Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-07-26

cow. lie nad just come to this con-
ciusion and was about to call Mrs.
Bowser and the cat out to look at
the figure when u gentleman with
silk hat and frock coat came along
and entered the yard to say:
II am the pastor of the church around
the corner. 1 believe you are Mr..
Bowser and that your wife attends?"
Thought 1t a Hyena.
Mr.. Bowser shook hands with him
and spoke of the weather and the Hep
burn bill, and after moment the pas
tor said:
Fixing up little for spring, see."
Eyes, bit"
there, and 1 don't think I ever came
across its like before. AS figure of
a hyena l should say it was perfect"
"a hyenaw shouted Mr.. Bowser
loud enough to be heard down to the
corner.
ut can't be q goose" mused the
good man as he peered and peeked.
DO look like man or turnip?"
was demanded.
IF have made any mistake" said
the pastor as he edged toward the
gate, Il beg your pardon. My eyes are
not as good as they WERE If it's not
hyena, excuse me. If it's not goose,
excuse me. In fact, excuse me any
way. l may call again next week."
Dinner was announced before any
one else came along and took an inter-
est in that dog. Mr.. Bowser had been
hurt in his feelings and was sul1y, and
Mrs. Bowser talked on all other sub
jects. After the meal he went out to
have another look at his purchase. Any
man, no matter whether preacher or
burglar, who called that stone dog a
hyena was a liar and a horse thief.
There he stood, ears cooked up, tail out
straight and one paw slightly raised as
if begging the beef trust not to raise
the price Of bones, and only a fool
could take it for anything else but a
canine. Mr.. Bowser was still gazing
when tramp came along and stopped
to say:
"Glad to see you taking an interest in
high art, old man. l can't eat statues,
but it sorter comforts me to see 'em
standing around on one leg"
Looked Like a Bear.
what would you say that repre-
sented?"
Don't kid me, pardner. I'm too DID,"
"But want you to say"
"Weli, if any guy comes along here
and don't call it a grizzly bar you give
him the boot. That's about the finest
grizzly ever saw put up in plaster of
paris"
"Are you purblind fool?' yelled Mr..
Bowser as he felt his feet begin to
lift up.
"Don't tell me it is rhinoceros."
"You jackass!"
"And I'll swear it hain't giraffe"
Get out O herey'
Say, pardner, I'm sorry If I've hurt
yer feelin's. wanted to ask at the
basement for cold bite. If you say
that figger is meant to represent the
sacred bull of India, I'll be hanged If
don't agree with your
For answer Mr.. Bowser grabbed him
and backed him against the fence and
shook him till his teeth ratified and
then helped him through the gate with
kick. Then the darkness fell, and he
entered the house and sat down to his
paper without speaking.
By and by Mrs. Bowser saw him
nodding, and she softly arose and went
| through and took a seat in the bay W.
dow. She could see the dog from wher.
she sat, and she sighed over the idea
Of Mr.. Bowser making the purchase.
Stole the Dog.
Ten minutes had passed when man
came along and scrutinized the house
| and passed on. Then he returned and
looked it over again. When she caught
sight Of him for the third time he had
a wheelbarrow and entered the yard,
apd that stone dog was picked up and
carried out and loaded up and wheeled
away into the forever.
Mrs. Bowser could have drummed on
the window. She could have gone to
| the front door. She could have awak-
ened Mr.. Bowser. She did none Of
these things. Coolly and calmly she
saw the dog disappear and knew that
he would never, never return. Then
she returned to the sitting room with
look Of relief on her face and just in
time to hear Mr. Bowser mutter in his
sleep:
You laundering big jackass, but
why don't you call it a crocodile and
done with it." NJ. QUAD.