The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-10
BOWsER STARTS IN.
But 5Irs. Bowser Talks Him to a Dead
Stop.


ar. Bowser reached home the other
evening i'm an iFritated state of mind
Business had been poor during the DAY
and III taking a ear for home he had
fallen on the steps on his knees ana
been laughed at by a dozen people. IN
the car man who had been drinking
toe much asked him why he dldn
wear No. II shoes and give his feet
more room. and as he got off at his
corner a dog came very near piuh8
him.
Mrs. Bowser was to blame for these
things, and before reaching his gate
he had determined that she should be
made to suffer She read the resolve
in his looks. and was so diplomatic and
discreet that he found no opportunity
10 start q row until after dinner. He
was fishing around for an opening
when she said.
"A rather funny thing befen me this
afternoon. I went down to do bit of
shopping, ard when 7 took the car for
home I discovered that hadn't a
penny with me. Our family butcher
happened to be on the car and I Dor
rowed q nickel of him.
Do you mean to tell me that you
Vent down town and lost your purse p
he asked, in ominous tones.
Yes that's what I'm telling YOU
think I must have left it on the coun-
ter in q store. If the butcher hadn't
Deen on the ear I would have had to
get off and walk"
And you were that careless and in
oiEteEent that you didn't know whether
you had your purse with YOU or had
leIt II Kicking around a store corner!
by John. but that's just like a fool
woman.
Now, don't get excited about it"
sald mrs B0WSeI. Purses have been
lost before, and will be again. You have
only to read the 1osts and POUNDS in
me papers to see that 1 am not the
only careless woman in town.
Nobody's excited; but / say it was
q reprehensible piece Of carelessness.
There is no possible excuse that you
can urge. / have told you hundred
-llneS over that YOU were not to be
trusted with money. This makes u
times that you have lost your purse
through the grossest carelessness, and
from this time on
From this time on nothing will hap
pen" she interrupted Years ago
lost an old and Worn out purse with
20 cents in it. The Gre I lost yester-
Gay contained only a dime. That is
Two purses and 80 cents I have lost
since we were married. I don't think
we are lettering on the verge of bank
ruptcy on account Of my losses
But look at the carelessness of it,
insisted Mr.. BOWser. Il you had had
a thousand dollars in your purse it
would have been just the same. And
] don't like your tone. You seem to
look upon it as a joke, and you are
defiant when [ point out your careless
ness. You go down town. You lose your
purse. You don't discover your loss I'M
I'll you have taken a street car. Then
you have to appeal to our family butch
er. Ali the other passengers must have
noticed your dilemma and commented
on it. And Of course the butcher viii
tell his wife. and she VIII spread the
news all over the neighbOrhood. I shall
be pointed out in the street by every
old bum and ragamuf1n as the husband
of the woman who lost her purse. By
thunder.-by thunder!f'
Have you fnished?" asked Mrs
BoWser. as he ceased his gestures and
glared at the cat with murder in his
Don't speak to me in that tnsolent
tone. womant"
my tone is not insolent. and I mean
10 have a few words on this subject
Soon after we were married you had to
make journey of fifteen miles on
business-you We're warned to be care
ful- but YOU let sharper sell you a
five dollar watch for $40. and came
home dead broke
woman"
@DOn't butt in. That wasn't care
iessness. but simply lack of wit ON
your part. A year or so later YOU took
a hundred dollars with YOU to buy
horse. When YOU got there the money
was missing. There was a hole in
your pocket. A little later you paid
man $50 by mistake for 81"
Mrs. BOWser, 1 command you to,
tYes, I know, but let's talk things
over When we were at Niagara Falls
you left your wallet under the pillow
at the hotel. and the chambermaid
or some one else took thirty dollars out
Of it. I didn't say you were a fool man
and not to be trusted with money. but.
Of course, I had my thoughts When
we were in Boston you left the change
of a twenty dollar bin on the cigar
counter and never heard of it again
When we were at the Chicago EXPOSE
ton you lost thirty dollars out of your
vest pocket"
Mr.. Bowser had been flushing red
and white by turns and trying to wilt
her by glare. The tables had been
turned and he was fishing around for
a way to save himself.
Mrs. Bowser." he sternly asked.
''have you taken leave of your senses %
II trust not"
You realize whom you are talking
to- do you?"
81 do
"That am Mr.. Samuel
Bowser-the Bowser and your hus-
81. certainly do. and I want to call