OCR Text |
Show SIMPLE REMEDY FOR SNORING An Amusing Story of How O. Henry, the Author, Had a "Corking" "Cork-ing" Time. Comparatively little was ever written writ-ten about Sidney Porter, the short story writer, under the name of O. Henry, until his death recently, but since then no end of stories have crept out. A New York bartender who boasts of a close friendship with the late author tells an amusing tale of his introduction to Mr. Porter. Mr. Porter dropped in late one winter win-ter night and ordered a hot toddy. A hanger-on, whom the bartender had tried to pry loose from a chair in the rear of the place, was snoring loudly and had refused to be deposed. "Why don't you cork him?" suggested sug-gested Mr. Porter. "'Cork him?' What ln the world is that?" inquired the barkeeper. "Very simple remedy very simple. It's what we get down In Texas when we drop off to sleep in a hondy-tonk." After being granted permission Mr. Porter started ln to give an exposition exposi-tion of the "corking" game. He took a large cork and split It half way up the center. Then he arranged several wooden matches in the other end, like so many quills in a porcupine's back. Cautiously he fastened the split cork over the sleeper's nose and asked for a large pail of water. Standing at the side of the unsuspecting unsus-pecting sleeper he lighted one of the matches. At the top of his voice he shouted "Fire!" One match after another ignited with a .sharp crack, and as the frightened sleeper jumped to his feet Mr. Porter let go with the water and drenched him from head to foot. The man bolted for the door, half dazed, but wide awake enough to think the place was on fire. |