Smyrna times., 1932-03-23
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
"JOE'S FAITH"
BY Corona Remington


9 HE was only a little maid In q
y big hotel and he the chef, Dut
he had generations of chefs behind
him and hers was a family of the
highest type Of maids.
When Joe porter had first men.
toned marriage to Cornelia Allen
she had hesitated although she did
love him.
"Well, I'll never marry anybody
else" he vowed. you're as pretty
as little picture and your folks
are all honest and fine people, and
l love you and | believe you love
me, too. Isn't that reason enough
we should get married?"
Cornelia said nothing for mo
ment, she merely permitted him to
keep his arm around her. which
was sort of consent, he consid.
cred, since she never had done this
before. She did love him. she knew
she did.
But, Joe, | wanted to go up in
my work-get to be ladies' maid to
somebody big in society,"" she pro-
tested.
That don't NATTER" he answered.
They'll never love you like do,
honey, so you'd better take me-"
1t was a wrench TO give up her
ambition. but at last she consented.
She was in the midst of doing
her work on the fifth floor one day
when she received a summons to
go to the office of Mr.. Williams, the
manager. at once. Puzzled, she
hurried down and found her en-
ployer talking TO a stranger whom
she supposed to be a guest. He
seemed disturbed about something
and would scarcely let Mr.. Will
liams speak, but with a gesture of
the hand the manager silenced him
and addressed the maid himself.
"Cornelia. did you clean up SIG
this morning?" he asked.
YES" answered the girl, her face
suddenly paling. why? What's the
matter?"
"You know what's the NATTER"
broke in the guest.
Il don'tl" protested the girl on
the verge of tears.
did you LET anyone else in the
room while you were cleaning itf
mean. did any of the other maids
come in?' inquired the manager.
mo, sir. | am the only one in
and ! locked the door as soon as
| had finished"
well. you have my wallet, then,
with SIG in it," broke in the guest
angrily. because left it under my
pillow and forgot to take 1t down
stairs when | left this morning. AS
soon as | missed 1t l rushed to my
room and Il was gone. You may
both come up and look"
Together the three took the ele-
vator TO the fifth floor and hurried
down the long, red-carpeted corri-
dor to room SIG After a thorough
search they were forced to give ii
up. The wallet was not under the
mattress nor on the floor beneath
the bed. In fact, it was apparently
nowhere.
Go on to the servants quar-
ters," ordered the manager harshly,
and Cornelia fed out of the room.
But she did not go to the servants
quarters, instead she sought out
Joe and told him of her undeserved
disgrace.
"Kid. you never did it," he de-
clared. holding her close. And I'll
break anybody's face who comes
here saying you did"
''I'm so g-glad you still b-beIieve
In me-" Cornelia said, clinging to
him. You're the only one that
d-does. I'll be ashamed to look at
anybody around here after it gets
out because most of EMIL think |
did steal it-going to be married
and everything. they'll think want.
ed IL to buy clothes with. Oh, Joe,
I'm so wretched." And again she
burst into tears. you'll be dis
graced If you marry me because
there's lots'll always believe / did
it."
They'll not either. They know
you too WELL"
But Joe was wrong. By noon the
news had spread out and at lunch
Cornelia could not eat, for the sus-
picious glances that were shot In
her direction and whispered num-
blings that went on among the
servants.
The next morning the manager
sent for her again and she was hor-
rified to see the same guest sitting
there at the side Of the desk. This
time Mr.. Williams let the other man
do the talking.
Here's twenty for you," he
said. Il found my wallet I'd
slipped II inside the inner pillow
slip when thought was putting 1t
under my pillow. AS soon as | lay
down last night | felt 1t under my
head. Sorry 1t happened"
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