The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-18
IN SUPPOSE that's a. fresh victim.
Miss Betty" draWled a stout

Ill MISS uTdWISu STOUT
man from the depths of a gar
den arm chair
Miss Betty was slender young per-
son in green muslin who stood near
the arm chair with q racket in her
hand and turned as the speaker waved
ms cigar towards the tennis lawn be-
low.
Il dare say, she answered compos-
eddy, STOPPING TO tie her shoe.
Bet you he isn't" returned the stout
man quickly. and a couple of bystand-
ers Joined in his laugh.
A delicate flush rose in the girls
cheeks but she answered coolly. why
do you suppose he is EXCEPTIONAL"
oh, he's man of the world, he isl
answered the stout man jovially. And
he's SWell77not like us poor city John
nies-had lots of experience" he added
with a laugh. .Come now, you look so
jolly confident, what'll you bet on it?
You must bet or I'll believe you're
climbing down."
II don't care if 1 do she returned,
with "a look of scarcely yelled contempt
at the laughing group of men. What
will you go?">r
The fat man pulled himself up in his
chair and his eyes twinkled. He knew
Ralph Pyne pretty well, and he knew
he would not easily be made a fool of.
Also he did not at all wish Pyne to fan
into the srares of Miss Betty Langley.
There was certain lovely Rebecca
Cohen, his own niece. who would make
more satisfactory Mrs. Pyne to his
thinking. But Betty was dangerous
decidedly dangerous. unless she could
be induced to cut her own throat.
well, I'll go as far as a pin"
''Diamond?s
''Hum-yes-hanged if won't stand
a diamond pin"
NJ. IDA%%
as she moved away, and Mr.. JaureZ
chuckled as he sank back among his
cushions. IF Miss Bet tries any of
her games on with that Johnnie he'll
bolt, and. possibly, 1 may have the
catching of him.
Ralph Pyne had already spent two
days in Betty's company, and had en-
joyed himself as most men did under
the circumstances. and he was not at
all loath TO escort her home by the
short cut through the covert after she
had superintendent the shooters tea ut
the gamekeeper's cottage. Betty was
uncommon good company, as good as
a younger brother, and much better to
look at. Probably il was because she
was so brusque and boyish that most
men found themselves proposing to her
quite Unexpectedly to themselves, for
no one could think of sentiment and
Betty Langley in the same hour. No
humbug about her! regular good Sort"
the blinded victims used to say. and
played on-lawn tennis. billiards, hide
and seek-regardless of their doom,
and their doom never varied.
How hot il is" cried Betty sudden
ly; don't you think there is going to
be an earthquakes"
rs is hot before earthquakes" re-
turned Mr.. Pyne. THAT is an interest
ing bit of general information.
"Oh, people always say they feel
queer before earthQuakeS-" but a
sharp rustic among the leaves inter-
rupted her lecture. Good gracious. it's
rainingi And there is thunderi Now we
are in a fix" and gathering up her
skirts she started to run.
"All right. there's a pile of fagots
just beyond" cried Pyne, mo end OF
side by side, and he pulled back the
dripping branches and showed the pile
which the woodcutter had arranged as
a sort of wigwam.
Crouched down in shelter Betty soon
regained her breath and began to
chatter again. Now this is romantic.
and it will end in my getting bron-
can't go to the Lorimers' dance"
But alaSi 1 shant go to the Lori
mers' dance anyhow. 1 am off tomor-
row.
"Oh, l say! What for? What a
shame!'
MY sister has wired she's coming
back from India and will be at South
ampton, and an earthquake would be
a tTifie. compared to the tempest if 1
didn't meet here tomorrow night"
p Betty is silent. He is going tomor-
row and she has just remembered her
bet. She feels rather sick at it-and
yet, no, that odious Mr.. Juarez would
chuckle. He has always hated her.she
knows, since she said no to him and
his shekels, and he would hate to pay
up his bet; and how she would like to
own-just one-diamondl Bettys face
is her fortune and has not brought her
any diamonds as yet-only offers of
them, for an equivalent. But she can't
flirt with. Ralph Pyne. She has, she
knows, amused herself little some
times with some men, but they are
such idiots. Mr.. Pyne is different; she
can't treat him so. And then she reck-
lessly determines to make a clean
breast of il.
MIR. Pyne. wish you'd do some
thing for me-"
with pleasure"
You can get me a diamond pin If
you like"
F, Delighted. am sure; but how?''
Il want you to propose to me. Don't
be frightened; I'll say no, and 1 won't
tell till you're gone.
"Oh, a bet L presume?" he answered
a trifie grimly.
Eyes, that odious Mr.. Juarez. They
are all OdiOus. but he is the worst. He
bet you wouldn't propose, because. you
see. they all do; and then. of course,
they sulk and uncle Swears at me-
But we've been kind of friends, and
you're too good sort for that" she end
ed little incoherently, so thought
might as well tell you about it,
Yes; uncOmmonly good natured OF
you. And he's bet a pin," and Mr.. Pyne
considers what a charming uncle Miss
Rebecca Cohen owns.
Yes: 1 haven't any jewelry, and 1
do want a score off that beast" and
Betty suddenly grew scarlet from an
ger. Her bushes were not in the habit
of intruding themselves.
Miss Elizabeth Langley, 1 lay my
hand and heart at your feet
Declined with thanks" cried Betty
with peal of laughter. "Now shake
hands" and they shook hands.
The shower had ceased and Betty
rose TO her feet and shook the dead
leaves from her skirts.
For a little while Ralph Pye walked
on in deep meditation. Suddenly he
spoke. Miss Betty. what assurance
have you thatrJuarez Will admit you
have won your bet?"
What assurance, Isn't my word
enough?" she returned.
Il