Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-03-12


fused to bulge.
Well, this is pretty state OF
things" said Mrs. Cochran from be-
hind the bed. How do you suppose
were going 10 close our front door
with that great bed IN the way2'
You Won't need to close IT, No one
will come in While der bet is dere. Ii is
besser as a door, And the German
laughed uprOariously and fatty
"Oh, but this is too awful" said
Mrs. Bentley. wringing her hands
helplcsSly.
Il should think It was" came the
voice OF Mrs. Cochran from the other
side of the bed
lis your husband i'm there? Can't
he help pushT' suggested Mrs. Bent
Icy.
Mo- snapped Mrs. Cochran He
hasn't come home yet. and. what's
more. he can't until this barricade Is
removed. How anybody but a fool
could have bought such mOnstrOus
thing don't seer'
At this juncture Mr. Cochran came
up stairs. with Mr.. Bentley just be-
hind him. Mr.. Cochran looked puz-
zled. Mr.. Bentley groaned. He had
come home too soon.
What are you doing 20 the bed?"
asked Mr.. Cochran.
I've amt doin' 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 10 the bed. Both sides
seemed tragic TO her.
lis that YOU, GeOrge?" she called
out.
Yes. it's ne. SEall / come in?"
You can't 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
I'm amy dure." said the Irish express
man. and the German rOared sympa-
thetically.
Mr.. Cochran is man of action.
Here; We four men ought to be able
10 move a little be-a bed. Now, alto
gether; pullr'
Mr.. Cochran is a successful pOllti-
clan. but he had the wrong kind Of
pull with him. and the only result OF
tie effort was that MIR. Bentley pulled
OF some OF the mOlding and fell on
his back.
Nothing daunted. Mr.. Cochran said.
Let's go around 10y way OF the fire es-
cape and push"
The two eNpressmen and MIR. Coch-
ran made nothing of passing from
Mrs. Bentley's 4 n 10 Mrs. COch-
rams parlor 10y { --.e 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 I'm the
night
Now all six combined their strength
and pushed. hut the bed only laughed
at them.
"Well. nothing more can be done
now" said Cochran. The bed is here.
and it's got 60 stay here for the pres
ent. Now. you men might as well 20
about your business. You've done what
you set out 10 dO-the bed is up here
fast enough"
"Eow much do owe youf' asked
Bentley Of the German.
1.-TWO dollars. I'll sent arount car
penter If you wand"
"Oh. nor' 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 bade the Cochrans good
night. II was such an impossible thing
that had happened that everybody felt
good natured once more, just as I'm
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 to
the bed company TO see whether they
could suggest a way of getting the bed
out of Mrs. COchran's doorway.
They had moved, and a big sign in
the window bore the legend, ITO Be
Opened In 4 Few Days as a Ladies'
Lunehroom."
For the space Of two days that bed
stood in the doorway while carpenter
after carpenter came and looked at It
and shook his head and went away
Then came one who said: "I've seen
those beds before. They amt worth
bothering with. The company's failed
that made them. Now. next door TO
my shop is vacant lot. and If cut
the bed TO pieces ! guess you can
dump IL there and the owner OF the lot
won't mind"
Mrs. Bentley hailed the scheme as a
heaven sent proposition. Mr.. Bentley
/ was down 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 an ak of the
I janitor. and in a half hours time. with
I tue exception of the mirror. which
was preserved intact. there was not
J square foot Of the bed unbroken
The carpenter sent the pieces down on
the dumb waiter and then took them
sway and presumably dumped them
Mrs. Cochran spent five minutes shut
ting and opening the door. 1t was so
pleasant to be able to do IL again
Then Mrs. Bentley invited her neigh
Dor into her fiat and apologized for
! making so much trouble