The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-11-04
LOCKING THE TRUNK.

"Iy DEAR" said Mrs. Spoopendyke
rs she arose from her knees, hot ant
tired with packing, and rubbing thu
small of her back as she Strengthened
up, "I'm all through now, and l wisl
you would lock this trunk"
"Certainly,' said Mr.. Spoopendyke
dropping his paper and slammins
down the lid. "All you've got to dc
is just fit the hasp in the lock and turn
the key. So -
But the key didn't quite turn, and
Mr.. Spoophndyke hit the hasp with
the side of his fist and tried it again.
"Don't it work ?" asked Mrs. Spoo-
pendyke, watching the proceeding
with considerable interest.
"1t'll work if you'll let it alone,''
said Mr.. Spopendyke severely, and he
raised the lid, dropped it again, pound
ed the hasp and wrenched at tho 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
Il vain effort to catch the lock una
wares
"Why don't you rest your weight on
Spoopendyke, tiutteriug around her
! husband and wondering if he was
| thoroughly aware that his plug hat
was Immediately under the lid.
"Have you got the time to keep
away from thing and let me work it ?''
concluded MIR. Spoopendykc, contem-
plating his wife with Il Spartan express
sion of visage. s'S'posc 1 can do any
thing with you sitting on my elbow !:
If you'll go down the cellar for min
ute I'll lock this trunk,' and Mr.. Spoo-
gendyke banged away at the hasp,
and breathed hard. But his best Of
forts could only turn tho key half way
"Oh! ain't / glad you couldn't lock
tv' exclaimed Mrs. Spoopendyke,
anxious TO stay her husbands growing
wrath. s'I forgot to pat in your walk
ing cane.'
"Dod gast the cane!" sputtcrcd Mr..
Spoopcndykc. "S'posc it's going to
walking cane sticking out at one end :
Who says l can't lock it =: What's
the reason ] can't lock it," and he
stood Off and fetched the hasp tre-
mcndous kick. "Anything else you've
forgotten to put in?" and he sprang
on the lid and tugged at the l<ey with
his head thrown back and his teeth
set. ssGot Il couple of mirrors you
want in here? Any china around the
house that wants a ride in this trunk !?
Want to put in that dod gasted ass on
the top floor, who tries to play the lid-
die ?'' and he Topped Off on to the
floor and banged at the hasp again.
tLct me sit on it,'' suggested Mrs.
Spoopendyl>e, climbing up without
waiting for response. "Now try it.'
Mr.. Spoopcndyke fumbled around
and worked at the hasp and key, but
fruitlcssly.
"Can't yc sit any harder than that ?'
he yelled, as the key stuck and would
not turn either way. "E'raid of break
ing the mcasly thing: Press down,
can't yc:'
Mrs. SpoopcndyiSc squirmcd around
and said, "Now dear" and then look
cd over to sec how he was getting on,
but still the lock was obdurate.
"Dod gast the mcasly trunk !"
howlcd Mr.. Spoopcndykc, firing the
key out of the window and giving the
trunk farewell kick. of you want
it locked you get u blacksmith and a
steam derrick" and Mr.. Sp0opendyke
threw himself into chair and pre-
tended to bury himself in his paper.
"I don't know how we're ever 60
ing to get it opcn,' said Mrs. Spoopcn-
dyke after Il long silence.
acct what opcn:'' grOWlcd her hus-
band.
nThe trunk. NowI remember, it's
got a spring lock, and when you took
the key out it locked itself. / don't
suppose Wc can ever find tho key.'
"Thats it!' yelled Mr.. Spoopen-
dixie. HYou know all about it now !
Why didn't you tell melt was a spring
lock What dye keep it to yourself
for?"
"I forgot" whimpercd Mrs. Spoopcn-
dyke, ssbut it will be all right. / can
open ii.''
ooh, you can open it!' snortcd Mr..
Spoopcndykc. ''You'rc an opener All
you want is TO be sharpencd on both
sides to be an oyster knife! With a
dark lantern and a skull cap you'd
make a full set of burglars tools. Oh,
yes, you'll open it! If you had a loose
handle and one corner kicked off, you'd
get rich as n screw drivcrn' and Mr..
Spoopendykc tore out of the house to
sec if he could borrow something to
pry open that unfortunate trunk.
"That gives me time to pack the
Valise,' murmured Mrs. Spoopendykc,
"and as I've got another key to the
trunk, we'll do pretty well after ALL"
and the worthy lady began to jam