Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-22
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.
Such as-What?"

do, eh? Such as-what?"
II know there's a fight going on be-
tween two copper companies and-and
you're in it. aren't your
Baxter smiled grimly. II guess I'm in
it all right
"And one company or the other may
be ruined. Isn't that true?"
"Well," drawled her guardian. II guess
one company or the others liable to find
out that the thing they've been mon
keyin' with amt precisely Sunday
school picnic
earnestness OF her convictions. You
may think me foolish, and perhaps L
shouldn't say this. but Guardy, 1 don't
approve Of your using fathers money like
that"
Don't, eh?" grunted Hiram; then. ris-
ing from his chair. he walked back and
forth with frowns and queer little mods
of his massive head. Presently his race
cleared, and, stopping before Betty. ne
laid an affectionate hand on her shoulder.
Child. it looks as if I'll have to ex-
plain a few things to yOu,' he said. that
l didn't mean to talk about. You say We
don't approve of speculatin In wall street.
Neither do /. l got into this copper cam
paign because-well. it amt exactiy my
fault, and-anyhow. there are times when
a mans got to fight fer his life. It's that
way with me just now. AS to usin' yer
fathers money he hesitated before
the steady challenge of her waiting eyes.
Bryce Thompson and I were partners In
my best friend. and-ye know l Woulon I
breathe a word against his memory"
Il know said the girl. 60 On.
Betty. yer father didn't leave any
In a dull way she repeated the words.
"He-he didn't leave any-money. her
voice trailed off into sickening silence.
"Ye know how generous yer father was
and-he made unfortunate investments hnxs
and-when his estate was settled up there
wasn't anything left"
Nothing left!'' she murmured. then
rousing herself as new thought came.
"But-all this money that you've peen
sending me?''
cit wasn't my money? ! had no right
to,it? Oh!'' She stared at him helpless
ly as the full realization broke upon her:
I'D never have mentioned 1t only
You should have told me long ago.
I'm so-sorry and ashamed"
There, now! It's all right" He took
her two slim hands in his and patted
them kindly
you've sent me thousands Of dollars.
can never pay 1t back"
"Ye don't have to pay 1t back
"But-why did you do it? Why?"
"I'n tell We why" answered Hiram.
thoughtfully. Because 1 loved yer
father. that's one reason. and another IS
live always loved you. Betty. ever
since We was little"
'Guardy.' she whispered. tenderly.
"But you must see that
"Wait, Betty! The bookkeepin' OF lie
is queer thing. Ye don't have to make
the deservin' column and the lov1n' col
give things because We owe 'em. We don t
use a scale or measurin' cup, We just
give and give. and We can't give enough
because we love"
The girls eyes filled with tears. she
tried to speak, but the words choked In
her throat.
ut amt only because yer a sweet.
plucky girl that I've loved ye," he went
on. Its because We make me tnink
Of there was break In his voice
we lost her. She was only three years
old when she-went away. That amt
very old, is it? But. say, she had the
cinches around our hearts all right! l
can see her now in her blue dress. with
her little hands full o. flowers. She had
eyes like yours, Betty. and pretty way
like yours and" the grim, old fellow
stopped and wiped his eyes. We'll.
guess We understand now why I'd do
most anything in the world to make you
happy . >.
she murmured, in distressed self-re-
proach.
Not a bit! All want We to do is to
"And you've been hard pressed for
money. Oh. if I could only help you! 1
will help you. I'll work. Yes. / mean it.
1 can earn money with my singing and
besides. I'm practical. l can use type
writer-I could be your secretary. Guardy.
I'm sure l could. Would you let me try?
Please let me-
Holy catsr exclaimed Baxter. rs
there anything an American girl won't
think Of? I'm proud of We. Betty. Ter
You just stay with us like one of the
family
mo. no. There are too many staying
with you like one Of the family. I'm go
ing to be your secretary. that IS. her
face fell, 'unless you have one already
II had one i'm New York. but l didn't
bring her over because-the fact is. there
was leak in the Office and-I fired her"
'"rhen you need some one to help your
cried Betty, eagerly. And l do know
i can do what I'm told. Please Guardy.'
Betty's whole soul was in the words.
and for many.a day Hiram Baxter re-
membered the loving radiance that IL
lumned her face as she held out her
hands in a sweet impulse to help.
Eyer a little thoroughbred all right"
he reflected "And / could trust We.
That's whole lot moren' 1 can say of
the last one. lin.
He reflected a moment and then, hold
ing out his hand with CHEEKY smile:
Betty. yer my kind! Yer Bryce Thomp-
sons daughter! There! I don't mind
tellin' we this fits in with plan I had
and-yes, we can try 1t. Ye can be my
secretary. Say, won't that shame the
relatives?"
Thus they settled upon an arrange
ment that was destined to have impOr-
tant consequences.
pleasure Of a theater, and the next morn
ing Betty passed in a flutter of hurried
preparations. for she suddenly realized
that one Of her Paquin gowns was not
the most suitable garment for a serious
minded secretary to be wearing when she
arrived at the scene of her duties. There
was no reason why she should give Mrs.
Bakers relatives (whO did not know
her. thank heaven the satisfaction of
realizing, by any outward sign. how COM
plete was the downfall of poor Betty
Thompson. So she hurried into her plain
est black frock, very chic creation,
nevertheless, and was waiting demurely
in the taxicab when Hiram and his wife
appeared.
And now. just as they were starting
for the station. there came a lOng-dis-
lance telephone message for Baxter.
something important, the operator said.
"Who dye s'pose 1t was. Eleanor"
beamed Hiram a few moments later, as
he hurried back. Yell have to get a
move on. friend" he warned the driver.
as they shot away.
THE Baroness Dunwoodie?" guessed
Mrs. Baxter.