The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-27

ness. 1 cautioned you to be very, very
careful, but you let sharper sell you
a SIS watch for $40 and came home
dead broke"
woman
Don't butt in. That wasn't care
lessness. but simply a lack of wit on
your part. A year or so later you
took 500 with you to buy a horse.
When you got there the money was
missing. There was a hole in your
pocket. A little later you paid a man
$40 by mistake for $2.''
Mrs. Bowser. l command you
to
Eyes, I know, but let's talk things
over. When we were at Niagara Fails
you left your wallet under the pillow
at the hotel, and the chambermald or
someone else took $50 of it. 1 d1dn' t
say you were a fool man and not to be
trusted with money, but of course
had my thoughts When we We're IN
Boston you left the change of $50
bill on the cigar counter and never
heard of it again. When you were at
the Chicago exposition you lost $50
out of your vest pocket"
Mr.. Bowser had been flushing req
and white by turns and trying to wilt
her by glare. The tables had been
turned. an he was fishing around for a
way to save himself
''Mrs Bowser!" he sternly asked.
''have you taken leave of your
Senses?"
st trust not"
you realize whom you are talking
to, do you?"
'HThat I am Mr.. Bowser-Samuel
Bowser-the Bowser and your hus-
band %
YOUR attention to some further acts of
reprehensible carelessness on your part.
A few months ago you went over TO
the grocery to get a SIS bill changed
You got to talking politics with the
plumber and probably twisted the Dill
UP and threw it away. At least you
have never found it since. You took
off the pendulum to regulate the clock
and carried it off in your PICKET. Find
ing it there two days later, you threw 1t
at dog. You started downtown four
weeks ago to pay a gas bill of 81. When
you reached the gas office the money
was gone. I am citing a few little in
stances to prove that the carelessness
is not always on my side"
Mr.. Bowser was now rocking back
and forth on his heels and toes and
fairly gasping for breath. When he
could clear his windpipe he hoarsely
exclaimed:
by the horns of the 40 bulls. wo-
man, but do you know you have driven
me to the dead line? Do you know that
you have made such statements and
used such language to me that I can
never get over it?
"And only last winter said Mrs.
Bowser as she ignored his remarks.
you went down cellar fidding away
with the furnace for whole hour one
evening. The next morning after you
had gone the cook went down to put
on coal and found Sc that had dropped
from your pocket. You had not even
missed the money.
Mr.. Bowser raised his right hand in
a dramatic way and started in to say
something, but concluded that there
were no words in the English language
to express his feelings. He therefore
started down the hall and put on his
oEercoat and hat.
IF you go to the club, don't leave
your watch behind, you did three
or four weeks ago." called Mrs. Bow
ser after him.
He clinched his fingers and gritted
his teeth and passed out into the night.
He felt that he must walk and plan.
Mrs. Bowser had got him in a box, and
his prestige was at stake. He walked
for an hour. and his plans We're not
yet perfected when it began TO rain,
and he had to get back to the house
for shelter. As he was ready to open
the front door his hand went up to his
breast pocket fnstinctively. He carried
his wallet there. 1t was gone. 1t con-
tanned $14, and he was sure he had it
when he went out. With gasp Of
fright and a groan of dispair he leap
ed down the steps and ran over the
route he had taken in his meditations
No wallet! He covered the distance
twice. No wallet. Some pedestrian
had picked it up. Slowly he made his
way homeward. Slowly he unlocked
the door and entered. He was sneaking
upstairs when Mrs. Bowser came out
into the hall and called:
Have you got back without losing
anything dear?''
II have lost my-walletw he
groaned in reply.
Where? When?''
Heaven only knowsi"
by John. but that's just like fool
mani? she said as she turned away;
though next minutes she was saying
to herself:
Poor Mr.. Bowser! He's got it,
d!"-(Copyrighted 1912. by Associ-
ated Literary Press