The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-26

when I don't know enough to run
a bookcase, I'll apply for admission
| to an idiot asylum! If you hadn't
| been foolng around here it never
would have happened. Go upstairs
| and let me conduct this job in my
| own way
The cook came to the head of the
basement stairs to see if the roof had
| fallen in, and she seized the oppor-
| tunity to whisper to Mrs. Bowser:
| rs it powder or dynamite this
| time, ma'am? If we are to be blown
up or scattered in pieces I'll take
kindly of we to give me time enough
| to pronounce my mothers name be-
| fore I die.'' $500 '-.--'
When Mr.. -Bowser had the room to
| himself he gave the old bookcase sew
! eral sturdy kicks and then dragged
it aside and tossed the books after it.
In a quarter of an hour he was ready
| to tackle the piano. When he jumped
| for it he hadn't the slightest doubt
| in his mind that it would prove an
a pull which broke both suspenders,
| he realized that it had settled down
| to stay.
He took a rest for a minute, and
then braced himself for a push. After
an effort that bulged his eyes and
Redeemed his face to a seashore sun
burn, he effected a move of two
inches, but could not gain another
hairs breadth. Mrs. BowSer came
down and suggested that she call in
called up from the basement that she
used to toy with ice chests and bar
rels and ashes, but Mr.. Bowser yelled
at them:
job? It's simply that the blamed old
thing has settled down in the quick
sand or something
Then he seized it by corner and
braced his feet against the wall and
heaved, but there was no give.
He worked his way in behind it and
gave a mighty push, but only the brick
wall behind him seemed to give way.
He crawled under it and sought to
move it by humping up his back, but,
though he persisted till his spinal col
umn was twisted out of plumb, nothing
moved.
The law of mechanics ought to ap-
ply to a piano, but it doesn't. Mr..
Bowser sat painting and studying for
five minutes before he decided that it
didn't, and that he had got to spring
a sudden surprise or acknowledge his
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 900 pounds with
her own hands, he didn't reply.
He was giving that piano time to
dissipate its suspicious and relax its
guard. It was only twenty minutes
before he felt that the time was ripe,
and then he cautiously spat on his
hands, edged into position, and of u
sudden he sprang forward and out
forth all his strength.
Mrs. Bowser and the cook heard the
grunt uttered by a man when he tries
to push a smokehOuse up hill, and
this was followed by crash. Mr.
Bowser had lost his hold and gone
rolling over the floor. When the wom-
en- got to him he was sitting up and
looking about him in dazed way, and
wondering if he had pulled the side of
the house out or yanked the piano
across the street. Not a word was
said for long minute. Then Mrs.
Bowser softly observed:
"You will find the arnica on the
mantel in my room, and if you will
give your back good rubbing and get
into bed I'll fix up the bookcase with
the help of the cook
Mr.. Bowser looked at her with an
ice cold stare, and once or twice he
opened his mouth as If to speak, but
presently he got to his feet in a weary