Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-03
MEET MISS BEBE
ANDREWS.
By ELLA RANDALL PEARCE.

AAAN ~ ASAA w t)s
By ELLA RANDALL PEARCE.
He was in a most unusual state OF
mind as he pursued his way toward
the home of one whom he had re-
fused to meet friendly. and was now
approaching with all the war ban
ners flying. Bebe Andrews-even the
name was distasteful to him.
The owner of that name had been
already visualized by Jay Bessemer.
A slim, sinuous, chattering girl,
gamin by instinct, pert, bold, defy
ing all the rules of polite society.
A veritable pestl
A meek young relative of his who,
i'll some strange way, seemed to be
fairly hypnotized by this other girl
of impudence and audacity, had tried
Intellectually to have him meet Miss
Bebe Andrews. Instead he had taken
great pains to avoid any such meet
ing.
Then came the day when Miss
Bebe, having sent a challenging
announcement of her intentions. de-
scended upon the bachelor apart
ment of Jay Bessemer, accompanied
by the meek young relative who was
like putty in the hands of the other
girl.
Bessemer was not at home. He
thought that fact would carry re-
buke; but the two unwelcome callers
had procured a key and invaded the
sacred precincts of his home. 1t
was unspeakable!
He recalled now with an inward
shudder the vision of that topsy.
turvy apartment as it appeared on
his return. The hitherto artistic and
orderly scene had been transformed
into one of the widest, most absurd
disorder.
Pictures hung awry or upside
down. A dummy dressed in his
bathrobe occupied the easy chair
beside the hearth. A row of boots
and slippers adorned the top OF the
piano. Chairs were tilted over and
ornaments displaced. :.
Burnt cork comical1y decorated
the sober bust Of Shakespeare. and
the laughing, marble Bacchante wore
golf cap jauntily perched over
one ear, while between the lips was
thrust half smoked cigarette.
On the library table were the
remnants of feast. Bottles and
boxes emptied of their dainties;
grape stems and olive pits; half con-
sumed sandwiches and cakes; several
cigarette ends-all these things were
heaped together and on top lay .
small card bearing the name of the
invader and vandal, Miss Bebe
Andrews"
"The little pestw growled Jay
Bessemer. "She cannot make me
the butt of her malicious jests, and
get away with it. I'll have All
understanding with this\ young
woman" .I
1t had been tedious task to make
the apartment presentable again,
and Jay Bessemer's face was dark
and grim as he went out to late
dinner. Stifly uncompromising, he
waited in the home of the young
woman he detested. Whether she
were a frivolous simpleton or a wiser
but more culpable Nmember Of the
"vamp" cult, he was in mood to
read her a severe lecture.
A tall, graceful girl came quietly
into the room. She was blond Of
the pensive type, a trihe shy and
still well-poised.
"Your card was brought to me,
Mr.. Bessemer," she said. Ny
cousin, Bebe, is away, and shall
be glad to do the honors in he'
absence. My name is Andrews, too.
l have beard OF you, Mr.. Bessemer."
Il should be delighted" began the
young man impulsively. Then his
smile faded You might not care
to act as Miss Bebe's substitute, if
you knew the nature of my errand.
did not come to make a social
call"
His companion gave him sweet
1y puzzled glance. 81 do not under
stand he murmured. "As rela-
tive of Bebe's, l am used to meeting
her friends. And, of course, I thought
you were one of her friends. Is there
any message you want to leave with
me?"
Her questioning look was clear
and artless as a child's. Jay Besse-
mer melted visibly as he spoke with
gentleness. !
I'VE are not friends, your cousin
and l. We are enemies. And now
that l have defined my position, you
may not find ME a welcome guest"
His fair hostess looked at him
with understanding back of her shy
smile; yes, and with sympathy. also
Jay was sure Of this.
"Bebe's enemies are not mine, Mr..
Bessemer. am afraid that incor-
rigible girl has cotton into mischief
again. She is great trial to me-"
She shook her head sadly and sighed.
81 hope she has not made you the
victim of one of her practical jokes
She spares no one. And her jokes
are not always in good taste"
She sat primly with her pensive
lips pursued. Thus led on Jay final !
ly told the whole story. His fair
listener was plainly shocked. She
A.. t-ff