The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-27

MYSTERIOUS MISS BELL
BY JANE OSBORN.

."'e'hatiug 10 the man she mys,
nes tnen 1t Is not hard to see VII
Niarence Banks. who had never befol
met the girl he cared to marry. ha
ialien very much in love with the ne
stehographer. For this new stenogr
pher. Miss Hell was from first to Ia.
an unsolved mystery. She was bafflia
from the first day she steppe
INTO Varnum's Office to this memoir;
ole Gay when her actions seemed {
snatter every foregone conclusion tha
clarence Banks had on the subject q
women.
but besides being a mystery. Mis-
BEL was fascinating enough to charm
. more strongly fortified heart thai
that OF Clarence Banks. She was on,
OF those tantalizing quiet young WON
en- that countless years ago occasione,
the sage remark that still waters rul
deep She was. in her work in thu
ONCE. very friendly. to certain point
OUT beyond that point there seemed tt
De 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
once 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 a fellow 90 lit.
tie chance in the office, and | am
naturally friendly sort"
Miss Bell only shook her head and
said. NO. thank you"
Eventually. however, she did with
reluctance consent to 60 to luncheon
with him and Banks could not helm
noticing the apparent-or was II
ieigned?-enjOyment she derived from
their chat. nor could he hide from her
MS admiration for her
Ihen for few weeks they drifted
INTO delightful friendship. She was
aware of his admiration for her hut
~ her consciousness of 1t she kept
MIN at bay. Still Banks could not
nelp the CLEAN OF easy friendliness
mat came over Varnum's face when
she was with him.
One day-Miss Bells last day In the
once - something happened to
strengthen Banks suspcions Nrs
'arnum. a kind-hearted. grayhaired
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.
er several months absence from home.
she went unannounced into her hus.
bands office. Banks saw her through
MS half open door and then In frantic
haste Miss Bell rushed upon him
through the door that connected his
Office with that Of his senior partner.
She regained her composure quickly
out on some absurd excuse remained
IN his room till Mrs. Varnum had
gone The next night, the eve OF a
holiday. Varnum and Miss Bell had
work to do after dinner and In q mood
OF anger and disappointment Banks
quietly returned also.
Say. you just got out In time. Betty
she almost caught you" Banks heard
'arnum saying in the next room with
Jovial laugh and then the young man
moved towards the door to listen.
Il think Mr. Banks was surprised
when ! came into his ROOM" said Bet.
". DO you think he is suspicious,
Or course we will have to let him
know some time
There was silence and then Var.
lum said: Il have arranged with tho
lgent to get the car day after tomor.
ow and you are to pick It out DO
'ou think you can learn to run it,"
'Of course can said Miss Bell =,
oyfully. "ilow wonderful Of YOU"
But 1t Is only In honest payment
,ou have earned every cent II cost.
gu have been here six months and
gu are worth two OF the usual sort
don't know how ! will do without
gu. little girl. but you have had
nough and now you and your mother u
lust enjoy the car together. Come
city give me kiss and skip home.
would never do for US to go to-
ether"
Banks could stand no more OF this.
@ was ashamed of himself for having
stoned. but having heard what he had
could hold back no longer. With N
bound he rushed through the door
to Varnum's room. -
Il have been listening to you for tho D
st ten minutes" he said, fairly glow.
ing at Betty, who had stood at Mr.
lrnums side In confusion
You are on then" said varnum
tn a jovial laugh as he put his arm
ound Betty's waist.
Isn't it wonderful" said Betty with
e most innocent of smiles "Why >,
:. Banks"
There was childlike look OF dis.
pointment in her face as she saw
It Mr.. Banks failed to Join in the s
neral JOY OF the situation. Then she
pt up to him to explain. Don't You
have been earning the car for
ther. and all the time she was
ay she thought I was Just STAYING
ne doing nothing. She didn't want M
to work. but Dad couldn't afford
ha