The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-17
EVENING STORY
Outwitting Father.
(By Louise Oliver.)

(By Louise Oliver.)
Betty flew to the telephone as soon
as she heard her fathers car move
away. 'Oh. Jim, 1 must see you
right away. I've something awful to
tell you,'' she cried to some one who
answered her call
''All right. 1 was just going to ring
you up and ask you to go for a ride.
It's peach of a day, and I can't set
tie down to a thing for thinking or
you"
"All right, dear, I'd love to go. I'll
be ready in five minutes. Mind, it's
awful news I've got to tell you."
Cant be worse than mine" came
back gloomily wen console each
other. That's something, anyway"
In five minutes Jim Stetson's road
ster was at the door of the Kingslands
and Betty got in. She had been cry
ing. In fact, :he tears were still
threatening to run over. and Jim
longed for an opportunity to kiss them
away.
moved away toward the country,
where blossoms and young life were
turning the world into fairyland:.
Dad says he won't have you hang
ing round. He called you all sorts
of dreadful things-a loafer, and a
spendthrift, and-and too good look
ing for your own or any girls hap
piness-that's what he said" she sob
bed into a soft little handkerchief
And he said that he had-plans for
me. There was some one else he
wanted me to marry"
.tWell-Pn be hanged" exclaimed
Jim, putting an arm around her heav-
ing shoulders. That's about the dope
I've been getting from father, too:
What's the matter with everybody?
Betty wiped her eyes Indignantly.
You don't mean that your own faith
err is down on YOU 100.
Not memo, it's you
What do you mean?'
'Why, he says-er-you see he
thinks you are-you spend a lot of
money
..Extravagant-say it,
Yes. He says you're extravagant,
GO on. Jim, for goodness sake!
Don't be afraid What did he say? L
want to know"
HE said you were extravagant and
foolish and that he wasn't going to
have me making a goose of myself
over a pair of eyes and a pretty face"
JIM
He nodded.
why, he doesn't know what 1 look
like, He never saw mel
No more did your father ever see
me- I'm as freshly Matched out of the
college egg as you are
Its queer sighed Betty, land
very hard tc bear. They can't make
me marry anybody else, so there. I'll
die first. Can you think of any
thing"
1t was pretty hard to think of any
thing but a perfect day with blue sky
and rolling white clouds, fields of gold
and green, orchard-crowned hills with
masses of pink and white, and clumps
of yellowish green woods; and beside
him. Betty, fair-skinned and blue
y fo
his cheek.
Pm willing to do anything for
Won. dear. I've always meant to go
to work. But fathers SO busy with
his patients, he doesn't have time to
think of me. I've been waiting to
have a good talk with him.
why don't you go into bank?"
exclaimed Betty. And then suddenly,
IT have the very thing! Father says
he's looking for some one in the bank
could get Uncle Harvey to recon-
mend you, and you could take another
name and make father see how Won
derful you are. You've got splen-
did head, dear, and / know he can't
help admiring you after he gets to
know YOU"
THAT wouldn't be a bad stunt. I
wonder if l can work it. l would like
to show your dad that I'm not alto
gether a good-for-nothing- L wish IA
Their could get tic know you better,
too know what a splendid little
person you are, He was singing the
praises of his Office assistant who just
got married, and how she worked and
did this and that and the other thing"
Betty caught his arm. Jim! Has
he got any one yet
4 don't think so. He's too hard to
please"
DO you think I'd do:"
Certainly mott"
'fWhy?"
You couldn't stand tLat> kid of
work. It's very hard-and long
hours"
IF he doesn't have to have regu-
lar professional nurse 1 believe 1 could
do it. I'd soon learn and 1 wouldn't
mind the long hours Dads away all
day and mother won't be home all
summer. 1 was to go with Uncle
Harvey's family but I'll fix it up cas-
lily. If you think you could get me
the placer
I'm try, Betty, dear. if you really
want me to. I am anxious for dad to
get to like you. He can't help it, of
course. He told me this morning he
had a girl he wanted me to marry and
I want him to change his mind"
By pulling certain ropes and wires
another week found Jim in Betty's
fathers bank, and Betty in Jim's
fathers office Both were working
hard to learn, Jim pouring over ledg-
ers until late afternoon when all the
others had gone. Betty interviewing
patients, sterilizing instruments and
helping at small operations.
The days grew hot and air sitting.
There was a general exodus among
their friends to seashore and noun
tains, but they stuck their posts
and worked bravcly on Jim felt once
or twice that it was rather an uphill