Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-10-06
Joan Tries Her
Hand
BY JANE OSBORN

III you are going to 60 to make
1un you'd better not 60 at ALL" said
Maud as she jabbed q fork into the
xruit salad she had selected for lunch.
con at the cafeteria.
} Margaret agreed with this and
nodded her head vigorously, as she
and Maud watched the face of the
Skepuc Joan. III you laugh or even
Keel like laughing" explained Mar
Karet, you'll interfere with the mes
snges He'll put you out II he knows
that you are the one"
Joan, the third OF the trio of stenor-
Fnphers who lunched togethed ut the
cooperative cafeteria, smiled with
something very like superiority. I'm
not going to laugh. l nm Soin. be-
cause l want to show YOU that ii isn't
really mind reading, or spirit COM
munication, or anything spooky at
NIL. II he really does tell you things
nbout yourself that are true it is
either coincidence or because he has
trained himself to tell a lot about
people just by their expressions, their
mannerisms, the way they dress and
the way they behave generally. Any
one with ordinary intelligence could
tell lot more than they do II they
just set out to observe people closely"
well, you've a right to your opin-
ion," said Maud. Come along II you
want, only don't laugh and don't feel
like making fun. Wen have dinner
here at half past five and then we
can get there early"
Joan was the youngest of the trio.
barely twenty. but she had a good
brain somewhere behind those round
blue eyes Of her. She was no mere
sooner, either. Goodness knows
she told her companions, "if he has
any way of knowing US better than
We know ourselves or of knowing
what Is In store for u.s. I'd be the first
TO want to profit by It, certainly
don't want to pound the keys all my
LIE. II I'm going to meet a man I
love enough to marry 1 want to know
1t. II I'm not, then want to study
nights 20 that l Gun get on in the
world" sa;xsRHntas-s-r.-,.
After the session with the spiritual
istic character reader that night,
opinion was much divided In the
Short time the girls had to talk 81
their way home 1t seemed clear that
the only part Of the spirit communi-
cation that interested them was that
which referred to their own present
or possible love affairs.
II don't see why you weren't more
than convinced" said Margaret to
Joan. HE couldn't have got things
straighter about you If he had known
you all your life. Said you worked
and liked IT. hut that you would be
willing to marry II the right man
came along; that you weren't easily
suited and that you didn't get ac-
quainted with men easily. He said
there had been some one once who
had cared for you, but that he was
not 10 he your life partner, that you
should wait for another"
Il think anyone could have said
that much just 10y looking ut me.
That mans good observer. hut that's
all. Anyone with keen eye and a
little sense could do as much"
Thereafter Joan tried to prove the
truth of her statement, asSaying her
own hand nj character reading. She
spent what had hitherto been tire
some minutes in the subway uhScrv-
Ing and weighing her observations.
Before many days had passed Joan
could tell. or thought she could. an
OF the persons whom she had q chance
10 study in this way.
Maud said that since no one knew
these people no one could tell whether
Joan was really making correct de
auctions. Thereupon il was decided
that Joan should try Mr.. Davis. who
had only just been transferred to the
New York office and about whom none
of the girls knew anything as yet.
They had not even heard him speak.
but had merely watched him as he
Ind come and gone with the older
members Of the firm They would re-
member Joan's deductions. and later
when they knew his personal history
they would see bow near she came to
being right.
Joan felt that the vindication of
her stand on the subject Of spuok
character revelation depended on her
success or failure-SO she used her
eyes kccnly. Not only did she watch
MIR. Davis closely when he was in
sight, but she thought about him when
he was not. She tried to feel the
personality of Mr. Davis so that she
would be better able to know it, This
continued for two days. The morn
Ing OF the third day Joan met Mar
Earet and Maud before office hours
In the office TO tell them the result
of her deductions.
u have never heard him speak or
spoken to him, yet l believe he lie