The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-09-15

husband and wondering If he was thor
oughly aware that his plug hat was un-
der the lid.
''Have you got the time to keep away
from this thing and let me work it ?''
demanded Mr.. -Spoopendyke, contem-
plating his with Spartan expression
| OF visage. "S'pose L can do ANYTHING
with you sitting on my elbow? Ii
you'll go down in the cellar for a min
ute I'll lock this trnnk," and Mr.
Spoopendyke banged away at the hasp
and breathed hard. But his best effort
only turned the key half way.
'.Oh amt glad you couldn't lock
itr' exclaimed Mrs. Spoopendyke, anx-
ious 70 stay her husbands growing
wrath. 81 forgot to put in your walk
ing cane"
"Dod gast the caner sputtered Mr..
SpOopendyke. "S'pose its going to lock
any easier with a dod gasted walking
cane sticking out at one end? Who
says | can't lock it? What's the reasoD
l can't lock t?" and he stood off and
fetched the hasp tremendous kick.
Anything else you've forgotten to put
in ?" and he sprang on the nd and
tugged at the key, with his head thrown
back and his teeth set. Got couple of
mirrors you want in here? Any china
around the house that Nants q ride 10.
this trunk? Want to put in that dod
gasted ass on the top floor who tries to
play the fiddler" and he Hoped OF onto
the floor and banged the nasp again.
"Let me sit on it," suggested Mrs.
Spoopendyke, climbing up without
waiting for response. "Now, try it,"
Mr.. Spoopendyke fumbled around
and worked at the hasp and key, but
truitlessly.
Cant ye sit any harder than that ?"
he yelled, as the key stuekPn wouldn't
turn either way. "'Fraid of breaking
the measley thing? Press down, can't
yeg"
Mrs. spooyendyke squirmed around
and said, snow dear" and then looked
oyer to see how he vas getting on, but
still the lock was obdurate.
'tDod gast the measly trunk ~ howled
Mr.. Spoopendyke, firing the key out OF
the window and giving the trunk q
farewell kick. "If you want it locked
you get a blacksmith and steam der
rick" and Mr.. Spoopendyke threw him
self into a chair and pretended to bury
himself in his paper.
"I don't know how we're ever going
to get it open," said Mrs. Spoopendyke,
after long SILENCE.
"Get What OPeh?t' growled her hus-
band.
''The trunk. Now, remember, it's
got spring lock and when you took the
key out it locked itself. l don't sup
pose you can ever find the key"
''That's it y yelled Mr., Spoopendyke.
e'You know all about # nowl Why
didn't you tell me it was spring lock p
What'd you keep it to yourself for?"
81 forgot whimpered Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke, f'but it will be all right. ] can
open it."
"Oh, you can open itp' snorted Mr..
Sponpendyke. "You are an opener |
ALL you want is to be besharpened on both !
sides To bs an .er n"s. xniIei With a |
dark lantern and skull cap you'd make
a full set of burglars tools! oh, yes,
you'll open it'll II you had loose ham
die and one corner kicked off, you'd get |
rich as a screw driverp' and Mr.. SpoOp
endyke tore out of the house 20 see il
he could borrow some hing 10 pry open
the unfortunate trunk. lHf
"That gives me time to pack the va
lise," murmured Mrs. Spoopendyke.
land as Eve got another key TO the |
trunk, we'll do pretty well alter ali"
and the worthy lady began to jam
night shirts and hair oil into the bags,
with sandwiches and tooth
brushes, wondering betimes whether
Mr.. Spoopendyke's silk hat had been so
badly smashed that it wouldn't do to go
fishing in on rainy days, even if it
didn't look well enough for church.