The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-02-27

nope you'll quit your humping after
you get 1t in. can't get my child TO
sleep while it's going on"
I'm sure it will only be a minute.
You see, the worst is over"
81 should hope So" said Mrs. Coeh.
ran, looking at the dents in the wall
and the broken globes. And then the
two expressmen put their shoulders to
the bed and swung it into the doorway
with such vehemence that it stuck
like a fat cork in a small bottle and re.
fused to bulge.
We'll, this is pretty state of
things" said Mrs. Cochran from he.
hind the bed. How do you suppose
we're going to close our front door
with that great bed In the way?"
you Won't need to close it No one
will come in While der bet is dere. It is
besser as a door" And the German
laughed uproariously and fatty.
"Oh, but this is too awful" said
Mrs. Bentley, wringing her hands
helplessly.
81 should think it was" came the
voice of Mrs. Cochran from the other
side of the bed
rs your husband in there? Can't
he help pushY suggested Mrs Bent
ley
NO" snapped Mrs Cochran. He
hasn't come home yet, and, what's
more, he can't until this barricade is
removed. How anybody but fool
could have bought such a monstrous
thing l don't see"
At this juneture Mr. Cochran came
up stairs, with Mr.. Bentley just be
hind him. Mr.. Cochran looked puz-
zled. Mr.. Bentley groaned lie had
come home toe soon.
What are you doing to the bed"
asked Mr.. Cochran.
I'VE amt dom "A ting to i'd" said
the fat German joyously.
Bentley and Cochran laughed, but
Mrs. Bentley saw no humor in the re-
mark, and certainly Mrs. Cochran saw
no funny side to the bed. Both sides
seemed tragic to her.
is that you. Georgef" she called
out.
Eyes, it's me- Shall l come in?"
you cant except by the fire es-
cape said Mrs Cochran despairingly.
what are you doing with it In the
wrong door, asked Mr.. Bentley of
the expressmen.
Sure, 'twould have shtook as fasht
in amy dure," said the Irish express
man, and the German roared sympa-
thetically.
Mr., Cochran is a man of action
Here; we four men ought to be able
to move little be-a bed. Now, alto
gether; pulln'
Mr.. Cochran is a successful polti-
clan, but he had the wrong kind of
pull with him and the only result of
the effort was that Mr. Bentley pulled
off some of the molding and fell on
his back.
Nothing daunted. Mr., Cochran said
Lets go around by way of the fire es-
cape and push
The two eXpressmen and Mr.. Coch.
ran made nothing of passing from
Mrs. Bentley's parlor to Mrs. Goch-
rams parlor by the fire escape, but Mr.
Bentley is light headed and had to be
helped across-by his wife. Then the
two entered the Cochran apartments
for the first time, like thieves in the
night
Now all six combined their strength
and pushed, but the bed only laughed
at them.
"Wcll, nothing more can be done
now" said Cochran. The bed is here.
and it's got to stay here fer the pres
emit Now, You men might as well 20
about your business. You've done what
you set out TO do-the bed is up here
fast enough"
"IIow much do | owe youf" asked
Bentley of the German.
1.-TWO dollars. III sent arount car,
penter if you yand.'
"Oh, no" said Mrs BENTLEY. Hell
be able TO move it,"
Back across the fire escape was Mr..
Bentley helped by his faithful wife,
and then they babe the Cochraus g4od
night 1t was such an impossible thing
TINT had happened that everybody felt
good naturcd once more. just as In Il
blizzard or a period of excessive heat
people make light of their misfortunes
and passersby joke one another.
Next morning Immediately after
breakfast Mrs. BENTLEY went down tp
the bed company to see whether ihcy
could suggest way of getting the bed
ont of Mrs. Coehran's doorway.
They had moved, and big SIGN in
the window bore the legend. To BE
Opened In Few Days us IA I.ddias'
Lunchroom."
For the space of two days that bed
stood i'm the doorway while carpenter
after carpenter came and looked nj it
and shook his head aud went away
Then came one who said: We seen
those beds before They amt worth
b1thoring with. The compauN's failed
HAT made them. Now, next door to
my shop is "A vacant lot. and if cut
the bed to pieces | guess you can
dump II there and the owner of the lot
won't mind
Mrs Bentley hailed the scheme rs Il
heaven sent proposition. Mr. BENTLEY
was dowr town and Mrs Cochran.
who was on the other side chatting
with her-for in spite of what had
come between them they were now
quite friendly seconded the plan
The carpenter borrowed IN AK Of the
jantor. and in half hours time With
the exception OF the mirror. which