The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-08-18

Servllle. B-Ow-S-e-r-v-i-l-l-e. n ! am
the Bowscr..'
And the Rowser" rose up and folded
his arms and stood as rigid as a mon
ument to Columbus.
But the real estate man had a
scheme of some sort to work. said
Mrs. Bowser after a moment
Scheme? Scheme: Mrs, Bowser.
didn't l tell you he was no such man?
Even If he had been he would have
known better than to try any schemes.
Oh me. He wanted my name as a
draw. He wanted permission to use.
it,"
And OF course he wants you to build
a villa and become a resident?'
Certainly. Would the place be
Bowserville without Bowser?"
"And he gave you one of the best
lots in the place."
"He-he did. That is-that is
well. I paid him $50. That was for
making out the deeds and so on, you
understand. People are to think l paid
5000. Yes. all l had to pay was $50.
I tell you, dear. it's a great thing to
be Bowser."
And You paid him $50 in advance
and haven't yet seen the property
But I'm going out to look at it to-
morrow. He has telephoned out to-
day to have the sign of 'Bowserville'
put up. Yes, I'll go out and see the.
town tomorrow. and then I'll consult
an architect about the villa. What
are you signing that way for?"
ITO think that you are Bowser." re-
piled Mrs. Bowser as she sighed again.
Il don't wonder that a boy chalked
h initials e. M on our gate a few
days ago."
But what had they to do with me?"
Easy Mark; that's ALL"
woman" he shouted as he sprang
to his feet. "you are insulting your
own husband! What do you mean by
such words? How am l an easy mark,
as you call it? Explain. and explain at
oncew
You have been done out of your
$50"
"Never. never! l am $3.50 ahead in
stead. All, jealousy-envy-spite! l ex-
pected to see something of it crop up.
Because I have been honored you are
mad about it and want to spit out your
venom. Now. listen to me. Not an
other word tonight about this epoch
not another word at any time. You
can live here, and l will live there.
Easy Mark will build a villa to suit
himself. and you can stay in this old
shanty. Stop! Not a word-not a
word!"
He Visits eowserviIle.
There was no more to be said, and
no more was said. When morning
came Mr.. Bowser took his departure
for Bowserville. 1t was to be reached
by a suburban trolley. and it was
reached. The sign ''Rowserville' could
be seen Il quarter of a mile away erect
ed against a fisherman's shanty. the
only villa so far completed. Mr.. Bow
ser got of in the sand to see a swamp
and a beach before him. He also saw
some stakes driven in the ground;
also some snipe and seagulls that
were not driven into the ground. The
tide was cut. and the half mile of mud
flats looked cheerful as he walked down
to the shanty. Stopping before the
owner Of it, he asked:
$50 this is Bowserville:"
LAS you see was the reply.
"And I've been skinned?"
IF YOU haven't it's not your fault"
Look here! Have you anything to
do with this blasted fraud on the pub
lic?"
"Only to show purchasers over the
town. Behold Bowserville! Take
your time to take it all in. If you
can stay for an hour, mebbe old Bow
ser himself will come down."
Then Mr.. Bowser lighted down on
him. and there was another epoch. 1t
continued for half an hour. and when
he caught a car for home the con-
ductor asked him how many grizzly
bears he had tackled at once. Mrs.
Bowser saw him half a block away
She saw him at the steps; she met him
in the hall. He expected something.
but it didn't happen. All she said
was:
you'd better lie down on the lounge
for awhile. dear, before going to the
Office. Ev~erybody's having grip, and
you've probably got a mild attack"