The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-16

me fool and say that ought 10 die
Won't you come along and
But Mrs. Rowser had passed beyond
hearing. and after uttering three ol
four groans Of despair Mr.. Bowse,
hustled Downstairs and out OF th,
house. II was half past 10 o'clock. ii,
hadn't waited to tie his shoes. put or
collar or button his coat or vest. As
he went up the street az gallop sey,
eral people asked him where the firs
was. and policeman jumped out from
behind tree and tried to head him
on. The drug store had Just closed
but be set the bell to ringing aud &c,
companied Il with kicks on the door.
and after seven or eight minutes the
druggist appeared aud Indignantly de
manded:
What In thunder do you mean by
trying to kick my door iny"
Twelve taken polsonr' replied Mr.
Bowser as he staggered In and sat
down.
"Oh, you have. Couldn't upset things
any other way, aud so you took polsonl
What Was its''
"Laudanum. IL made n mistake. u
thought was taking cough slrup.
Don't delay. or I'm a dead man..
Probably grabbed up a bottle In the
dark and guxzlei away. That's the
way with most men. III give you q
strong emetic. but I'm afraid It's going
TO be n close shave"
The Idea. Of course. was TO get the
patient to throw the laudanum Oh his
stomach. and for the next half hour
Mr., Bowser was dosed after heroic
measures. The druggist finally an.
nounced that the moment OF peril had
passed. but sent him home to drink a
quart Of strong coffee. and advised him
to walk up and down for a couple of
hours. Mrs. Bowser had the coffee
ready. and Il was almost q human
wreck she gazed at as he entered the
house. She hadn't the heart to re.
proach him for his carelessness, end
when he had disposed Of his coffee she
helped him find his hat and saw him
out on the street. He hadn't paced the
length Of block before he fell In with
a tramp who was looking for lodgings
N some doorway and who was soon In.
formed Of what had happened. He
was a rough looking man. but be had
/ kind heart and he took Mr.. Bowser's
irm and said;
"All right. Gully. ] see how Il Is.
Tired with the turmoil OF life. you
started out TO commit suicide. but
hought better OF II after swallowing a
lose. Just my case exactly. I've tried
I six different times. Easy now. old
Lean on me. and wen walk
Up and down"
"G'way-g'way from me.' Mr.. Bow.
YER got up the strength TO exclaim.
Never. my conscience stricken friend.
shall walk with you. and as we prom.
made you can pour your tale Of sorrow
nto my ear and be sure Of my sym.
,athy."
They had been walking for an hour
nd Mrs. Bowser had been dividing her
ime between making more coffee In
be kitchen and looking out OF the front
oor when the thought struck her to
axe look at the bottles. There was
be cough sirup and there was the
sudanum. but the latter bottle had no ,
fact, II was as dry as
one. As there had been nothing In II ,
D drink Mr.. Bowser could have made
o mistake She ran out at once TO In :
Orm him Of the fact. The tramp was
till solicltously leading him up and :
own and encouraging him 10 live on.
Ir. Bowser heard the news, took
loment TO digest II. and with a Wild
hoop OF exultation he slammed the !,
Il tramp up against shade tree. pick.
up the cat. which had followed Mrs.
owser. and made a run for the house
be followed him. and as the door was
Iosed behind her and several other
hoops came to his ears the kind heart :
] tourist leaned over the gate and NUT
red:
"Why. I was about to strike the
d coon for a quarter, and here he's =
one and got over 1t and given me the :
Did throwdown Hang man who
mt know when he's got good thing" !
VI. QUAD.