The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-07-13
DISCHARGING BETTY
BY ISABEL FROST.

made up his mind to discharge Betty
If discipline was to be maintained II
the office at all, that was the first steI
toward it. In the first place, she never
should have been employed in such {
place as the Benzinger Iron works She
had walked through the outer gates
one early spring morning, the last OF
a line of applicants and had asked the
first worker she met what the superin-
tendent's name was.
Frank Curzon,' she was told There
FORE instead of waiting her turn, Betty
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 SO a 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 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 Bettiied."
1t took about four weeks to Bettify
| 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 were firing at us?"
he demanded of Betty.
81 wanted to see," answered Betty
haughtily. "It was very interesting"
It 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. |
absolutely unbusinesslike.
Likewise, at the lunch hour, Betty |
had a tiny electric contrivance which
she calmly applied to the company's
switch, and on which she managed
somehow to concoct the daintiest and
most unexpected of luncheon dishes,
since there was no good restaurant in
a radius of mile And then she would
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 that
overlooked the gray iron building and
spoke gloomily, Enthusiastically.
"Of course, you know this can't go
on much longer"
"Are you trying to discharge me, Mr..
Curzon?"
1--WE got to-" answered Gurzon slow
ly, returning her look with unswerv-
ing intention. I've either got to fire
you or marry you. This can't go on
| can't think of anything under the
light of heaven but you, day or night,
and l want to work"
"Then, of course, Unjust leave said
Betty, with her very incest, her very
kindest manner.
Betty" said Curzon, in a curious
voice, voice of accusation and APP
peal, too. BETTY, why did you ever
come to work here? didn't want you.
this coming on, and / believe you've
yloated over it."
Nobody knows how far Betty's dig
nifty would have gone if it had not
been for the half-brick that came sail |
ng through the open window. Curzon |
vent down like a hewn tree at her |
feet. When the ambulance arrived '
Tim and the engineer were holding l
Town the two strikers who had lain '
n wait outside the office windows for
chance at the boss
But inside the office Betty knelt on @
he floor beside CurzOn. She had s
washed and bandaged the cut on his I
row and had pillowed his head on her q
oat-the little pongee silk coat she
vore to work. And the young sur
eon, entering hastily, hesitated on the
for Betty's hand was strok- 0
ng back the hair from the patients a
orehead with more than q nurselike /
ouch, and the upward gaze of his n
yes was-as he told Jim later-"a '
cad give-away."
'I'm not going to work at the foun- e
ry any longer" Betty broke the news s.
0 the family circle that night with n
act and gentleness. )
Thought it wouldn't last much long a
r." scoffed Dave. "Who discharged s.
GU, Bet?"
"Mr. Curzon," sweetly. u
"For carrying on in business hours" p
richie limited darkly. Just then the
ell rang at the front door, and the
DIOR deepened in Betty's cheeks as
le rose. ~