La Junta tribune., 1907-06-29
Betty and
Che Bear.
By FRANCIS A. COREY.
Copyright. rm. by r. c. E..sn<s.

10 Copyright. ro'. By r. c. Eassneps. 2
.o>o>o>o>Oo>o>o.o.o>o>6
And this young giant from the wooily
west was her employer! Betty gave
an involuntary gasp. He waS so eie-
mental. SO unlike any one with whom
shc had ever come into close personal
contact befo.e.
| 1--WE dubbed him the Bear Mr.
/ Henderson. whose desk was next TO
her own. connded to her. Hes
straight from the Rockies. you know
And then be Is 30 big. 10 british. so
! ungainly. Looks M much out OF place
I In a New York once ~ . bull In q
! china shop"
| Henderson himself Was slender.
handsome. polished. immaculate OF at
fire. Betty's glance rested upon his
SNUG. clean shsven face approvinRiy
| His well bred tones were indeScriba.
bly, soothing after the hoarxe rumble Of
Sir. Sterling's deep bass She was re
joice,l to nnd one cOngeninl pernoa in
this place where the failure and sod.
den death OF her father had left her
| stranded.
There are reduced gentlemen as
well as reduced gentlewomen." she
thought. with a 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
linger after hours for n friendly chat
him to take her out to dinner once or
twice
One day when they were alone In
the Office Henderson swung around In
his revolving chair and said abruptly
Miss vandercre. did II ever strike
you as n bit strange that the Bear
should have given you the best berth
I'm the Office? This Is your first expert
ence. and good stcnographers are as
plenty rs blnckberries.'
Are thcy?'' Betty answered. al
didn't know"
do you mind telling me how you
happened to apply TO him:"
Il received a marked copy OF his ad
vertisement and wrote Immediately.
asking for the place
Him. And got an answer by return
NAL. saying you might report for
duty
''Why-ycs-so did Is that so very
surprlsingT'
'.Oh, no. Henderson meftnfei n
moment, n queer little spark flashing
into his eyes. See here. I'm going
to tell you something he announced
abruptly ..Thc Bear is in love with
you a
"Absurd.r Betty cried. reddening
painfully.
Il know the signs. Watch hint.
You'll see FOR yourself. Can't come
nigh you without flushing and treR-
bling. Genuine ease OF love nj first
sight. | guess hc knew what he was
about when he took you into his ern-
ploy.'
How can you say such th!ngs?'
Betty was Indignant. She realized
for the first time that there was vein
of native coarseness under the man.s
veneer.
~ pile OF money comes into this Of
fee he said after an interval. looking
mt her keenly. THE Bear is beastly
TIctf- iuut COUNTS IoT II SODu deal
You'Il marry him for his wealth.
=, cowboy from the plains7 Not il
he were made OF gold.'
Henderson looked relieved. but be-
fore he could reply Mr.. Sterling came
Into the Office.
Betty bent over TO her desk with n
scarlet face. When. presently, she ven
turcd 10 steal glance ut her employer
she encountered his fixed gnze and
knew from the look in his eyes that
Henderson was right
The thought that this uncouth west
erner dared aspire to a Vandeverc
made her furious. Later on. when an
errand took her into the inner office.
whlthef her employee had withdrawn.
she made all possible haste. but he
spoke to her before she could slip back
again to her place.
Miss Nandevere, one moment.
please. You are looking pale You
are not used to such close application.
You'll make yourself ILL have box
nt the opera. but seldom go. I'd be
more than pleased to have you use it
Betfy's breath had stopped. and she
recovered IL with difficulty
Thank You very much. Mr.. Ster-
ling" she said icily. but / must de-
cline TO take advantage OF your kind
ness
She fed with hot cheeks. but at heart
she was not so angry as she tried to
make herself believe. She knew in
tuitively that the offer Ind not been
prompted SO much by desire to win
favor as by real soiicitude for her
welfare.
Further proofs Of the big mans
thoughtfuiness were Forthcoming. That
same evening, on returning to her
boarding place. she was met by smil-