Smyrna times., 1925-12-02
Grandma Obeyed
Orders
By JACK WoODFORD


MO ONE in the village was ever
IN able to explain just why Abe Min
Ger was so fond Of GRANDMOTHER
Plumb. Surely there was no logical
accounting for it. Grandmother
Plumb's cottage was in the center OF
a row of latter-day, tumbledown
shacks. Well, Abe Mincer owned the
shack next door, and Abe Mincer was
the junk man rerT,V y
When Grandma Plumbs grandson,
Harvey, had come home from Chi
cago-to die of consumption-Abe
Mincer had surreptitiOusly gone to
Edlinger's drug store at the corner
and placed a cash deposit to cover
any medicines Grandmother Plumb
might need.
For why?" he had said, blinkingly.
when questioned upon the subject by
the irreverent and totally misunder-
standing drug clerk. For why do l do
it-vell, how do l know? l gotta"
Grandmother Plumb had gotten her
self in pretty deep with the under
taker, and the florist; and even owed
the minister for his part in the
funeral.
The grandsOn's last act had been to
obtain-nO one ever knew hOw-a bat
tered old touring car which he had
suddenly appeared in town with one
day, after several days absence.
His passing left Grandmother
Plumb in sole and undisputed posses
sion Of the junk car. One morning,
as Abe was hitching up his mOurnful
horse to his creaky wagon, Grand
mother Plumb's head appeared over
the fence.
Good morning, Abe" said Grandma
Plumb, resplendent in a nice lace cap
you are a business man, Mr.. N1incer,"
went on Grandmother Plumb briskly.
1T is on a business proposition that
l want to speak to you"
"Vell, mum, If der is anything what
l kin do"
i've decided to dispose Of Harvey's
car" confded Grandmother Plumb.
We'll. Missus Plumb, tink kin gif
you"
you'll not give me a cent?" inter
rupted the little old lady. You'd be
sure to give me more than it is worth,
you rogue; I'm going to sell it to
strangers. You see l owe you about
fifty dollars, and the florist about
twenty-five; the undertakers bill was
two hundred, the Doctors a hundred
and other items will come to two OF
three hundred all together; do yOU
think" Abe eyed the old lady sadly
for a long time. His minds eye erased
the barn wall directly before him, OF
Grandmother Plumb's property, and ht
saw the battered old 1918 model. 1
would be a miracle if she got fifty dol
lars for it. For a long time Abe stooC
eyeing the lady before him reflectively
well. tell you, AIissus Plumb; yOl
do zhust what say, and I'll pOsitivel.
guarantee that you get for your egszel
lent car at least vun tOusand dollars
l will take care of the advertising
you will take care Of the selling. Vel
people come aroundt to look at tn
/
look at it but they must not touch it
you understandt2 And don't sell /
for vun dime less than vun tousand.
Il certainly shall, Mr.. AIincer;
have always admired your bushes
acumen."
Remember" cautioned Abe, turnin
> his head and stopping in his tracks a
he ambled back toward the wagOI
And, by the way, Missus Plumb, ism
there a white border painted around
the mud guardsT
YES, there is a fine, white lin
painted around the edges Of the mu
guards"
"Egzactly, Missus Plumb-Wedne.
day you will half peOble after the ca
but don't let dem touch it-you VI
derstandtT Grandmother Plumb noC
ed and Abe drove off toward the bus
ness section of the city.
The morning of the second da
after this incident, Grandmotht
Plumb was besieged with sever;
men whom she knew by sight as Ii,
ing around town all their lives. The
wanted to buy the car, and there wa
no difficulty in keeping them fro
touching it; they didn't even want I
look at it; their only anxiety was I
get Grandmother Plumb to take the
money and deliver up the car. The
bid against each other hystericalI
and grandmother finally sold it TO or
g of them for fifteen hundred dollar
Z because he had the cash with hi1
: That evening, when Abe drove HON
z he came over to the fence and calle
= to Grandmother Plumb.
i 'Vell. Missus Plumb. did you Sc
Il the carr"