The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-24
needs extend his handiwork half way up

needs extend his handiwork half way up
the ceilingi
"Oh, Charlesp' she walled you sure
ly do not think of making one of those
dreadful holes over the window frameg"
THAT is just what / think of doing,
Mrs. Selby. Henry, you and Tom bring
me the stepladder Immediately"
When the stepladder arrived, Mr.. Selby
climbed up with his hammer and chisel,
and soon bits of lath and plaster began to
patter merrily on the carpet.
Il am almost certain shall find the
watch hero" he announced as he handed
down his tools and proceeded toinyestigate
the gap in the WALL
BUT the watch was not xhere-at least
not SO far as Mr.. Selby c1ild reach. So
sure was he that he should find it on the
window frame, however, that he made. two
more holes besides the first and desisted
when he had run his hand the entire length
OF the window frame By this time, con-
sidering the house practically pulled down
anyway, Mrs Selby and Angelina had re-
tired, leaving the destroyer to work at will.
Henry and Tom still remained, however,
to see what their father would do next.
Mr.. Selby came down from the steplad-
der and all covered with white dust as he
was flung himself on the plush covered
sofa to rest. His eyes began to wander
over the scene of desolation, and for the
first time he realized the full extent of the
mischief he had been doing. 'Looks kind
of bad, doesn't it?" he asked, with sickly
smile, appealing to the boys s
Eyes, father" replied Henry, IT think
you have made pretty thorough job of
it,"
WELL" said Mr. Selby, 81 am going to
make just two more holes, and then I will
quit" Mr.. Selby went to work according
ly and made an additional hole on the ex-
IRENE right of the base board row and then
another one on the extreme left. It is hard
ly necessary to say that he did not find the
watch in either place. Before leaving the
scene of desolation he compromised with
his conscience to the extent of having the
boys drag in the plant stand and conceal
with it as many of the gaping holes as pos
sible. Then, thoroughly exhausted, both
in nerve power and muscle, Mr.. Selby re-
tired to his chamber. Mrs. Selby was SO
deeply offended that she would not speak
to him, SO they went to bed in silence.
A month passed, and still Mr.. Selby got
no tidings from his watch. At great ex-
pense he had the parlor walls patched up
and newly frescoed This pacified Mrs.
Selby, and she began once more to heartily
sympathize with her husband in his per
sistent grief at the loss Of the watch. One
day she said to him, "Dear, are you sure
that you looked thoroughly in the attics"
s'Of course | am" answered Mr. Selby.
II have been up there every day for week,
and there isn't an inch of the floor that
haven't examined"
STILL" persisted Mrs. Selby, ST am not
at all sure that the watch is not there. You
know how often, dear, have sent you to
get a thing, and you have returned saving
that it was not there; whereas, when went
to look. it lay right on top of everything
else and almost jumped into my face"
Il don't care" protested Mr.. Selby. II
guess if saw my watch lying around loose,
| should recognize it. But if you aren't
satisfied with my looking why don't you
go up garrett and look for yourselfs"
Il willp' exclaimed Mrs. Selby. with sud-
den determination, though, goodness
knows, 1T will be terrible piece of work
for woman to get up through that trap
door Still, II you and the boys will help
me, will try"
Mr. Selby Immediately went for the step
iouOcI dilu SuhIAouSu lOm anu henry.
The two boys steadied the ladder while
Mrs. Selby climbed to the top, assisted by
her husband, who followed close behind.
She was gone just one minute. Then
she appeared at the trapdoor and handed
down Mr.. Selby's watch without a word.
Mr.. Selby was SO astonished that he also
remained speeches.. 1t was not until
Mrs. Selby had descended quite to the floor
that he was able to gasp:
"Wh-wh-where did you find ita"
Lying right on top of the papers," re-
piled Mrs. Selby.
st must have crawled out of some hole,
then," said Mr.. Selby, perplexity deepen
ing into amazement upon his countenance.
Then he put the big watch to his ear and
exclaimed in alarm:
"It has stoppedp'-Good Housekeeping.