The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-03-10
any children behind l will rescue ~

any children behind l will rescue ''"''i
from starvation"
Mrs. Bowser had nothing t. ST. -
this, though Il queer look passed be-
tween her and the fl ally cat. ANA ten
minutes later the druggist was being
questioned. Yes. he knew the wo-
man by name, and he knew where sLa
lived. Her body had gone home. lie
couldn't say as to the children. lie
agreed that 1t was a very sad thing,
and he thought it very commendable
OF MIR. Bowser to be interested. He
said all this and considerably more,
but there was a half smile on his face
as be said it. When he asked Mr..
Bowser If Mrs. Bowser was in SYM
pathy with his mission and was an.
swered that she didn't care a rap If
half the town died Of hunger that half
Smile turned into a grim that irritated
and annoyed.
MI. Bowser had only q few blocks to
walk. He looked for a crowd around
the house, but no walls smOte his
ear. The door was opened to him by
a woman weighing 200 pounds and of
liberal breadth Of body and arms like
a blacksmith, and he felt a bit abashed
as he put the inquiry:
WAS a woman brought here dead
about an hour ago?"
what sort of CUFF is this 2" was the
reply, delivered in a voice as hoarse
as the below of a bull.
"Over on the corner of State and
Chestnut streets a woman dropped
dead Of starvation this evening. l
was told that her dead body was
brought here. Did she leave any chill
dren?"
"And who are you?"
my name is Bowser."
1T ought to be Tom Fool! If YOU
are up to any gum game, old man,
don't try it on here. I haven't trav-
eled over Europe, Asia and Africa, but
I've been as far west as Chicago and
can't be bamboozled by n such mug
as yours"
But you can be civil, can't you? 1
came here to see what 1 could do in
the matter. I am a man with a heart
in me-"
"Oh, you are what they call a phi
lanthropist?"
THAT'S it. 1 am not one to stand
by n see a woman die of hunger on
the streets and be buried in a pau-
pers grave. Did you say she left
children"
II didn't! I'll let her do the saving.
On, Mary! Here's a gent as wants to
chin with you. Come down."
A woman Of about five and twenty
appeared at the head Of the stairs and
descended with uncertain steps. She
was poorly dressed and under the in.
huence Of drink. She was the woman
MI. Bowser had seen drop dead.
did you see the circus on the cor
ner?" she asked, with a grin.
II saw you drop dead, as I SUD-
posed"
"Pretty good, wasn't it? 1 didn't die,
you see, but simply threw a fit to get
a drink of brandy from the druggist"
"And you-you weren't hungry" asked
Mr.. Bowser.
Laughed at Him.
Both women laughed loud and long.
"And you haven't got any starving
children?"
They both laughed again, and then
the 200 pound woman opened the door
and said:
"ShCo, old gander! Chase yourself..'
Mr.. Bowser looked around for some
thing to murder, but the street was
deserted by all save a dog, and the
canine took to it's heels at once. He
headed for home, going a block out of
his way to avoid the drug store, and
at the gate he encountered a man with
a big bundle under his arm. He said
nothing, but a wild idea buzzed
through his brain, and he few up the
steps and into the hall to call out to
Mrs. Bowser:
woman, there's a fellow out here
with a bundle!'
"Yes?" was the reply.
HAS he been hereY'
Eyes, just now"
"What FORT"
"Why, he was after old clothes, and
I gave him two Of your suits. He
knows a tramp that will come for an
other in the morning. You know you
told me not to turn any n away
empty handed. Did you arrange for
the poor woman's funeral, and are we
to take in the starving children until
they car be sent to a homer"
And Mr.. Bowser tainted away for
the first time in his life. NJ. QUAD.