The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-04-07
MYSTERIOUS HISS BELL
sy JANE OSBORN

li being q mystery makes a woman
fascinating tp tie man she mysts
Aas Then 6 IS nue sars 6 see WAY
4 Clarence Ranks. Who hai nASes before
met SHE giri "a eared i0 malS-. had
fallen very much in love with the new
stenogapheE For this aeH stenogra-
pher Kiss Eel. was from FIRST 70 last
aH aasolred mystery. she vas haHiEng
frtm che arst day shs stepped
into Narnums Office to this memora-
BE day when her actions seemed 70
shatter every foreEnne conclusion that
Clarenes Banks had Oh tie subject Of
women
But besides being 3 mystery. Miss
Bell vas fascinating enough 10 charm
more strongly fortified heart than
that o Clarence Banks she was one
Of thase tantaiizng quiet young Won
IN that countless years aEa occasioned
the sage ramaFk thar still waters run
deep she vas. ia her Wcrk III TIE
ofaces very friendly. 70 a certain point.
hat beyond that point there seemed to
De barrier There was one excep-
ton and this contradiction added to
the mystery and made G certain Mon
day after siiss Bel had been IN the
ONCE about two months one 81 the
most memorable Ill Clarence Banks-
career
! say. Miss Bell.r be said. How
about staying down To dinner with
me tonight. You give a fellow 50 lit-
tie chance Ia the office. and ] am
naturally friendly sort
Miss Bell only shook her head and
said. No, thank SOU.
Eventually. however. she did with
reluctance consent 10 &c 70 luncheon
with him and Banks could not help
noticing the apparent-or was ii
feigned enjoyment she derived from
their chat, nor could he hide from her
his admiration for her.
Then for a few weeks they drifted
into delightful friendship she was
aware Of his admiration for her but
in her consciousness q il she kept
him at bay StiH Banks could not
help The CLEAN 81 easy friendliness
that came over Varnums face when
she was with him.
One day-sIiSs Bells last day IN the
ofice - something happened to
strengthen Banks suspicious Mrs.
Varnum. a kind-hearted, gray.haired
woman whom Banks had heard his
senior partner speak OF with the great
est admiration. called at the Office on
her unexpected arrival in the city aft
4 er several mouths absence from home.
She went unannounced into her bus.
bands ONCE. Banks saw her through
his half open door and then in frantic
haste Miss Bell rushed upon him
/ through the door that connected his
( Office with that Of Bis senior partner.
I She regained her composure quickly
but on some absurd excuse remained
in his room till Mrs Tarnum had
gone The next night. the eve Of a
holiday. Varnum and Miss Bell had
work 10 do after dinner and in mood
OF anger and disappointment Banks
quietly returned also.
Say you just got out in time. Betty
She almost caught you, Banks heard
Narnum saying in the next room vita
a joviaI laugh and then the Young man
moved towards the door to listen.
4 think Mr. Banks was surprised
I when l came into his room. said Bet
I ty. do you think he is suspicious ?
/ OF course We win have to let him
know some time
There was a silence and then Var
mum said: Il have arranged with the
agent to get the car dRy afte. tomor-
row and you are to pick it out Do
you think you can learn to run it24
"Of course I can. said Miss Bel
ioyfully How wonderful Of YOU
But II is only IN honest payment
You have earned every cent 1t cost.
You have been here six months and
you are worth two Of the usual sort.
h don't know how ! viii DO without
you. little girl, but you have had
enough and nov you and your mother
must enjoy the car together. Come
Betty give me a kiss and skip home.
It would never do for Us 10 90 to
gstherT
Ranks could stand no more of this,
He was ashamed of himself for having
listened. but having heard what be had
be could hold back no longer With
bound he rushed through the door
into Varnum's room
Il have been listening 10 you for the
last ten minutes. be said. fairly glow
ering at Betty. who had stood at Mr
Varnums side In confusion
"Yoz are On then said Yarnuu
with a ioviai laugh as he put his arm
around Bettys waist
isn't It wBnderfulTa said Betty witt
the most innocent of smiles Why
~. Banks
There was a chlidlike look Of dis
appointment in her face as she sav
that Mr. Banks failed 70 Join m the
General Joy Of she situation Then shs
vent unfo him n arrfafn -Don'f xni