Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-23

little afternoon call. And she got the
position.
The salary was only 50 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 a ter
rible cook, and this way can hire ole
Mrs. Ransom to come In and work fol
US by the day for 81 a week. That
leaves me FIVE for myself. I 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"
Bot" said Dave sarcastically, "waii
till he's Bettined."
1t took about four weeks to BETTY
the whole office. It began with the
strike at the gray iron foundry across
the street. After the. reserves hat
been called out and the fight In the
yards was over. Curxon came back
looking rather tense and angry.
why didn't you keep out of range
when those fellows were firing at usf
he demanded Of Betty.
II wanted to see." answered Betty
haughtily. ut was very interesting"
1t was the end of the second month
that Curzon began to make up hi
mind. In the first place. he was am
bilious and had put all thoughts Of
love or marriage out Of his scheme o,
life. The foundry was his life. Ant
still 1t was June. and Betty wore the
most enhancing, fluffy gowns to work
absolutely unbusinesslike.
Likewise. at the lunch hour. Betty
had q tiny electric contrivance which
she calmly applied to the company't
switch, and on which she managed
somehow to concoct the daintiest and
most unexpected Of luncheon dishes
since there was no good restaurant II
a radius of mile. And then she woult
invite him to partake.
So one night toward the end of June
when she had worked overtime. ht
stood by the window Of the ofsace thai
overlooked the gray iron building ant
spoke gloomily. Realistically.
"Of course. you know this can't &
on much longer"
Betty was closing her typewriter
desk. She turned. leaning on 1t, ant
faced him in indignant surprise.
"Are you trying to discharge me, Mr.
Curzour
I've got to-" answered Curxon slow
ly, returning her look with unswerv
Ing intention. I've either got to firS
you or marry you. This can't 60 OF
1 can't think Of anything under thu
light Of heaven but you, day or night
and I want to work."
'.Then. Of course. must leave" sait
Betty, with her very incest, her ver1
kindest manner.
Betty said Curzon, in q curious
voice, q voice Of accusation and ap
peal, too. Betty, why did you svei
come to work here1 Ididn't want you
You know perfectly well you've seez
this coming on, and believe you've
gloated over It"
Nobody knows how far Bettys dig
nifty would have gone II 1t had moi
been for the half-brick that came sail
ing through the open window. Curzor
went down IKE a hewn tree at, hei
feet. When the ambulance arrived
Jim and the engineer were holding
down the two strikers who had lair
in wait outside the Office windows foi
a chance at the boss.
But inside the Office Betty knelt or
the floor beside Curzon. She hat
washed and bandaged the cut on hii
brow and had pillowed his head on he,
coat-the little pongee silk coat she
wore to work. And the young sur
geon, entering hastily, hesitated on the
threshold, for Betty's hand was strok
ing back the hair from the patients
forehead with more than a nurseliks
touch, and the upward gaze Of his
eyes was-as he told Jim .later--"s
dead give-away."
I'm not going to work at the f0un
dry any longer" Betty broke the news
to the family circle that night with
tact and gentleness.
Thought 1t wouldn't last much long.
err" scoffed Dave. "Who discharged
you, BetT
"Mr. Curzon," sweetly.
For carrying on In business hours"
Archie limited darkly. Just then the
bell rang at the front door. and the
color deepened in Betty's cheeks a.
she rose.
= that's Mr.. Curzon, and you behave
every last one Of you. He's come to
see father"
"Are you going to scold him for FIR.
ing you, Bet?" whispered Dave. Gag.
erly.
And Betty turned at the door to
whisper back with joy:
mo. I'm going to marry him, goose"
Copyright. 1917, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Shutting Out English Sparrow.
Bird lovers say that while other
species will feed easily from q board