The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-11-10

49, ~
There are certain things that must be
made plain to you"
Mr.. Bowser looked around for the
cat, calculating to give her a glare that
should Gettle her business for a week,
but, failing to find her, he descended
to the kitchen and made his way across
the back yard to the alley. There he
found a boy holding a saddle horse. He
had asked for a quiet horse. The ami
NAL before him held his bead down and
switched at the flies with his tail, and
as the boy saw Bowser looking his
mount over he said:
Hes as quiet as a sheep, sir. A lit
tie girl ten years old had him out yes
terday afternoon"
Il hope he isn't too quiet. I like a
horse with some life in him."
"Not too quiet, but just quiet enough.
One can see that you are used to
horses"
Mr.. Bowser smiled with satisfaction.
How the boy could see it he didn't
know, but determined to reward him.
He had arrived at this determination
and was about to mount when the boy
said:
"You are trying to get up on the
wrong side, sir"
Mr.. Bowser drew his foot from the
stirrup and got around to he right
side and at the same time determined
to do that boy a mean trick if the
chance came his way.
Rather fat and short legged, sir, but
up you go. Don't hit him with the
spurs until you want him to go. Rides
like a rocking chair, and his mouth is
as tender as a baby's. Are you all
right, sir? Then away you 60"
MI. Bowser had uttered half a dozen
grunts and grown fiery red in the face
as he drew himself up into the saddle,
but after the horse had"walked slowly
and steadily down the alley for two
| blocks there came a sense of exhilara-
ton. He had steered around a coal
cart, passed a boy and lodged two ash
! barrels, and his confidence was high.
At the end of two blocks he turned into
the street and came upon a crowd of
boys.
Hi, but what's that?' yelled one.
There's a circus in town." added q
second.
Gee whizz, but let's catch it,"
Mr.. Bowser put on a look of dignity.
1t might have been good for five min
utes but for the action of one of the
boys. He threw a stone and hit the
horse, and the horse suddenly stood up
on his hind legs and paved the air. 1t
was a perilous moment for Mr.. Bow
ser, and how he passed it he will never
be able to remember. The horse finally
assumed his natural attitude and then
uttered a whinny. Then he danced UP
and down in sportive mood.
See de old man CROWN pale!" shout.
ed a red headed boy.
He'd give a millyon dollars to be on
de groundw added one with a sun.
burned nose.
Say, Gully, why don't you hire g
cow instead?" was flung at Mr.. Bowsel
as the horse suddenly bolted.
He bolted because he wanted to gel
dentally struck him he bolted because
he was mad about it. At the frs
jump ME-. Bowser lost the saddle. HI
didn't lose it as a man might lose hi:
dog. but he and the saddle parted
Their paths diverged from that time
onward. He was thrown forward OF
the horses shoulders and chung to hi
neck. and away went the equine TO
liberty or death. He chased push carts
he followed autos, he galloped afte
ice wagons and moving vans. In hi
glee he ran over brick piles and jump
ed owe wheelbarrows. Some said h
galloped nine times around a block
and some said it was ten, but that wa
a matter of small moment. At a tim
most convenient to himself he came
sort of double twist and left bis ride
on a sand pile and galloped home. Mrs
Bowser knew nothing of what wa
happening. She had gone about he
daily duties, when a policeman ran;
the bell and said to her:
"You needn't De at all alarmed, mad
am"
what about?'
about Mr.. Bowser. They are bring
ing him home, but he isn't hurt much
He will come to in half an hour or so.
"He-he"-
"He just got off his horse to rest
ma'am, sid a building fell On him. n
hurt, ma'am. He'll simply know NOR
when he gets over it. Fact is. it Wi
probably do him good. Fine weather
ma'am. Just lay him on the loung
and give him time. That's it. Goo
day, ma'am." NJ. QUAD.