Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-11-25
BETTY's SUCCESS
sy LOUISE OLIVER.


Betty had just finished a course in
the art OF shorthand and typewriting
and IL was up to her to get work Nab
was painting and Lillian was teaching,
but 1t was now necessary for Baby
Betty, a. the family called her, 20
contribute TO the general exchequer
But IL today was q sample. positions
were not growing along the curbstones
waiting to be plucked. She few home
TO talk things over with the girls.
The next morning Mr.. Albert Trow-
bridge was scarcely seated at his
desk when the boy announced with a
grin that a lady wished to see him.
AF. Trowbridge frowned. but gave
grudging consent. Show her in"
A person soon appeared in the door
say who caused that gentleman TO
gasp.
Good morning. Miss"
Heck" she supplied CURLY.
He surveyed the round. shiny face
and steel spectacles. a decade old
hat perched on top of a couture SO
nat that II looked like paint and the
doorbell knot twisted SO tight II
pulled her eyes aslant
Il heard that you wanted a stenog
rapher. and thought maybe l would
do. ! am one"
"Indeed?' gasped Mr.. Trowbridge
Yes. You'll find I'm businesslike,
quick and competent" And fixing
him with an owlish look over her
glasses. she added: Besides, ] don't
bother about men, nor they me. You
viii save time. and times money
these days
You are quite right" he agreed.
politely. Time Is money"
A whimsical look came into his face
which slowly broadened into a grin,
as he thOughtfuIly tapped his pencil
against his desk.
Il believe I'll try you. Miss Heck.
he exclaimed suddenly. II have had
n great deal OF trouble with--with-
undesirable young ladies and ! be.
lieve you are just what am looking
for"
As she took her place at the type
writer In the outer Office. a painful
hush fell over the room. The chief
clerk. whose duty IL was to initiate
new stenographers. made a wry face
behind his hand, and the young lady
caught something about "souring
cream"
Miss Heck proved to be all she
claimed for herself. She was bust
nesslike and quick. Mr.. Trowbridge
himself, at the end OF a week confided
his JOY to his companions. I've found
a perfect lemon Of a stenographer.
She Is so ugly she is fascinating. !
dictate twice as many letters as I used
to just TO convince myself of my luck
One day Miss Heck was away. She
sent word that she was Ill. which
worried Mr.. Trowbridge very much
Poor thing! They had worked ner
to death. II would pay to be kind to
the lady. He hunted up her address
and ordered flowers. He would take
them himself on his way home. At
the middle house In a suburban row
the bell was answered by a pretty girl
who turned q fairest red the instant
she opened the door and saw the call
er. The visitor was mystified. Where
had he seen her before? Something
about her was very familiar indeed,
Recovering himself, ne handed in the
box with polite inquiry for Miss
Heck's health. Learning that she was
improving and hoped to be at work In
few days. he departed--not without
n backward glance as he left
Monday did not return Miss Heck
to her duties, which afforded Albert
Trowbridge another opportunity for
inquiry at the house and a possible
chance Of seeing the same girl again
He was gratified when the young
lady OF Saturday answered the bell
This time she demurely asked him I'm
Sister was better and would wish to
see him and thank him for the flow.
ers.
He did not hear the giggling and
fussing In Mab's studio. where way.
ward curls were being brushed fiat
and pulled back into hard knot and
a horrid lotion was putting a glaze
on a rose and velvet complexion.
Putting In his time looking at pho
tographs and family groups. he dis
covered something. A queer look
came into his face, which, had he
been playing auction. any OF his
friends would have known indicated a
certainty on his part of holding most
OF the odd tricks.
Miss Heck came in-the ugly Miss
Heck. She shook hands I'm a bust.
nesslike manner and sat down.
The rest OF what happened was such
a surprise to her. as Betty told the
girls afterward, she couldn't remem.
Der distinctly. But 1t was some
thing like this:
I'm glad you are better. Miss
Heck. ! came to talk business
"Yesr"
When you came to me you recon.
mended yourself as a time-saver.
believe in the same thing and I have
a proposition TO make to you right
now"
Very good. Mr.. Trowbridge
We'll. Betty. IL you will just run
upstairs and take OF all that darn
Ioolishness and let down those pretty
curls. rub OF that grease and smash
those spectaeles. I'm going to ask
you to marry me. But. on second
thought. don't believe Ill wait for
that"
And Betty never would tell the rest
OF II.
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicatel
OF Absolute Pitch.