The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-01-04
HIP, HIP!
HEPZIBAH!
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By CHEF GRANT
McCMre svndicate-WNu Features.

MS ~ 10 WIN J1e lQdlLer. OIL mop
IN that Iron Horse of yours and get
down to the station to meet her. I
don't want to hear another word
about it. Now hurry"
George Blake moped out to
the garage. Imagine being har-
messed with girl named Hepzi-
bah! George squirmed in his
seat. He could just picture her!
Hugo Green was moving his lawn
when George drew up before the
house. Hugo was a good fellow, but
he played the cornet. However, any
port in a storm.
'Lo, Hugo, what's new" he
called affably.
"Nothin'.'' Hugo eyed George
narrowly.
"say," George said brightly,
"how about comm up t. the
house t'night? Bring your
horn"
Hugo grinned. "Not for me,
George. I've heared about
Cousin Hepzibah from Maine"
The Iron Horse Slowed around the
cinder parking space and came to a
stop beside the station platform.
George dismounted and was taken
aback to discover Tootles and the
rest of his crowd innocently sitting
on the baggage truck by the ticket
window.
Hey" Tootles yelled, "you goin'
to kiss Cousin Hepzibah, Georgie?"
"You got hayseed on your collar!"
"Makin' her feel right to home!"
There was lots more, but the train
Numbered into the station. There
were but few passengers and only
one of them was a girl. At the sight
of her Georges heart fiip-fopped.
She was small person, exquisite
from head to toe. There was not
SO much as a smoker from the bag
gage truck audience.
care you Cousin Hepzibah?"
Wide gray eyes twinkled. Red lips
parted in a wonderful friendly smile.
Eyes. And you're Cousin George,
aren't you?"
"Um!" George answered, reach
ing for her bag. Il guess we'd bet
ter be moving"
Without so much as turn of
his head in their direction he
led Hepzibah away from T0oues
and the rest. They stood quite
still, shocked into inertia by the
sudden revelation Of Cousin Hep
zibah in the flesh. Before their
brains could function normally
George had started the Iron
Horse away from the platform.
For the first time since Easter
George changed his suit before sup
per. He looked forward to a long
enjoyable evening. He and Hepzi-
bah would pop corn, discuss a num-
Der OF things and listen to the radio.
They discussed a number Of things
first and right in the middle Of it
the doorbell rang.
George couldn't shut the door in
Tootles' face because Tootles' foot
was showing the door for dear life.
"You invited me, didn't you?" he
demanded, shocking off his coat.
Skinny Tate came next, Bud Thorn
ton wasn't far behind, and within
ten minutes the living room held
every breathing male member Of
Elston's Young Peoples Society.
When George returned from work
in Mack's Garage the next evening
he discovered that Hepzibah was
dated with Tootles. Hepzibah hint
ed, too, that she would be dated the
following night She was; and the
next night, and the next. Georges
own particular girl was out of town,
so he moped.
The feminine portion of Elston's
Young Peoples Society did not view
Hepzibah's popularity favorably, but
there was nothing they could do.
Only the approach Of the Annual
Picnic saved the day for them. 1t
had been decided at the last meeting
that all would go by bus, except
George, who had to work for half
an hour after the starting time. 1t
was expected that he would follow
in his car with Hepzibah.
Saturday morning George
tinkered with the bus engine at
the garage. Later it went by
the door ablaze with banners
and streamers. George grinned.
When closing time came he
l.
started toward the picnic
came upon the bus some five
miles from ElstOn.
Hey, George" Tootles called,
rubbing grease across his hot face.
Come and give this blamed engine
your expert attention"
George sat behind the wheel of
the Iron Horse and grinned. "Not
me, boys, this is my afternoon off. >"
He stood up and yelled "Hey, you
girls want a ride? Come on!" They
came running.
"Well, boys" George said, 'I'm
sorry there isn't any more room, but
it isn't more than a two-mile hike to
the grounds. The girls and III DE
waiting Tor YOU'D
The Iron Horse began to pull
away, snorting and chugging.
Hey" Tootles yelled suddenly,
"Where's Hepzibah, didn't she
Gomez"
"Naw," George shouted back.
"She went back home. Said she
never saw such a big bunch of
hicks in her hfe!" The Iron
Horse churned away down the