West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-12-01
OLD MAN DOWSER.
Breaks Ont Again and Tries Some
mere Experiments.

Has the cook left 2
No. There was a strange man
sneak,ng around our backyard, and
when the cook asked what he want
ed he only smiled at her. Ii you
had oeen here you could have hus-
tied him out.
Did he look like tough ?
can't say that he did.
Did he make any ai,ewf to steal
the clotheslines 2
] No, but am sure he was up to
something.
That's you, Mrs. Bowser. A
man wandering about happens to
enter our backyard and look around
and you at once jump to the con
clusion that he's a rascal. It's
few of you that would make the
whole of mankind suspicious Of
each other.
But when you see a stranger wan
dering in your backyard
let him wander. / take it that
he was respectable in look and
dress, and that he was probably alb
sent minded often wander into
other peoples yards, aud If they
took me for a villain I should feel
hurt over it. Fortunately, every
body doesn't jump at conclusions
the way you do.
Well, he was after no good, she
insisted,
On the contrary. he might have
been one of the tax assessors, the
water man or somebody who was
thinking of buying property. The
chances are 90 to that he was all
right, aud that between you and the
cook you have hurt his feelings II
he returns l shall certainly go out
and apologize. / wish you to get rid
of that suspicious nature of yours.
might enter.a dozen yards and no
one would call for the police. Most
people iDstincnvely recognize an
honest man.
II you went sauntering around as
he did somebody would demand to
know your business pretty soon. A
man may look honest and yet steal
the bell off the front door.
Do YOU mean to insinuste that
any human being would he suspici-
Gus of me demanded Mr.. Bower
as he began TO flush up.
You look honest aud innocent,
but--but--
But they would figure out that
was rascal eh Mrs. Bowser,
some IT your arguments are detest-
able. You know as much about the
world as If you had been shut up in
cave ! your life. New
10 this world, even IL were found
in strange house at midnight,
would any person loUk upon me
with suspicion.
She said mo- more, though as soon
as dinner was finished she kept an
eye on the backyard aud hoped the
stranger would show up again. Mr..
Bowser sat down TO his evening pa.
per and cigar, but he was not pla-
cid Mrs. Rowser's words ranked,
and he caught the cat looking at
him distrustfully aud at the end IF
half an hour he flung away his pa
per and saId to Mrs BOwser:
am one Who has not lost faith in
my fellow man, and / don't believe
he has in me
Will we go for ride on lie open
cars ? she queried, wishing to get
his mind of the subject
No ma'sm, we'll not. You have
made certain statements which
propose to disprove. II tn re are
people 10 this world who will take
tse for villain on sight wan, to
know il have all along hatteied
myself that I had an iRnocent look.
And SO you have, she interrupted
But II should enter a Strangers
yard I'd at once become an object
Of suspicion
] did not mean that
Don't Try 20 wriggle out Of it, Mrs.
Bowser. In the sight Of ny fellow
man Pm either guileIess or an old
Yillain. / propose TO find out which.
If you are correct then IIl trade Of
my taoe. I'm goiag to stroll around
for an hour or 50 and test the matter,
and you and the cat and the cook
can watch for the unhung seoundre
in the backyard
Mr. Bowser put on his hat and
sauntered down the street, and hs
hadn't gone three blocks when he
saw good chance 70 test his the
ory. a family that bad been sitting