Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-08-01
The Interference
of Bcss
@1
BY AGNES G. BRoGAN
Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper UniOr

watched him solicitously.
''But may be-" she encouraged, ait
is not as bad as you think"
'Badr exclaimed Billy wrathfully,
'.why where would be, If dad mar
ried again2 Do you think he would
put me through college and start me
out on my career, If he were interest
ed in a new establishment of his own
No, indeedy, his second wife would
take my place, and my coming wife's
place, in the home. The thing to do,
Bess, is to stop the affair In the bud.
After q while 1t viii be too late Dad
doesn't realize yet, that he's really In
love with the girl"
Perhaps" suggested Miss Blakes-
lee, ''he isn't"
"Oh Mop Billy sarcastically re-
sponded. 'Then why does he spend
every spare moment of his time in her
company? Riding for hours with her
in the park, glowering at a fellow II
he interrupts seance at the office.
Dad was never like that with any of
his other stenographers. And this one
is doll, you must admit that, Bess.
You've seen herr"
S. Bess nodded her head. ''When you
pointed her out to me. IL don't like
her, Billy"
The boy smiled shrewdly. "Schem-
ing looking2" he asked.
That's what / thought"
dad has quite bit of money. Some
of it ought to come to me, but will
1t If he has a second wife? You know,
Peaches, that you and I are going to
be married some day, just as soon as
the little doctors shingle is over my
door and" he threw out his hands
espairingly-"that's why | want to
stop this fool affair of dads"
The girl flushed, avoiding his
eager eyes. "That some day of yours
is far away, Billy" she said.
"Not so far away as you think, per-
haps," he replied. "Bess--" his voice
coaxed her, "you don't want to see
my future wrecked, do you?-all my
beautiful plans gone to the dogs?
Somebody's got to interfere. Dad will
not listen to me, won't you go to
him?"
''I-?" the girl gasped, astonished.
Eyes" he nodded quickly. "You
could make him see things as no one
else could. You've such a way with
you, Bess"
"Billy, Billy," smiled the girl, but
her eyes regarded him thoughtfully.
"It's mothers money" said the boy
defiantly 81 ought to have It,"
Il wish that | could help you"
she spoke slowly.
you can, you can," cried Billy jul
bilantly you've the most wonderful
pleading eyes in the world"
"Have II" asked the girl. She arose
impulsively. eve shall see,' she
said.
"rll run you down to the Office"
Billy excitedly agreed, "and leave you
Just around the corner. Send in your
card. Dads heard enough about you,
even if you've never met. Dwell
strongly upon my career, Bess. and
how we've counted upon coming home
together"
The girl laughed softly. 'You, boy"
she said.
I'm twenty-one" he declared, "and
older than you, child. If you have an
extra year"
The infectious enthusiasm which
had sent Miss Blakeslee forth on her
mission as intercessor died suddenly
as she awaited her lovers father.
'Why on earth had she come, and now
that she was here what should she
say?"
The young woman who haughtily
took the card from her trembling
fingers was the dread charmer whom
Billy feared. What influence could
one have against the fascination Of
such tenderly curling hair or crimson
lips? Bess sighed and tried yainly
to compose an Introductory speech.
She had just got as far as "Mr. Pow
ers. / am here in the interest of your
son" when the charmer beckoned, and
she found herself In the presence of
gravely smiling man, whose hand
was outstretched toward her.
81 am glad" he said, "to meet Billy's
friend" And then all at once the set
speech vanished, and Bess sitting In
the wide office chair. was Joining inter
estedly in conversation touching
upon golf, automobiles and sailing
Billy's father was so much younger
and better looking than she had ex-
pected that she could sympathize more
In the feelings OF the blonde stenog-
rapher, perhaps after all, hers was
not merely mercenary affair. :.
There was a certain movie actor, with
whitening hair about the temples,
who much resembled Billy's father.
The thought of this actors many trou-
bled love affairs brought Bess abb
ruptly looking back to the purpose OF
her present visit, but how to start the
subject tactfully.
'Billy." she began tentatively, takes
me much into his confidence. He is
terribly anxious to get through col
iege and begin the practice of medi-
cine. He has so counted upon start
ing In his own home-your home"
She paused lamely, then leaned for