West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-04-11
OLD MAN BOWsER.
lie is an Independent Candidate for
Mayor hut Comes 60 Grief a. Usual.

Mr.. Bowser had been uneasy for
half an hour, and finally when the
door bell rang he gave a jump and
hurried down the hall to answer il.
1t was plain that he had been ex-
pecting caller and palmer yet
that he didn't want Mrs. Bowser TO
know anything about it in advance.
She heard a mumbled conversation
in the hall, and peep showed her
a tough looking man with his hair
parted down on his forehead. He
was whispering TO Mr.. Bowser in
confidence, and she saw money pass
between them. 1t passed from Mr..
Bowser to the unknown, and his
words were plain as he said:
"This will get the boys ready to
yell for you and put you through by
reclamation. BE over IN half an
hour 10 give 'em a talk"
When the caller had departed,
Mr.. Bowser came back to the sitting
room with shining eyes and flash
on his face. He looked as self
important as man who had got
dead squeeze on the Standard Oil
company.
"'But what did that man want
with you2" asked Mrs. Bowser.
ga year ago lot of ward heelers
got $50 out of you on account of
politics, and you went out with
them and got drunk and had fight
and came home without your watch,
and"
"Stop right there, woman he
shouted as he pointed his finger at
her. Ono ward heeler ever got
dollar out of me. never went out
with a gang. ] never lost my watch
or came home drunk. simply had
an idea of running for alderman,
but gave it up owing to the pressure
of private business. Don't let your
malice and bigotry carry you too
far"
"And have you decided to run
for something this spring P" she
asked as he paced up and down,
followed by the cat.
81 have. have discovered that
seven out of every 10 decent men in
this town think as do - that the
country is going to the dogs-and
as il is their wish that | officially
represent their principles | am go
ing to do it. Yes, ma'am, | am
going to be the next mayor of this
town."
"On an independent ticket ?
"On an independent ticket. The
honest, upright men have banded
together at last, and both old
parties wi u be given the goby. We
will sweep them both into obscurity
as the tornado sweeps the dead
leaves from the hillside. You can
order cards tomorrow reading Mrs.
Mayor Bowser.' / am going out
now for an hour or two. / go in
answer to the call of my country.
l go to make a speech to a crowd
of patriots. / go to be unanimous
ly nominated for the mayorality.
You-you, who havn't the slightest
interest in the welfare of the coun-
try, can sit here and chew gum and
read your novel"
With that he passed down the
hall and banged the door behind
him, and as his footsteps echoed on
the walk Mrs. Bowser and the cat
looked at each other and smiled.
Mr.. Bowser headed for an empty
store two blocks away which had
been fitted up as a headquarters,
and as he entered the place he
found about so of the "faithful"
waiting his appearance.
"Hurrah for old honesty Hur-
rah for the man who will save
America : 4" they shouted as he en-
tered, and he couldn't be blamed
for feeling a glow of satisfaction
spread all over him.
When he had shaken hands with
score or so of his admirers, the
man who had taken it upon himself
to boss things took him aside and
whispered
"You see how the boys feel.
Every one Of them IS positively
aching to lay down his life for his
country. That five bought two kegs
Of beer, but you'd better duplicate
it,. We don't want their enthusiasm
to get dry until you are nominated. ."
"But don't propose to buy my
nomination." protested Mr.. Bowser.
Tut, tut, man It's only beer to
keep the boys shouting. You can
slip me the money, and they'll
think it's from me"
Mr.. Bowser slipped. Then there
wore rhCtttt,o, ,rf t..-~-t.-