The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-04-04
OUTWITTING FATHER
BY LOUISA LA ROGUE.

away. I've something awful TO Tel
YOU" she cried to someone who an
swered her call.
"All right. was just going to rims
you up and ask you to go for ride
It's peach of day, and can't settle
down to a thing for thinking of 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 your
"Can't be worse than mine," came
back gloomily. "We1l 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.
"What's wrong, dear?" The car
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 spend
thrift, and-and too good-looking for
your own or any girls happiness
that's what he said,' she sobbed into
a soft little handkerchief. "And he
said that he had-plans for me. There
was someone else he wanted me to
marry"
"Well-Ill 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 father
is down on you too !"
"Not memo, it's you
"What do you mean?"
"He said you were extravagant and
foolish, and that he wasn't going to
have me making goose of myself over
pair of eyes and pretty facew
"Jim! Why, he doesn't know what
look like! He never saw me!'
"No more did your father ever see
me. I'm as freshly Matched out of the
college egg as you are"
"Tt's queer" sighed Betty, "and very
hard to bear! They can't make me
marry anybody else, so there. I'll die
first. Can you think of anything?
"Pm willing to do anything for you
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 a bank?"
exclaimed Betty. And then suddenly.
81 have the very thing! Father says
he's looking for someone in the bank.
I could get Uncle Harvey to recon-
mend you, and you could take another
name and make father see how won
derful you are"
"That wouldn't be a bad stunt. ]
wonder If can work 1t. I would like |
to show your dad that I'm not alto !
gether good-for-nothfng. I wish ia |
Their could get to know you better, too
I know what a splendid little person |
you are! He was singing the praises |
Of his Office assistant who just got mar
ried, and how she worked and did this
and that and the other thing.
Betty caught his arm. "Jiml Do
you think I'd do?"
"You couldn't stand that kind OF
work, It's very hard-and long hours
"If he doesn't have to have a regular
professional nurse, I believe I could
do it. I'd soon learn, and I wouldn't
mind the long hours, If you think you
could get me the place."
"I'll try, Betty, dear, If you really
want me to-"
BY pulling certain ropes and wires
another week found Jim in Betty's IA
theirs bank, and Betty in Jim's fathers
Office.
The days grew hot and air sitting.
There was a general exodus among
their friends to seashore and noun
tains, but they stuck to their posts
and worked bravely on. Jim felt once
or twice that it was rather an uphill
task when things were heaped on him
that no one else wanted to do.
Betty, too, had days when she was
too tired to care what happened. The
hottest, busiest ones seemed to be the
very time Doctor Stetson thought of
drugs or of rearranging in
strument cabinets.
Lately Doctor Stetson had praised
her several times for quick judgment
and accuracy as well as courage.
you'll have to have vacation soon,
Miss Knox" for such was the name
Betty had taken. "You are looking q
bit tired. I'm thinking of closing up
the office the last two weeks of July,
Think you can last so long~
"Oh, thank you, yes!" answered
Betty gratefully.
Jim took his vacation then, also. he
vas going away with his father.
Out in launch on beautiful Cana
liam lake one day in the next fortnight
he Kingslands passed another boat
two men.
"Jim Stetson % cried Betty. \
doctor Stetson" corrected her ia
her, land young Mr.. Stockdale, who
s in the bank"
In the other boat Jim had exclaimed :
nvoluntarily, "There's Betty Kings T
and!
"Mr. and Mrs. Kingsland !" corrected
is father, "and Miss Knox whom l
old you about in my Office"