The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-12-04
fallen IN. and she seized the opportu.

fallen In, and she seized the opportu'
nifty to whisper to Mrs. Bowser:
''Is it powder or dynamite this time.
ma'aM? II we are to be blown Up VI
scattered in pieces III take kindly tc
ye to give me time enough to pronounce
my mothers name before dic"'
When Mr. Bowser had the room to
himself. he gave the old bookcase sew
eral sturdy kicks and then dragged ii
aside and tossed the books after X.
In q quarter OF az iour be was ready
TO tackle the piano. When he Jumped
for it. he hadn't the slightest doubt in
his n;nd that ii wCu,d prove a. easy
customer. but after tug and pull
which broke both suspcnders he real
lied that it had settled down to stay.
He took Il rest for minute and then
braccd himself for a push. After an
effort that buiSed his eyes and reddcn-
ed bis face to 4 SeaSEorc sunburn he
effected n move of two inches, but
could not gain another hairs breadth.
Mrs. Bowser came down and suggested
that she call In n passing pedestrian.
and the cook called up from the base
ment that she was used to toying with
ice chests and barrels Of ashes, but Mr..
Bowser yelled al lhe.n:
Didn't say I was hoss;Eg this job:
It's simply that the blamed old thing
has settled down in the Quicksand or
something"
Then he seized 1t by corner and
braced his feet against tho ~ah and
heaved. but there was no give.
He worked his way in behind it ard
gave a mighty push. but only the brick
wall behind hiE, seemed to give way.
He crawIcd under it and sought to
move it Ivy humping up his back. but
though he persisted till his spinal col
umn was twisted out Of plumb nothing
moved
TIE law Of mechanics oGght to an
ply 10 y piano. but it doesn't. Mr..
Bowser sat painting and studying for
five minute; before ne decided that it
didn't and that lie had get to spring
sudden surprise. or acknowledge lis
defeat. He got UP and walked about
in a careless way. and when the cook
called up that she had once moved an
Ice chest weighing 600 pounds with her
own hands he didn't reply. He was
giving that piano time to d!sSipatc Its
suspicious and relax its guard. 1t was
Only twenty minutes before lie felt that
the time was ripe. and then he eau
tiously spat on his hands. edged into
position. and Of q sudden be spranS
forward and grabbed Q corner Of tie
instrument and put forth all his
strength. Mrs. BoWser and the cook
heard tie grunt uttered hy n man
when he tries to push sMokehouSe
up hill, and this was followed by
crash. Mr.. Bowser had lost bis hold
and gone rolling over the floor. When
the women got to him, he was sitting
up and looking about him in a daZcd
way and wondering il IL had pulled
the side Of the house out or yankcd the
piano across the street Not word
was said for q lo2g minute. Then Mrs
BowSer softly observed:
You will find the arAa.a On the
mantcl in my room, ard If you will give
your back q good rubbing and get into
bed III fix up the bookcase with the
help OF the cook"
Mr.. Bowser looked at her with IN ice
cold glare. and once. or twice he open
ed his mouth as if to speak, but pres
eatiy he got to his feet in weary way,
made q faint kick ut the cat and went
creeping up stairs like Il MAN who had
no further interest IN life. NJ. QUAD.