The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-06

out, tucked through the loops, wove into
watertight meshes, finally doing with its
last end what he did at the beginning
with its first end, secreted it beyond all
hope of discovery without supernatural
aid. If one of those ends could have
been found leg might have been I'M
raveled and the Slocums and their regu-
lar monthly mover spared great deal of
trouble; but as the crib existed, and
doubtless exists to this day, it is safer
from harm than the contents of chilled
steel safe with the combination forgot
ten. Twice the Slocunls' rattan crib had
fallen off the front end of Muggins' van
and been run over by two wheels OF
the ponderous vehicle. Muggins had
breathed easier until he found that the
crib, far from being injured, was more
elastic and tenacious of its perennial
symmetry than ever.
AS he expected, Jack found the Slo.
Gums rattan crib two sizes too big for
every door in the flat. He suspended
his exertiorT looking to the twisting off
of the cribs sht hind leg, and wiped
the perspiration from his brow.
''If I knew how the darned thing got
in here he said, I'D
ST don't see why you shouldn't inter-
rupted Slocum, consulting 1nemoran-
dunn book and reading therefrom: "Sept.
3o-moved by Muggins & Son--four dol
Iars-same old difficulty with the rattan
crib"
ooh, yes, remember now," said Jack
to his helper, 1--WE took all the doors off. I"
They took all the doors off.
The rattan crib seemed to have ex-
panded another inch out of pure malice.
Muggins arrived with the first load of
the Jenkinses' effects, including the ex-
tension table, and still the rattan crib
showed no signs of yielding. Muggins
& Son were losing money.
'Why don't you knock off pair of
her internal legs:' said the senior part
ner, wrathfully.
"Try it, pop" replied the junior part
ner; latter you've tried it for couple
of hours you will be good deal sadder
and wiser than you are now"
Nevertheless Muggins tried it, and the
heartless Slocums stood by and jeered.
Finally, in desperation, Muggins bor-
rowed all the clothes lines in the build
ing, tied them together, and lowered the
Slocums rattan baby crib out of the
front parlor window. He took movers
delight in letting the crib fall the last
four stories, but it wasn't injured in the
least.
When Muggins &c Son met for lunch,
the Jenkins and Slocum jobs being fin
ished, they were not nearly as blithe and
gay as they had been in the morning.
The two small, dark colored bottles kept
under the horse blankets in the van seats
were empty. So seemed the future to
Muggins & Son, as one put fresh rag
on his thumb and the other examined a
toe on which trunkful of books had
fallen.
"S'pose you got some more orders:"
said Muggins to the junior partner.
"Yes, pop. The Higginses at 8 o'clock,
Fifth-ninth to Sixth-frst.
'How muchf" demanded Muggins,
with quaver of surprise in his voice.
"Four and half, pop. It's a Why,
pop, you don't say
Muggins had received the intelligence
that the Higginses were to be moved for
$3.50 with such evidences of despair as
could have but one meaning.
Il do say, my son, that you're gettin
to be bigger ass every day of your life.
Didn't we move the Higginses two
months ago? And didn't they have one
extension table and two rattan baby
cribs?"
Still there are great many people in
apartment house districts who are of the
opinion that it is much more profitable
and pleasant to move than to be moved
G, ID.