The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-14

Il think she was rather absentmind-
ed that day and Is ready to admit 1t.
But what do you think OF a man who'll
get to the depot for n journey Of 500
miles and then discover that he has left
money and tickets behindg"
Meaning me, Of course?-
.0f course"
All of which was because I trusted
you to see me of and you failed me.
Now and then a man may be excused
Tor being absertminded. but a woman
never. If | had kept a list of your
iapses the length OF it would astonish
you The best thing you cal do is to
keep quiet and read this book. / find
that since l began it l have a much
clearer memory"
II may read it later on answered
Mrs. Bowser. but meanwhile let me
ask you what you did with the gimlet
after using it last evening""
Il put it back in the tool box. OF
course"
1T is not there"
Then you have removed it"
Certainly not. You were using it
upstairs, and you left it on a window
sill. When you came down you got
the screwdriyer and went down Gel
lar to tighten up a water faucet.
Where did you leave it,"
I'm the tool box, and I'll bet a mil
lion dollars to a cent"
You left it on the cellar bottom.
Night before last you went over to the
painters after a pound Of putty. You
forgot what you wanted and brought
home a can of blue paint. Three even
1ngs ago, when you were going out for
cigars. | asked you to stop at the drug
store and bring ut a little peppermint
essence. o came home with lauda-
mum. How many times in the last
year have you walked into the houses
on either side of us, thinking you were
In your own? 1t wasn't a week ago
that you took the wrong car and went
a mile out Of your way. When Mrs.
Green came in shere the other day you
smiled and bowed at the cat and start
ed to kick the lady. 1 am glad you
have a little book on memory, Mr.. Bow
ser. You certainly need it."
"You are talking to me, are your
asked MI. Bowser, who was turning
three or four colors and hitching
around in his chair.
II am, sir"
"And you are trying to make out that
I'm a born fool?"
"NO, not that, but if that book helps
you any it will be a good thing. You
thought I didn't know how many
pieces were in the parlor suit, although
I had e them daily for two years.
You have been from here to the corner
three and four times a day for the last
ten years. How many shade tees do
you passy
"Just exactly seven"
"You are wrong"
"Ill bet my life on itr'
'"Then you are a dead man."
"By thunder, woman, but do you ex-
pect me to stand this?" he shouted as
he sprang to his feet. Il say there are
sever and no more nor less. I'll go out
and count them this minute, and when
/ come back We'll have q talk. You are
getting altogether too fresh"
In a minute more he was into his
overcoat and under his hat and out of
the house. The seven trees turned out
to be nine, and after he had counted
them over ten times he leaned against
the fence and talked to himself. He
was using words with exclamation
points before and after them when a
policeman came along and halted and
demanded:
"See here, you old boozer, you can't
sleep Off no drunk against that fence!'
who's drunk?"
you are"
you're q liar!!"
Mrs. Bowser and the cat had gone to
the front window to look for Mr.. Bow
ser, and they hadn't been looking over
a minute when he hove into view. He
was g%alloping for his life, and the po-
liceman was close at his heels. He
didn't turn in, but threw one despair
ing glance at the window and put on
more steam and was out Of sight like q
cannon ball. NJ. QUAD.
Tricks O. the Trade.