New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1910-09-28
THE AUDAC1|Y OF
BOB SMHHSON,
BY MARTHA c. HUTcHINs.

Copyright, 1909, by American Press Assoc
ciation.l
Edgar Barry, novelist, was sitting in
his living rooms when his friend Rob
ert Commonly called Bob Smithson,
manufacturer of drainpipe, entered
ultaneously with the postman. Bar
ry took a letter from the latter, tore it
open, scowled and threw it in waste
basket.
Evidently said Smithson, you
don't prize your correspondent
"Oh, these women! They are con-
tinualfy writing me to know what
some Of my characters mean by such
a thing, or how interested they are in
the story or how and when will it end
in the magazine or something else, all
Of which means that they wish to get
me to attend function they're about
to give and show me of as their init
mate friend"
Smithson picked the note out Of the
basket and read it.
Would you object to turning this
lady over to me ?" he asked. II might
personate YOU
'tNot in the least
'sShe seems to be quite fascinated
with your character Of Edwin Os-
trander'
Nonsense! She wants to get me to
her party. Follow it up, personate me
If you like, and you will be lionized.''
And so it turned out. A week later
the audacious Bob Smithson was pres.
ent at a musical as Edgar Barry, who
had recently risen into prominence
through story that had made hit.
The worst feature about Smithson's
performance was that he circulated a
report that he had drawn the much
admired Edwin Ostrander from him
self.
It didn't take long for the fascinat-
ing literary manufacturer not Of ro-
mances, but of dratnptpe, to fall in
love with Alice Beardsley, who gave
her whole heart to the deceiver. Bob
proposed to her without realizing what
he was doing, and the young lady,
carried away by her feelings, accepted
him without taking time to think about
it. Then Bob awoke the morning aft.
er it had happened to realization Of
his situation. He wrote out ten con-
fessions and tore them all up. He
started six times to go and make a
verbal confession and backed out ev.
cry time, including the one after he had
rung the doorben.
Bob had told Miss Beardsley that he
wrote in a room at the Authors club.
He told her this, intending to post
Barry, who really did write there, so
that if 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 to the
character of Edwin Ostrander, the door
opened and a servant in the clubs
livery announced:
"a lady in the reception room to see
you, sir"
"a lady! What lady?'
"She says tell i'm I'm his fancy"
'sMy fiancee!'
The Authors club is quiet place.
Probably that is because authors have
no money to spend in clubs. No one
was about The lady, taking advantage
Of this, had followed the servant to
Mr.. Barry's workrooms and now APP
peared, trembling, at the open door.
On seeing the author she started.
81 beg your pardon" she said. 81
was looking for Mr.. Barry"
II am Mr.. Barry
s.Not you; the Mr.. Barry
II am Edgar Barry"
t.I am looking for Mr.. Barry, the nov
elist.''
81 write-at least, try to write
novels" !.
Meanwhile the lady had stepped
across the portal much bewildered. A
servant approached and announced,
''Mr. Smithsonv' and in another mo-
ment Mr.. Bob Smithson entered.
ooh, Edgarv' cried the lady. ''What
does it all mean?''
Bob Smithson stood the picture of
despair. He shivered and shook. He
took out his handkerchief, drew it
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 it, Bob?" asked the latter.
Tell her."
'"The lady who
Eyes; for heavens sake straighten
It outy'
Miss Barry hesitated. Smithson
put in: .'Beardsley If ever there was
an angel on earth, and II ever there
was devil and fool"
Hold on, Bob! This is going to come
out all right! Don't make it any
worse. Miss Beardsley, you are en-.
gagged to my esteemed friend Mr.
Smithson, I believe"
81 thought / was engaged to Mr.
Barry, the novelist" Then, turning
to her fance, what is your name
e,;yos,