The Press., 1918-11-14
Betty Takes
 a Hand By Miss Frances M. Was0ung
(Copyright, 191s by the Mcclure Newspa-
 per @yndicate.l
.I'm hack I"

 jumped to his feet. A whirlwind of Au1fy blue was on it's way toward him.
 "Oh, say" he was beginning when he caught a glimpse of dancing blue eyes and bewitching dimples. Why, it's Betty! Little Betty grown up" he said with a ludicrOus expression of laughter and dismay on his face.
 Grown up, indeed And how old do you think you are yourself, grandpa?' she added with wicked little chuckle.
 "JOve. how time flies." He was think ing to himself what pretty little thing she was getting to be. How did you and tell me about it. One, two, .thr--'
 'No, sir; I'm young lady now, you know. My, how the gallery would stare if were to come tearing across the beach, Ask Cynthia" she wourS& up, watching him out of the corner of her eye.
 Dicks jaw hardened just a little.
 Can't" he said shortly.
 "Why nOt?" She was looking away from him to hide the dimples that. in sisted on showing.
 "She promised me yesterday she would go for row with me this morn ing, but it seems she had made Il pre- viOus engagement with that Thomson, and so she backed out and went riding in his roadster"
 "MO, she didn't" replied Betty, non chalantly. T heard them planning It out last night when he called''-here Dicks frOwn grew blacker-"and she said she'd tell you"
 "BettyI" Dicks voice was stern, "Please don't tell me tales out of school. If your sister wants to go mo- tOring with him. that's her affair. But l think that you misupderStO0d her. l am sure that she is too honorable for that" And he walked off, With diSap= p0intment stamped on every inch of his broad back
 Betty, watching him, sighed a little and then said to herself:
 If only he wasn't so silly about her, it would be so much easier to make him see. She doesn't care a snap about him. and I know 1t. Oh, we'll" and off she went to catch up with him.
 On the way she pinched herself jus little to make herself cry. Oh. bu she was wise. It didn't hurt much. S". she tried it again. By the time she had reached him she lad managed to squeeze a few sparkling tears into her blue eyes:
 ''pick, dear," in quayering voice, Pm sorry l said that. Won't yNA fHF. give me?' H.
 Dick turned and saw one teaF steaI softly down her pink cheek. He sotr= eneQ instantly.
 "Why. Betty child. I'm not angry with you. Don't cry; please don't. know that Pm a brute." He patted her shoulder cOmfOrtingly and Betty was mentally applauding herself. So far4so good. [
 "Dick, dear" she c6oed, do you real ly care so much for Cynthia2" "tE3
 Dick turned to look at her. "'.-.
 "Cafe for her." he echoed T almnst WQrship her, Bet. D-do you think that she likes me just q little?"
 Sure she dOes," pespoAded Betty heartily; "but she's got to he shakep awake, and you've got to do it. Now. listen to your grandma. First, make her jealous.
 "Oh. no, won't do that" .:-:
 "Oh. yes, you will" asserted Betty. her to the links, so Cynthia can see her then Cynthia will be hopping mad. and"
 "Why, Betty" were the only words that Dick could speak, so taken by surprise was he.
 "-She'd see that she wasn't the on ly pebble on the beach, and then"
 "Yes; then shed drop me altogeth- er," finished Dick, gloomily.
 "You just leave it to me- First, get a nice girl"
 "Who1l get?" Dick wanted to know.
 "Olive Davis?"
 "Nothing doing She's too silly"
 "Beatrice Daley?" --a.f
 "TOO much of a funeral"
 "Well, then" Betty's eyes were cast demurely down, how would do?"
 "YOu! Why you're only"
 "Eighteen," Betty bristled indig nantly.
 "Well, of all things! You eighteen Betty! I can't believe By love, I'll do it!" and Dick doubled up on the sand, and laughed heartily.
 All that day, he stayed at Bettys side, and the gallery" set their tongues to wagging furiouSly. The gallery" was the row of women that sat all day long on the hotel piazza, knitting, gOssiping. and watching every thing that occurred on the beach.
 'The size of her, and her own sister toO," the tall. angular maid" was the one to first voice the thoughts of the circle, but she was by no means the last to speak. Fl
 "SO brazen about it, tOO." the little fat lady chimed in, in her little sQueaky voice.
 Each member passed some remark. and finally it came to the school teach! I CT, who was noted for her judgment in all Hove affairS," as 1t had been reported that she had gr~ll deal of experience along those lines but most people would have doubted her "oIu' A0l Ju"sNiont HI 'lis Spe'ii'' l affair" was:
 Cynthia should be told. It'd be on my conscience if she didn't know of | 1t" and after she had passed judg4 ! ment, she rose, and hastened within ! to tell the news, knowing very well l it would reach Cynthia within ten ! minutes. |
 After that 1t was easy. Betty listened in silence to her sisters torrent of l sarcasm, and, when alone, she smiled broadly at her own cleverness. Butj the climax was reached when what the gallery" called the "candy affair" was. enacted. It happened this way BettEI was passing on her daily promenade before the gallery" and was struck