Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-11-29
"Toot-Toot, Tootles!"
By Chef GRANT
O Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service.

THE hour was close to midnight
L when George Blake turned the cor
Aer Of the street where Mabel Porter
lived. Il was a night Of softly moving
xephyrs filled with mysterious scents.
George walked as one In a trance.
his ukulele tucked securely under his
arm. Mabel's house was In darkness.
Her bedroom window faced the street
and was close to the fireplace chimney.
It was Georges plan to stand In the
shadow Of this chimney and pour forth
his heart. he knelt outside the hedge
that bordered the lawn and was star.
tied to see q figure looming In his
chosen spot. Suddenly the still night
air was broken by the melodious tones
Of an alto saxophone.
"Tootles Walsh" George growled.
"Why-"
Tootles could play q saxophone and
he did q commendable piece Of work
On the Blue Danube MabeIs golden
head appeared at the window sill and
her arm cleaned momentarily in the
moonlight A flower dropped into
Tootles' anxious hand.
Mabel and Tootles began to whisper.
George, in his eagerness to hear them.
crept further along behind the hedge.
His hand touched something that be-
gan to squash. an unidentified garden
product lost from a grocer's wagon
many days previous. Tootles moved
carelessly into the moonlight, his face
uplifted to catch Mabers slightest
word. A dark object sped swiftly
across the face Of the moon and de-
scended with uncanny accuracy upon
his head Tootles' yelp Of surprise and
fright could be heard up and down the
street
At this precise moment the awful
figure Of Mabels father charged
around the corner Of the house. Too
ties, letting out another yelp, scuttled
around the opposite corner and could
be heard clanking over the back fence.
While George, no less startled and up
set by Mr.. Porter's stark avenging fig
ure. leaped out to the middle Of the
street and raced away.
George expected that he had heard
the last Of the troubador incident, but
he soon learned otherwise. he found
1t was difficult to make q date with
Mabel Tootles Walsh was the lucky
boy. No, Mabel didn't know when she
could give George a date. In fact,
she was rather choice Of her company.
People who threw over-ripe tomatoes
at unsuspecting persons were not her
kind, thank you.
you're welcome" George rejoined
shortly. what is your kind?" he de-
manded.
1.-The intelligentsia," Mabel answered
haughtily.
'1That must be Tootles and his
bunch" George snapped. 81 suppose
they're smarter'n garage mechanics !"
SWELL, they don't throw vegetables
at people,"
$50 what are you dom with them
for them" George cried, garbling his
grammar.
II never in my life" Mabel began.
One Sunday morning the pastor an
nounced that on the coming Wednes-
day evening at eight o'clock sharp the
Ladies' Aid would hold its annual ice
cream social Music would be fur
nished by Mr.. Frederick Walsh, &C
companied at the piano by Miss Mabel
Porter. George saw here and there
the nodding heads and the knowing
glances. Tootles and Mabel. They were
a dear pair. George felt Ill.
-. The Blue Danube" the pastor
said, finishing his announcement. A
hush settled over the audience Tootles
stepped to the front Of the platform.
He nodded confidently to Mabel and
set his lips to the saxophone. He blew.
"Moo-oo!" blurted the instrument
nasally. Tootles looked surprised. He
snapped the stops and nodded again.
''Moo-hoo!" 1t sounded so funny peo-
pie had to laugh. George Rugged him.
self when somebody yelled, "Give that
calf more rope!" Tootles turned a
brick red. He seemed to wilt under
the merciless storm of laughter. Then
he peered into the bell of the saxo-
phone. He thrust in his hand and
pulled out a long chain Of frankfurt
tiers. He grinned sheepishly and num-
bled something about the horn Of
plenty.
The audience thought it was an act
and after Mabel and Tootles finished
their repertoire 1t crowded about the
platform to congratulate them. George
was not there. Somehow luck was not
with him in regard to Tootles Walsh.
He hurried out to the church lawn
and went directly to q spot in the
hedge where he had hidden his ukulele.
Tucking 1t under his arm he started up
the lonely street
The click-clickety-click of high heels
on the cement walk behind him made
George turn. It was Mabel. She was
coming to accuse him no doubt Of put
ting those frankfurters in Tootles'
horn. He started to hurry, but she
caught up with him.
George"
"Uh-huh?"
"You mad with me, Georgiew
MOO"
"Pm sorry that snob Tootles played
so well tonight" She tried to see his
face.