Mr B.s Success as a Locksmith.

Otago Witness, Issue 2394, 18 January 1900, Page 71

Mr B.s Success as a Locksmith.

CHAPTEE I. It was but a few minutes after breakfast , when Mrs Bekon told Mr Belton that he I would have to send for a locksmith because ; the lock on the library door was broken. "You had better go for him at once," said Ivlrs Belton. But Mr Belton was a "handy man about the house." "Nonsense !" he said. "The idea of giving half a crown to some apprentice when you can do the work yourself m five minutes !" 11. It was 11 o'clock when Mr Belton, .kneeling before the library door, with a, kit of tools scattered around him. ordered his son to go to the ironmonger's and buy a new screwdriver. "What's the matter?" inquired Mrs Belton. "Can't you get at the lock?" "Of course I can," said the husband. "Yoir just keep quiet, will you?" in. "Johnny !" Mr Belton. with his coat and vest off and his hair tousled, was gouging- into the woodwork around the keyhole. "Johnny, go over to the ironmonger's ancl buy me a, file and a ohisel." Meantime Mrs Belton ran out to the chemist's for some arnica, for her husband had bruised his finger while experimenting with the lock. "I've nearly got it fixed now," said Mr Belton, as she left. IV. It wae about 7 o'clock in the evening when" Mr Belton, with a rent in one trouser legand his face covered with grime, arose angrily, and, throwing down his tools, ordered Johnny to go for a locksmith. "Somebody's been tampering with that lock, or I'd have fixed it !" he said, glancing with angry suspicion and reproach at each member of the "family in turn. Then he sat clown ancl glanced over the bill from the ironmonger's, which included Is 6d for a chisel, Is for a screwdriver, ancl 2s> for two files. In addition, there was 4cl for arnica, ancl it would rost at least 15s for a new pair of trousers, and at least 10s to repair the gouged places in the door. V. Five minutes after the locksmith's boy came he was rattling the key in the lock to show that it worked all -right. "How much?" said Mr Belton, brusquely. "Oh, I suppose the job's worth a ' bob ' (shilling) !" aaid the boy.