Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
BOWSER ON A BIKE

MRS. Bowsert" kaA he the other day,
with great dignity, do you know that
must do something for myself or die within
year? Ploughine and moving are all
right, but they don't seem to give me
strength"
"No1sense! You are a strong end healthy
man.
Il may seem to be, but alas! I am not.
l have no more muscle than a baby, and
can't walk little without feeling faint"
And You want some more Indian clubs
or another punching bag?"
NO, ma'am, I don't. The doctor has
recommended a different sort Of exercise.
Mr.. Kane. our neishbor. will bring his
take 1t cut In the road and learn to ride"
observation-disclosures" she gasped
Why not? Why shouldn't ride Il bicy-
Gle as well as any one else? You are OPP
low the doctors advice. If can lengthen
ny life by twenty years it's my duty to do
SO. There comes Kane. 1t will not be
necessary for you to come and help u.s.
we're useless. and she had nothing more to
say. TIE two men led the bike down the
cad and Mr.. Bowset rubbed his hands and
smiled and said:
make a new man of me! I'll buy one be-
fore neon tomorrow, and Wen take a ten
nile spin. eh?"
You can hardly expect to learn to ride
this evening" replied the neighbour.
WHY not? Say, Kane. ri be clrcling
around this house inside of ten minutes!
When 1 know that it's life or death with
me I'm bound not to lose a second. I
ard trousers? All right. Fetch 'er I'D
here. Makes me hungry just having the
Ike about the place. Now. then. the first
thing is to mount, isn't it?''
Yes: you lake hold Of the handles-so.
ana you make spring into the saddle-so.
and away you go. Think you can do it -
'Of course l can. The old gal is opposed
&c my learning how to ride. bat
Mr.. !;owser seized the handles and sprang
Tor the saddle. When he recovered con-
seriousness he YVES on the broad of his back
In the dust, ana Mr.. Kane was tanning
him with an old washboaId which he ha i
found in the grass.
Has anything happened?" asked Mr.
Bcw5er as he looked around
Nothing In particular. You were tired
and lay down to rest"
"les-l know-I see. l suppose you used
to 90 that way. Seen anything of Mrs.
Bowser?''
mo"
Then trot up the health restorcr again.
~ put little more spring into my legs
MT. Kane held the bike this time and
helped Mr.. Bowser to mount He also
suggested that he walk alongside the ma
chine until the novice had got his nerve.
but Mr. Bowser replied
W men we get around to that window
you give me shove down the slope and
let go l see how she works and I'll sur
prise you. After I've made about three
circuits you can call Mrs. Bowser I'D ana
L ID snow her scorch They call it 'scorch-
lrg' when you beat creased lightning. don't
th sys. , ,.;,or. ,,.,. - ~, 49,, ~,
going to let co.
Let 'er go-'rah-whoop-'
When Mr.. Bowser woke up this time he
was in his bed while Mrs Bowser sat
holding his hand and trying to look very
sympathetic.
'This-this isn't heaven. is tt?" he whis-
pered. as he looked around
'Oh. no. dear" replied Mrs. Bowser. as
she smootked back his hair. you are still
on earth. How do you feel?"
Who hit me with a house?"
No one. You were learning to ride a
And what-what-?"
'You got what I believe they call a
double wobble. followed by a header. Mr..
Kane got neighbor to help bring you
down here. The doctor has been here and
gone. He said your neck wasn't broken.
but 1t would probably be four weeks before
you got outdoors again. Do you feel tina.
your appetite has improvedo"
Mr.. Bowser closed his eyes and groanel
THE doctor said If you would only stick
to 1t you would surely live to be hundred
years old"
Mr. Bowser opened his eyes and sat I'D,
ana AFTER glaring around him for half a
minute. he shouted:
Nv oman, l understand! It is another
attempt to assassinate me, Let the law
yers come the first thing in the morning
ana araW up the necessary papers, and by
evening all can be settled"
Ihere-there. dear, don't talk too much. -
she said. as she forced him back on the
pillow Il will hold your hand and hum to
you. ana 90 try and so to sleep. Close your
eyes. now, and forget all about the double
wobble, which has done so much TO
strengthen your chest. S-s-s-h! S-s-s-h!
S-S-s-h!" "