West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-05-26
MR.. AND MRS. B0WSER.

ser the other evening, rs he laid
aside his paper, :" notice that our
gas bill for last month is GO cents
higher than for the month previous,
and that with an hour more day
light every day."
" Yes, | also noticed it," she
quietly replied.
" 1t is not extravaganza, bat
reckless waste, Mrs. Bowser, and
must be stopped" he continued.
III l were rum ing this house, it
seems to me I'd know whether the
cook was burning gas all night or
not"
y, "rhG ,' ;, cook uses lamp Mr..
Then who wasted that gas p"
" You did :"
" W-what ?"
con four different occasious last
month you left the burner in TIE
bathroom going all night, and it's
n wonder tho 60 cents covered it..
Mrs. Bowser, do you know what
you arc saying ?"
" / do. / say YOU left the gas
burning. That's your reckless
way. If you were running this
house, Mr.. Bowscr, people would
call it a lunatic asylum inside Of
four weeks"
Mr.. Bowscr got up-to assume his
favorlte pose and Squelch her, but
she stoppet him with wave of her
hand and continued
" DO you know how much money
have had per week for the last
three months for my own personal
use ?"
" Mrs. Bowser, are you address
ing me ?" !e demanded.
" Certainly. There is no one
else present to address. have
been figuring it mp, ana 1t isn't 81
per week. You were talking about
extravaganza, you know. How
much do your cigars cost you per
week, Mr.. Bowser ?''
]
lie stared at her as if he doubted
whether he WAS in his right senses,
" At least So week" she went
on. " You belong to two clubs.
and your expenses there arc at least
- per week. You manage to throw
away at least 81 more during the
wcek-making $40 in all. "
" Mrs. Bowscr, do you expect me
to submit to this sort of talk ?' he
shouted as he sprang up.
" BE calm, Mr.. Bowscr," she
replied, we are talking about
family cxtravagnnce, you know.
Our gas bill jumped mp GO cents,
and we are trying to find the leak.
Now, then, you belong to three or
four secret societies. What arc
your dues and expenses in each ?"
lie tried to speak, but the words
gnrglcd in his throat. and he turned
read clear back to his rear collar
button.
" And another thing, Mr.. Bow
ser, she went on in voice which
he seemed to hear as in q dream.
you are con3tantly bringing home
things Of 10 earthlyaccount to any
one, but which cost money. We
have an old fire escape down cellar
which cost 50. You have brought
home $40 worth Of drugs which /
have had to throw out. Some one
made you believe your liver was out
Of order, and you paid SO for q pad
which you never wore fifteen min
utes."
"Mrs. Bowser," he finally found
voice to shout, as she made a pause.
" do you know who / am ? Have
you the remotest idea who you are
talking To-"
" You are Mr.. Bowser, Of
course" she calmly replied.
-" Please don't speak so loud. as /
have headache. ! saw by the
paper the other day that you gave
$2j 10 help buy a testimonial for
somebody. You were also put
down as gising $40 to some benevo-
lent fund. You had four good
suits Of clothing in the house when
you got The fifth one. ] counted
five hats and four pairs Of shoes in
your closet yesterday. Only two
weeks ago you paid $6 for a Turkish
pipe which some one recommended.
aud yesterday you sent home six