Evening star., 1912-11-12

his 1atner was letting him OF TOT Two
or three days and he would be with them
In time for o'clock dinner.
Betty read it aloud, conscious. through
her lowered eyelids. of Eleanor Baxter's
searching gaze. II Mrs. Baxter expected
any revelation from Betty she was dis
appointed.
'Q'm SO glad, Mrs. Baxter: that's just
the one thing you need" the girl said,
calmly. and went on. with exasperating
inconsequence. 1T must be nearly 5. Do
you want tea?"
mo, don't want tea. I want Bob.
pouted Eleanor, with an imitation OF
baby petulance.
Il want Bob echoed a still, small
voice from the inmost heart OF Betty, but
, her face betrayed nothing.
MY dear child" said Eleanor. after
watching her in silence for a while. i
wish you would drop that nonsense about
being secretary. The only way I can
keep from letting it out to Bob is by not
speaking your name at all. II did !
should be certain to call you Betty and
that would be the end Of it,
Betty was sorely tempted. heru resolu-
ton was breaking down. but pride came
to her rescue.
please. please don't" she entreated
so earnestly that once again Mrs. Bax-
ter yielded.
Bob arrived early enough for good
dressing. Betty in her own room was
taking an unprecedented time in the
choice Of dinner toilet.
"You oughtn't to look too fine for
secretary" she reflected to herself in the
glass. and herself in the glass reflected
back rebeiously, as If to say, "Oh.
oughtn't /? Well, just to show you, III
put on my frosted rose satin with the
silver fringe And she did.
Bob had less difficulty than he expected
in withholding from his mother, as he
had promised the unusual state Of affairs
at Ipping House. Beyond a few per-
functory inquiries as to the welfare Of
the relatives, Eleanor asked no embar-
RAISING questions. The mere mention of
anything associated with her nocturnal
adventure was distressing to her. and
she felt grateful to her son for not pur-
suing the subject There were plenty of
other things to talk about; then. too.
there was dinner to be ordered. Hitherto
the meals had been sent UP and the Sc
lection Of dishes had been left to Betty.
but this evening they were dining to mu-
dining room. and the choice of a menu
was reserved for the superior masculine
intelligence of Robert Baxter.
Meanwhile. In her own room in an
other part of the hotel Betty was stand
ing with her back to the mirror. Some
thing had happened. A GOODNESS had
spung up between Elizabeth Thompson
and her reflection; they were no longer
on speaking terms. At the very last min
ute Betty, with sudden determination,
had taken off the Partisan masterpiece.
which now hung across q chair, toy
Niagara of shimmering rose and silver
spray, while the beWildered chambermaid
hurriedly hooked her into the plainest
fon dinner frock.
"Quite good enough for a secretary"
Betty remarked, as she turned her back
on the mirror There was no mistake
about it, Miss Thompson and her reflec-
ton were not on speaking terms.
Il wonder what's keeping Betty said
Mrs. Baxter to her son as they waited
for the lift in the crimson-carpeted hall
She was conscious OF her slip the mo-
ment she had spoken. Bob was watch
ing the slow-moving machinery of the
lift. A moment before he had quoted a
remark Of his fathers about English ele-
vators.
"It looks to me like you fellers use mo-
lasses instead Of water to work your
darned elevators Hiram had said, and
the Britisher's patronizing ''Oh, / say,
that would be too expensive" had made
At the mention Of Betty's name Bob
turned sharply.
Betty" he echoed. You don't mean
to say Betty's here! When did she come?
Why didn't you tell me before" He
"Why, what's the matter, mother?
Eleanor was trying desperately to cover
her confusion.
did ! say Betty? How funny!
lHedu MISS lnOHlpSOu-MI 6uAlSE 8 sec
retary-she's dressing for dinner. l Won
der why she doesn't come" Eleanor
coughed nervously.
Bob continued to watch her, his sur
prise gradually giving place to q strange
suspicion. It was as Ii a mental. picture
! puzzle were fitting itself together in his
brain. Only one piece was lacking to
make it complete.
What is Miss Thompson's Christian
name. mother?" he asked, very quietly.
Miss Thompson's first name?-her
Christian name?-let me see--why it's
it's" Eleanor tried heroically to hb,
but it was no use. Do what she would
there was only one name In the whole
world she could think of. She fiuttered
like a caught bird, then gave 1t up. "It's
Betty, Bob"
In flash Bob's puzzle picture was
complete. Betty Thompson! Well, I
have been a fool!''
His words. addressed to the ceiling,
were received with q solemn plaster imi-
tation Of Olympian indifference.
Not so Eleanor. There! I've broken
my promise!' she cried, excitedly. Il
knew / wOuld!''
At the same instant she became aware
that Betty was hurrying along the pas
sage toward them. She lowered her
voice and spoke rapidly, you mustn't
tell her you know it! Betty would never
forgive me- Promise me you won't tell
promise, Bob!'
Bob promised with his eyes-it was too
late to speak.