Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-19
The Daily Story
Betty's Answer-By C1arissa Mackie.
copyrighted 1914 by Associated Literary Bureau.


brim of his splendid hat, nor d - =.
soaked silk shirt which chung II ~ =.
broad shoulders and showed n'
muscle, nor of the dropping n,ursa
Of the Angora chaps.
| Poor Ben saw nothing save p....
startled glance at his decla rat,o. l.
loye-surprfse because he dr. =
dream Of herl He choked WITH 49, =
ment Out here in the great west ~.
believed him to be poor cowbov I.
pendent upon his $50 per month -.
out an eye to the future, when IN -.
he was heir to tidy fortune fhst - !,
remained untouched in Chicago b.ss-
for three years while be reveIed a. ~
free life OF the plains and earned y.
own bread.
The storm increased The rssn ~.
In his face. and he was glad M NJ
wind and the wet as be stru,,,.s
against it. 1t was life, he told him..
grimly. Only when the sun cana =.
by and by it would be travestr -
his own life, for the sun could -.
shine for him without Betty Daugsr.
field
At last he found himself m a r,c.,
canyon miles away from home s,s
with a bewildering sense that ba ~
suffered a bad dream.
1t was still raining and the side. =,
the canyon were raked with gullies A.
water pouring down into the uarror
creek that disappeared in a smotss.
Of foam at the other end of the can
yon.
what shall I doT" asked Ben bo.r,a
~, and there came no answer TO ths
question of what a man must d. ,p,,b
his life if he cannot get the woman 4.
loves. All the feryor of life seemss
gone without that evanescent hone tb,,
some day he might wake up and And
that Betty DaDgerfeld loved him.
He told himself that he had been
fool to cherish hope SO long. he ought
to have spoken long ago and allowed
her to put him out of his misery.
Ben Finney laughed bitterly at The
thought.
"Oh, Ben. why do you laugh IN,
that?" asked a timid voice at his d.
bow.
81 am dreaming" said Ben, turning
his head slowly around to find that the
voice was not that Of dream girl. Il
was the voice of Betty DangerfeId Der.
self. She was riding her pony, and the
rush of the torrents had drowned The
hoof beats.
Her khaki habit was soaking wet
and raindrops chung to the red-goId
tendrils of her uncovered hair. The
swift ride had brought reseate nush
to her clear skin, and her changing
eyes were pools OF mysterious shad-
ows.
Miss Betty~ gasped Ben Finney,
staring at her. Something has hap
pened TO your father"
Betty shook her head.
Daddy is all right" she said grave
ly, ''but something has happened TO
me-"
Ben whirled about, his hand on bis
holster.
Happened to you?" he cried. Tel
me quickly SO I can do something"
III tell you,'' said Betty, with steady
eyes gazing into his hurt blue ones
THAT is why 1 followed you here. Ben
Finney, because you can help me. VIII
your
with my Iife!' promised Ben
grimly.
Its about man." began Betty, and
her dimples deepened as Ben frightened
his hand on his gun-"a man OF whom
I'm fond. Well, IL love him, Ben
Her eyes fell, and she did not see the
agony that came into the handsome
face under the dripping sombrero
Yes" gritted Ben between nis
teeth, "you love him-and-tell me the
rest" Il
"He came and asked me to marry
him, and then-then"- Betty faltereo
And then?" Numbered Ben
'He rode away as fast as be could
confessed Betty. "And so ran afte'
him."
"WeII. what did he say?' demanoed
Ben, who was deathly white
Betty looked up and saw the ss01
In his strong face.
"Oh, Benz she cried. "Wnat si'
you going to say?'
Ben stared. NE? You don't meAA
me, Betty! Is 1t me you love!
"Of course, goose" sobbed Berry ~
she slipped from her saddle INTO Nv
arms. -,
But why didn't you tell me tneuI
You said you were sorry anu ,,.a
thought Betty's little hand SUM-
he words on his lips.
ST couldn't, dear. because oan
sently. the army officer, who Is tDln.
ng OF buying some Of daddys nels
or the post. was sitting right oes's.
Is in the parlor, and 1 was atrs'a
would hear" -. hs
"Ohw cried Ben as he he'a
loser -. ri
Then the sun came out and snO1
'ver the rain drenched woria III
mile on a te:eful face. .,.s. El
at say" said Ben happily, 80,
ust the way I thought it wouidn ''
EN-" - bg
And Betty never even asSea
over to explain this cryptic re sa,.s
here were so many important '
0 talk about