The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-08-17

shoes or hat. You couldn't even iden-
tify the woman If she was arrested?"
IL don't think l could"
"There it is! Great Scott! Well, we
might as we'll pack u trunks for the
poorhouse. I've always known you'd
bring us there sooner or later. While
you are packing I'll take a little walk"
To the Park to Think.
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
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-
ing away when a man sat down beside
him and asked him 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
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 depart.
ed he started for home on the run.
For a minute after he had burst into
the house he could only gasp. Then
he managed to say:
"Mrs. BOwser, l left my wallet and
watch when l went out. Where are
they?"
"Why where did you leave them?"
"SOme-somewhere around-on the
table-the floor-the piano."
But you didn't. Why should you?
You never did such a thing in your
life"
He fell into a chair and groaned.
mfr. Bowser, where did you go
when YOU went out?"
cover to the park"
"And you sat down on a bench?"
"Y-yes."
".And then what happened? Tell me
at once, and tell me all about it,"
"Then-then two men sat down."
"Aha! How often have l 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 in?
II held them apart"
Robbed Acting as Referee.
II see. And while you were holding
them apart they got your watch and
wallet. OF course they did. 1t 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 $50?
"No. Only $40"
Great Scott! Forty dollars! Forty
dollars and your gold watch! l Won
der that you didn't lose your shoes and
your hat coming home! I've always
known you'd bring us to the poor
house in time. Could you identify the
men if they were arrested?"
IL dunno"
"LOok at that! Forty dollars and a
watch! And I didn't dream of it."
But you lost money today your
SELF exclaimed Mr.. Bowser as he
bristled UP.
"Not Il cent. Not a red cent. The
woman with the child on her lap
found it on the seat after I left the
car, and you hadn't been rome three
minutes when she came with it. She
was an honest woman"
"But-but'-
"Make no excuses, man. You have
lost $40 and a watch. You have lost
them through the most Internal care
lessness. l want a stick Of gum from
the candy store, but you have shown
your utter unfitness to take a cent
and go after it. There was the park
the bench-you-the two men-and
vet instead Of looking out for your
watch and wallet YOU
But Mr.. Bowser waited to hear no
more. He stalked out of the house
and the gate. and at 2 o'clock next
morning a ring at the bell fetched
Mrs. Bowser downstairs to find him
and a policeman on the steps. He
didn't say anything, but the officer
said:
"Take him in, ma'am, and use him
gently, for he's a broken down man."