Montgomery County sentinel., 1938-07-07
SHORT
SHORT
STORY

san Hickson, propri-
etor of the little notion store and,
incidentally, collector and circulator
of gossip, confided to me.
Miss Frogg was a mild enough
spinster, not very attractive in ap-
pearance, though it was recorded
somewhere in the town chronicles
that she was once the belle of that
district.
Now, Job was not a remarkable
bachelor, either for looks or intelli-
gence. He kept the grocery store at
the corner of Main street and Peace
alley-the sort of place where all
the neighborhood cats assembled
for a midnight rally. Job lived in
three rooms over the store.
But though Job lived in a state of
chaos, though his aprons were never
too clean, though he was obese and
short of breath and fiat footed, new
ertheless the neighbors loved him,
and did not want anything tragic to
happen to him. So some kind heart
ed person, with Jobs interest at
heart, decided to warn him.
Eyes, I've felt it for some time"
Job told Mrs. Busybody. 'It's
funny thing the women can't leave
me alone. Now, don't see what
they see in me, and I'm sure ] don't
encourage them. Darn provoking,
I call it."
Although Job had said that he
never encouraged Sally, neverthe-
less he was never known to refuse
an invitation to ride in her new
fiivver. But, though Sally did her
best to arouse his admiration with
smiles and well chosen attire, and
though the flivver did rafting good
work in shaking him to life, yet
neither succeeded in arousing any
emotion in that self-satisfied Job.
Then Jobs niece arrived in town.
She proved to be a fiery-headed
fapper and Immediately after she
arrived at Jobs place she decided
that his rooms needed q cleaning,
and cleaning they got.
And, to add to his woes, the men
folks grinned in passing and alluded
to the house cleaning. Supper time
came, but the cleaning went on. So
Job feasted on cold beans and buns
and thought himself the saddest
man in the world.
Then there was the opening of the
new movie house. They had adver-
tised sensational movie as fea-
ture-an eight reel affair which por-
trayed more misery in one short
hour than one could possibly live
through in nine lives. Myriads of
people passed Job as he sat on his
steps detected and forlorn.
He might have stood it all if Miss
Hickson had not passed by and
asked if he was having his place
cleaned. Then she asked him if he
were going to the movies.
NO." he replied, "I'm too old
for that stuff"
well, Sally, think, is going"
"Are you going, too?" he asked
Susan. To which she answered that
she was going with Lilly Prinkle.
Then Job thought of Sally. Per-
haps he might accompany her to
the movies. It would do no harm
and it would sort of put that Susan
Hickson woman in her place. So
that was how he called on Sally.
He confided his troubles to her.
She was sympathetic. She was gush-
ing. So he had had no support She
! jumped up.
Nov, Job, you must be hungry.
And she disappeared into the kitch-
| en-.
Make yourself comfortable, she
called from the kitchen. "Take of
your shoes, if you wish, and smoke
your pipe. Tilt back in your chair
and have a good time. If you want
anything, why sing out"
Job did make himself comfortable
in Sally's cosey little house. In fact.
he made himself 80 very comforta
| BILE that he decided he had some.
thing important to say to Susan
Hickson.
That night, before returning to
his three rooms, which now really
resembled kitchen, bedroom and
den, he knocked on Miss Hickson's
door.
Job Hobson," called the spinster
from above, what do you mean
coming around here waking up a
good-living woman? I'm in my
nightgown and cap, and shan't
stir from here"
mo need to-" called Job from
below. II just want to tell you thai
intend TO marry Sally Frogg to-
morrow morning as soon as l car
get the license. ! thought you would
like to distribute the news tonight
It's not midnight yet, and | think
you can wake folks up. But remem.
Der, get this straight: We won't be
married before tomorrow noon. Ano
! think that's all. Good night"