The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-01
four DANCING FEET
GERTIE QUOTES TOM.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 10.

CHAPTER IS.
He had promised to writer
In that factflay AL the joy of Ger
| ties days after Tom Norris left. She
had glanced rather helplessly thru the
/ books he had given her; then she
earnestly began to try to study<them
as he had advised. But constantly she
found her mind wandering. She
would look at the marks he had made
on the margin instead OF at the print
ed matter His hand had made the
/ marks.
| But gradually she grew less senti-
mental. She put all bat the diction-
airy and the English book away, and
| concentrated upon the two. Often
| she got IL year old Jennie to help
| her, nor cid she scorn Tins proffered
suggestions. Her schooling had been
an erratic thing. Kept home to take
| only just enough to escape the truaut
officer does not tend to lay a very
good foundation for an education; less
| for a self-taught one.
It had not been that Mrs. Cum
| mings would not have liked to keep
Gertie in school, she was just unable
to. Poverty, sickness, small children.
death of the faniily's wage Garner
often compel even people who are
ambitious for their children to i'm
pose hardshipS upon them. Since the
father died, not until Gertie was earn
ing money to add to that her mother
took in from her fine laundry work.
had the family been comfortable. But
almost impossible to make ends meet.
keep the three younger decently
dressed and in school. 1t would have
been impossible but for Gertie.
Often Lilly said to her:
You give up too much! Gosh.
Gertie, you work hard, why don't you
hold out more on them and have
something decent to wear2"
T"Can't5 Lilly Tim is always need
ing shoes, and Annie and Jennie have
l ain't-ain't-" she couldn't think of
a word, SO went on, II amt got no
notion of lettin' them be made
ashamed i'll can help it. They'll have
to be a school teacher
"Oh, she does! Just a little thing
Ike that. Well, I'll tell the world
that if she was my sister and L work
in like you do. she'd get out and get
a job in store or something. after
she gets out of grammar school. It's
wicked for you to send her to high
school on your earnings, a darn
shame
/ But education is everything. Lily $
If 1 was educated I wouldn't havesfo
dance in that cafe every night. I have
the pIacel"
Tom told her that education meant.
everything, SO she had passed the re-
his similar remarks.
I That night Jones, the assistant at
the cafe, told Gertie the mana ger
wanted to see her after she finished
her dancing; She turned pale. Was
she to lose her position?
Don't look SO scared, he said,
laughing. You amt goil1' to lose
your job!' He winked a her, land if
you is nice to me, why youth get some
thin good,' he took hold of Gertie
and drew her toward him. s
Gertie jeRked away,
II amt nice to anybody IN the way
yau meant" she said rather roughly.
oh, you amt. What about that
night, and takin' you ridin' in that
roadster of his'n? Never let hin. kiss
you, did your A sneer in the words
and on his face.
mo I never did But that. amt
your business!" Refined use of words
meant nothing to her in talking to
Jones.
Coin to marry him, I supposed"
None of your business whether I
am or not,''
Don't be a fool, or take me for
one" he snarled. Them kind amt
nlarryin' cheap cabaret girls. You
better forgit him and be nice to me-
Get out of my way" the music had
but 1 amt cheapi' Gertie flung az
him as she hurried on to the floor.
Had Jones dared he would have
discharged hers but after the way the
owner of the place, his boss had
talked, he didn't dare. But he wasn't
the sort to forget His face was not
good to see as his eyes followed Gertie.
The dance over Gertie sought the
proprietor.
You wanted to see me. Mr.. Rosen-
.burg?"
Eyes, come in. and sit down I've
been thinkin' of raising your salary
not much, but a little. How's that
strike you?''
81 should be glad of more money!
Gertie never had liked the man, altho
she had not had cause to dislike him
as she did Jones' who on more than
one occasion had made disagreeable
oyertUres to her.
''Well. just put your name to that
piece of paper there and it's yours"
He pointed to legal looking paper
before her.
(Tomorrow-The family financier.)