The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-24

as she sat on the hearthrug, while Mrs.
Bowser was too affected to speak for a
couple OF minutes.
twenty-five long years unused Mr..
1 Bowser, as he walked up and down
with his hands behind his back. You
have helped me to enjoy the sunshine,
and you have shared with me the
/ shadows. If hadn't remembered every
anniversary since the frst-if ! do not
rem ember every one till the last-then
I am brute"
You are what / said,-the best hus-
/ band IN the world said Mrs. BOwser,
as she walked with him. II hope you
didn't pay too much for these beautiful
things"
They were one of my bargains dear.
I was looking around for something
: when came to an auction place. They
put I'D the articles and I bid them of.
/ I got for twenty dollars what would
/ have cost me seven or eight hundred
I dollars at any Jewelry store. That Is
one of the things that pleases me. What
in blazes ais that internal old cati''
The feline was trying to suppress g
giggIe and rolling over and over on the
door to do it. while q shadow of doubt
had chased the smile from Mrs. Bow
ser's face.
think OF it, dearie." said Mr.. Bow
ser-''seven or eight hundred dollars
worth Of diamonds for only twentyl I
1 never could have got them IN the world
+ II the aucnoneer hadn't had consump-
ton and wanted to close out his busi-
ness and go to Florida"
"Ana-and you are sure they are
/ genuine diamonds %
AS sure as sure. The man warrant
/ ed them white stones of the purest wa
! ter, and dying men don't lie. You can
/ fash them under the noses Of all the
women on the street and be sure that
fthey are the real thing. The ring
seems a bit large for you
Yes, ii is"
1.-The jewelry store on the next block
( Is open. Let me take the ring and run
down there and have 1t fixed. I'll take
the other things as well, as I want to
| be revenged on the jeweier. wanted
1 to buy ring of him, and although the
stone was hardly half the size Of this
| the swindler wanted 1928 for It. I told
/ him he was robber.
When Mr.. Bowser had gone the cat
/ looked at Mrs. Bowser in sorrow and
! pity. but could not make her under
stand that shingles were about to be
leaving the house Mr.. BoWser was say
| ing to the jeWeler:
want this ring made a tri1e small
er. and i hope you can do it while
! wat
so you bought one. did yous" was
queriec, as the man made a brief in
spection and began to grin.
AS you see. 1 also bought this pin
and this bracelet"
yes? I can fix the ring to 1T, but
! 'iwhatsdo you mean by thatg+
4 why, 1t IS only a plated ring with a
rhinestone in it, and it is a poor stone
at that. If you wanted anything Of that
sort why didn't you say SO The other
pieces are just the same. Where did
you pick them up ?"
do you mean to tell me-" replied
ATr. Bowsers as his face began to turn
white, that it IS pinchbeck iewelry %
ct is nothing less, and I presume
you bought It at auction. Honestly,
row. what did you pay for it %
f'It can't=can't be pinchbeck.'
But it is. Didn't your wife spot ii
a. once?'
Mr. Bowser looked at the smiling
man for a long minute and wondered
4 how he could murder him quickest
Then he raped on the show case with
his knuckIes and hoarsely whispered:
Don't toy with q desp crate mani
And you hadn't better toy with any
more auctioneers. If you don't be-
II where. Even a Iongsh oreman would
spot the rh3nestones. What's the trou-
bic with you? Instead of coming to q
responsible person when you want
sir, you are a villain!" gasped Mr.
Bowser.
Mr.. Bowser had no bomb, bayonet OF
stiletto, and he took his anniversary
presents and started for home. He had
five minutes in which to mediate. He
assembled the steps, unlocked the door,
and striding down the hall he confront
ed the guilty woman and Numbered:
Woman, I have discovered your
what on earth do you mean?" re-
piled Mrs. BoWser.
Il mean that a train leaves the depot
for the town in which your mother
lives at 10 o'clock in the morning. ]
mean that you will take it. I mean
that our respective lawyers will ar
range about the divorce and alimony- ]