Rock Island Argus., 1908-06-25
Bhe Hrgus Daily Short Story
The Riddle Guesser BY Benjamin Nicholson.
&C., Cenyrighted. 1905. by Associated literary Press:

beginning to feel as if were ready to
live"
Don't you need something besides
house? See If you can't think of some
thing you're still short Of"
Il can't say that cam
"Something that stays in the house,
well. got my ma to make out list
OF the things she thought Id need. and
i turned it over TO Burckey and had
him fill IT ont
| "Maybe the thing have in mind is
not TO be had at Burckey's"
II must say if ii can't be bought at
Burckey's 1t must be something un-
usual. But don't tell me what it is
| I'm terrible fellow for guessing rid
dies and solving puzzles and such like.
never heard tell of riddle that
couldn't guess
! "Well, lot of men have got gray
Trying to solve this one. But dive in;
| maybe you can. / don't want to dis
courage YOU
| SIS. it found in most houses?"
| "No, not all. Old bachelors seem to
think that they can get along without
them. Whenever they do have one
around it's an ugly old thing. al
most said secondhand, but caught my
self just in time"
81 reckon you have one?'
/ "Oh, yes. four. got one before
started housekeeping
.Now, that's Interesting. Which
room do you keep it in?'
For twenty years tried to keep 1t
in the kitchen, but as didn't seem to
make any Roadway / gave up trying.
I'm just as liable to. find mine in the
parlor as anywhere else"
"Is It a bootjack? 1 don't think
Burckey keeps bootjacks."
"Well. if bootiack is supposed to
make life easier for man. then it's
like one IN that respect, but it's not q
bootiack nor cook stove. though it Is
supposed to stand around a stove q
good deal and is like one in that i,
gets pretty warm at times
II reckon it couldn't be coffeepot
for Burckey keeps them. / believe yor
said it made life easier for man?''
NO. l didn't. | said 1t was sup
1
was most to the point was that l go
one before | started housekeeping ant
that now I've got four. Do you know
I've been expecting for some time tha
you were going to ask me if | wouldn'
give you gre so that you could begil
housekeeping right"
That's another good point. It
something that you'd give away. so
reckon it can't be worth so very much
I'll guess it yet! Now. you see if
don't"
"Just to encourage you a little.
don't mind saying that. while
wouldn't sell it for any money. I'll Civ
it to you just as soon as ever you asl
me for it,
us it stove lifter?"
Mr.. Poole pushed a good sized hand
full of whiskers into his mouth and be
gan to chew them angrily.
Now, let me put all these points tC
gether." said Mr.. King. Its some
thing that can't be bought at Burck
cys, yet it's found i'm most ever
house. It's supposed to make lif
easier for man and is like a boot
jack in this respect. You tried fo
twenty years to keep yours in tn
kitchen. but couldn't do it. though
J does stand around the stove heaI
S It's something you won't sell. yet you
give it to me just as quick rs ever
ask you for it. and you've been thinl
ing 1 was going to ask you for /
I Now. If that's not corker I'm II
! judge of riddles
: "A4ld you don't know what it is:
) growled Mr. Poole.
"Give me another minute or tw,
: I've got it! It's coal scuttle"'
mot by darned sight. A wifi,
! you blankety blank foolr'
"Oh. oh. and you'll give me Mis-