The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-17

w ell the SlIOuST III the SdTQ6n SUI
denly uttered a wild yell and jumped
two feet high Mrs. Bowser, who was
standing in the back door, rushed out
to him, but he paved and pranced and
pushed past her into the house.
''WilI you tell me what on earth's
asked, as she followed him up to the
sitting room. He held hand on the
back of his neck and gIared at her.
Have you been stung?" was the
further question
No answer.
81 saw bees about this afternoon,
and there was a mosquito buzzing
around last night Let me see the
spot. If it's a sting or bite I'll put
some camphor on it."
Woman, it's too late" said Mr..
Bowser in a hoarSe voice.
''ToO late for what? I'm sure it's
trife.''
TOO late. It's what I've been ex-
pecting for week past. It's what
Dr. Singer told me must inevitably
happen. It's what I've been hiding
from you, so as to not worry you. I
will lie down on the lounge"
Now. then" said Mrs. Bowser, as
she drew nearer and bristled up,
DR.. Singer? What did he tell you?
What is it you've been concealing
from me? Speak right up!''
'fCan-canceri" he gasped.
Cancer nothingl Did the Idiot tell
you you had cancer?"
"Y-yes!"
"Fiddlesticks!"
HE said I had it in my blood. and
it would break out all of a sudden.
just as it has"
''Then he ought to be put where he
can't break out all of a sudden! Hold
still now, while I look. You have
simply been bitten by fly or stung
by mosquito
tits worse than that. woman-far
worse" he answered with doleful
shakes of the head. Mrs. Bowser,
I've got a feeling that my time has
comet"
''Well, I haven't. and you hold still
while 1 rub some camphor on. If I
had that old fraud of a DR.. Singer
here I'd make him swallow bottlei"
"But-but why should he have told
me SOP"
How do I know or care why? It's
sufficient to know that he's fraud.
There-isn't the pain about all gone %
drawn groan.
'The redness has almost disappear
ed"
The same sort of a groan. but a
trif1e more hopeless and dismal.
you ought to know that a cancer
don't come like a bullet. It is months
or years coming. The doctor must
have taken you for an ass. You GER
tainly feel better now.
He struggled part way up to fall
back in despair, and then he reached
for her hand and whispered;
Don't leave me to die alonei"
'Bosh! What's got into you? Are
you a man or a baby?"
I'm a man, Mrs. Bowser, and a
dying one at that. It's kind of you to
make me think I've been bitten by a
fly. but I know I'm doomed. Please
bring out my will from the safe I
want to see that everything's left to
you"
''Wen, there it is" she said, as she
brought him the document, but you
needn't look it over on my account.
Get up and walk around and forget
it. Why, a boy 4 years old wouldn't
boobv around about a f1y-bitel''
Mrs BoWser. I've been a hard
husband to get along with
"On the contrary you have been as
easy as grease"
Il have kicked and blufed and
bowed around"
! Yes, and you've always got as good
as you gave"
''I have charged you with selling the
coal and the gas"
And I've gone through your pock-
cts when you were asleep to get event"
| Mrs. Bowser," he continued, as his
Lip tren1bled, ''if haven't always beer
the best husband in the world. want
you now in my dying hour to forgive
me-
"But there is nothing to forgive
Mother and have managed to keeI
lyou pretty straight"
Yes, your mother-your dear old
lmotheri I've been mean to her. Tel
her that I begged her forgiveness"
ooh. you don't owe her anything
Ct should have liked to see her once
more, but it was not to be-not to be
The cancer suddenly broke out, and
-
You mean a fly suddenly bit you
The red has all gone, and I'll bet YOU
don't feel the least bit of pain"
Mr.. Bowser didn't answer in words
He wiped a tear from his eye with hi:
last will and testament, and then IN
folded the document and read.
-'Being at this date sound in nint
and body, but having the fear of death
before my eyes, and wishing to makl