The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-10-25

SoNA - shSAsN AAA4o 40 NAAO pun A0 Outs
Five minutes later some one on the
car threw a peanut and hit Mr.. Bow
ser in the nose. Mrs. Bowser got ready
to jump off, but he only laughed at it.
Then a fat wOman with two bundles
damned past him and muttered that
his big feet took up too much room,
but he raised his hat and smiled at
her. It seemed to Mrs. Bowser that
something happened every five minutes
for the next two hours-something that
under ordinary circumstances would
have instantly aroused Mr.. Bowser's
ire and brought on a row-but every.
thing rolled of his shoulders like. wa.
ter from a ducks back, and when they
finally reached home again he had not
lost his temper once. Indeed, he had
laughed at things that had provoked
other passengers.
It was in the dusk of evening that
they reached their own gate. A sur
prise awaited them. On the steps sat a
human form. 1t had a bonnet on. II
sat bolt upright. A satchel rested near
its feet. 1t held a folded umbrella in
one hand.
Its mother! It's motherv exclaim.
ed Mrs. Bowser as she FASTENED for.
ward.
Mr.. Bowser followed at a slower
pace, and he did not reach the top ster
until mother and daughter had EN-.
braced. Then he took the mother-in-
law In his arms and gave her a hug.
She was paralyzed for a moment. Then
b struggled away and Indignantly
exclaimed:
"Lemuel Bowser, do you want me tc
break this umbrella over your heady'
why, mother, l was just greeting
you" he explained.
HE is so pleased to see you!" added
Mrs. Bowser.
"Eh? Eth? l don't understand this
at all. After I have had something to
eat I'll look into Matters"
When mother and daughter were
alone the mother said:
"Now. Sarah, tell me all about it and
keep nothing back
"All about what, mothery"
"Whcre YOU were when l got here"
WED been to take a ride on the
open ear"
Il see. He meant to get you out into
the country and murder you. l thought
something Of the kind would be going
Oh. and that's the reason l came. How
did you escapes"
"Why, mother, you shouldn't talk
that way. Mr.. Bowser is one of the
best husbands in the world.'
Sarah Bowser, don't you let him
fool you. He's laying low. He's got a
trick up his sleeve. l know Lemuel
from head to heel, and l warn you not
to he deceived. Where is he now?'
I'm the library, l guess"
swell, l want about fifteen minutes
talk with him. You keep away. If
he's up to tricks I'll pull the mask off
his face purity sudden"
"Well, mother, did you have a pleas
ant Journey" asked Mr.. Bowser as she
came downstairs.
"Humph!" she replied as she sat
and folded her hands and stared
Mt him.
"Your visit is unexpected, but vel
nevertheless. l hope you will
Il ulOutu THIS Llme.'
"Lemuel Bowser,' she said in solemn
tones, don't try to deceive me. for
you can't do it,"
"Mother, I'm not trying to deceive
do you pretend that you love
Sarah?"
II don't have to pretend"
"And that you r glad to see me?"
'Of course I'm glad"
"And that you've got over buying
hair dye, baldheaded cures, spring tom
cs, fire escapes, new milk cows, bicy-
lies. burglar alarms, Leghorn chickens
Ind all that?"
II shall buy nothing more Of the
The mother-in-law slowly rose up and
eft the room, and when again alone
the daughter she said:
SARAH. l can't make him out. l
ant say whether he ean to reform
n murder us both in our beds. I'll see
him again in about an hour"
An hour later she descended to the
to see if Mr.. Bowser was in the
'ame mind still. She found him asleep
n his chair with a smile on his face
md the family cat lying on his knees.
"Well. I'll be snummed!" she whis-
,ered to herself as she continued to re-
Iard him. "Lemuel Rowser has either
Il pirate or an angel, and
|on't know which it u.s."
NJ. QUAD.