The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-18

no more about It"
Mrs. Bowser tried to start converse
ton a dozen times oyer during the
next three hours, but he refused to be
placated. He went to bed still sulk-
ing. n when Ire awoke in the morn
ing he had nothing to say until break
fast was finished. 1t was seen that he
had On his outing suit, and when he
rose from the table he observed:
Il am going to the excursion There
Will be plenty of lunch on board. You
need not expect me till / return"
II hope you will have a nice time"
replied Mrs. Bowser.
Don't worry your gizzard about
that"
II should like to have gone with you.
but-but"-
But you are an idiot"
With hat as a parting shot Mr.. Bow
ser was off. Only the cat saw him off
from the front steps. She had heard
the affair from the beginning, and as
the ancient and frolicsome baldhead
went up the street she said to herself:
There goes a man who is going to
get his nose skinned before he sees
home again"
The programme said that BOwlegged
wharf was between First and Second
streets, and Mr.. Bowser had no trouble
in finding 1t. There were about twen-
ty member Of the G. o. B. club stand
ing around, none Of whom had brought
their wives or daughters, and there
were about fifty men and women who
didn't belong to the club. Tickets had
When the new member had bought
me he introduced himself to a mem
ber~of the organization and sought to
get up a fraternal feeling. 1t was no
go.
"Where's your badge of member
ship?" asked the man as he showed
his suspicious.
II dunno. They didn't send me
any"
member of the club?'
But would l lie about it?"
Il can't say as to that. If I were
you i wouldn't 60 to crowding myself
in until l had a badge"
Il tell you I'm a member of the
G. O. B. and have an invitation to go
on this excursion"
"Then get aboard the steamer and
be hanged to you! You seem to think
.you are the whole show"
Mr.. ,Bowser replied that the G.. o.
BIS could go to Texas, and he was on
the point of going home when he got
mad and determined to stay. He
therefore cooked his hat over his ear
and walked up the gang plank and
looked for a seat. He had found one
when a man wearing the badge Of the
club came along and yelled at him:
Didn't I tell We that these chairs
was reserved for members Of the
.club?"
"No, you didn't, but if they are I
have a right here. I am a member
myself"
where's yer badger"
81 haven't any"
"Then your card of membership"
ut hasn't come yet"
"Say, old snooZer, don't attempt any
funny business here. Get along with
you"
Il say 1 have a right
Mr.. Bowser was seized and whirled
around and run forward, and when
given a last push he fell over a chair.
When he got up a man with a sporty
look said to him:
why didn't you wait till we got
started before getting drunk?"
I'm nc more drunk than you are!r'
"Well don't get peppery over it. Do
you want to make a good thing Of it
today?"
81 want to see the man who pushed
me in the back"
"Cut it out. Gully. They are on to
you bigger'n a house on this boat.
Why didn't you change your mug?
However, l can offer you a good thing.
Great place this to work the shell
game if you will cap for me-"
"You-you scoundrel!" gasped Mr..
Bowser as he realized that be was be-
ing taken for a fly a
"Take that back, Gully"
Il went do itr!'
The sporty man walked away and
conferred with three or four wearerS
of the G. 0. B. badge. Mr.. Bowser
stood breathing hard as they came
up to him in q body.
See here now. But who are you?'
asked the leader.
"None O. your business"
"Oh, it hain't, Ell? Fellers, he's q
slick one and out for the dough. He
claimed to me awhile ago that he was
a member of the club, but he can't
hoodwink me. Rouse NIT himJ''
Four men grabbed him to run him
ashore, but as be fought back they
steered him in another direction, and,
reaching the rail of the steamer, they
lifted him up and hove him overheard.
Then they turned indifferently away.
and Mr.. Bowser would have gone
down among the fishes but for the
captain of a sand barge.