The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-14

three or four boys above the fences,
ana she caught sight of two or three
4 cures in the alley. but she said moth
ing. 1t was the cook who Deekoned
her into a corner of the kitchen to IN
quire:
rs he going to hire policemen 70
guard him while he cures that asthma
of his, maam?'
mo. of course not
Then I'd ike to go to my sisters to
sleep tonight. There's sure to be ter
rible trouble of some sort, and I'm 3
poor girl and can't pay my way for
three months in the hospital. I'll be
back early in the morning. and if you
and the house are still here I'll have
breakfast at the usual hour"
Mr.. Bowser did not retire to his tent
until 10 o'clock. He spent an hour
trying to find something under the
head of Asthma in the encyclopedia
and another half in explaining to Mrs.
Bowser that the reason sayages were
exempt from such ailments was be-
cause of their outdoor life. She said
nothing in reply to dampen hrs enthu-
siasm. and it was with feelings of ex-
/ hilaration that he at last retired TO the
back yard with candle and q couple
of blankets. It did not take him more
than five minutes to get to bed and it
wasn't more than six before two cats
came around on a tour of investigation
and looked in at the open door and
meowed dismally at the occupant Of
the cot. Mr.. Bowser sat up ana shot
off a yard or two of the English Ian
guage at them, and they retired, with a
rush. but there was more to follow
OF the twenty boys who had watched
the erection OF that tent and suspected
that it was to have an occupant that
night at least ten had prepared for
business They began their operations
soon after the cats left, and the
thumps of bottles, cans and clubs
against the tent brought Mr.. Bowser
out to exclaim:
by the bones of Cicero, but if
there is no law in this country to pro-
tect a dying man I'll take things into
my own hands and shed bloodr
But he didn't. An empty beer bottle
tickled his right ear. and sardine can
brushed the top of his head. and he
got back into his tent and saks and
waited for the hailstones to pass over.
This happened at last. for even a boy
will tire of good thing by and by,
and Mr.. Bowser felt that he had pass
ed the Rubicon and could now count
on a peaceful night. Peace came, and
he curled up under his blankets and
dozed. He was just about to dream Of
seeing a lop horned cow chasing q
cross eyed woman over a barbed wire
: fence when a gruff voice called out:
Say, Gully, hitch along and let s
poor orphan who has nowhere to sleeI
: tonight cuddle hisseIf alongside We fol
a couple of hours
It was a wandering tramp who hat
come in by the alley gate. Mr.. Bowsel
rolled off the cot and fell on him. TIT
tramp cried out for a fair show and {
minutes rest between rounds, but Mr.
Bowser. would not give him them. H,
l flung him down and rolled him abou
I and slammed him around until the OF
2 phan made a bolt and got away, ant
then peace came again. Mr.. Bowsel
/ waited for other tramps to call, but h'
waited in vain The boys had retired
to their beds. and the eats glared a
each other and waved their tails. bu
were silent Under these condition!
and feeling that his asthma was grow
ing better rapidly Mr.. Bowser gradually
2 lost consciousness and finally slept the
I slumbers Of a farmers hired man Tn,
r hours passed and at 1 o'clock in the
2 morning Mrs. Bowser, who had no
2 gone to bed, decided to pay the tent {
visit. She approached it cautiousl.
t that she might not disturb the sleepins
}, inmate. but the flap was pulled bael
i to discover that the place was empty
Mr.. Bowser and his cot were gone. AM
5 no trace had been left behind. TIL
q alley gate was open. and as she started
[ to close it the figure of man rose N
r from behind box and a voice hoars
2 with bronchitis announced:
0 las he slumbered in his tent and wa
e without guile four fell villains cam,
e hither with crafty footsteps and softl,