The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-07

wouldn't have your suspicious nature
for any money. What's wrong about
| the advertisement? Where is your au-
thority for calling 1t a fraud?"
1t promises too much for tho
money!
Il don't see it that way. Here are
| farmer and his wife who are lonely Tor
| the society of good people, and being
SO situated that they can make dozen
/ or more comfortable they are willing
| to do it without robbing them. Any
one could tell by the very name that it
/ was nice place to go. I'll bet that
/ farmer would break his back to make
| his guests happy. How soon cen you
pack your trunlxs?"
why, what for? You haven't even
| written to them, have you ?''
mo, and I'm not going to. We
want two weeks off, and we have
found the place to go. We want those
airy rooms, cool breezes, fresh vege-
tables and eggs right from the nests.
can imagine myself sailing DER the
placid waters of that lake this very
minute. We ought to get away by
day after tomorrow. can help you
pack
Mrs. Bowser refused to start off in
any such helter-skelter- manner. She
! insisted that Mr.. Bowser take a run
out to Crows Nest and look things
over, and after considerable wrang-
ing this program was agreed upon.
While he was investigating she could
be packing, and so no time would
be lost. During the remainder of the
evening he was in the highest of
spirits. He saw every feature of
those home-fike surroundings, and
over and over again he reposed In
the shade of an apple tree or pulled
about on the waters of the gem OF
a lake. Even in his sleep he WIS
playing eroquet and hunting hens
nests, and as morning came his i'm
patience was so great tRat he hardly
ate mouthful of breakfast.
Mr.. Bowser got away at an early
hour. leaving instructions that the
trunks should be packed during the
day. and after a ride of two hours
on the train he arrived at his destin-
alton. He was so good-natured on the
way that he passed over several
thlngs OF an unpleasant nature, and
the conductor finally came to regard
him as a harmless old gentleman.
crows Nest was half a mile from the
station where he was dumped out.
1t doomed up before him as he got
started. IT it hadn't doomed there
would have been nothing but a bob
tailed COW and a stack of marsh hay
10 make up the scenery. Mr.. Bowser
plodded on until he reached the house.
He might have thought there was
some mistake but for a man at the
gate who answered his inquiry with:
want board"
1t was two story farmhouse. unf1n-
ished and implanted. The shade was
furnished by four or 1--WE old plum trees.
a an there wasn't enough grass in sight
70 furnish a COW with ten good bites
The lake was behind the house. and II
W as part OF a marsh.
Come in and see the rooms" sug-
gf sted the man. who had a boil on his
neck and look of sorrow on his face
In dazed way Mr.. Bowser followed
him. There were five or six untenant-
ed rooms. Some were pIastered and
some were not. All of them were airy
because most Of the windows We're bro
ken. The view from the front rooms
took In the highway. an old barn and a
field grown up to milSweeds. That from
the rear was composed of the marshy
lake and an old horse standing on the
shore and seeming to be saving To
himself: TO drink or not to drink2''
come down and see my wife before
you decide on a room" said the man.
ard MIR. BoWser followed him down
stairs and out into the kitchen and dis
covered d-headed. sharp-nosed wo-
man, who was making q mustard poul-
t1ce for her aching Jaw
And now I'll introduce You to the
only boarder VINO has yet arrived" con-
tinued the farmer, and he led the way
to bench under one of the plum trees
where sat a soreeyed seedy looking
man. He rose up and shook hands and
said that he had gained ten pounds in
the week he had been there, and that
after trying all. the resorts in the coun-
try, he had settled on Crows Nest
What room will you take and when
asked, as he began to get red in the
face.
Say. now this is a blamed fraudi"
he managed to stammer at last.
What do you mean, sirl'
Il mean that any man who will adj
VertSe as you do and bring people to
such a hole as this ought to be hooted
all over the United Statesi'
go a RfCixaT oh d
farmer. II thought you was as far as
could see you. Not good enough for
your royal highness, it seemsl Well, L
wouldn't have you at any price"
And I wouldn't stop in your old
roost If you paid me $40 day.
Heavens, what gall You ought to be
prosecuted as a swindler. You adver-
tise--"
''Don't call me swind1srl' warned
the host as he grew menacing in his
actions.
''Mebbe he's looking for a palace and
Fyo1, t te ~ee doo snP bT the st %ss
with her hands on her hips.
who can ask for anything better
than an airy lake and five minutes TO
the postofhce?" asked the sore-eyed
man in a plaintive voice.
Mr.. Bowser uncorked within a pop
and poured forth cuss words, and the
result was a fight in which the odds
were three to one. He was as one deaf
and dumb as he made his way back
home, never needing those passengers
who kindly inquired If he had been
through a cyclone. He found Mrs. Bow
ser and the cat on the steps again. and
the woman braced her feet for the
coming explosion and asked:
"WeI, did you find that paradise?"
No explosion came, Mr.. Bowser ges-
tured and worked his jaws, and when
words failed him he limped UP the
steps, passed her by and fell into the
hall. a limp heap Of humanity. Crows
Nest and its crows had done him up