Smyrna times., 1927-03-09
Joe Finally Saw
the Point
(Copyright)
By II. IRVING KING

Fairbanks had thrown him down.
but he was not quite sure. He had
known her. it seemed to him, for al
ways; and for some time he had been
taking it for granted that he should
some day ask her to be his wife-and
she would accept. But then came that
dashing Martin Van Beekman around
and Joe began to think that he had
taken too much for granted
Whatever a Imam of the world is
Van Beekman was that. He had
most engaging personality, talked flu
emily and dressed perfectly. Joe, on
the other hand, while refreshingly
wholesome, was not much of a con
versationalist, and sartorially left
much to be desired. Van Beekman
had become a constant visitor at the
Fairbanks home, and the girls
Minerva and her younger sister Susan
found him, as Sue expressed it, per
fectly fascinating" When Joe hap
pened to be calling at the same time
Van Beekman was, it was as much
as he could do to get in a word
edgeways; and when he did, his best
thought-Out remark seemed to act as
damper on the company. Minnie,
after one Of these attempts of JOe's,
would look at him doubtfully for a
moment and then resume her repartee
of wit, wisdom and alIegory" with
Van Beekman.
Joe hoped at first that it was sister
Sue that Van Beekman admired But
Minnie appeared to be much fonder
Of Van Beekman's society than her
sister. Joe ventured TO expostulate,
In a blundering way, with Minerva
only to be told that she did not know
what right he had to criticize or con-
troll her actions, ending with: "Why,
Joe, you talk as If you and l were
engaged"
That was Joe's opportunity, but he
did not seize 1t, and it was two hours
after that he thought of what he
ought to have said When he did
think Of it he resolved to go to Min
ME and have "straight-Out talk" with
her But when he arrived at the
Fairbanks home that everlasting Van
Beekman was there, and he went
away leaving unsaid what he had
come to say. He would keep away
from the Fairbanks house and "let 'em
60 it." he thought "Who knew any
thing about that Van Beekman fellow7
He was an adyenturer-Joe was will
ing to bet on it-and was trying to
capture an heiress."
Joe kept to his resolution of alb
stentiOn for a whole week, and then
called upon 1.-The Fairbanks girls" with
the usual unsatisfactory results. Susan
talked to him and tried to cheer him
up. but Minerva kept chatting away
with Van Beekman only giving Joe a
curious look now and then, which he
could not in the least understand the
import of, and once saying: Joe,
why don't you talk? What's the mat
ter with you lately?"
Nothing" said Joe, and presently
took his leave.
Now Minerva and Susan Fairbanks
were orphans. They had no near re
lations and their father had left them
both very well off Joe felt like say
ing to Van Beekman: IF it's merely
a fortune you are after, why don't you
take Sue and let my Minnie alone?"
But II wouldn't make any difference II
l did, thought joe Minnie is so much
the prettier. AS a matter of fact she
was nowhere near as good looking as
Susan-but in Joe's eyes she was far
superior.
Things dragged along in this man.
ner for some time. Joe began to lose
weight He don't eat enough to keep
a canary alive" his fond mother de-
clared. Then one day, to his great
surprise, Van Beekman called upon
Joe at the office of the little yarn mill
which Joe had inherited from his ia
ther and the business of which he was
rapidly extending. Quite an impor-
tant person was Joe in the community
financially. He received Van Beck
man rather coldly and asked what he
could do for him.
You probably have noticed" said
the suave Van Beekman, my atten-
tions to the beautiful Miss Fairbanks"
II have" glewered Joe, II have, and
allow me to tell you that l have not
seen them with pleasure. Who are
you, sir. to come into this community
and try to captivate the best and pret-
tiest girl in town? What are your
credentials2"
THAT is just what I came to show
you,' replied Van Beekman. "You
may look me up in Bradstreet's, and
here are letters, documents and ref
erences which think will satisfy
you"
Joe looked at the documents and
he looked at Bradstreet's. "Humph,"
said he, seems to be all right. But
what have l got to do with it7"
why" returned Van Beekman,
when l told Miss Fairbanks that her.