The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-22

welcome twelve autumn views for the
back parlor, but if am mistaken l can
make some saloon a present of them"
but you won't fight with any farmer.
will you, and you'll be home early?'' she
pleaded
fright with farmer? Why should
fight with farmer? On the contrary.
three or four of them will probably ask
me to dinner l shall be home as soon as
secure my twelve views, but you and
| the cat needn't wait supper.
Half hour later he was off pick
ing uD his kodak at the corner grocery
as he went Mrs. Bowser had forebod-
ings, and the cat yeowled in the most
| dismal manner. but there was nothing
to do except wait for what would hap
| pen.
Mr.. Bowser's adventures began early
he scarcely had got seated in a subur-
ban car when an oldish man who sat
| alongside of him set his jaw and re-
marked:
I thought it was about time for an
other of you fellerS to come along and
| want to warn you right here and now
that If you come squirting around my
place III jump on to your neck. The
last kodak idiot brought out a picture
OF my old woman standing on her head
and sold it to a sideshow."
I'm not taking pictures of jackass-
esi' replied Mr.. Bowser as he fred up
Don't you call me names. you old
| hairless rinoceros!"
And don't you flourish your fist be-
fore my nose or I'll break you in two!"
Inc passengers separated them, and
they rode to the end of the line with
out murder having been committed.
| There was an autumn view all ready
for the kodaker. A poor old horse,
who had lived his years and was wait
ing for the grim sDecter to clutch his
throat, stood looking out the door of a
tumbledown log stable. The kodak
was set I'D and focused, but Just as
the button was about to be pressed a
! farmer, who was pulling turnips be-
he xnI1 l.. IL It.
and demanded:
Nov, then. what is all this -aout?
You stop right where you are there
II be a row.
a picture of the old horse and the sta
BILE" explained Mr.. Bowser.
Then you needn't go any farther.
There's been nore'n hundred of your
kind along here this year. and they've
trampled down my crops, stole my fruit
and fiirted with my gals, and L haven't
got a cent out of it. If YOU don't want
to pay $40 for pictur', you can git"
Mr.. Bowser got He wanted to have
a row over it. but the farmer had a
club in his hand and looked as if he
wouldn't hesitate to swibe a kodak off
the face of the earth.
In the next field, which beonged to
another farm. was COW under a tree.
1t was an autumn COW and an autumn
tree, and, properly framed, would make
a back parlor picture to be proud of.
L ne pose Oh DOth COW ana tree was all
that could be desired by the most ex-
acting artist. Mr.. BoWser got right to
work So did the farmer and his son,
who were puttering about the barn.
They came down on a run. The old
man shrilly demanded to know who
had given the kodaker permission to
come squirting around that field.
Il simply wanted picture of the COW
and tree was explained.
We'll, you can't have it. A Teller who
looked just like you come along here
last week and souinted around for pic
tur's, and when he had gone 1 missed
pillow and a drag. Don't be two minits
gittin' out o. herel''
Mr.. Bowsers first impulse was to
fight, but he reflected that autumn views
awaited him farther on, SO he swallow
fence.
At the back of another farm house
stood a giant oak whose leaves had
turned gold, and beneath its spreading
branches reposed seven hogs. They had
eaten their fill of acorns and gone to
sleep. Any artist with half an eye could
see that it was the opportunity of a
lifetime to combine autumn scenery and
sugar cured hams in one picture. Mr..
Bowser chuckled with satisfaction as
he set up his shooter. There was only
one thing more. The pose of one of the
hogs was a little off and must be i'm
) proved. Very quietly the artist went
forward and bestowed a kick where it
would do the most good. The watch
word of that drove of hogs was, IF you
kick one, you kick ALL The first porker
had no sooner scrambled up with a
grunt of inquiry than the other six
followed suit. No hog could make out
just what was going on, but all decided
to move on and think it over. They
moved in Mr. Bowser's direction of
course, and the result was that he was
flung down and run over.
This wasn't the worst of it. however.
He had only got UP when three strap
farmer showed
accused him of an intention to steal
: hogs. He boiled over and called them
( liars, and then there was collision. Mr..
Bowser cut loose and made the sods fly
and the fences totter, but three to one
downed him at last. When he got up,
his kodak had been trampled into the
ground. and he looked as if a cyclone
had dallied with him for an hour. There
2 was no shaking hands to show that
] there was no i'll feeling. The conquer
ors flung him over the roadside fence
and warned him to move on
The artist headed for town. At 4
| o'clock in the afternoon he limped into
his own hall and folded his tattered
arms over his tattered breast and struck
a heroic pose.
t We'll, what has happened?" asked
/ Mrs. Bowser after looking at him.
Nothing he briefly replied
But you are wreck You look as if
you had been rolled over by a thousand
saw logs and then played with by
, hurricane"
Nothing is the matter. nothing 'tall.
That is, your vile plot to get me muir
: dered in cold blood has come to naught
. and our lawyers can probably settle
5 matters between US in half an hour after
I they get to the house. Would-be muir
deress, 1 go to my room, and l do not
wish to be disturbed except on legal
? business. - Copyright 1902, by c. B.
I4ewis)