The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-04

ance asalusN Tue CIT. TIE COOK anu MIS-
Bowser, and he anticipated having a
good time that evening. No one who
has read OF him can call him cruel
hearted; he simply likes TO have a
racket on hand TO vary the monotony.
He is never TO blame for anything. and
it brings joy to his heart TO convict
others.
well. / suppose I'd better telephone
for the doctor and hear the worst at
once" ne said as he came trampins
upstairs.
al told you ii was only a headache"
replied Mrs. Bowser.
Eyes, you told me SO, but If yon amt
I'm for 4 case of spinal meningitis then
I'll miss my guess. They live about
three days with that disease, l believe"
81 shall be all right in the morning"
"Or marked for death. l have offered
to telephone for the doctor, and that's
all can do. It's your fault that you
are where o are anyway. Why will
women be so careless!"
Mrs. Bowser. whose head was throb-
bling and beating with the pain, made
no reply. and presently he went n
81 was told about a woman the other
day who was eating burdock leaves to
improve her compleXion-eating bur-
dock leaves and drinking lobbered milk.
Perhaps you have been trying it? IL
you have, it serves you just right"
She almost smiled to herself at the
thought, and he kept quiet for two min
utes before he said:
WHO has gone and skewjawed that
bureau across the corner? 1t was never
that way before"
Tit was moved this morning" she
replied.
But why? That bureau was stand
ing against the wall, and no one had
any business moving it. You know I
can never sleep In a room where things
are skewjawed around. l shall put it
back at once"
please wait until morning."
"Not a minute. 1t makes me nerv-
GUS to sit here. You might as we'll
have the bed cater-corner across the
room. Was it that fool of a cook who
did it,"
mo, sir, it wasn'tr' exclaimed a
voice that brought out the goose flesh
in a second. ut was the undersigned,
and / want to know what Lemuel
Bowser is going to do about it,"
Mr.. Bowser knew it was the mother
in-law before be turned, and he knew
fho{ chm ror,Cf horA hann ;n tho hnrco
when he came home. So she was, but
she had hidden away and let him get
his own supper and only appeared
when a denouement seemed to be call
ed for.
well, why don't you throw your
arms around my neck and kiss me?''
she asked as be stood looking at her
and turning all sorts of colors.
$50 you are here?" he growled.
"Lemuel, I am here, and it's a good
thing l am. You won't have to strain
your back moving any bureaus to-
night"
"Who wants to move any bureaus
When you are coming here, why the
devil don't you telegraph and have
somebody meet you at the depot?"
II come and 60 as l please, and
should like to see anybody prevent me-
/ I'M not so old and feeble that I can't
come up from the depot alone. You
were having a fine time, weren't you
Going to move the bureau whether II
killed your wife or not. I always hap
pen to drop in just in time"
Eyes, you always-always''-
stop right there, Lemuel! l have
heard enough from you for a spell. &C
downstairs and sit down and fold your
hands. and l will be down presently
ard Tx 10 you"
Mr.. Bowser went downstairs ant
pat IN his hat and softly opened the
COOr and sneakcd Out into the night
The n!otter-in-iaw came down a few
minutes later and hunted for him AND
called and called. but he wa not tt
be found. Darkness and distance mao
swallowed him Up. and only the meow
ing cat was left behind rs a sign thai
the man Ead once been there and play
ed high jinks. NJ. QUAD.