Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-09-11

Mr.. BowsER CAME DOWN WITH A CRASH.
en-, which was easily reached from an
upstairs window. He found place for
tho hooks and stretched the hammock,
and an hour before our usual bedtime
he was prepared to occupy it. He re-
moved his coat, vest, collar and shoes,
kissed baby goodnight and went out Of
the window, while | sat down beside 1t
TO watch the course OF events. Mr. Bow
ser had slung the hammock about three
feet above the roof. lie walked over to
it, gave it shake and fell into it. No,
be didn't. 1t lodged him and he went
down on his hands and knees and got up
muttering:
"Ohl That's your game, is it? Well,
you won't beat me againw
IL took him ten minutes to get
stretched on his back in the folds of the
hammock, and he had scarcely heaved
the first sigh of satisfaction when he
gave kick and grewled:
''Consarn it, but the mosquitoes have
found me out already Take thatr'
For the next ten minutes he was busy
with the pests, and it was while he was
thrashing his arms about and kicking
his feet that the hook at the foot of his
hammock pulled out and Mr.. Bowscr
came down with a crash on the roof.
The gravel flew and he uttered yell,
and appeared at the window to ask;
"Mr. Bowser, what has happened?
Has the roof collapsed?"
COLLAPSED nothingl" he growled, as
he hunted for the hook.
"But what was that awful noise?"
II didn't hear sound. / got out of
The hammock to lower it a bit. Go back
to bed and stay therel"
When he thought had gone he fixed
tho hook and got back into the ham
mock, but I could hear him growing
under his breath about pitch, gravel,
mosquitoes and idiots, and l knew he
wasn't at peace with all mankind, for
the ncxt half hour / could hear him
slapping at the insects and twisting
about. Then ] suddenly caught sight
Of three or four boys skulking up the
alley. 1t was bright moonlight, and
from the way they acted | knew that
they we're '0n" TO Mr.. Bowser. Some
of them had probably seen him sling
ing the hammock before dark and sus-
pected his design. They came opposite,
stood in line and at a signal all let fly
and jumped behind the barn. Each one
threw potato, and while only one hit
the hammock, the others crashed
against the house with loud noise.
''Jcwhittakerl but what on earth is
that9" gasped MIR. Bowser, as he sat up
''Mr Bowser, Is every thing al
right?" l asked from the window.
Every thing all rightl What's the
matter with you2 Why don't you go to
bed?"
IL thought heard another noise"
''Oh, you did Well. didn't / was
almost asleep when you yelled out"
pretended to go away, and after q
bit Mr.. Bowser settled down on his back
and every thing was quiet. Then the
boys came out again There we're four
of them. They had a hat full of mis-
siles, and each threw three or four be-
fore making a retreat. Mr.. Bowser was
bit in the head with potato, and in the
side with a tomato, and on the leg with
a cucumber, and the noise of the other
missiles against the house was like a
cannonade.
''IIere-whoa-policeT shouted Mr..
Bowser, as he struggled up, but at that
moment the head Of the hammock gave
way and he was poured out on the roof
in a confused heap. He made two jumps
for the window and got in. but not in
time to catch me. He came into the
bedroom with pitch on his hands and
feet and gr4velstones in his hair, and
before I coold say q word be began:
"Mrs. Bower. III get even with you
for this. If I have to live one hundred
years.
"Why. what have done2v
Never you mind Look At mel
Aren't ! purity sight7'