The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-11
BFTTY's SUCCESS
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

was painting and Lillian was teaching,
but it was now necessary for Baby
Betty, as the family called her, to
contribute to the general exchequer. |
But If today was sample, positions |
were not growing along the curbstones |
waiting to be plucked. She few nome |
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.
Mr.. Trowbridge frowned, but gave q
grudging consent. SHOW her in
A person soon appeared in the door
way 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
fiat that it looked like paint and the
doorbell knot twisted so tight it
pulled her eyes aslant.
Il heard that you wanted a stenog-
rapher, and thought maybe / would
do. l am one."
'Indeed?" gasped Mr. Trowbridge.
Yes. You'll find I'm businesslike,
quick and competent And fixing
him with an owlsh look over her
glasses, she added: Besides, | don't
bother about men, nor they me. You
will 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 thoughtfully tapped his pencil
against his desk
Il believe I'll try you, Miss Heck!"
he exclaimed suddenly. Il have had
a 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, 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 week conflded
his JOY to his companions. I've found
perfect lemon of stenographer.
She is so ugly she is fascinating l
: dictate twice as many letters as used
to Just to convince myself Of my luck
One day Miss Heck was away. She
sent word that she was i'll, which
worried Mr.. Trowbridge very much
Poor thing! They had worked ner
to death 1t would pay to be kind to
, the lady. He hunted up her address
l and ordered flowers. He would take
9 them himself on his way home. Al
the middle house in a suburban row
the bell was answered by pretty girl
who turned fairest red the instant
, she opened the door and saw the call
err The visitor was mystified. Where
a had he seen her before? Something
about her was very familiar indeed
Recovering himself he 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
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 In
Sister was better and would wish t
see him and thank him for the flow
ers.
He did not hear the giggling ant
fussing In Mab's studio where way
ward curls we're being brushed fla
and pulled back into a hard knot ant
q horrid lotion was putting a glaz'
on a rose and velvet complexion.
Putting in his time looking at pho
tographs and family groups, he dis
covered something A queer lool
came into his face. which, had h
been playing auction, any of hi
friends would have known indicated
certainty on his part of holding mos
of the odd tricks.
Miss Heck came in-the ugly Mis-
Heck She shook hands In a busi
nesslike manner and sat down.
The rest OF what happened was suci
surprise to her. as Betty told tn,
girls afterward, she couldn't remem
Der distinctly. But II was some
thing like this:
I'm glad you are better, Mis-
Heck I came to talk business"
"Yes?"
! When you came to me you recon
mended yourself as a time-saver.
! believe in the same thing and ] nav,
a proposition to make to you RICH
now"
Very good, Mr.. Trowbridge."
We'll. Betty. IL you will Just rui
upstairs and take of all that darl
foolishness and let down those prett,
curls, rub off that grease and smasl
those spectacles, I'm going to asl
you to marry me. But, on secon
thought. | don't believe I'll wait 70
that"
And Betty never would tell the res