The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-04-07
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Over the Wire.
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[copyrIght. 1gOs. by 7. c. Mcclure.l

copyright, 1908. by T. c. McClure.I
Job Strong kept grocery In the
town of Medina, and he was an old
bachelor 1t had been said of him a
hundred times over that he was the
homellest man In the state.
Job Strong had brother living I'm
Brunswick, and, as each had tele-
phone, messages often passed between
them. The grocer had good voice. 1t
was deep and rich and clear, and he
was accounted one of the best singers
In his church choir. One day when he
went to hello for Brunswick he found
himself answered by n new voice. 1t
Tas that of female, and 1t stirred
his heart at once. 1t was pitched to n
gentle cadence 1t reminded him Of
his own New Orleans molasses gently
gurgllng from the splgot into a Gus
toner's jug. 1t rolled along the wire
like new tire on bike, and he held
on to 1t as long as possible. Curiously
enough, that deep, rich voice Of his
nwoke an answering echo in the heart
of the operator at Brunswick. She
thought of knights and cavaliers and
squres and danes, and it was with
sigh that she switched him over to the
brother.
1t may be giving away the plot too
soon, but there is curious colnci-
dence here to be explained. The Bruins
wick operator was an old maid named
Miss Judklns She had reached the
age of forty and for the last twenty
years had been a match for Job Strong
in LONELINESS. "As homely as Miss
Judkins' was saying for thirty miles
around. They said Of her that she
had once scared COW to death by en-
tering the barn and that when farm
ers drove to town they double hltchcd
their horses to the posts on her ac-
count. And, like Job Strong, she didn't
know that anything was amiss.
| After the first call over the wire Job
Strong had a longing to hear that voice
again. Not many hours had passed be-
fore he found an excuse. This time he
did not inquire for his brother, but
asked about the price of real estate and
other things in Brunswick and also in
troduced himself. The operator could
do no less than give her own name
In reply, and thus began the courtship,
for such 1t truly was. At least three
times day the grocer had something
to say over the wire and found ready
N nd Ieta To hn
picture In his minds eye of the lady
with the voice that thrilled. and wheth-
er he was weighing out sugar or draw
ing molasses 1t was ever before him
She was tail and stately and gentle
and smiling and would make wife to
be proud Of Miss Judkins also hug
ged mental photograph to her heart
1t was of Il knight on a Black charger
When three months had gone by the
grocer determined to visit Brunswicl
and know the worst or best He found
himself absentminded by day and
sleepless by night and this wouldn't
do at all. The first he knew his rivals
would be selling wagon grease 2
cents box cheaper than he was and
drawing away his trade. He notified
Miss Judkins of the day, and she put
on her Sunday dress and extra false
hair for the occasion and also got q
substitute for the day. Two hearts
were beating tumultuously as Job
knocked at the door. Then two people
surveyed each other for moment and
sat down, and there came painful ST.
lence. 1t was broken at last by Miss
Judkins' brother, who was present
After letting out a guf1aw to be heard
forty rods he exclaimed:
"Well, may be durned!
This aroused the sister to action, and
with flaming cheeks she turned on Job
Strong and severely said:
"Sir, how dare you come here and
play such trick on mer'
"Trick! Trick. What do you mean?"
"You are passing yourself off as Mr..
Strong of Medina, but you can't be
hev'
"And | expected to see Miss Judkins
instead of you"
But am Miss Judkins'
"And | am Mr.. Strong"
"Ill be burned again!' shouted the
brother after another guffaw.
"Sir. this is unbearabler' said Miss
Judkins as she rose up.
"Miss, it is joke that l don't under
stand at ALL" replied Mr.. Strong as he
also rose up.
81 expected to see rather handsome
man."
And | rather handsome woman"
'But instead of that you are the
homeliest man ever laid eyes on"
"Ditto."
"You insult me, sir!''
r "And you insult mew
"Good lands, but II I'd have known
you were the man you are l wouldn't
have wasted minute on your
"Ditto agaln!
"Look a-here," said the brother when