Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-11
LOCKED OUT.
The woman Who Was Locked Out and
Hos She Got In.

The woman Who Was Locked oas and
Hoe She Cot In
One morning Mrs Benedict stepped
cut into the hall 10 say goodby 10
caller. and left the door vt her hat wide
open behind her. As she was waiting a
few messages over the baiesters, strong
gust Of wind seized the door and
slammed il to-snd Mrs. Benedict was
locked .ut, for she had methodically
placed the key IN the side pocket Of her
little leather shopping bag. which lay.
Ut that moment. In the left hand corner
Of the top bureau drawer.
Mrs. Benedict found herself in very
unpleasant position. She was without
girl, and there was no one IN the nat.
1t was only i2 o'clock. and her husband
did not come home until q. What could
she do in the meantime? She could not
even 60 shopping. for she was hatless as
well Us moneyless. And she had some
thing cooking in the oven besides.
She called to the janitor for assist
ance. He made his appearance and
tried the door. Then he shook his head
obviously.
"Oi'll get the engineer; maybe he'll
have some keys"
The engineer came. He did have
some keys, about hundred Of different
sizes and shapes in more or less rusty
condition; but mono of them would fit
the lock.
''Oi might be after havin Jimmy haul
me up in the dumb waiter" suggested
the janitor. But the dumb waiter had
always brought grave intimations Of
of burglarious possibilities to Mrs. Bene-
diets mind. and she was sure that the
door which separated it FROM the apart
ment was locked too.
''Oi'll go up on the fire escape and
climb in the winder," volunteered the
janitor, with an eye to Christmas. But
Mrs. Benedict said she knew the win
dow was fastened.
Perhaps l can pry back the catch with
thin knife Come on, Dennis" said
the engineer, and the two men left to
to try the forlorn hope.
It was at this moment that young
Puffer had filled his big meerschaum
with dark, moist mixture of his own
invention. 1t consisted Of perique, cut
plug and cavendish, with a few odds
and ends he happened to have in the
house. It produced huge volumes Of
smoke-though his friends fought shy
of it.
The absence Of other buildings per-
mitted an unobstructed view of the fat
ho o<vo In tI,A or6 ~
course the first passer by who noticed
the two men on the fire escape and the
clouds Of smoke pouring from Puffer's
window jumped at o conclusion and
turned in an alarm.
Soon the sound of the engines tearing
over the stone pavements attracted Puff
fer's attention; he rose and laid his pipe
ON the table, where it quietly went out.
He stuck his head out Of the window.
A fireman was coming up the iron lad
der. AK in hand.
The rescuer reached the balcony where
the engineer and janitor were struggling
with the window fastening. Without
waiting for any explanation he pushed
them aside, and raising his ak de-
mOlished both sashes and the two panes
of glass with one stalwart blow. Then
he rushed through the fiat looking for
fire. He came to the hall door and
opened it.
''Oh, thank you," said Mrs. Benedict
gratefully.
"Fer what, num-
"For letting me in. / was locked
outr'
lis that what all this rumpus is
aboutS" asked the angry and astOnished
fireman.
FL guess So" she faltered.
"Well, num-" said the fireman i'm
pressively, 1.-The next time you get
caught that way, don't call on three en-
gines an hose cart, an hook an ladder,
an a water tower. Just send for me
and I'll come around quietly with my
AZ and let you in. "-Exchange.