The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-15

He sat down on the cover and bObbed up
and down. 1t was almost go, but not
uuite. Then he got on his hands and knees
and bobbed and sagged, and the hasp was
sliding into the slot when Mr. Bowser gave
an extra bob and lost his hold.
mir. Bowser, what on earth are you try
ing to dor" shouted Mrs. Bowser from the
foot of the stairs rs the gas fixtures ceased
shaking and the walls finally quit trem'
bling.
who's locking this internal old trunk"
he fiercely demanded as he gathered him
self up.
She made no answer. and by carefully
seected flank movement, aided by his 220
pounds of avoirdupois, he jammed the hasp
In place with such sudden vigor that the
shingles on the roof lifted up and fell back
again. The key was in the lock, but it re-
fused to turn He tried it half dozen
times, but it was no go, and he had just
hauled off to kick the whole west side OF
the outfit in when Mrs. Bowser appeared
to inquire
"Ah, you have got the cover down. but
have you locked it YETI"
ut can't be locked You've probably got
the key Of the barn door in the lock. See
that"
"But you are turning the key the wrong
way, Mr.. Bowser"
81 am, am /? II I've lived to be forty
three years old and don't know how 10 turn
trunk key want to be hit on the head
with q tanneryi say it won't lockW
She turned the key and locked it with
click He was about to take his solemn
L. Z 81 x.,har ell
down leather strap and said:
"Here-iet me showyou how to strap
arunk. Lift up that end"
who's bossing this jobi" he asked in a
hoarse whisper. II came up here to break
my shins. pull my lungs out and complete
IL wreck nay burned old anatomy on this
informal trunk, and ! don't want any of
your helpl'
When she had gone he got the strap
under the trunk Then he calmly put one
end through the buckle. braced both knees
against the trunk and sagged back. He
meant to cut the trunk right in two, but
his hands slipped and the back of his head
hit one Of the posts of the bed before it did
she carpet. He was seeing stars and pin
wheels and skyrockets by the million when
Mrs. Bowser called:
do you know you are knocking all the
plaster off the parior ceilingS If you can't
strap that trunk I'll come up and do it
myself"
''Strapi Strapp he muttered as the
Skyrockets ceased shooting and he sat up.
"Why, PA strap the burned thing up so
tight that it will take a yoke of oxen to
loosen It'll Gimme hold of that end az in"
He got it and pulled till his tongue ran
cut aud his eyes grew as large as dollars,
and when the tongue of the buckle found
\ hole be had gained an inch over the old
sne He fondly figured that he had lifted
one side OF the house at least a foot, and
his face wore grin as Mrs. Bowser came
part way up stairs and queried:
DO you think you can get 1T down with
out help"
IF can't I'll ring up the fire depart
uent," he growled in reply.
We'll DO careful. How do you expect
20 get trunk down that wayf 1t will
surely get away from you"
Mrs. Bowser ! was getting trunks
down stairs before you were bornl When
anything on the face Of this earth gets
away from the undersigned he'll notify
you by tel'--
He was following the trunk as it slid
from step to step. Just in the middle Of
the stairs be made slip, let go, and the
trunk went end over end down into the
hail. Mr.. Bowser also went end over end
after it. The last he remembered was
feeling Of floating in the air When be
came TO he was laid out on his back, and
there was taste Of gin in his mouth and
strong smell Of camphor in the air.
I'm. 50 sOrry-so sorryW sighed Mrs.
Bowser do you feel better, dear?"
After several efforts in which he refused
her aid, he reached bis feet and made his
way to the library door. As he stood a
moment she asked II she should send for
the doctor.
10. ma anal, he whispered as be waved