The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-29
MIR. BowsER's FARM
He Goes Out to Buy One, But he
Comes Home Without It.


Mr. Royser had been very quiet for
five DAYS He had made no expert
-nsn+s ans no purchases. He hadn't
threatened the cat nor pursueu any
umbrella members. He hadn't trlso any
gas saving patents nor medoled WIN L.'9
the water pipes. Mrs Bovser ha9
watched him closely and been good
deal worried. That he was lying 10"
TO break oct in some rev spot she m
guess what new idea he would develop:
When three days had gone oy wltnous
an outbreak the cook came to her and
whispered:
sighted sHs.:.
.T'm 1op-shou:dered and my toes turn
i've never been TO Nay parties and
circusses Ike other girls
Il can't dance Tor sing nor play the
pianner, and I've never nlrteo With q
street car conductor. 20
wei. Ankle, what are you trying 10
get at?'' asked Mrs. Bowser.
Just this. nla'am. I've got a oe1u
Mr. Bowser has been keeping quiet SO
long that I'm expecting a dynamite ex-
plosicn any minute If there Is oiiT
and ne scares my young man OIL
never never can forgive him"
Ttere vas no explosion, although
climax zane to Mr.. Bowsers strange
conduct. on the fifth morning, al the
breakfast table. he quietly ooserVeI.
mrs Bowser. I am going out INTO
the country today and may not. De
home at the usual hour -
Isn't it too late to hunt rabbits?
she asked 49,,
IT am not going to hunt rabbits.
He snapped his answer in such way
as TO forbid her from pursuirS the SUI
- -r-1
a great deal she had no more to say
when he was ready to leave he said ne
world telephone her II anything hap
pened to detain him over night, ana
went away with a cloud Of mystery
clingfng around him like an April fog.
He was hardly cut of sight when the
cook came upstairs to whisper;
sis it to be dynamite. ma'am. with
the house tottertng about our ears
won't he cut the water pipes and
bring on another Johnstown food"
No"
..Thank hevings for that! One ex-
plosion. no louder than a bang, would
scare my young man away forever
Mr.. Bowser had got his regular
snring ut on to buy a farm He real
led That if he said a word about ii to
Mrs. Bowser she would produce facts
and figures to prove that ne ought 70
be sent to an insane asylum. and ne
was therefore, going to have the rarn
boupht before he said a word to her.
He took a suburban car running ten
miles out and did not get OF until ne
had reached the terminus he looked
around the car for toil-hardened
farmer 10 talk with. but he found
none. There was a sQuint-eyed man,
however. who evinced disposition TO
be friendly. and after few remarks "a K
on the weather he was asked II ne
knew of any farms for sale
want one for yoUrself?" he queried
in reply. reply,
Ever do any farming2'
Not to speak Of"
Expect to make a living at it, OF
do you want it for a plaything?
81 am not in the plaything bust
ness" stif1y replied Mr.. Bowser- "If
I find a farm to suit me shall buy Il
and move on to II. l shaIl 1arm C
make money. I shall farm for my
health. I shall farm to get away from
the dust and racket. the graft and vice
Of the city"
The man looked at him in a curiou:
and puzzled way a moment and theI
took a seat on the opposite side Of the
car Mr.. Bowser tn ought his conduc
rather queer but said nothing. while
the other presently sneaked out on thu
rear platfrom and said to the con
Have you taken notice Of that bald
headed chap IN there
''Not particularly. What's the mat
ter with him %
saCrazv as a bedbug If he jumps or
60 me all of a sudden and kicks my
ribs in 1 shall hold the company re-
sponsible for all damages"
Mr.. Bowser didn't jump on any
body. When he left the car he tool
TO the highway and walked a mile
Then he came to a farm he liked thc
looks Of and turned in. The farmer
was grinding an axe at stone under {
cherry tree. and his two Swapping son!
were tearing down an old rail fence
and laying up a new one in its place
Mr.. Rowser felt farmerish instinc'
rise within him as he looked around
The robins and blue birds were sing
ing, the young lambs were gambol
ing and nature was getting a summel
hump on her. He imagined Mrs. Bow
ser churning at the back door while
he swung a scythe in the meadow
the corn growing and rustling-th'
yellow wheat waving in the summe
winds and his expression was growing
child-like and bland when the farme
left the grindstone to ask
We'll. do you wish TO buy chicken
or lambs2"
IT am no chfcken-bu buyer was tn,
reply in tart tones. ct rather liked til,
looks Of your farm and so turned in
Perhaps it's for sale p"