The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-02-28
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MYSTERIOUS MISS BELL
ey JANE OSBORN.

hes Then It is not hard to see wby
Clarerce Banks, who had never before
met the girl he cared to marry. had
fallen very much in love with the now
stenographer. For this new stenogrs,
pher' Miss Bell was from first to last
an unsolved mystery. She vas battling
from the first day she stepped
INTO Varnum's Office to this memora.
Die day when her actions seemed to
shatter every foregone conclusion that
Clarence Banks had on the subject of
women.
But besides being a mystery Miss
Bell was fascinating enough to charm
more strongly fortified heart than
that OF Clarence Banks. She was one
OF those tantalizing quiet young WON.
en- that countless years ago occasioned
the sage remark that still waters run
ueep' She was. in her work in the
office. very friendly, to a certain point
but beyond that point there seemed to
be barrier. There was one excep-
ton and this contradiction added to
the mystery and made a certain Mon.
day after Miss Bell had been in the
, Office about two months one of the
most memorable In Clarence Banks'
career.
Il say. Miss Bell he said. How
about staying down to dinner with
me tonight. You give fellow SO lit
tie chance in the Office, and am
Naturally friendly sort"
Miss Be'l only shook Ter head and
said, mo, thank you"
Eventually, however, she did with
reluctance consent to 20 to luncheon
with him and Banks could not help
noticing the apparent-or was il
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 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 OF II she kept
him at bay. Still Banks could not
help the gleam Of easy friendliness
that came over Varnum's face when
she was with him.
One day-Miss Bells last day in the
ONCE - something happened to
strengthen Banks suspicious. Mrs.
Varnum, q lind-hearted, gray.haired
woman wbora 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
er several months' absence from home.
She went unannounced into her hus.
bands ONCE. Banks saw her through
his half open door and then In frantic
haste Miss He'll rushed upon him /
Through the door that connected his /
ONCE with that Of his senior partner.
She regained her composure quickly
but On some absurd excuse remained
In his room till Mrs. varnum had
gone. The next night, the eve of a
holiday. Vainum and Miss Bell had
work to do after dinner and in a mood
of anger and disappointment Banks
quietly returned also.
Say, you Just got out In time, Betty. |
She almost caught you," Banks heard |
Varnum saying In the next room with /
q jovial laugh and then the young man
moved towurds the door to listen. |
II think Mr. Banks was surprised !,
when came into his ROOM" said Bet |
ty. DO you think he is suspicious? !
or course We will have to let him
know sons time"
There was a silence and then Var. !
mum said: Il have arranged with the ,
agent to pet the car day after tomor- !
row and you are to pick 1t out Do !
you think you can learn to run it,"
"Of course | can said Miss Bell I
toyfully. How wonderful of you!"
But 1t 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.
! don't know how | will do without /
you, little girl, but you have had
enough and now you and your mother
must enjoy the car together. Come
Betty give me a kiss and skip home.
1t would never do for us to so to-
fether"
Banks could stand no more Of this.
He was ashamed of himself for having
listened, but having heard what he had
he could hold back no longer. With
Q bound he rushed through the door
(pto Vacnum's room.
II have been listening to you for the
last ten minutes he said. fairly glow
ering vt Betty, who had stood at Mr..
Varnum's side In confusion.
"YOl are on them" said Varnum
with y jovial laugh as he put his arm
around Betty's waist.
'Isn't It wonderfully" said Betty with
the most innocent Of smiles. why
Mr.. banks"
There was q childlike look Of dis
appointment in her face AZ she saw
that Mr. Banks failed to join In the
general Joy of the situation. Then she
went up to him to explain. Don't you
see / have been earning the car for
mother and all the time she was
away she thought was just staying
home doing nothing. She didn't want
me to work, but Dad couldn't AFFORD
the car unless he cut down expenses
somehow, and she was 80 crazy to
A |