Short Short Story OFF THE TRACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

Short Short Story OFF THE TRACK

Byi- . Mark Hellinger

CHE was fat. As she sat there, k—' she sobbed bitterly. It was sad to watch her. She'd cry, and then she'd stop, and then she'd start again. She'd pick up her drink, and tears would fall into it

Ella watched her, and said nothinShe had seen Gertie like this many times before. The proper thing to do she knew, was to wait until there was a break in the clouds— and then start sympathising.

Off to the loft, Ella could hear the sound of Clashing laughter. She knew t ,le entire gang was having a swell time on Gertie's money. But not one of f hem would trouble to walk in here to The bedroom to find out why the <nrl was crying. ° Nobody, it seemed, cared about a fat woman. Even if she had as much dough as the Government. Gertie wiped her eyes. You could see where the tears had streaked the make--11P; I rlon t know why I should be so terribly unhappy,' ehe lamented. "I just can't understand it." .hlla regarded her wisely. . kl10 "' very well what the trouble is," she replied. "Why don't you for-et him It would be so much better. You have so much to live for, and all that Oh, Cert, I've asked you so many times! J Gertie sighed. "I know—but I just can't help myself. I try to tell myself that it's no use, but it doesn't work. The last time I went to see him I made a fool of my sell. I cried." '•You're only humiliating yourself Gert. Can t you see that?" "Certainly I can sec it." Gertie nodded slowly. "But what can I do about it? I love him, and I can't <*et interested in anyone else. ° "Oh. I'm not fooling myself. He doesnt even know that I'm alive, and realise it. But other men don't mean arsytiiing to me. He's the only one." Ella shook her head. "It just goes to show you," she murmured. 'When you get right down t 0 it, money doesji't mean a thin-*. Look

I at tlusgbeautiful mansion. Look at vour lr ™ eht ' ■ vo,,r g rea t fortune— vn!v ;'°'!, re unhappy. You're—well, }°uiejhcuia Ilv poor." Yoitre right," she said. "I'm poor that JZ • l ' r '' i , bly Listen to that mtab inside, raising the devil. Xight a ,, , er ."il"' 11 ' end up here. Thev eat, and dcrnk, and c?rry on. They' have

t „i^- ? " . sit . j h<? , re anA cry. And tmnk or him inside. vously at her handkernothi'n ' '^ il i nothin S- There was ~ iS? 01 cr to sav. "Youj' J ?know his latest, don't you ?" Gert went on. "He's crazy about that platmujm blonde. It's not bad enough he can**; veil see me; he's got to be in iov© wttth somebody else! Oh, I know wish I were dead." *1, . sIII - v! " Eila spoke sharply. Mop talking like that." Gert stood up. "Eet'sft go, inside and see him," she said slowly. Ella, knew that was coining., ( "X°tbing doing," she returned. ' iouestay out of there. You'll only feel wojrse. - !. Ella :" Gertie swallowed hard. m SJ»wg in there. I don't care how l makes me feci. Are you coming i^withame —or do I go alone?" i I Lr oin ? with" you," said Ella kerchief " D ° n for £ ct y° ur handyW*'alked ,n '° "the sittinff-room i>ext, tonthe living-room. It was" semidark. ..They stood for a moment, and then:they heard voices. One voice was 1116. , alone?" they heard him sav. All|aJone,' said the woman. That was tlite, blonde woman. "Oh,-my sweetheart!" You could sense the kiss. It was like a dropfej* of water falling into a full kettle. 1 lc*ve you so very, very much."

"George! 99 1 can t help saying it, mv dearest. Over and over again. I can't live withyou any longer. Tell me vou love me. Tell me. Quickly!" "I do, George." "Xo, don't say it like that. Sav it as though you really meant it. Tell me. Please." "I love you George darling. With all my heart." 'That's better. So much better. Oh, honey., if I only had a lot of money. "\Ye don't need much. George." You mean you mean vnu'd marry me now? To-night? Would vou, dearest? Please?" '"Yes. I lovej you. George. And I'll marry you whenever you wish. "Oh, that's grand. We'll do it now. At once. We'll leave here immediatelv aiul bring Lew and Virginia with us as witnesses. We'll be married to-night. Oh, baby, baby, baby! I'm so happy l Kiss me!" 11 J Again—that kiss ....

>ri • ° lead Gertie from the room. I lie fat girl staggered like a drunk. Siie verged on hysteria. Her tears were as big as respectable meat balls. Certie feir into a chair, and Ella ran for the smelling salts. In a few minutes (Jertie was sitting up and trying to be brave.

I don t know," said Ella, "why you went in there in the first placc. You're a fool, (iert. You knew exactly what was going to happen." Oh, don t blame me that way." Gertie looked up at tin? other woman appealingly. "I can't help it if I love him so much. "You don't understand. You've never been in love, Ella." Ella smiled sadly.

"Thais what you think," she said. "But you re wrong. I was in love once. And I know what it means to be in love."

She waved a hand. "But v. - • ca.sc, Gertie," she wont on, "I'm *(>:- ■. ; 'iat I do not understand at all. .7u „ "waiise you can afford it, you keep buying all his sound movies and 1 milling them off and you never even met the guy?"

Obliging Assistant: Xo, madam, we haven't had any for a long time! Manager (overhearing): Oh, yes. we have it, madam. I will"send out to the warehouse and have some brought in for you! Aside to assistant: Xever refuse anything; send out for it! As the lady went out the manager asked angrily: What was it she said to you ? Assistant; She said, "We haven't had any rain lately!"

Cash With Order A small hoy was usually sent on shopping errands, by his mother, to a small shop where she had a credit account. Generally lie was extremely polite to the shopkeeper, but one morning he strode in and said abruptly: PeniT'orth of toffee! "\ou've forgotten to say 'please,'" the shopkeeper reminded him. "Xo." replied the boy. "I haven't done anything of the sort. But it ain't 'tick' this time, yer see, I'm paying cash down."