West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-02-26
D0WSER THE HUNTER.
He Goes Rabbit Huating aud Tracks a
Calf to Its Lair.


snow fell last night, and I'm going to take
day off and go hunting. I've been waiting
all winter for jus, such day"
"Bu, what can you hun, ?" she asked.
''well. I'll go out aud knock over dozen
rabbits, and perhaps I'll get fox and a
Wild turkey OF two. This is what they call
good tracking snow. II ret on the trail
of anything i, can't escape me-"
81 shouldn't think you'd want to GO
plowing through the snow all day on the
chance Of shooting rabbit, and no one
knows wha, accident may happen to YOU"
al do no, intend to 'plow, as you call it,
and no aeeideu, will happen. need day
off to brace me up, aud you know that
love hunting. I'll bet bring home more
game than we can eat in a week"
II would have been useless tor Mrs. Bow
ser to make further opposition. During
the night MIR. Bowser had dreamed of slay-
ing rabbits by the acre, and the fresh fall of
snow had decided him to 60 out. lie took
half an hour to change his clothes aud get
out shot gun that he had in the house for
five years, and when he was ready to start
he said
81 shall probably be home about o'clock
this afternoon. but il Tim two hours late.
you needn't worry. ] may run right into
drove of rabbits, and in case DO | shall
keep righ, on Staying"
"Are you sure about yourself ?" she
asked.
''Sure aboat what %
"Well, you know, you once followed the
track of a rabbi, all day, and il turned out
to be cat. DO you think you can tell the
difference between the tracks now ?"
~ never followed the tracks Of cat, and
you know il" he exclaimed. "This is Just
like you. Iwant day off TO supply our
ice-box with game, and you start in to
spoil It,"
81 don't want to spoil your day, bat you
know that cat tracks and rabbit tracks are
almost alike. We had an old cat once"
"Your old cat is nothing to me. DO l
look like man who is going out TO hunt
cats 2"
81 should say you were going out to hunt
bears"
"Oh, you would Well. may pick up
a bear or two as / go along l may also
be gone two or three days or a week. Per
haps when drive up with a wagon load
of rabbits you won't feel quite so cynical.
I'm of--good bye"
The first report from Mr.. Bowser after he
left the house was given by policeman,
who said
81 was standing on the corner when a
man whom recognized as Bowser came up
to take the car lie had on rubber boots
and cap, and carried a gun. / asked him
If he was going out in the country to shoot
frogs, and he gIared at me and made no
answer / warned him to beware of
ferocious woodchuks, and he glared again
and took the car"
The next report was from the conductor
Of suburban car. lie said
"a short fat man, who, / believe, was
Mr.. Bowser. took my car on Tuesday
morning. lie had shotgun, and he asked
me how many rabbits il took TO load n
wagon lie further inquired as TO the vital
spots in bears and wolves, and asked If I
had seen any elk or moose lately. took
him for a mighty hunter There was a
passenger by the same car who took him
for an ass and said 50, and Mr.. Bowser
called him liar and offered to break his
neck. lie was very red in the face and
his ears we're working as he left the car, and
had feeling tha, if he met grizzly bear
It would be bad for the bear"
The third report was brought ia by a
farmer who held up his righ, hand aud
said
81 was in the house with boil on my
leg and another on my neck, and no,
feeling atal funny, when my wife told me
that a man with a gun was at the kitchen
door"
"Weat out to see the man with gun.
''Found him to be short and fat with a
hopeful expression Of eountenanee.
"tIe said he had tracked rabbit to my
door, and that he suspected the monster 10
have entered and hidden away in one Of the
rooms
81 opened on him IN the English language
and whisiled for my dog, aud the last ! saw
Of him he was going through the orchard
and looking for wolves. In ihc excitement
; Of the moment, aided by the ache u the
: two boils above referred 70, may have
made threats, but cannot feel responsible
. IL anything happened 20 him after he left
, my place. have have kept nothing back.
, This is all I know about the missing man.
, II was farmer half mile further up the
! same highway who brought in the fourth
report. Having suppressed his emotions he
+ SAID
"Ii was last Tuesday. was shelliug
corn IN my barn when a stranger with gun
entered. I have reason to believe that his
q name wss Bowser.
, az am not humorous man, but when
: the stranger informed me that he had
. tracked rabbit to his lair in the woods and
{ wanted help to siay the monster, believe ]
: smiled. think he saw the smile as he pres
emily inquired what in biazes saw to tickle
me. We had few words They did not re.
late to the Venezuelan question bu, to tha,
OF hhhNhk tnc WIZ NhieVih W morse POND
a mile away.
, 1--WE did not part in loving spirit, but
. there was no blood she'd. lie called me q
knock -kneed. slab-sided, bow.backed son
= Of coast defense cannon, and advised
e him to look out for chipmunks and ordered
him on my farm. II anything has happened
/, to him am sorry. Had ne met me In 4
more bro,heriy spirit, would have pu, him