The Dolores star., 1920-05-14
THE BROKEN DATE
BY h. L. Ian GOAlE.


with alacriry. II was getting TO he u
regular thing for young Benueu to SIN.
gle her out from the other stennsra
piers when he had dictation.
Trim. demure and busineSslike, she
sIipued into the chair beside his desF
and waited. peucd poised.
Ii Betty sighed. she did so uncor
sciously. thinking how few "pportu
mites she had to meet men Of his type
Perhaps DICK heard the furiorn l't'h
sigh Al any rate, rs Betty rose i'
GO he detuined her.
ii say. Miss Rogers. you know ",
Just bought 4 little rUnahout and II"
very anxious Ia try It out with some.
one. Couldn't | come around ueS'
Saturday evening, meet your mother
and fake you out for a lit,le epinf
Rety's heart uamped unlnuuage
ably, hut She was able to say, WHY
I'd love to. Mr.. bennett"
"Al right. then" sand the goung
man. "Iu he There about -
Her uelgls,or at the next typewriter
eyed Betty cu1uusly Belle Th'mns
was the only girl In the office Betty
did not like. So when Hel'e said
hinring, MIR. Beuuetrs been Saying
sweet things 10 yuuE' She returned
coldly. Il don't know what you mean.
"Oh. he's a great little tiutIerrT. you
know" said Eelle.
Betty thoughl 10 herself that II
there was any truth In Bellies words,
She would know a.tcr saturday night,
Saturday afternoon, which was ii
half-holidny nj the Office, Betty spent
pressing and mending her serge suit
She had not seen Dick Bennett since
the morning of his invitation. In fac.
today he had not been nj the Office q.
ala business trip To New York VIZ
the reason passed among the giris
Funny. Belle Thomas had been absent
too, thought Betty. Well, She didn't
mind how often Belle stayed away.
At O'Clock Betty sat on the little
porch waiting.
At 70 minutes past L Betty, alertly
watching the corner where the ma.
chine would have 10 turn, saw bright
new runnbout 20 hy-und her quick
glance saw not only Dick Bennctt, but
by his side Belle Thomas.
Betty felt cold all over. So he had
forgotten her. He was taking out
another girl-and that girl Belle
Thomas, Suddenly, she remembered
the absence of them both that day.
$50" thought Betty, "he went down
to New York on business and took
Belle along for company, and they
are just getting home"
Going into the house, she thought
first she would sit down and cry out
her disappointment, not only disap-
pointment at the loss of the pleasant
evening, but disappointment at the
loss of faith In Dick Bennett, that in
the company of one girl he could SO
readily forget his appointment with
another. Then she decided her pride
would not permit her to weep over
anyone so thoughtless. Putting on
the hat with the perky wing, she left
a note for her mother saying that she
had gone to see girl, and went out.
When she returned her mother
greeted her with the words: Betty,
where were you, child? Mr.. Bennett
came and was much surprised to find
you We're not here, and l couldn't eY-
plain"
"Never mind, mother" said Betty
wearily. 81 changed my mind. Mr..
Bennett is only philanderer."
Monday morning saw Betty, pale
and unsmiling at her desk.
pr,f NAJiSc tIa
known voice presently. Betty rose.
pausing a moment outside the door to
get herself well in hand. What would
he say? OF course, he had a right to
take around anyone he wanted to
If Dick had anything to say, he eH-
IDENTIFY intended to get business over
first, for he began as usual. please
take this dctation, Miss Rogers"
As Betty, leaning over her notebook
waited for the first words, she did not
see the twinkle in his eyes. Presently,
he began in sonOrous voice; "In q
contract, if the party of the first part
breaks his agreement with the party
of the second part-or, in other words
If one person accepts an invitation
from another and that other, proceed.
ing to carry out his part of the agree
ment in good faith, goes there and
does not find the other"
Betty's fingers trembled. What was
this dictatiOn, anyway Looking up,
she saw the laughter in Dicks face.
The laughter gave her courage. Rising,
very straight and slim In girlish dig.
nifty. she spoke: "Mr. Bennett, wait.
ed and waited for you Saturday night,
| and"
Bennett interrupted eagerly, "Yes, /
was late, and was sorry, but"
II know what made you late. You
and Miss-another girl-were just get
| ting home from"
Dicks frank eyes were puzzled. 81
don't know what you are talking
about. I got In from New York about
and was on the way to your house
about and then-oh, yes" a light
broke over his face. II met Miss
Thomas, apparently in n great hurry.
She said she had been home all day