The Tomahawk., 1918-07-11
The Interference e
Of Bess
b AGNES q. BRooAN
(Copyright, 1918. Western Nswspapsr unlol

Billy frowned down into the bowl
Of his stubby pipe, while the girl
watched him solieit0usly. >z II - +
"But may be-" she encouraged, '1t
Is not as bad as you think" y,
'sBad =" exclaimed Billy wrathfully,
"why where would be, II dad mar
rted again? Do you think he would
put me through college and start me
out on my career. il 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 a while 1t will be too late. Dad
doesn't realize vet, that he's really IN
love with the girl" -:
Perhaps" suggested Miss Blakes-
5 lee, .she isn't" =.
b: "Oh! mol" Billy sarcastically re-
sponded. 'eThen 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 1t
he interrupts a seance at the office.
Dad was never like that with any OF
his other stenographers.s And this one
is a doll, you must admit that. Bess.
You've seen herr .szr - .:33,s... :33,s..
Bess nodded her head. "When you
pointed her out to me. II don't like
her, Billy" -. .as:z
The boy smiled shrewdly. "Schem-
Ing looking2'' he asked. 4 ,s=s z-- +, r
'sThat's what though" ... r
> dad has quite a bit Of money. Some
OF it ought to come to me. but will
itif he has second wife? You know,
Peaches, that you and 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
: despairingly-'' that's why I want to
stop this fool affair Of dads" n.
The girl flushed. avoiding his
eager eyes. ''That some day of yours
is far away, Billy" she said.
'Not 30 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?-al my
beautiful plans gone to the dogs?
Somebody's got to interfere. Dad Will
not listen to me, won't you 60 to
him?" r. -. = FL. f~:-s
.sI-?'' the girl gasped, astonished.
"Yes," he nodded quickly. ''You
could make him see things as no one
else could. You've such way with
you, Bess'' > 5.5
: IL, "Billy, Billy I" smiled the girl. but
her eyes regarded him thoughtfully.
.Tt's mothers money" said the boy
: defiantly. II ought to have IT, f.
~. II wish that could help you"
she spoke slowly. &. ,.@.. 4
.'sYou can, you can" cried Billy ju-
bilantiy. you've the most wonderful
pleading eyes in the world" II - ct
slave I?' asked the girl. She arose
impulsively. 1--WE shall see, she
said. I. .ss s .s,@4s ...,.s..
'Tll run you down to the ofice, !"
Billy excitedly agreed, "and leave you
Just around the corner. Send In your
card. Dads heard enough about You,
even IL you've never met. Dwell
strongly upon my career, Bess, and
how we've counted upon coming home
together" , II
1 The girl laughed softly. "You, boy" ,"
she said. =. ..,.,..s.es5 -, =, 80
"rm twenty-one,,1 he declared. "and
older than you, child. II you have an
: extra year" DIP r.. III
The infectious enthusiasm which
had sent Miss Blakeslee forth on her
mission as intercessor died suddenly
F. as she awaited her lovers father.
"Why on earth had she come, and now
that she was here what should she
say?" ..,s.s s1s ..... .,ts-. .-sa
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 vainly
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
q gravely smiling man, whose hand
was Outstretched toward her.
81 am glad, !" he said, ITO meet Billy's
friend" And then all at once the Get
speech vanished. and Bess sitting In
the wide ONCE chair, was joining inter
estedly In q conversation touching
upon golf. automobiles and sailing.
Billy's father was 90 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 . 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 ab.
ruptly looking back to the purpose Of
Z her present visit, but how to start the
subject tnctfully.
'Billy," she began tentatively, takes