The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-09

twist and draw the whole bed across
the room and push it back again.
Then he stood off and kicked at the
rails until the heels flew off his slip
pers 1t was q sudden inspiration
which caused him to lift up the ends
or the rails, and to his great surprise
they were loOsened from the head and
footboards. The footboard he man
aged to move down the hall without
accident. but when he came to the
headboard, which had been brought
over in the Mayflower to ballast the
ship, he realized that a desperate
struggle was at hand. So did the cat.
and in her wisdom she retreated to the
hall to await events.
"Why in thunder my great grand
father didn't use this lumber to build
up a horse barn is more'n can make
out" growled Mr.. Bowser as he sur
veyed the massive structure and wait
ed for his second wind.
1t had to be moved, however, and
there was no time to call up the Coast
Wrecking company or figure on the
up and sat on the stairs and shivered,
and the cat walked to and fro in the
hall and had nervous tremOrs. while
MI. Bowser moistened his hands and
looked furtively about for point Of
vantage. Suddenly he jumped for
ward and made an attack. His OBJ
ject was to take the bedstead by sur
prise and run 1t down the hall before
1t could make q move in defense. He
succeeded to q degree-that is. he got
and on the move for the door, and
| Mrs. Bowser was beginning to breathe
easier and the cat feeling more hope
full when there was a yell OF terror
down to the cellar bottom. The head
board had bucked. Mr.. Bowser
thought the whole east side OF New
| York state was leaning over him for
g. moment. and the jump he made az
:, he yelled out ought to be preserved In
head against the wall with a bump
which made him see stars, but he had
saved his life.
II knew it," said Mrs Bowser, as
she looked into the room and saw
the headboard flat on the floor and
Mr.. Bowser wiping the dampness Off
his bald head.
! HAS anybody asked for your opin-
ion?" he replied as he tried to assume
q careless air.
II thought you were surely killed!
1 hope you will now let the rest OF 1t
go and send up man. You see, you
don't know how
! "Ch, don't, Ell? But I'll show you
that do. I'll clear this furniture out
II break both legs and drive my head
through the WALTZ
| Mrs. BOWser went back to her seat on
the stairs. and after lifting her eyes in
!
as she could. It was Mr.. Bowsers plan
| to lull the headboard into q feeling OF
security by giving it brief rest while
| he tackled the bureau. To get the bureau
/ out he must move it over the headboard.
! He had statistics at hand to consult.
but he had great confidence in his lift
ing powers. Mrs. Bowser heard him sud-
denly rush upon that bureau and haul
1t away from the WALL Then she heard
him gasping and grunting as he lifted
at. the corners. She followed him with
1 her ears az he walked around behind II
| and put his shoulder to the wheel and
| got q brace for his feet. There was q
louder 1runt, a muttered:
''Git up there, durn you!" and then the
| house was shaken again. Mr.. Bowser
| had heaved up. and the bureau had
heaved down, and the loss OF his toehold
at a critical moment had given the bureau
| the victory. He lay there under 1t, and
| he seemed to be dead. The cook was sum-
moned through the speaking tube. and
by their united exertions the two women
| lifted the bureau and rolled the unc0n-
scious form OF Mr.. Bowser aside. II