Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-10-10
MR..BOWSER'S WOES.
HIS LATEST TROUBLE WAS CAUSED
n BY A PIANO.

tNfNS
He Thought IL Was Out of Tune and
Tried TO Give II Its Former Hnr-
mony and mt the Same Time Save
Some Money.
Copyright, 1900. by C. D. Lewis.l
It was after dinner, but instead OF
sitting down to his evening paper and
cigar Mr.. Bowser wal prowling around
the lower part of the house. Mrs.
Bowser realized that something was
up" but she maintained silence until
at length he paused before her and
said:
Last night while you we're playing
the piano 4 noticed that Il was sadly
out Of tune. You must have heard
some Of the keys make a sort Of ur-ur-
ur as you struck them"
II heard nothing Of the sortv' prompt.
ly replied Mrs. Bowser as a dim idea
Of what he was up to flashed across
her mind. "The piano was tuned only
n month ago, and there are no ur-ur-
urs about It,"
But / insist that there are" contin-
ued Mr.. Bowser. 81 have a quick ear,
and l say that no less than seven DIFF
ferent keys had the sound Of an egg
heater at work. 1t may have been
tuned a month ago, but by whom"
"By n first class tuner"
"That Is, he of course claimed 10 he
first class and charged you So or 81,
but how do you know he wasn't a car
penter or blacksmith? There's n piano
which cost me 5000. 1t is going to
rack and ruin for the need of a little
oyerhauling. To get a competent man
up here will cost $50, whereas
whereas you can do the work in an
hour yourself" finished Mrs. Bowser.
well, now, you let that piano alone!
You know no more about the works of
a piano than l do about the kitchen of
the car of Russia. If there's any
thing to be done, Ill get n man up
here
Madam" said Mr.. Bowser as he
stood before her with his hands clasp
ed under his coattails, there lis au ur-
ur-ur to that piano. 1t Is out of repair;
II is going TO ruin. / a overhaul 1t in
one hour ard save $50. 1t will be q
plea sure to me to do the work, and !
also feel 1t my duty to save the money
which would have to be otherwise paid
out. shall proceed to tune"
But you'll only destroy It. If you
feel that you must tinker away al
something, why don't you take the
lawn mower, the gas meter or that old
shotgun in the garrett
81 do not ask you to remain in the
room during the tuning process. YOU
can put on your hat and take a walk
or You al go up to your room and
read a novel. When l have restored
the tone to its original volume and
sweetness, | will call you"
"But1 beg Of you toto
Mr.. Bowser waved his hand to signi
fly that nothing on the face of The
earth could turn him aside, and a:
Mrs Bowser went up stairs with tear,
In her eyes he got out his tool box ant
peeled off his coat and jacket to begir
work. He met with an adventure a
the very outset. He wanted room t
work on all sides Of the piano, and III
therefore got behind 1t to push 1t on.
into the middle OF the floor. lie wal
heavlng away with his shoulder
against the case when his foot Slipped
on the carpet and he went down anC
rolled ovcr with the weight of an ele
plant. He fetched up against n chail
and knocked that over. aud he wa
still lying on his back when Mrs. Bow
ser came half way down the stairs t
call out:
IL thought the walls were falling in
What are you doing on your back OF
the floor!."
II wanted TO see the underside of thu
piano." he replied as he got up
SHOULD l Gnd myself in need of you
assistance l will call you"
As tools for piano tuning Mr.. Bowse
had n hammer, a Ratchet. n tack puller
a corkscrew, a screwdriver and
monkey wrench. AS he folded bacl
the cover he saw the inside of a plan,
for the first time in his life. lie hat
taken only n glance when he walked
to the foot of the stairs and called t
Mrs. Bowser:
mo wonder there was an ur~ur-u'
when you hit some of the keys! Wha
.l'rnt, 'cnnca voVr f9rSt class niono finDa
left among the wiresF"
HE couldn't have left any Of hi
tools 2 she queried.
NO tools, but half a dozen strips o
red flannel. He even wove them II
among the strings. That's prohabl,
where my missing ihnnel shirt wen
TO. lie was probably some mau iron
a wooden mill"
"Why. those strips are always Du