The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-12-08
The Bobbing of
Bobby
20 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
By JANE OSBORN

tom, DEAR" said Toms sister as
early one Saturday afternoon; tom,
I'm so glad you came home. I've been
delayed SO, and Bobby's hair is dis
gracefully long. Grandpa Alden is COM
ing tomorrow-it would never do. Be
dear and take Bobby down 10 Stir
ling's and have his hair bobbed. And
don't let them shave it up the back.
One has TO be very firm or they will
I'd send Maggie with him only last
time she went and"
''Oh, all right" said Tom. I'D
planned to play golf, but all right"
There was nothing very amiable in
Toms voice, nor did he look more
amiable when his married sister called
him IA sweet angel of brother"
The barber shop at Strings chill
dren's store was crowded as usual on
Saturday afternoon, and Tom found
that he would have to take a number
at the desk and remain in the waiting
room. adjoining the barber shop, where
sleek, slender young men dressed in
white piled the long-bladed scissors
and the clippers. Bobby took his place
in one of the small chairs in the CEN
ter Of the room, and Tom felt increas-
ingly embarrassed to find that he was
the only adult male in the crowded
waiting room.
There were occasional walls and
even shrieks from the room beyond as
some child. newly initiated to the mys-
teries OF being bobbed registered his
disapproval of the whole process. Here
and there in the barber chairs sat
big girl or grown woman who followed
the fad for bobbed hair. Tom watched
them take their seats beside the chill
dren with some dismay.
Presently portly, gray-haired wom-
an hustled into the room, slender
young girl of eighteen or so in her
wake. The older woman regarded the
others waiting rather disapprovingly,
with frequent raisings of her lOrg
nette to her near-sighted eyes. She ex-
planned TO the clerk at the desk that
she really couldn't wait, that she'd
have to be allowed to go ahead of her
turn. But the clerk calmly said that
would be impossible
Il simply can't wait" she repeated,
looking appealingly around the room
for sympathy. My theater tickets.
I've ordered them for tonight and
they'll only hold them at the box office
until four. l can't wait-and yet
here she looked with a sigh at her
young charge-'Annabelle needs bob
frightfully."
Annabelle apparently was protesting
that she could remain alone perfectly
we'll. I'm not a child, auntie," Tom
overheard.
Yes, you are, my dear" sputtered
the aunt. And your mother especial
ly warned me not TO let you have it
clipped close to the back. Those BAR
bers will do it if you don't watch"
The aunt's eyes had been wandering
about the waiting room. She caught
sight of Tom Alden, eyed him briefly
through her lOngette and then sailed
over to him. Tom rose promptly when
he saw that she was going to speak.
I'm going to ask favor of you,"
she began. Il simply can't wait with
my niece, and you look as if you could
be trusted. I'll just leave Annabelle
here in your charge. After you have
your little boy bobbed, will you wait
and see that they do Annabelle proper
ly? Don't let them use those awful
clippers at the back of the neck. They
will if you don't watch-and then I'll
come back. l won't be long, I'm sure,
but please don't leave the child until
/ come back. Thank you so much. I'd
so much rather trust middle-aged
man with a child of his own than one
of those foolish young mothers"
"But-but he isn't middle-aged," pro-
tested the very much embarrassed
niece; but the aunt did not heed her,
and feeling perfect confidence in her
new acquaintance, she sailed out the
waiting room toward the elevator. An
nabelle took a seat rather shyly be-
side her newly appointed guardian.
Aunt Clarice is very nearsighted,"
she said. "She seemed to think you
were as old as she is" Then there
was a pause. isn't your little boy
cunning? How old is hep"
Three" replied Tom, suddenly feel
ing a wave of deep embarrassment as
the very pretty eyes of the young wom-
an beside him met his. They waited
fifteen minutes for Bobby's turn, and
Annabelle followed him into the bar
Der shop and sat beside Tom while
Tom gave the barber directions con-
corning Bobby's haircut.
Then they returned to the waiting
room and waited fifteen minutes more
for Annabelle's turn, and then Bobby
and Tom went into the shop with her
to wait until she was properly bobbed
and singed and waved according to in
structiOns.
Its very becoming" Tom told his