The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-14


contents of the kettle into pan to cool.
In dim way he remembered that his
mother used to put in favorings, and,
hunting through the cupboard, he found
vanilla and cinnamon and put them in
with generous hand AS he cooled a
spoonful, however, there seemed to be
something lacking, and after a mo-
ment's thought he went up stairs and
queried of Mrs Bowser:
Don't you remember that l bought
bottle of wintergreen essence some
time ago? It's exactly what mother
used to use in her candy. Bless me,
but how many times in my boyhood
have hunted for the delicious winter
green berriesr'
IF there is any, you'll find it in the
right hand cupboard" she replied, but
you want to be careful. There are a
lot of other bottles there. 1t smells as
if you had scorched the molasses.''
Just enough to give it the right
taste. I'll show you some candy that
is candy in about ten minutes. If this
smell gets out on the street, everybody
will be wanting taste"
There were a score of bottles in the
cupboard, and Mr.. Bowser ran his eye
over them and selected one and shifted
its contents and poured them into the
dish and stirred vigorously. This was
the finishing touch He waited to
grease his hands with butter and then
bore the dish up stairs in triumph and
set it down under Mrs. Bowser's nose
and said:
IF you don't say that this beats any
thing you ever tasted, I'll buy you the
incest hat in town. Pitch right in.''
at has queer smell" she replied as
she shifted at it.
"Your nose must be off. The smell is
simply delicious, and as for the taste
ah-ump'
There was only one "ah-um!" He
began to choke as he chewed, but recoI-
lecting that Mrs. Bowser had opposed
him he bravely hung on until she sud-
denly rose up and said:
Are you sure you got the right bottle
out of the cupboard?"
'Of course I'm sure. What's the mat
ter with your
''It smells as if you had favored it
with benzine. l know the cook had a
bottle of it to clean collar"
But do you think I'm such fool
that 1 can't tell benzine from winter
greene" he shouted, though he turned
pale and lost his taste for old fashion
ed molasses candy in an instant.
I'VE will see."
He followed her down to the kitch-
en-, and she picked up the empty bottle
and read the label and held it out to
him. The word "Benzine" was bigger
than a house, but he had doped his
candy with three ounces of it.
Ibid your mother use this favoring
in your happy boyhood days?" she
asked as he turned red and white and
a look of fear came into his eyes.
"Am lam I poisoned?" he whis-
pered in reply.
mo, but it's not your fault. Is there
nothing in the present sacred to you?
Why didn't you open box of chloride
of lime and douse it in? If you want
to die, why not stick your head into
the washtub?" "a. 4se..
"Wo-woman, understand! 1 see
through the plot! IL
''You sit down and think of your boy
hood days" she interrupted-"of your
mother and old fashioned molasses
candy and benzine and death! I'm
going to bed, and I'll pitch that dish
out Of the window to the cats as l go
alongr
Mr.. Bowser tottered to a chair and
sat down and thought and thought. At
midnight Mrs. Bowser came softly
down stairs to find him asleep in his