The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-23
DAILY SHORT STORY
LOVE AND PICKLES

The Benedict and the Berenice
apartment houses sit with their
cream colored brick fronts very
near together in the little, shady
side street. The Benedict Is for
men only, while the Berenice
teens with married folks and with
independent spinsters who bach
in merry punches of three. 1t is
only a matter of little neck
stretching to talk from the Bene'
dict to the Berenice.
1t was In the Berenice that Miss
Anna Whitney was playing with
light, dreamy touch, "The Lay of
the Red Plumed Knight" AS she
sat, one foot on the soft pedal, her
mood in delicious accord with the
mellow toned reverie, a large, red
faced man occupied the window In
the Benedict directly opposite, and
began to beat the time Of the air
with both his pudgy hands.
The girl. astonished, ceased to
play, and then the stranger reused:
PLAY, play--do not stop der
music!" he ordered, in sudden vex-
alton.
The girl, half amused, half an
CRY, resumed the Red Knights
plant. and looking up she saw that
her strange auditor beat rapt time
once more, his Teuton face study
of beautiful contemplation. until
giving vent to a hearty chuckle he
darted away from the window.
The next evening, as Miss Whit
ney sat dreaming out Of the win
dow. Herr Ludgwig Wagner craned
his plump neck out from the Bene-
dict one more.
"Please-please to play some
dings!" he begged. $50 dot work
undt t'ink undt make der inven-
tions!"
"That you think-invent?" asked
the girl. puzzled.
"Yah!" nodded Herr Wagner.
wen der music playing ISIS. der
t'inks-t'oughs is fine--undt in
ventions."
Miss Whitney. smilingly indul-
gently, stepped to the piano and
sang song Of moonlight in Venice
while Herr Wagner gazed raptly
at the stars and beat time with his
pudgy fingers, until with final
triumphant cackle he disappeared
as on the previous evening.
After that the special concert for
the benefit of Herr Wagner of the
Benedict became regular event
"But what is the invention?''
she asked one day.
Herr Wagner craned further out
from the Benedict, and, placing
his fat finger across his lips, wills,
pered shrilly:
"Pickles!"
1t was q month later that the
girl. rendering u Mendelssohn
song without words, was interrupt.
ed by noisy demonstration from
the Benedict across the way.
"Play--play fast. like thunder!"
bawled Herr Wagner, red faced
and painting. "Play cannon balls
--guns--boom boom! Play of
loudness much!"
Then Miss Whitney veered to
"The Battle of Blenheim" and
pounded the bass clef unmerciful.
ly. She had reached the fiercest
cannonading when something hap.
pened In the Benedict. There was
roar, tinkle OF glass and a puff
Of purple. smelly smoke issued
from Herr Wagner's window. II
was quickly followed by Herr Wag.
ner, eyebrows singed, face black
ened, but with the light of triumph
In his eye.
"Come-come undt esee. Miss
Anna!p he commanded. der In
ventions!"
Half frightened. she hurried
into the street and assembled into
the unknown heights OF the Rene
dict On the third landing. she
was met by Herr Wagner, who
dragged her into his apartment.
"See-der pickles-inventions!
he exclaimed. NIT der odder
vass too Quick--so It blows. But
this--ah. see!"
He snatched a sreenish cucum
Der from o shelf and dropped /,