Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-27
Cleveland Moffett and Oliver Herford.
Copyright Cleveland Mo1e and Oliver Herford-ie12)

why, certainly, III get you some,
and he hurried off. thus giving Betty a
few minutes for preliminary practice.
Fortunately the keyboard was the one
she knew already, and she soon found,
to her great relief, that she could do the
work fairly we'll.
When Bob returned with the oil Betty
thanked him SWeetly. and then, while
she fused with the levers, managed tact
fully to turn the conversation back to
Mr.. Bakers partner And presently she
learned the sickening truth that Hiram
Bakers present difficulties were entirely
due to the fact that her father had been
led into speculation.
1T was the old story, Miss thompson;
he thought he could pull fortune out
of the market, but Bob shrugged
his shoulders.
He lost?''
Lost his mohey and lot of fathers:
They had been partners for twenty-Odd
years: did a nice conservative banking
business until this thing happened
ooh! Oh!'' murmured the unhappy girl.
"Why did he do it,?
1.-The same old reason. They always
lived in rather large way. The old man
had a daughter, an only child. and-he
just worshiped her. lavished things on
her. I'd have done the same, for she's
corking fine girl, Betty is. only-it took
a lot of money and-Betty wanted to live
in Paris, and-oll, well, you understand"
you mean she was extravaganza
Generous - eXtravagant - 1t comes to
the same thing, and the old gentleman
wanted to leave her so she could live as
she pleased, but-he didn't do it,
Bob had risen again and stood leaning
against one of the stiff-backed chairs.
blowing cigarette smoke thoughtfully to-
ward the conservatory. For few mo-
ments Betty could scarcely trust herself
to speak.
And the girl-Betty-what became of
q
"Oh, she's over in Paris. 1 believe She
doesn't know word Of this. I'm only
telling you as fathers private secretary
and-you understand this is absolutely
confidential. Miss Thompson?'
"Of course"
ut would break Betty all up If she
knew it,
"But-don't you think" hesitated the
girl, and. despite her bravest efforts, her
eyes betrayed her deep distress.
Bob looked at her fxedly. II say you
have a tender heart, Miss Thompson.
What were you going to say?"
Il only meant-it seems unfair Toto
the GIRL stammered Betty. 1T puts her
in a false position. Perhaps she has been
spending a lot Of money that she thought
was hers
That's all right declared Bob. cheer
fully. Father and / will stand for it.
We're pretty keen about Betty and-she's
going to have everything she wants. So
remember, if she shows up here. which
she's apt to do, not word about this,
Miss Thompson
"rll remember" answered Betty, with
a deeper meaning than her companion
suspected.
Then there was silence again. broken
only by the clicking of the machine.
Its odd about Betty Bob went on,
half to himself. II haven't seen her since
she was little tot about eleven. She
was sailing for Europe.
Betty faced him with Frightening eyes.
ID aol1 v-O hoy hoy CjpRo
them"
He shook his head. 1.-The last saw OF
Betty was a little figure in a gray ulster
and a Tam O. Shanter, waving an Ameri-
can flag to me from the deck of q big
steamer that was getting smaller every
minute, while the lump in my throat was
getting bigger
The agitated girl bent closer over the
keyboard to hide her mantling color.
while Bob continued, all unconscious Of
the effect he was producing. That was
twelve years ago. Betty must be twenty
three-thnk of that!'
DO YOU think you'd know her if you
saw her nOW?
know her? Know Betty" he exclaim-
ed "Of course I'd know her. I'd know
her anywhere
us she-er-pretty?''
Bob thought a moment. stroking his
chin wisely. I'm - err we'll, no, you
couldn't call Betty pretty. Sort of lanky.
long-legged girl. with freckles. but she
had an air about her even at eleven. I've
no use for these magazine-cover sirens,
anyway"
Does she-does she ever write to your
He settled himself on the arm Of an
easy chair. I'VE used to write. but it
dwndled. / haven't heard from Betty in
in New York. and-sles been studying
singing in Paris. She thinks she has a
voice. poor child!'
Betty smiled and bit her lip.
Il don't know why I'm telling you this.
1t can't interest you much,'' he said.
'Oh, but it does,'' she insisted Il like
to know about the people I am to meet.
I suppose Miss Thompson will visit here?"
''She's sure to some time. but you never
can tell when. These singing people are
all more or less crazy
Yes? I should think you'd write and
tell her you're here That would surely
bring her.
"Ah! You're teasing now. but-by Jove,
write to her"
Shall take it down for your She
looked at him quite seriously and then
put a fresh sheet in the machine as If
awaiting his dictation.
What? On the typewriter? What
would Betty think?''
THAT depends. Do you owe her let
ter?"
lowe her? It's the other way around. |
She owes whole bunch of letters"
We'll then, I should think" she be- |
gan. but Bob interrupted with a burst Of
laughter. ''Ha. ha, ha! I'll do 1t. I'll |
be very stiff and formal. 1t will puzzle |
her. anyway, but-have you time?"
Yes, Mr.. Baxter" she said. with ex-
ceeding amiability. II am ready"
Thus it came about that Betty's first |
duty as private secretary was to take !
down letter to her own sweet self from
a man who seemed to like Betty Thomp- |
son, not only as he remembered her
eleven years ago, but as he saw her now
without knowing it, which struck the fair
secretary as decidedly amusing.
MY dearest Betty Bob began, then
strobe about the room in search Of fur
ther inspiration. Have you got that"
"My dearest Betty" repeated Miss
Thompson.
THAT doesn't sound ver> stiff and form |
al does it," laughed Bob You wait
a minute Now then" And he went on.
with suppressed merriment. What in
the world has become of you? l would
have written oftener only I've been hav-
ing such a lively time that haven't had
a moment Thatll make her sit up, |
eh?"
PERHAPS" answered Betty. demurely, |
as she clicked off the words.
1T met a dyeam of a girl in New |
York he continued. Is "a brunette. and
another on the steamer, a blonde-that |
makes two dreams - but they weren't
either of them in your class, Betty, |
deara'" Bob smiled compiacently. |
.How's that, Miss Thompson"
rs it true?' asked Betty.
about not being in her class? Well. |
should say so. She's the finest. gamest, |
bulliest little sport you ever saw. Come !