The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-16
BoWSER'S POINTERS.
But Mrs. Bowser Does Not Need
Them.

1t was a beautiful sunset.
No one had stepped on Mr.. Bowser's
feet all day.
He found a seat in the car going
home.
No one had found fault with his
legs stretched across the aisle.
There were no stray hogs in the
front yard as he reached the house.
MI. Bowser ascended the steps with
a feeling that it was good to be alive,
and to have q wife and a cat to come
homo to. When Mrs. Bowser met him
in the hall and announced that the
new cook was incompetent and the
dinner was spoiled he kindly replied:
well. we won't worry about that.
I guess you can scrApe enough togeth-
er to make some sort of a meal"
There was plenty Of occasion to find
fault, but he ate what was set before
him and continued to smile. When
Mrs. Bowser told him that he must
order a ton OF range coal in the morn
ing he did not charge her with selling
when he saw the gas bill for the last
month he actually complimented her
on keeping down the family expenses.
AS they reached the sitting room he
found a hairpin on the floor. but he
had nothing to say about reckless ex-
travaGance and the poorhouse, and
when she told him that the clock had
stopped for want OF cleaning he beam
ed on her instead of asking whether
she had punched it with q crowbaf or
battered it with an AK. Mrs. Bowser
looked upon these signs as ominous
but she couldn't tell whether he was
going to spring . new fad on her or
suggest a spelling bee. In hopes to
avert a calamity she suggested . call
on neighbor. but he looked ut her
in a loving way and said:
Not this evening, dear. wish to
remain at home and take solid COM
fort. All the way home was saying
to myself that 1 had the incest wife
and the pleasantest home in tho
world
That was good of you" she re-
piled. delighted at the compliment and
forgetting her fears for a moment
Eyes. the incest wife and the pleas
ATTEST home, and want you to under
stand that both are thoroughly appre-
ciated. II all men were as well off AZ
I am there would be very little In this
world to complain OF.
Mrs. Bowser murmured her gratifi-
cation, and the family cat came down
stairs and rubbed against MI. Bow
ser's leg and said to herself that
before the evening was over. There
was silence for two or three minuteaI
and then Mr.. Bowser said:
IF you knew how to play poker,
we'd run into Green's some evening.
He says they have q little party there
almost every night. It's just . neigh
borly game, you know. with q penny
ante and . 2-cent limit. but still one
ought to know = little something
about poker to take . hand in.
Hasn't 1t ever occurred to you to
learn?"
"why. played poker with you ono
evening"" she replied with sinking
heart.
did. Ell? don't recall it,
And you got mad because won"
II don't see how you could have
won unless 1 dropped to sleep, but
we'll let that go. only hope you can
win this time. Where are the
cards?"
81 think would rather wait until
some other evening. IL you d.,n't
mind You haven't read the paper
yet"
Never mind the paper. and it vii.
be no trouble to explain things to you.
Draw up your chair. and I'll take the
first deal"
Mrs. Bowser looked at the cat and
sighed, and the cat looked back at
her and shook her head In q plying
way:
There's your hand" continued
Mr.. Bowser, land II you don't want
TO stand pat, ~ they call It. you can
discard and draw. II you have -
pair. retain them What do you do -
IL think I'll stand pat
"Oh, you will? That's either cheef.
or ignorance Of course, but wen zee.
Whats your bet7