The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-20
BOWSER'S WINTER BIKE.

B0WSER'S WINTER BIKE.
1t Had tho Same Tricks ~ His Sum-
mer Ono.
All through the dinner hour Mr..
Bowser was very quiet, but his face
wore that expression that comes to q
man who has made Up his mind to do
or die.
Hes goin' to blow up the house."
whispered the cook to herself as she
brought in the mashed potatoes.
HE always carries that look when
he's after my scalp" thought the cat.
aren't you we'll this EVENING""
asked Mrs. Bowser for the tenth time.
When they had finished and passed
up to the sitting room Mr.. Bowser
turned on her and said:
mo, Mrs. Bowser. am not we'll
| far from It'll"
But what's the matter"
! II am gradually being tied up in
| knots for lack Of exercise"
but presently there'n come q big
fall OF snow and you can use the
| snow-shove1."
lofty contempt. and then said:
MRS. Bowser, this is q winter
month, but there IL no snow on the
ground. 1t is a calm night. It il a
moonlight night 1t is an ideal
night"
"And well go to the theater."
II shall take an hours exercise on
the bike I have borrowed for the oc-
| casion.''
"But-but It's winter" she pro-
tested.
ITS better to ride in the winter"
"But-but-"
| '"The matter Is settled. You thought
I had given it up. but was only wait
! ing for bracing weather. Two or three
! months ago experimental a little
with the wheel. fell in love with 1t,
but didn't care to buy one just then.
am now going to experiment some
moro. In fact, expect to become q
| crack rider within q week"
| "You-you become q crack rider ?"
| And why not? What's the matter
with me?'
'swhen you tried the bike before
you were unconscious for an hour and
in bed for three days. You didn't
1 seem Toto
'Didn't seem to what ?" he shouted
as he showed back from the table. 1T
didn't quite get the hang of the
thing it wasn't my fault. No one can
ride bike right on. I've got the best
kind Of q chance to learn and propose
to take advantage OF 1t. I expect q
| fall or two, but what Of that? What
want is to harden this flesh down.
and all the doctors agree that there's
nothing like bicycle riding to do It.
In two weeks I'll be kicking up my
heels like a boy"
IL wish you would give up the
idea," said Mrs. Bowser. certain in her
own mind that q tragedy would follow
any experiment on his part.
That's just like you'll" he growled.
| ..If I get a plan to take little COM
fort you are always ready to head me
of. I propose to learn to ride. ana
shall begin in ten minutes. There IL
no more to be said.
Twenty minutes later Mr.. Bowser
had the machine out on the highway:
He peeled of his coat and vest, tied
strings around the bottom Of his trou-
sers. and had an air of confidence about
him which considerably puzzled Mrs.
Bowser.
you are not going to Jump right on.
are your she asked an he moistened
his hands.
You bet ami" he replied. IAN the
trouble with new beginners Is being
afraid of the machine. I'm going right
into that saddle as II I had been there
a thousand times before, and II you see
a cloud Of dust Ripping down the road
you can hold on to your hat with both
hands. Here I CO.
He went. He put his foot on the
step and made two hops and a jump.
and Mrs. Bowser saw cloud OF dust.
1t didn't go Ripping down the road.
however, but remained right there at
her feet 1t was a cloud raised by MI.
Bowser as the machine bucked him on
and then fell upon him. and it was
three or four minutes before he got up
with red face ana flashing eyes. and
said:
IT didn't expect to get the hang Of 1t
the first time, you know. but I'll get
there or die. Did 1t go down all Of q
sudden with me-?
VERY sudden
"I guess 1 didn't ilnd the pedals
quick enough. Stand back . little and
give me q show. Now. there's my foot.
and here's two hops and-and-'
Mr. Bowser didn't reach the saddle.
There was q wild hope In his heart
that he would, but he rose Just high
enough to fail forward, face down.
wards. and with a wild webble the ma
chine rolled him into the wayside ditch
and fell beside him.
You didn't do it, said Mrs. Bow
ser, as she advanced to help him up.
who kicked that hind wheel?' he
demanded. as he sat up ana combed
the dirt and grass out Of his hair.
mo one wasn't within - feet OF
you. You'd better let me hold the
wheel while you get on"
"Never-never! I've get out to gel
on that wheel myself. and by the chin
] Of my grandmothr fll do It or perish
right herei"
-Hr. Bowser. you know ron have