The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-21


do you mean to insult me?"
And 1 think most other folks would
say the same
.1Oh, you do. Ell? Well, now, let me
tell you something. First, I'll never
forgive you for this deadly insult; sec
ond, III prove to you within 20 minutes
that you don't know as much about
human nature as that cat does about
playing the piano. Woman, I'm going
to bring you off that pedestal with a
thumpi"
Didn't you ask me to tell you hon
estly what I thought she queried.
Never you mind that. I'll prove
that you are the only human being
in this town without a heart I'm go
ing to put on a suit of old clothes
and walk around the block and ask
three or four people for charity. you'll
see whether my face and voice give me
away as a liar and deceiver."
Il wouldn't do such a foolish thing"
she protested. Perhaps spoke a lit
tie
Yes, you spoke q IttleI'' he inter-
rupted- You spoke enough to say
that everybody would take me for
liar, and we are going to see about
it. Don't trouble yourself to get up.
Just sit right where you are and be-
heve that everybody else in the whole
world but you is a fraud. 1 have said
to a tale of real misfortune, and now
for proofs!''
Mrs. Bowser wouldn't believe he
would put the matter to a test, but
10 minutes later he came downstairs
in an old outfit and passed outdoors.
The rear view she caught of him was
trampish enough for any tramp. He
was pacing slowly around the block
to get his nerve up when he met
benevolent-looking old man with a cane
who was on his way to prayer meet
ing and stopped him to pour out his
tale of woe. He hadn't uttered dozen
words when the cane was raised alOft
and the old Benevolent shouted:
You go on. you rascal. or I'll call
the policei I believe you are the man
who stole our wheeIbarrow yesterday"
Mr. Bowser went on His theory about
physiog nony and infections had received
q shock, but he was not discouraged He
stopped half way around the block anu
rang the basement bell of a house. The
cook ans wered it after a minute, and he
full in the light and that his infections
were all right as ne said he hadn't .Iad
anything TO eat for two days.
You old fraud, I'll holler for master
If you don't skip IiyelyI' exclaimed the
cook as ne hoped for cold victuals-
But, my dear woman, can't you see
that 1 am no tramp" ne sweetly queried.
Cant you tell the difference"
No, nor don't want tor she shouted.
again, you'll want wings to get away"
That was shock number two, but Mr..
Bowser went six doors up the street and
called another cook to the door and said.
Il am an unfortunate man and not a
tramp, and may 1 kindly ask"
You can kindly take yourself off, she
interrupted
But I am hungry and have no place
to lodge
Then go to some charity. don't like
your looks nor your voice. Be off with
your
Mr. Bowser had found three cold and
cruel hearts-hearts like Mrs. Bowser's,
but he determined to try again. He rang
a front door bell this time and it was
the owner of the house who appeared IN
answer and exclaimed:
What, you cheeky old fraud are you
hack again.
s'TIl bet you are, but I'll get you a job
in jail If you don't dust out of this. Away
with you
But, my dear sir. can't you tell the
dir
the collar and ran him down the steps and
liar and a jailbird. Five minutes later
Mrs Bowser heard the front door softly
open, and she looked UP to see Mr.
Bowser squeeze himself into the hall and
sneak softly upstairs. She waited whole
hour for him to come down but he did
not appear. Then she turned out the
lights and went up to find him in bed ard
fast asleep--(Copyright, 1912, by the Asso-
Gated Literary PreSS-l