me sick!'
Don't think about it any more or
you will be sick. Poor Della is arrest
now"
Eyes, and someway liant feel God
will be hard on her. She killed her
self rather than do wrong again. II
anyone is punished it should be the
man. not herr
4 Cora had really done well consider
ing she was entirely unknown in the
office building. Fallon & Son had
sent her quite lot of work, and two
or three other firms had enlisted her
services. When the first of the month
came she had made nearly half the
months rent.
You're doing splendidly!" Gladys
told her and Nellie was enthusiastic.
at isn't easy" Cora told them. 'I
have SO much to learnt is all new
stead of doing as I am told. But
guess there isn't any easy way Of MAX
ing something of ones self in the
world. If there is I never have heard
of it,
'If you ever find it," Nellie broke
10 -I,;% r, n
and lead me to it," She held two
hands up to view, black. from her
I endeavor to keep the kitchen stove
looking like new.
Then after a moment:
| ''Mr. George was talking about you
today. Cora. He says he thinks you
were wise to start for yourself and
that he is sure you will succeed. His
stenog takes a vacation soon, and he
says he is not going to get anyone
| that he will give you the work while
she is away. 1t will be a lot, too, be-
cause we're awful busy. He said your
being right in the building made it
very convenient for him.
/ Convenient for me. too, I rather
think" Cora feplied. Then: "I may
have to get a girl to help me soon.
You see the work 1 do is almost all
rush work. 1 dread the risk of earn
ing enough to pay salary, even a
small one, 1 am bound to have dull
| times, tunes Wnen there VIII De many
days perhaps when I have nothing
to do
you're not to hire any girl YETI
Nellie said decidedly. Il told you to
bring home the work. Wen hire a
second hand typewriter and between
us all we'll manage to do all you get
to do for while. My~ten fingers fair
ly ache to help you
1T will be good practice for u.s.
| Gladys put in. You have all sorts of
work. not just about one business. 1t
seems to me we should be well paid
for helping you by the experience we
would GET
That's the way to talk! And little
Nellie surely needs all the experience
floating around. I forget and make
mistakes in my spelling even yet, and
oh, how / do want to learn to talk
like Miss Dorothy and I know every
thing do helps me. gets me used to
new words, and all that. Mr.. George
told me 1 was too ambitious, but his
} father never says that! He tells me
no one succeeds who isn't, They
talked it right before me and 1 felt
so embarrassed. Mr.. George saw I
was and he changed the subject. He's
awfully NIGEL" An unconscious sigh,
caused both girls to exchange glances.
; Was Nellie thinking too much of
George Fallon?
(To be continued.)