The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-11
THE AUDACITY or
BOB SMITHSON,

don't prize your correspondent
ron, those womenl They are con-
4 tinually writing me 70 know what
some Of my characters mean by such
/ a thing. or how interested they are IN
4 the story. or how and when viii ii end
IN the magazine or something else, an
4 Of which means that they wish 70 get
me 20 attend a function they're about
TO give and show me or as their init
mate friend"
smithson picked the note out Of the
basket and read t.
Would you object to turning this
lady over TO mef" he asked Il might
/ personate you
'sNot ID the least"
"She seems to be quite fascinated
with your character o. Edwin os-
tranderr
Nonsense! She wants 10 get me to
her party Follow it up, personate me
II you like. and you will be lionized"
And SO II turned out week later
the audacious Bob smithson was pres
ent at a musical as Edgar Barry, who
had recently risen into prominence
through a story that had made a hit.
The worst feature about smithson's
performance was that he circulated a
report that he bad drawn the mach
admired Edwin Ostrander from him
self
II didn't take long for the fascinat-
ing literary manufacturer not OF ro-
mances. but Of drainpipe. TO fall in
love with Alice Beardsley. who gave
her whole heart to the deceiver Bob
proposed 10 her without realizing what
be was doing. and the young lady,
carried away by her feelings accepted
him without taking time to think about
1t. Then Bob awoke the morning aft
er It had happened to a realization OF
his situation He wrote out Ten con
LESSONS and tore them all up He
started six times TO go and make a
verbal confession and backed out ey.
cry time Including the one after be had
rung the doorbeli-
Bob had told Miss BeaTdsley Tint he
wrote Ii a room at the Authors club.
ne told her this. intending to post
Barry, who really did write there. 50
mat II any notes came Barry would
know and act accordingly At II
o'clock in the morning three days after
smithson's proposal while Barry was
putting some master touches 70 the
character Of Edwin ostrander, the door
opened aud servant In tho clubs
livery announced:
"A lady IN the reception room 10 see
you. SIR
"Alady. What lady."
"She says tell i'm I'm bis ianey.s
envy fianceeg'
The Authors club is a quiet place
Probably that is because authors have
40 money TO spend In clubs. No one
was about. The lady. taking advantage
OF this. had followed the servant ia
Mr. Barry's workrooms and now ap
peared. trembling, at the open door
On seeing the author she started.
Il beg your pardon she said. y
was looking for Mr.. Barry
II am Mr. Barry"
mot you. The Mr. Barry"
Il am Edgar Barry"
Il am looking FOR Mr.. Barry, the nov
sIist."
y wrfte-at least try 20 write
novels
Meanwhile the lady had stepped
across the portal much bewilderedl A
servant approached and announced,
eMr. SmithsonF and in another mo
ment Mr. Bob smithson entered.
sOh. EDGAR cried the lady. What
does it all mean?
Bob Smlthson stood the picture Of
despair He shirered and shook. He
took out bis handkerchief. drew 1t
hastily across his brow, thrust It back
into his pocket. tried to stammer some
thing and at last looked appealingly,
pitifully. at Barry
"What Is 1t. Bob n asked the latter.
''Tell her"
'sThe lady Who
Yes. for heavens sake straighten
it outF' ;
Miss Barry hesitated Smithson
put Ia "I3eardsIey. II ever there was
an angel on earth. and If ever there
was a devil and fool'''-
Hold on. Bob This is going to come
out ail right! Don't make it any
worse Miss Beardsley. you are en-
gagged to my esteemed friend air
smithson. believe
Il thought | was engaged " Mr.
Barry. the novelist" Then, turning
to her tiance. What IS your name
STRIP
'Smithson, sweetheart. Bob--i mean
Robert Smithson.
Your profession?n
I'll sell drainpipe"
Drainpipe. was not aware that
fhe original Of Edwin 0strander dealt
ID conductor OF sewage"
Forgive me-"
He stretched out his hands to her.
sut she turned, and after rustic In
the hall and a siam Of the front door
there was nothing left but the habit.
ual silence Of fne Authors club.
The same evening Mr.. Barry called
on Miss Beardsiey, spoke In the high.
est terms 81 Mr smithson. told her
that be had drawn Edwin Ostrander
from him and secured a reconciliation.
The engagement has continued.
-. s9tEIz |! 4 j