The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-04-30
DIscHARGING BETTY
BY ISABEL FROST.


toward it. In the first place, she never
should have been employed IN such a
place as the BenZinger Iron works. She
had walked through the outer gates
one early spring morning, the last of
line of applicants, and had asked the
first worker she met what the superin-
tendent's name was.
Crank Curzon," she was told. There
fore, instead of waiting her turn, city |
had marched valiantly up to the book
keepers desk and had asked for Mr.. |
Curzon quite as if she were paying a |
little afternoon call. And she got the |
position.
The salary was only 50 week, but
there was no carfare to pay, and the
factory lay just across the railroad
tracks from the pretty suburban neigh
borhOod where she lived with her ia
Their and the four boys, all younger
| than herself.
"You mustn't mind" she said that
evening, beaming on her docile home
circle at the supper table. I'm ter
rible cook, and this way / can hire old
Mrs. Ransom to come in and work for
us by the day for 81 a week. That
[ leaves me five for myself. l am Mr..
| Curzon's private secretary"
| 'What does he look like?" demanded
David, the eldest brother.
"Well, he's rather tall, and possibly
/ thirty. more or less" Betty dished the
preserved cherries thoughtfully. And
very, very businesslike and short
spoken"
But" said Dave sarcastically, wait
till he's Bettifed.''
1t took about four weeks TO BETTY
the whole office. 1t began with the
strike at the gray iron foundry across
| the street. After the reserves had
|, been called out and the fight in the
yards was over, CurZon came back,
looking rather tense and angry.
, 'Why didn't you keep out of range
when those fellows We're firing at us!'
he demanded of Betty.
81 wanted to see" answered Betty
| haughtily. 1T was very interesting"
: 1t was the end of the second month
that CurZon began to make up his
mind. In the first place, he was am
bilious and had put all thoughts of
love or marriage out of his scheme of
life. The foundry was his life. And
: still it was June, and Betty Wore the
= most enhancing. fluffy gowns to work,
Q absolutely unbusinesslike.
0 Likewise, at the lunch hour, Betty
y had a tiny electric contrivance which
/ she calmly applied to the company
c switch, and On which she managed
I somehow to concoct the daintiest and
most unexpected of luncheon dishes
: since there, was no good restaurantTfn
! invite him to partake.
So one night toward the end of June
when she had worked overtime, he
= stood by the window of the office thai
. overlooked the gray iron building ant
:, spoke gloomily, Realistically.
'Of course, you know this can't g
. on much longer"
: "Are you trying to discharge me, Mr.
CurZon?'
: 'rve got to-" answered Curzon slow
:, ~, returning her look with unswerv
: ing intention. I've either got to fir
- you or marry you.4 This can't go Oh
= l can't think of anything under TIL
v light of heaven but you, day or night
- and want to work"
% "Then, of course, l must leave" sal,
Betty, with her very incest, her yer,
= kindest manner.
Betty" said CurZon, in curiou
n voice, voice of accusation and ap
peal. too. Betty, why did you eve
20 come to work here? / didn't want you
" You know perfectly well you've see
+. this coming on, and / believe you'v
gloated over it,
y Nobody knows how far Betty's die
nifty would have gone if it had no
Il been for the half-briek that came sal
If ing through the open window. Curzo
70 went down like hewn tree at he
Mt feet. When the ambulance arrive
re Jim and the engineer We're holdin
,e down the two strikers who had lai
g. in wait outside the office windows fo
n chance at the boss.
e. But inside the Office Betty knelt o
re the floor beside Curzon. She ha
washed and bandaged the cut on hi
re brow and had pillowed his head on he
10 coat-the little pongce silk coat sl
ne wore to work. And the young SUI
IN geon, entering hastily, hesitated on tn
threshold, for Betty's hand was stroll
IS, ing back the hair from the patient
OF forehead with more than a nurselil
as touch, and the upward gaze of h
eyes was-as he told Jim later
lg dead give-away"
w "Tm not going to work at the foul
ay dry any longer" Betty broke the new
en- to the family circle that night wit
or tact and gentleness.
~ Thought it wouldn't last much lonj
err scoffed Dave. "Who discharge
ly you, Bet?''
he "Mr. CurZon," sweetly.
"For carrying on in business hours
", Archie limited darkly. just then IL
he bell rang at the front door, and III