The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-25

put it down on the seat while I fixed
one of my hat pins
THAT was the way, of course Yes,
l dreamed it was. One million times.
Mrs. Bowser, have I told you to look
out for women with a child on their
lap in the street car, and yet you have
paid no attention to it,
"But-but-''
Make no excuses, woman. You
have lost three dollars. You lost it
through the most reprehensible care
| lessness. You have shown your utter
unfitness to take a nickel and go to
the grocery: There was the woman
there was the child on her lap-there
was the situation I had warned you
about, and yet instead of looking out
for your purse you were fooling
around with a blamed old hat pinl
wonder that you have the sense to
get off the car at our corner!'
you may lose some money some
day." said Mrs. Bowser. with tears in
her eyes.
st lose money? Never as long as
axletree! I am not that kind of a
man. I don't go laundering along
like an old COW with a bag tied over
her eyes. Three dollarsl Three dol
lars! And I dreamed of it'll"
why didn't you tell me of your
dream this morning."
"Of what use? If you hadn't lost
the money you would have lost your
shoes or hat. You couldn't even iden-
CT don't think I could"
There it is! Great Scottl Well.
we might as we'll pack our trunks for
the poor house. I've always known
you'd bring US there sooner or later.
While you are packing I'll take lit
tie walk"
There is a little park within three
blocks of Mr.. Bowser's house and he
headed for it to sit down on a bench
and smoke another cigar. He was up
set and must be soothed. He must
have a further talk with Mrs. Bowser
and lay down the law to her. If she
were not made to see the diabolical
enormity of losing SO she would be
encouraged to lose six. He was smok-
side him and asked what he thought
of the cold storage question. He was
giving his ideas when a second man
sat down on the other side. The two
men were soon excited and calling
each other liars. They Jumped up to
fight, but Mr.. Bowser held them apart
and was considerably wrestled around
in the struggle. Then they suddenly
left. Five minutes after they had de-
parted he started for home on the
into the house he could only gasp.
Then he managed to say:
Mrs. Bowser, l left my wallet and
watch when 1 went out! Where are
they?"
"Why, where did you leave them ?"
"Some-somewhere around-on the
table-the f1oor-the piano."
But you didn't Why should you?
You never did such a thing in your
life"
He fell into chair and groaned.
"Mr. Bowser, where did you go
when you went out %
lover to the park"
"And you sat down on a bench ?"
Yves"
"And then what happened? Tell me
at once, and tell me all about it,
'"Then-then two men sat down."
"Aha! How often have I warned
you to beware of two men on a bench
in a park? What else?"
"They got into a jaw and a fight"
"And you butted imp
ct held them apart"
ct see. And while you were holding
them apart they got your watch and
wallet. OF course they did. It was a
put-up job and you never saw through
it, Tell me, sir, how much cash there
was in the wallet?"
woman"
Never you mind about woman. Did
you lose s50?"
mo. Only $40"
"Great Scott! Forty dollarsi For
ty dollars and your gold watchl
wonder that you don't lose your shoes
and your hat coming home! I've al
ways known that you'd bring us to
the poorhouse in time. Could you
identify the men if they were ar
rested?''