The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-04-02
Betty and
Che Bear.
By FRANCIS A. COREY.
Copyright, 1907. by P, C. EASEMENT.


she had ever come into close personal
contact before.
'I'Tc dubbed him the Bear" Mr..
Henderson, whose desk was next to
her own, cOnfided to her Hes
straight from the Rockies, you know.
And then he is SO big, so brutish. so
ungainIy, Looks as much out Of place
in a New York office as Il bull in
china shop"
| Henderson himself was slender,
handsome, polished, immaculate Of at
! tire. Bctty's glance rested upon his
SNUG, clean shaven face approvingly.
His we'll bred tones were indcScriba-
big soothing after the hoarse rumble OF
Mr.. Stcriing's deep bass. She was re-
| jOiced TO fimd one cOngcnial person in
this place where the failure and sud
den death of her father had left her
| stranded
"Therc are reduced gentlemen as
well as reduced gentlewomen." she
thought. with q feeling Of womanly
/ sympathy for him that later on found
expression in unexpected ways.
! For instance, although short TO curt
ness with her employer. she would
! linGCr after hours for IL friendly chat
with Henderson and even permitted
him 10 take her out 10 dinner once or
twice.
! One day when they were alone in
the Office Henderson swung around in
his revolving chair and said abruptly:
Miss Nandcvere, did it ever strike
you as 4 bit strange that the Bear
should have given you the best berth
in the office? This is your first expert
ence, and good stenographers are as
plenty as blackbeTies"
Are they?" Betty answered. 81
didn't know"
DO YOU mind telling ire how you
happcHcC 10 apply 10 him.
Il received a marked copy Of his adj
vcr.iscmcnt and wrote Immediately,
asking for the place"
''IIml And got IN answer by return
mail, saying You might report for
duty"
"Why-ycs--sO did Is that so very
surprisiag:''
oh. ne Henderson medtatcd Il
moment. I: queer little spark flashing
iItc lis eyes. See here. I'm going
to tell you something" he announced
abruptly The Bear is in love with
YOU"
"Absurd!9 Betty cried, reddcning
painfully.
Il know the signs. Watch him.
T0u'll see for yourself. Can't come
nigh you without flushing and trem-
bling. Genuine case of love ut first
sight. | guess he knew what he was
about when lie took you into his en-
ploy'
How can you say such things?'
Betty was indignant She realized
/ for the first time that there was a vein
of native coarseness under the mans
! veneer
a pile of money comes into this of
. fco.' he said after an interval. looking
at her keenly. "'fhe Bear is beastly
rich. That counts for 4 good deal.
You'll marry him fer his wealth"
a cowboy from the plains? Not if
he were made of gold!'
! Henderson looked relieved but be-
fore he could reply Nh Sterling came
1 into the Office
Betty bent over to her desk with a
scarlet face. When, presently, she ven
( tured to steal Il glance at her employer
she encountered his fixed gaze and
knew from the look in his eyes that
Henderson was right
] The thought that this uncouth west
erner dared aspire to Il Vandevefe
made her furious Later on, when an
erranl took her into the inner office,
whithc" her employer had withdrawn.
she made nil possible haste, but lie
spoke TO her before she could slip back
again to her place.
Miss Yandevere. one moment.
please. You are looking pale. You
! are not used to such close application.
You'll make you self i'll. have box
! al the opera. but / seldom go. Id be
more than pleased to have you use it."
Betty's breath had stopped, and she
recovered it with difficulty.
/ uStuh YOU NttA EiGCu. MI. iolc--
ling she said Jelly, but l must de
cline TO take advantage of your kind
ness
! She fed with hot checks, but at heart
she was not SO angry as she tried to
make herself believe. She knew in
tuitively that the offer had not been
prompted SO much Ivy Il desire to win
favor rs by real solicitude for her
welfare.
/ Further proofs of the big mans
thoughtfulness were forthcoming That
same evening, ON returning to her
/ boarding place, she was met by smil-
ing landlady.
"See what's come for you. Miss Van
/ t!evere," The woman triumphantly
/ held up a basket of delicious fruit
"Who seEt it," Betty asked, search
/ ing for card
Meme was TO be found, and Mrs.
Eryitt could only tell her that the bas-
! ket had been left by 4 messenger boy.
Not one Of her fair weather friends
/ Enn,- her DreSent address Naturally