The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-20

tention to them. They do look nice"
i've got some fine cabbages here"
Yes, they ara fine, but I guess 1 don't
want any
How about beets?'
mo beets, thank you. Call again as
you come along tomorrow"
Mr.. Bowser's attitude not only made
Mrs. Bowser gasp for breath, but the
peddler turned pale and mounted his
wagon and got around the nearest cor
ner as fast as he could There he met
another of his kind coming from the
opposite direction and shouted to him:
Say, if you turn into Oak street look
out for old Bowserl''
He's home and sitting on the steps.
and he tried his best to lure me inside
the gates by talking soft. Say, if I'd
gone in he would have tossed me 10
feet high! You beware of him unless
you want to leave a widow behind
your
Between that hour and - O'Clock Mr..
Bowser encountered an old man, a boy
distributing bills and a member of tin
ware, and his reception of them was so
Kind and gentle that Mrs. Bowser told
the cook to have lunch on the very
minute and to hold herself in readiness
to run the instant she heard any
strange runbles. At the lunch table
she asked:
You were not thinking of painting
mo, dear"
Nor of fixing the water pipes. nor
angling .!Noi in
around for awhile, and then, putting
on his hat, he strolled over to the
butchers. AS he never entered the
shop except to kick, the butcher be-
gan to bristle up and get ready for a
row. None came, however. Instead
of a kick Mr.. Bowser softly observed:
II have noticed such an improve
ment in the meat during the last three
months that I thought I'd drop in tell
you how pleased and satified am
IF everyone had as conscientious a
butcher as you are things would run
smoother"
"Bowser. do you mean it2" asked
the butcher as he wondered If he had
heard Alright.
"Of course I mean it,"
''Then shake, I have said that you
were a chronic kicker, but I take it all
back"
From the butcher shop Mr.. Bowser
went over to the drug store He and
the druggist had given each other
many a hard rub, and as the other
caught sight of him he said to his
clerk:
'There comes that old kicker. Bow
ser Wonder what the devil he is
home this time of day for? If he
gives me any of his chin music I'll
order him OUT
He didn't have to proceed to that
extremity. Mr. Bowser sauntered in
with a smile on his face, and after
asking for cents worth of slippery
elm he said:
''Grimshaw. don't know but
you've got the impression that I'm
sort of kicker
well, you are a little eccentric
That's all, and that's only when
my sciatica bothers me. 1 have re-
peatedly recommended you as the best
druggist in town, and shall take pleas
ure in continuing to do So"
Then he went to the coal Office.
Every week he had been in the habit
of telling the coal man that he was
cheating on the weight. He now
meant to drop in and apologize. I'm
fortunately the coal man was out, but
word was left with his clerk. and Mr..
Bowser returned home. From 1870
to 3 o'clock he lay on the loun~ and
dozed.
At 6 he ate dinner and at he lock-
ed up the house, turned off the gas
and went to bed. Mrs. Bowser trem-
blingly followed, wondering what ca
lamity impended, and four or five
listened to hear if he was breathing
all right. She was dreaming that he
was dead when his old time voice
aroused her. 1t was morning and he
was dressing and saying:
'fWho in the old Harry kicked my
collar under the bed? If this isn't
the blamedest run house in four states
hen I don't know enough to come in
when it rainsi"
And she clasped her hands and
thanked heaven that he was himself
(Copyrighted 1912 by Associated Lit
erary Press.)