Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-09-03
Locking the Trunk.


"My DEAR" said Mrs. Spoopendyke,
as she arose from her knees, hot and
tired from packing, and rubbing the
small of her back as she Strengthened up,
"Im all through now, and / wish you
would lock the trunk" .8' |.r ~,
"Certainly," replied Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke, dropping his paper and slamming
down the lid. "All you've got to do is
just fit the hasp in the lock and turn the
key. Sol"
Rut the key didn't quite turn, and Mr..
Spoopendyke hit the hasp with the side
Of his fist and tried it again.
"Don't it workp" asked Mrs. Spoop-
endyke, watching the proceeding with
considerable interest. lilo i9 b
eth work if you'll let it alone, " said
Mr.. Spoopendyke, severely, and he
raised the lid, dropped it again, pounded
the hasp, and wrenched at the key with
all his strength. "Stand back and give
me room, can't you!" he growled, as he
pressed down on the cover and gave the
key quick twists in q vain effort to catch
the lock unawares. ''-'
"Why don't you rest your weight on
it and let me lock itP' asked Mrs. Spoo-
pendyke, huttering around her husband
and wondering il he was thoroughly
aware that isplug hat was immediately
under the lid. , .;,nr b..
"llave you got the time 10 keep away
from this thing, and let me work itP"
demanded MIR. Spoopendyke, contem-
plating his wife with Spartan express
sion of usage, "Spose l can do any
thing with you sitting on my elbowP If
you'll go down cellar for a minute I'll
lock this trunk" and Mr.. Spoopendyke
banged away at the hasp and breathed
hard. But his best efforts could only
turn the key half way. .aH .
"Oh! amt glad you couldn't lock
1T" exclaimed Mrs. Spoopendyke, anx-
ious to stay her husbands growing
wrath. 81 forgot to put in your walk
ing-cane." ,..
"Dod. CAST The camel" suffered Mr..
Spoopendyko. dispose it's going Ia
lock any easier with q dod-gasted walk
ing-cane sticking out at one end? Who
says can't lock itP What's the reason
can't lock it?" and he stood off and
fetched the hasp tremendous kick.
"Anything else you've forgotten to put
IMP" and he sprang on the lid and tugged
at the key with his head thrown back
and his teeth set. "Got couple OF
mirrors you want in hereP Any china
around the house that wants ride in
this trunkP Want to put in that dod
gasted ass on the top floor who tries tc
play the fiddler" and he Topped off or
the hoor and banged at the hasp again
"Let me sit on it," suggested Mrs
Spoopendyke, climbing up without
waiting for response. "Now try it. :
Mr.. Spoopendyke fumbled around ant
worked at the hasp and key, but fruit
lessly.
"Can't We sit any harder than that?'
he yelled, as the key stuck and wouldn'
turn either way. "'Fraid of breaking
the measly thingP Press down, can
YEP
Mrs. Spocpendyke squirmed arount
and said, snow, DEAR" and then looked
over to see how he was getting on, Blu
still the lock was obdurate.
+. "Dod- gastth measly trunk!" howleC
Mr.. Spoopendyke, firing the key out tn,
window and giving the trunk farewell
kick. eff you want it locked you get
blacksmith and a" steam DERRICK" ant
Mr.. Spoopendyke threw himself into {
chair and pretended to bury himself il
his paper.
az don't know how we're ever goinI
TO- get it open, y said Mrs. Spoopendyke
after a long silence.
"Get what openP" growled the hus
band. .H..l
"The trunk. Now j remember, IT,
got a spring lock, and when you tool
tne key out it locked itself. don't sup
pose we can ever find the key" .L
"That's it!n yelled Mr.. Spoopen
dyke. "You know all about it, now
Why didn't you tell me it was sprin,
lockP What dye keep it to yoursel
for?n
Eat forgot, "whimpered Mrs. Spoopen
dyke, " but 1t will be all right. cal
open i'll a.,f ...l sl
'eOh, you can open i'll" snorted Mr.
Spoopendyke. "You're an opener Al
you want is to be sharpened on bot
sides to be an oyster-knife! With dar
lantern and a skull-cap you'd make
full set of burglars tools. Oh, yes
you'll open It'll If you had loose har
die and one corner kicked off, you'd &C
rich as q screw driver!'' and MI
Spoopendyke tore out of the house {
see if he could borrow something to pr
open the unfortunate trunk.
"That gives me time to pack tn
valise,n murmured Mrs. Spoopendykt
"and, as I've got another key to tn
trunk, wen do pretty well after all,
and the worthy lady began to jam nigh
shirts and hair-oil into the bags, togetl
er with sandwiches and tooth-brushe
wondering betimes whether Mr.. SpooI
endyke's silk hat had been SO bad
smashed that it wouldn't do to go fisl
ing in on rainy days, even if it did NJ
look well enough for Enthusiastically
E0tiL1