The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-02


And now you propose to become so
grossly lean that people can hear your
bones grind as you walk" she re-
marked.
mo. ma,am. I don't. 7 propose to
eat enough to sustain life and enable
me to- do my work, but as for stufhng,
it shall cease have had"
"What?'
Never mind When you have gorged
yourself to repletton come up to the
sitting room and we will talk further.
That's it-heap up your plate with the
beef and potatoes and turnips. and
don't forget the cabbage and carrots
and parsnipsi"
Mrs. Bowser made no reply, and af-
ter he had nibbled at his toast and
slipped at his tea he showed back and
left the table. The cat came in from
the back yard, where he had just had
a redhOt scrap and licked two other
felines in one and the same fight, and
plainly demanded to know what the
row was about, but got no satisfac-
ton.
Mrs. Bowser realized that there was
new fad in town, and she was busy
thinking of how it should be handled.
When she went up to the sitting room
at last she found Mr.. BoWser seated
with his fingers locked together, his
eyes fastened on the ceiling, and what
he no doubt thought was a Heavenly
look on his face. He did not seem
aware of her presence.and after a mo-
I
"Wen. what is it2'
"S-s-s-hi'' he whispered.
what shall I s-s-s-h about? What
ass has been putting a new fad into
your head today?'
''Woman!" he exclaimed. as his eyes
came off the ceiling and his heavenly
look faded, have you no soul-no ap-
probation of the hidden mysteries ly-
/ ing between life and death! Don't you
know-can't you realize that it shocks
me to have you come up here, full to
/ the chin with cabbage and corned beef,
and break in upon my Thoughts"
Have you been talking with a
spiritualist or some one of that sort
today?" she firmly demanded.
+There-there was gentleman in
the Office
7 thought so. And he was ethereal.
wasn't he? He could sit down with a
chessy-cat grin on his face and talk
with spirits2 The more empty his
stomach was the more spirits he could
/ see? And you are idiot enough, to go
4 into the same businessi"
Don't talk that way to NEEDN'T
dare to do iti' he exclaimed. Even
as you came into the room, loaded up
with fodder intended for an elephant
instead of woman. was hearing
the whispers of spirits. They fed at
your approach"
We'll. I'll sit over on the lounge and
/ hold the cat and you can call EN-
| back. Give them my humble apologies
for disturbing the meeting"
4 Mr.. Bowsers dignity had suffered,
and it took him four or five minutes
to get over it and resume his former
attitude. The cat wanted to meow,
but Mrs Bowser choked him off. and
for threef long minutes silence Feigned.
Then a faint humming was heard in
the air and Mr.. Bowser turned and
whispered:
Don't move a hngeri Don't utter =
world A spirit IS at hand and is going
/ to say something"
j The something was said a few sec
onds later, but it didn't seem to come
/ from a spirit, and was not exactly
spirit talk. 1t sounded more like the
voice Of a hoodlum in the alley, and
what he said was:
Say, Joe, hain't this the shanty
where that cranky old Bowser lives %
well the spirit has spoken OBJ
served Mrs Bowser as the cat jumped
down and bristled ups
1T hast has!" shouted Mr.. Bow