The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-30

pass for old war veterans, and yet they
were not 10 years old when the war
closed. Some of them describe things
so glibly as to make your hair curl
Well. you passed yourself off for n
colonel and an old veteran and what
them"
why, one of the men, whose name
is Fowler, belongs to a Grand Army
post 1 didn't know ii then, but he
came in again this afternoon and said
that the post wanted me TO deliver
lecture or address on my personal adj
ventures during the war
And of course you declined?"
II did, but he wouldn't have it
that way. He said that a committee
would call here at O'Clock this even
ing to extend formal invitation. That
is what's bothering me. L can't accept
the invitation. and what excuse am l
going to maker"
You have acted like an IDIOT ex-
claimed Mrs. Bowser, and ] don't see
how you are to get out of il with any
credit to yourself. The idea of your
posing as a veteran and a colonel
Wild horses couldn't have dragged you
into the war had you been old enough
to go. and as for the coloneIcy, you
might just as well have claimed that
you put down the rebellion single
handed. 1 never heard of such foolish
audacity,
Madam, don't forget who 7 ami
cautioned Mr. Bowser, with consider
able asperity.
'tOh. L won't, You are Colonel Bow
ser, late of the tn. and you bear the
scars of seven or eight wounds received
while engaged in the business of saving
your country. l am proud OF you. col
nell"
have precipitated a crisis. if not cal
amity.
Well, can't see the committee" he
finally observed.
That is. you have decided not to
lecture on your personal experience
the fierce charg@the bursting shells
the ping of the bullets-the pale faces
of the dead and the groans of the
wounded?"
Yves, I have decided not to-
Your decision is probably a wise
one You might have got General Lee
commanding the Union army before
YOU We're through speaking. What do
YOU propose to say to the committee
what excuse will you make 90
Il tell you don't want to see the
committee at all. 1 shan't be here
when they call. 1 want you to receive
them and say that I was suddenly
called out of town
But they will come some other
time
Maybe not. You can do the best to
them. I'll get out pretty
soon and go over and hang around the
drug store for an hour. Will you
help me out of this scrape or not - I
II will make the best possible ex-
cuse to the committee she replied, !
and you let this be q solemn warning
20 you in future. As a hero of I hun
bred battles you are not a success"
Mr.. Bowser felt the hit and the hurt, ,
but he made no reply. He simply laid |
L away among the archives to be re- |
5enged later on. Ten minutes later he |
Vas out of the house, and Mrs. Bow |
ser was making ready to receive the |
call from the committee.
No one showed up. however. The /
minutes dragged away. and it finally 4
.ame o'clock, and she knew that Mr.. /
3owser was safe. He didn't happen to !
)e, however. He had been in the drug
tore about 10 minutes. talking poll
les with the druggists and quite elated |
'ver something. and he had just be
-un to tell funny story when the door |
opened and in walked the old veteran
nd two of his comrades. They were
he committee.
''Ah. there. colonel" exclaimed the