Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-02-26

around and said:
 "We mustn't judge him too harshly He is hardly old enough yet to know whether we are his friends or enemies. Isn't it sad case that child of his age is without home, perhaps with out a father or mother?"
 Kicks at Bowser.
 every sad, indeed, but still he ought to behave himself" answered Mrs Bowser as the boy kicked at Mr. Dow- ser and just missed one of his sins 'He will be all right as soon as he knows we are his friends He may have a father who came home anl beat him, and he has got in the habit of fighting back. Bubby. come here. No,,. going to give you more to eat and warm bed to sleep ill tonight. like boys. Perhaps 1 shall adopt you and send you to school and let you live with me all the time. What is your name?'
 Cheese it.' impudently exclaimed the lad after a moment
 W Hat. W Hat 5 lE0t!
 ''He said Cheese it..' explained Mrs. Bowser as she laughed behind her hand
 And you are giggling over it, of course. You can't understand that pov- erty and the want of human sympathy have made him what he is. Where do you live, sonny"
 "Rats!''
 "Hey, what do you mean by that? Don't you understand what l mean? What street do you live on?"
 ooh, come offr' answered the boy as he turned away to chase the cat back down in the basement.
 Mrs. Bowser had to giggle. No wo- man could have helped it. Tine first giggle set MT. Bowser's ears to work ing back and forth, and at the second he rose and shouted:
 'Yes, giggle and giggle and giggle. and be hanged to you! You can't see that you are encouraging the child ill his impudence. You are disappointed because he wasn't found dead of cold and hunger at the gate. The boy is all right, only he is afraid of you"
 "Then I'll go upstairs and you may question hi.l some no:n."
 "Sonny," said Mir. Bowser after she had disappeared. Il want you to un- derstand that I am your friend. l have some pennies in my pocket. and if you will tell me where you live will give them to you. What is the street?' "Tafy!" grnned the boy.
 Look here, you young cub. but you are inclined to be im?udent. want you to answer me straight or out you go. What is your name?'
 Pug housc.'
 Draws Him Over His Knee.
 Mr. Bowser reached for him and drew him over his knee. He forgot all about adoption and human sympathy. He was about to perform the old fash toned spanking act when two thing, happened at once. The kid fastened his teeth in the humanitarian's leg With grip like that of an alligator, and the front door bell rang, and somebody drumlned on the glass panel of the door outside. The boy was twisted down on the floor and the bell answer ed. The callers were man and wo- man-man and wife. They were not yet inside the hall when the man bran dished his fists and shouted:
 '.You old child stealer! Where is my boy:"
 "Yes, you villain, where is our Pc ter?" added the woman.
 "W-what does all this mean?" asked Mir. Bowser as he stared at them.
 'lt means that we live five doors above here and that tonight you en- ticed our little son into your house. What have you done with him? Where Is he? Bring him out at once or I'll knock that bald head off your shoul- ders"
 Claws the Air.
 "And If he can't I'm the woman who can!' added the wife as she clawed the air.
 Before Mir. Bowser could get things straight the boy came running past him into his mothers arms and gave him a kick to be remembered by, and then the three fled down the steps When MT. Bowser shut the door and turned round Mrs. Bowser was on the stairs. A smile of human sympathy was on her face. and as he f1ourished his arms around and tried to utter words she softly said:
 "Yes. think 1t would be good plan to adopt him, and promise to try to be a mother to him!' M. QUAD.
 Dummy.