West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-09-18
B0HseT, Gle S|eu|l.
HE BECOMES A DETECTIVE AND WORKS
UP A Rather MYSTERIOUS
CASE.
The Missing Spade and what Came
OF 1.-THE Old Man Knocked
Out Again.

OF 1.-THE Old NAN Knocked
Out Again.
After dinner the other evening MIR.
Bowser strolled out into the back yard TO
have look at his onion bed. He had
started the bed with 90 onions. but 40 OF
them positively refused TO have anything to
do with Il and died soon as they could.
The hftieth hung on In a half hearted way.
willing to oblige. but finding il hard work
After sadly regarding the lone specimen
Tor awhile Mr.. Bowser looked around for
the spade. Ia was not TO be seen. The
cook hadn't lent Il OF the cat hadn't eaten
IL. but Mrs. Bowssr held the key to the
mystery. She had caught sight OF n strange
man in the back yard that afternoon. She
had taken him TO be workman from the
house next door. but he must be held &C.
countable for the loss OF that spade.
by thunder but you are nice womani'
shouted Mr. Bowser as the awful truth
became plain" You sit right here and let
thief enter our yard and prowl around
for an hour or two and 20 away loaded
with plupder Did he promise to divvy
with you on what he stole1"
II simply got sight OF him as he was
climbing over the alley fence" replied
Mrs. Bowscr.
And you didn't veil at him9''
No"
Nor notify the policeS'
No"
We'll. that's your way OF doing things.
II he had stolen the back doors off the
house. you wouldn't have said a word. A
bold faced thief enters my back yard In
broad daylight and steals my spade My
wife sees him aud never says a word. She
even encourages him to return and steal
my pickax and crowbar. BY the chin OF
my Grandmother
What is it2" asked Mrs. Bowser as his
face lighted up with smile.
Hush Keep quiet Ha. hal"
But what Is it9"
In encouraging that bloody minded
thief TO return here tonight and steal the
fence you have played into my hands BY
John. but won't find another word OF
fault with youi Woman. you have given
me golden opportunity
II was quarter OF an hour before Mr.
Bowser would explain. His plan was to
NrS"sN HfWsttf aud pay Ot0 OtcutU anu
make a capture and strike terror TO the
hearts OF other thieves. lie would leave
the crowbar. the pickax. the rake and the
lawn mower in plain sight. and when the
thief came to bear of the piundcr--bini' q
But why not hire some one TO watch1'
suggested Mrs. Bowser
Because II Is for me 10 fasten my claws
on the thief and make his heels break his
neck wouldn't forego the chance for
10000
You'll surely get youscii into trouble .
And I'll get some one else into trouble
too. Before midnight tonight the mystery
of the missing spade will have been solved
and justice will have ovcrtaken the guilty
party"
Spared on by his enthusiasm, Mr.
Bowser hunted up an old plug hat a worn
out Prince Albert coat and pair OF bicycle
shoes From an old cstskin mun left by
cook he made himself a chin whisker. and
when Old Sleuih was ready for business
even the cat didn't know him.
you don't mean to tell me you are going
to parade up and down the alleys in that
ris r. gasped Mrs Bowser as lie stood be
fore her in his disguise
IS ssh Not so loudi" he whispered.
II am about to take up the traiIi"
But the man who took the spade may
not return"
"S'dcath A thief always returns to see
u there is anything more he can steal
shall have him within a couple OF hours
and after have mopped the earth with
him for hall an hour will land him In the
police station"
''liI buy you two new spades out Of my
own money IL you'll let the matter drop"
Never. woman-neverl ! am not the
man to make stealing a safe business.
have been robbed In broad daylight. and
justice demands victim. go to secure
him.
At 10 O'Clock the moon went down. the
stars paled and the night wind died away.
IL was an ideal night for a man who wanted
to steal a pickax--slso for an old sIeutb.
Looking from a back window. Mrs Bowser
observed Nemes's stepping softly over the
grass and crouching alongside the fence
Seven thieves, each one intent on gobbling
a crowbar. might have been watching and
listening. and yet they would neither have
seen nor heard. When he had made the
round OF the yard and found all safe. he
softly opened the gate and passed out into
the alley.
Not leaf stirred.
Not a cat yeowled
Not thief sprang up and dashed away.
Twice had MIR Bowscr passed up and
down the alley the length OF his block.
peering under wagons and behind boxes.
his nerves stretched 70 their fullest
tension. when event suddenly cvented
An old horse that had been l,ing down in
the shadow OF The fence and seemed part
OF p'le Of ashes suddenly sighed and
groaned and rose up to look for oats. Mr..
Bowser was looking for danger. and he was
equal to the emergency. In two jumps and
a spring he was inside his own yard and
had the gate shut and WAS prepared TO sell
his lie al the highest cash price. For
three minutes there was darn. deep silence.
with regular seven.cent calico reduced to
four for ono day only Then the discour
aged old horse fell against the fence with
another groan add gave away his identity.
The night grew deeper
The silence grew more profound
Even the crickets felt that danger men.
accd and shat up
Mf. Bowscr had gone out aud kicked
and ,humped that old horse out OF the
alley and made him wish he was .obogcan
and had returned to his point Of vantage
when the sound of a footfaIi reached his
car. n came from tho north IL ,vae ,ot