Frictional Electricity From "The Saturday Evening Post."

"Frictional Electricity" by Charles Heber Clark, writing as Max Adeler, is a funny story set in the late 1800s that tells about the mishaps of Mordecai Barnes, a plumber. The story uses humor to look at love, competition, and the strange things that can happen in life. Mordecai is in love with Bella Dougherty but has a rival, William Jones, who also wants her attention. Trying to win Bella over, Mordecai tries to show her the supposed healing powers of "frictional electricity," but he ends up hypnotizing William, which causes all sorts of trouble. Things get heated, and after a fight, Mordecai ends up in the hospital. The story ends with surprises about relationships and family, especially involving his Aunt Maggie, who doesn't like what he's up to, all told with funny conversations and interesting characters.