The Russellville Democrat., 1880-04-15

to assist him. "I'd like to know who can't do," and she dusted off the table SC he wouldn't muss his cuffs.
 He pulled out the box,
 Now" said he, "you see these blocks run four in row up to IF, and then there are three, numbers 13, IA and l5 muss them around, and the object is to make them come out just as they were, consecutively you know"
 Certainly. That's easy" and she put the l5 block in her mouth while she swashed around with the rest.
 "What'n thunder you doing?" de- manded Mir. 6poopendyke. You mustn't take lem outl'
 ''Ohw said she, putting the block up- side down, "you musn't take 'em out, ehl well, we'lldo it with lem in."
 Mir. Spoopendyke moved the cubes around awhile and then pondered.
 q see," said Mrs. Spoopendyke, "Ive got it! put that 12 down there and the Il up here, and then move 'em around" |" He did it, and they were worse than before.
 "Hold onl" she exclaimed, now put"
 "S'pose you hold on.' he respond ed. "This thing works by hand, not by steam. You've got to go slow. Now, I'll put the 1] there and that lets the 13 come in place. Then we put the 15 here and slip down the Q"
 That ain't right" That makes it II, 10, F. You want to get the up and transpose those."
 "Lemme be, will ye? Pm going to fix those. There-now I'll bring down the 12 and cary"
 "But you can't. You've got"
 q haven't either. There's the 14, 15, 13. I've only to make them run 13, IA, | I5, and then"
 "Why, you can't even count. What are you going to do with the 10, Il, l2. Do with them? What dye s'pose I'm going to do with them? Think Pm going to bore hole in lem and wear them for sox2 Talk sense if you know any. Now, I'll put the 10 in here and that lets the g in, Then we move the Il up and get the 12 in place."
 But where's your 13. IA and 15.
 "They are right here, Mrs, Spoopen- dyke; did you think they'd gone to prayer meeting? Confound a woman around a puzzle, anyway. Just you femme figure on this alone, will ye? l guess know how to fix this."
 "Of course you do,n said Mrs. Spoop- endyke, soethingly; "you can get it if any one can"
 "Just see now. If can only get the last three straight, Pve got it H'm- ah! yes. The l5 goes here. Now I've got it. Then the 13 and then the IA. Just move-hold on."
 "I see where you're wrong," said Mrs: | Spoopendyke. You want to move" <<>I I<~n "Yes you do; just move"
 "Well, if move tile be about eight miles from here, where can have some peace." Don't be so touchy; all you've got If you don't let this puzzling busi- ness alone I'll make hole in the air with it. What do you know about it anyway? I've got it all but three blocks-"
 "Well, I'll show you how to get those."
 ''Then show me; show me; just show me; that's all. Oh, show me. Why don't you shew me how it's done2
 Mrs. Spoopendyke moved them around and then studied awhile.
 "Why don't you show mel" demanded Mir. Spoopendyke. You said you'd show me. Pm waiting to be shown. Go on with your showing. Let the show proceed"
 "If one could only get that 12 out of the way so the l3 would come in, we'd be all right" unused Mrs. Spoopendyke. "Oh, certainly, certainly. Tiff the l2 had pair of legs and could build a railroad round the 15, and then give the IA free pass, he might ride into his place. Say Mrs. Spoopendyke, if you'll quite handling that 15 block like stove lid, and take your thumb out of the blank square, I'd be obliged to you. Le' see now. The IA goes here"
 "No it don't; It goes there"
 "Goes whers?"
 "Why, there."
 .There? Where? There may mean up the chimney or down my throat. Whsre2 Where do you mean2'
 "Why there, of course; cant you see? l believe you are crazyp'
 'I'm not crazy, Mrs. Spoopendyke, nor am woman. migh just as well put that block in the fire as where you say I'll put it here. ,,
 "fhen you're all wrong. It goes here."
 "A minute ago you said it went there Let it alone, tell you. Drop it. Put it back where you found it. Now, let things be. i'll move this l2 down here."
 "That makes fine arrangement. No body but lunatic would put it there Put it here.
 "Go away from here. Yoo ain't hali witted. can do this puzzle"
 You can't do anything you old idiot you deserve to loose your hat. Gc around bare-headed and cool your skull you old heather. You do puzzle you don't know the bottom of the box from the top"
 Crashl Down went the outfit, and MT Spoopendyke crawled into bed.
 Mrs. Spoopendyke rearranged tho blocks and went to work at them.
 Thomas" said she, timidly aftel a while, Hook here."
 He looked. She had solved it.
 q could have done it" he growled.
 "Yes," said she, If you had done it il
 'You only did it as was doing it" h, responded. "You picked itu where left off,"
 Yes" she replied. putting out tho light, "I picked it of the floor.
 A PRACTICAL joker up at Ottawa ha been taught lesson and has reformed He sent an acquaintance bogus invita- |, tion to an imaginary party at the hous'