The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-08
BOWSER GETS A SURPRISE.
He Comes Home to Bluff Mrs. Bowser
but Comes Out Second Best.

Mr. BOWSer had reached the office TO
discover that the ends of his shirt col
lar were frayed He had selected that
collar from the dozen beside it, and he
alone was to blame. but of course he
laid it to Mrs. BowSer. Three or four
unpleasant things occurred in the office,
and while she was two miles away and
in no way accountable it was only nat
ural that he should lay them up against
her. His luncheon wasn't as good as
usual for another thing, and during the
afternoon a tramp who was refused
aims called him baldheaded old mise1.
It was therefore with a sort of satiSfac-
ton that Mr.. Bowser locked the door
and took the car for home. He'd make
it hot for Mrs. Bowser to even up
! things.
She saw him as he got off the street
car. His shoulders were bumped up,
his head down, and he was drawing his
feet. She hadn't lived with him for
twenty years to mistake those signs;
He kicked open the gate as he reached
it, and if the door hadn't been opened
for him he would have kicked that as
with and begin a row he hadn't planned,
but he was ''yanking' off his fall over
coat with a scowl on his face when Mrs.
Bowser quietly observed:
Dinner is all ready. and as soon as
YOU have eaten 1 want to have a talk
with you Things can't go on this way
much longer
you want to have a talk with me?"
| he OuerI6d IN some dSlO0lSIIuSul do AiC
picked up the hat he had flung down
Yes, sir: 1 do"
Il suppose the cook has quit or a
water pipe bursted?"
| You'll find out in due time"
| AS he seated himself at the table MI
| Powser suddenly remembered that he
had planend revenge, and he looked the
dinner over and turned up his nose ana
was about to ask if it came from
penny restaurant when Mrs. Bowser
| pointed her finger at him and said:
Not a word, sirl It's the best could
do and plenty good enough.
ssRv thunder woman, is this my house
or some one else's?'' he exclaimed as the
red came to his face.
That's a question to be settled later
on. Meanwhile 1 want no more pro-
family at my table"
! She spoke so quietly but earnestly,
that he was awed, and, though he lost
something of his appetite, he neVertne-
! less found no fault with any OF the
dishes set before him. He had never
seen Mrs. Bowser exactly like this be-
fore, and he was puzzled to make her
out. During the last five minutes OF
dinner he decided that his old way was
the best, and they had only passed into
the sitting room when he said:
Now, woman, are you ready to apol-
ogize to me for your language!
mo, man. 1 am not" she replied as
she turned on him. If there are any
apologies coming. you will make them"
do your"
Il do. Your name is Bowser."
Yes. my name is Bowser. and I'm
not used to being talked to like a hired
man. Both our lawyers can be reached
by telephone, and in case
Yes, I know all about our lawyers,
divorce, alimony and all that, and we
can settle things in an hour. Here is
the gas bill for last month 1t is 60
cents more than for the month before.
| OF course you'll say that sold or gave
away the gas or burned it in the day
time to spite you. That's an old trick
of yours. and 1 have got tired of it
1 If there is any gas wasted in this house,
you waste it. Only two nights ago
you left two burners in this room go
ing all night
holy smoke. woman he began as
his throat choked uD on him. and she
cut in on him with:
mo loaferish language in my pres
ence, sir. 7 had to order coal today.
The price was SO per ton. You will
say, of course. that 7 am to blame for
the coal strike and the high price and
that my extrava oance will land you in
/ the poorhouse. Go ahead and have il
over with, for I have more to say
Mr.. Bowser was silent. That feeling
of awe had begun to creep over him
/ again, and he was wondering if Mrs.
Rowser hadn't been hypnotized or gone
| crazy.
The cook has given me notice, . she
went on after minute. and I shall
have to get new one. You'll say it's
all my fault for treating her like a dog