The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1905-11-03


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 of, but he only laughed at IT,
Then n fat woman with two bundles
jammed past him and muttered that
his big feet took up too much room,
but he raised his hat and smiled at
her 1t 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 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.
1t 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 bonnet on. 1t
sat bolt upright. A satchel rested near
its feet. 1t held a folded umbrella in
one hand.
Its mother! It's motherw exclaim-
ed Mrs. Bowser as she FASTENED for
ward.
Mr.. Bowser followed at slower
pace. and he did not reach the top step
until mother and daughter had en-
braced. Then he took the mother.in-
law in his arms and gave her hug.
She was paralyzed for a moment Then
she struggled away aud Indignantly
exclaimed:
"Lemuel Bowser, do you want me to
break this umbrella over your headT
"Why, mother, l was just greeting
you" he explained.
HE is so pleased to see your added
Mrs. Bowser.
"Eh? Eth? l don't understand this
at all After 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 1t and
keep nothing back"
"All about what, motherT
"Where you were when l got here"
"We'd been to take a ride on the
open car"
IL see. He meant to get you out into
the country and murder you. l thought
something of the kind would be going
on, and that's the reason | came. How
did you escapeY
"N'hy, 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. Hes got II
trick up his sleeve. l know Lemuel
from head to heel, and warn you not
to he deceived. Where is he now?'
"ln the library, guess
"Well. | 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
down and folded her hands and stared
at him.
your visit is unexpected, but wei
come nevertheless. l hope you will
stay a month this time"
"Lemue Bowser," she said In solemn
tones, don't try to deceive me, for
you can't do itr'
Mother, I'm not trying to deceive
you"
"Do you pretend that you love
Sarah?"
~ don't have to pretend"
And that you are glad to see meT
"Of course I'm glad"
"And that you've got over buying
hair dye, baldheaded cures, spring ton
les, fire escapes, new milk COWS, bicy-
Giles, burglar alarms, Lsghorn chickens
and all that"
II shall buy nothing more Of the
kind"
The mother.in-law slowly rose up and
left the room, and when again alone
with the daughter she said:
"SaTah, / can't make him out.
can't say whether he means to reform
or murder us both in our beds. I'll see
him again in about an hour"
An hour later she descended to the
library to see II Mr. Bowser was in the
same mind still. She found him asleep
in his chair with n smile on his face
and the family cat lying on his knees.
"Well, I'll be snummedw she whis-
pered to herself as she continued TO re-
gard him. "Eemuel Bowser has either
become a pirate or an angel, and
don't know which 1t ISL
NJ. QUAD.