Evening star., 1912-11-23

liiLeS. DId ne mean them then! Had ne
forgotten them now? She sighed. He
couldn't have meant them very much and
De carrying on as he was with Kate Glen
DENIM. Poor little pal of olden times!
And now singular thing happened. AS
Betty looked fondly at the typewriter
words she suddenly had an uncomfortable
Ieeling that some one had entered the
room and was looking at her There had
peen neither sound nor word, but she
knew that person was standing there.
at the half-open door of the mezzanine
chamber. her dark eyes fixed on her bene-
factress in silent supplication.
on. cried Betty, in quick self-re-
proach.
Hester touched warning finger to her
lips and disappeared into the chamber.
Whereupon Miss Thompson, dreading
some new development, moved swiftly to-
ward the little stair. On the way she
stopped. in an impulse Of kindness, and
took up the tray of food.
Poor girl! She's had nothing to eat"
she thought. and. a moment later she
joined Hester in the bedroom.
Thus 1T came about that when Robert
burst into the library few minutes later.
eager to see Betty Thompson. he found
the dig room empty. But there on the
davenport were signs of recent femi-
nine occupation-suede gloves. smart
travelling hat and veil and lizard-skin
bag with silver monogram. Betty was
evidently somewhere about, and the young
fellow settled himself down to wait. He
must talk to Betty. he must explain that
he hadn't meant to hurt her feelings the
other day at Brighton. He was only hav-
ing joke with her-why he wouldn't
hurt her feelings for the world.
AS the young man glanced about the
library his eyes fell on the little volume
OF Marcus Aurelius, and, taking it up
carelessly. he came upon the letter shut
within its pages. He had no thought of
prying. indeed. he had no idea to whom
the book belonged. and, before he real
lied what he was doing. he had read his
own letter.
by the lord Harry!' he muttered. and
the hot blood rushed to his face as he
understood what this meant. That dear
girl! His Betty! To think that she had
kept that letter! He remembered seeing
her crumple it up and throw it in the
waste basket. She must have stopped
down and picked it out again = and
smoothed it-and folded it-and kept it.
His plucky little pal. His Betty.
Bob rose savagely and strode about the
room. Couldn't he have seen that she
was no ordinary secretary? My God! A
child would have understood.
And the worst Of it was he had liked
and wondered about her, and-and then
he had gone and made silly idiot of
himself with Kate Clendennin. 1t was
sickening.
Bob had just brought himself to this
state Of righteous penitence and self
abasement when the door from Betty's
chamber opened and Betty herself ap-
peared. She was stronger and happier
now from having cheered and strength
ened disheartened sister woman. She
was resolved to give Hester Storm this
one last chance that she begged for to
make good. She would try to save the
girl from prison. She would hide her for
a few hours. until Grimes had gone. This
cho hod 6lx- to fto
pleading penitent, and she would keep her
word.
At the sight of Betty Bob went toward
her eagerly. holding out his hands.
Betty! Betty!' was all he could say.
"There!' she said, smiling happily and
giving him her hand. Its all right, Bob;
it's all right
mo, no, it's all wrong he insisted.
She loved his nice naughty-child peni-
tence. Nor did she object to his master
full way as he drew up chairs.
I've a lot to tell you," he went on,
"but-''
Her dimple deepened at his embarrass-
ment. and she reflected that he certainly
cravats.
I'm listening" she said. demurely
This is the first chance I've had to
speak to you since that day at Brighton
I'm sorry II lost my temper, Bob"
she whispered.
Sorry he burst out. "Why should
you be sorry? You did the right thing.
You called me down. but-you didn't say
enough-not half enough
Il didn't"
He caught the mischief of her eyes. and,
suddenly, as they remembered Betty's
slashing outburst. they both were seized
with a wild desire to laugh
MY little pal! Betty Thompson he
exclaimed. in the old, cordial way. Say,
why didn't you tell me about this-secre-
tary business?" He tried to take one of
her hands in his. but she drew it away
gently. why didn't you, Betty?"
IL didn't want to-" she answered, in
a low tone.
That's no answer ] don't see why you
did it,
wanted to help Guardy when he's been
so good to me. and-he had no secretary.
and--Ive been eXtravagant. Think of
all the money Guardy has given me, and
II supposed it was mine, l thought it
was money father left me- but-he really
left nothing. He-he left nothing"
Nothing? He left the finest. pluckiest
girl In the world. And, anyway, I don't
see why you had to hide your name. Why
didn't you say you were Betty Thompson
and not just any old Miss Thompson? 1
mean any young Miss Thompson" he
added, laughing.
She hesitated before answering
Bob. you may not believe me, you
lHllh iiusiCidHS are crazy peOple-yeS.
You do, YOU said SO. but-Ive worked
hard at my singing, and-I have a voice.
a fine voice. I've sung in concerts, and
I'm going to make a name for myself, not
like Melba or Emma Eames but-well
you'll hear of Elizabeth Thompson some
day, and it won't be as secretary
pounding on typewriter. either; it will
be as g. singer. So there!' She drew her.
self up with flash Of the eye and a lift
Of the chin that made Bob thrill as he
watched her. Now you see why I'm just
plain Miss Thompson
Betty. you know you've been talking
nonsense; you know you've not given me
the right reason
Betty dropped her eyes in confusion.
IF there was a reason it was Abolish
reason. and" suddenly she drew back.
and, with start of remembrance,
changed the subject 'How stupid! We're
forgetting the bishop
Hang the bishop! He's lying down.
He says we're going to have a storm
says he ached all over-that's how he
knows
How interesting! l believe we are 60
ing to have storm Look. Bob She
pointed to a line of heavy clouds ad-
vancing formidably in purple black
masses.
He shook his head. II don't want to
talk about the storm. Betty. or about the
bishop or about any other old thing. I
want to talk about you Tell me about
that foolish reason. l love foolish rea-
sons
well, II thought it would be-amus-
ing to-see if-you would know me-. She
doled the words out teasingly. then. with
a laugh Of half triumph. half reproach,
land you didn't, you didn't
ho \