West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-12-11
BONSER, THE MISSING.
He Goes Out to study Natural History
and Fails 10 Return.

heard Mr.. Bowser's footsteps the
other evening.
Something in his very gait warn
ed her that he had broken loose a.
gain and her first glance into his
face assured her that he had pro.
gram for the evening. She tough,
shy of asking any questions and al.
though he was several times on the
point of volunteering information
he managed to hold on to himself
until after dinner. Then he said:
81 shall be out this evening and
probably until late hour and you
need not sit up for me-"
"Going to the club1" she asked.
"No. / am going to undertake a
little expedition for the Naturalis,s
club. There is dispute that has
been left for me to settle and shall
secure the facts il it takes me ali
night"
"But why do you make an exped-
ition at nightl"
ITO get my facts. You may have
heard that at the approach of cold
weather certain birds and animals
migrate to warmer climate. You
may have possibly heard of it,"
eyes l believe So"
DWELL there is dispute among
naturalisF as to whether wood
chucks and woodpeckers migrate
with the others and whether they
move at night or by daylight. l am
going out into the country to
observe and report"
"Do you seriously mean it1" ask
ed Mrs. Bowser as she st:fed a
laugh.
'Mean i'll OF course / mean it.
And what are you grinning at1" he
shouted. "Here is a. question of
worldwide Importance to be settled
and am not standing up here and
giggling over it,"
"But it struck me as rather funny
Why should anyone care whether
the woodchuck and the woodpeckers
start out at 7 O'Clock in the morn
ing or at midnight"
"Why should anyone care wheth-
er the hipropotamus feeds on roots
and plants or on calves and child
ren2 That's the way with woman.
II some one told her that elephants
lived on Goldfish cakes she'd think il
was all right"
"And so you are going out into
the woods to watch whether wood
chucks and woodpeckers migrate at
night1' she asked after a while.
Il am and I've got to make an
early start ! want pencil, paper, a
candle. mate es and cigars. There
may be quite number Of facts to
jot down"
Ten minutes later he was off.
Mrs. Buwser and the cat watched
him disappear up the street and
when the front door was closed the
cat uttered sort Of chuckle and
tried her best to wink her right eye
as she had seen the trick performed
by the butcher boy as he handed
the chops to the cook.
Mr.. Bowser had three miles to
ride ON street car before he reach
ed the country and then he walked
another mile to reach piece Of
woods which looked likely TO be in
habited by woodchucks and wood
peckers. Unfortunately for him
there was house near at hand and
the owner CHANGED to observe him
as he climbed the roadside fence.
The investigator for the Naturalists'
club had only got comfortably prop
ped against tree when a man and
a dog hunted him out and the man
demanded:
"Now then what in Texas are you
skulking about here for7"
"My friend / am not skulking,"
was the reply. "Let me ask you il
there are woodchucks in this piece
Of woods3"
whats that to your Have you
got so hard up for meat that you
have turned to stealing wood
chucks?"
81 am here to observe IL wood
chucks and woodpeckers begin their
migration at night / shall not
NEEDLE in the least with anything
belonging to you. 1t is purely in
the interests of science"
"Well you've got to troll" retort-
ed the man as he took a new grip
on the club in his hand and whistled
for his dog. "When a mans fool
enough to look for woodchucks and
woodpeckers at night he's danger
Gus. You hump yourself out Of
this or I'll make il hot for youl"
~ o,