The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-19
B0WSER'S MOTHER-In-LlW.
She Is III. and He Goes to Chirk
Her Up.

Mrs. Bowser was in tears.
The cook was in tears.
The cat was In tears.
When Mr.. Bowser reached home
and saw the fearful state Of affairs,
but Mrs. Bowser handed him q tele-
gram.
1t was from her mother, and read
that the old lady was very ILL.,
by heck!" said Mr.. Bowser.
"Ain't 1t awful" sobbed Mrs. Bow
"It surely u.s." he replied, and mag
unanimously added:
"She's my mother-in-law, OF course.
and she never visits us except TO make
things uncomfortable for me, but III
forgive her. I'll not only forgive her.
but as you are not feeling we'll I'll run
up to Concord and see just how she Is
and chirk her up all I can"
'You-you don't mean it," gasped
Mrs. Bowser in the greatest astontsh-
ment.
why, of cour: do! Just throw
a few things in the satchel for mo and
I'll take the night train up. I haven't
been out Of town for a year. and I
shall rather enjoy a short trip
But I'm afraid you can't sleep on
the sleeping car
iii sleep like top. It's all set
tied that I co."
And two hours later Mr.. Bowser
was a passenger aboard the night
train enjoying the feeling that a good
action always brings happiness. Ev-
cry berth in his sleeper was taken,
and there were several children
or three from the start. and before
the train had gone fifty miles he was
gratified on hearing one mother say
to another:
Nov there's a man who makes his
home and his whole neighbOrhOod
happy. I don't believe that anything
ever puts him out, or that he has
cross word for anybody"
Mr.. BOwser was in the habit OF
tumbling Ito bed, rolling on his back
and falling asleep within five minutes.
AS soon as he strikes the bed the fam
lily cat, rats and mice walk about on
tiptOe, and the grocery wagons, butch
er carts and fire engines never pass
his house II it can be avoided. The
small boy who would dare utter one
"coo-ee" in front of his house after
10 o'clock at night would realize that
he was taking his life in his hands.
He got into his berth in the sleeper ex-
pecting the usual results to follow, but
somewhat to lis surprise they didn't.
AS is usually the case, two or three
men were not yet ready to turn in.
and they began discussing politics.
Livery WOTO was duQlOlc from emu TO
end OF the car. For about ten min
utes Mr.. Bowser wondered over their
impudence. For five more he was
amazed at their disregard for the
rights Of others. Then he jumped to
the conclusion that 1t was a personal
matter, and he called the porter and
said:
This is the sleeping car. have
gone to bed to sleep. Those men must
shut up or get out!'
Eyes, sah," replied the porter, and
he went off about his business instead
Of delivering the message. He had
been on a sleeping car long enough to
know that twenty-three people had no
rights in case the twenty-fourth didn't
feel sleepy. The discussion continued
for ten minutes. Mr.. Bowser pOked
his head between the curtains Of his
berth and exclaimed:
Are you fellows going to keep that
chatter up all night? How does it
happen that you didn't take the hog
train"
There was an exchange Of cour-
tesies. The language was vigorous.
Mr.. Bowser was derided and defied.
but his dander was up, and he called
the porter and conductor and insisted
to strenuously on his rights that the
political discussion came to an end.
As a wind-up, however, Mr.. Bowser
was called a crank, kicker, and a
cheese-head, and was advised to go off
had been seven or eight minutes of
comparative quiet and his eyes were
closing in sleep when a man in the
opposite berth began to snore, and
pretty soon the snore was ornamented
with a gurgle.
by the great horn spoon. but that's
got to stop!" exclaimed Mr.. Bowser as
he sat up and poked his head out.
"Here-you over there-stop that in
fernal baz-oo of yours! Porter, come
here and rouse up that critter across
the way!"
The "critter" was reused. He got
in two more snores and three long
drawn groans before the dig in the ribs
broke in on his slumbers. Then he in
dignantly demanded to know who had
dared to disturb him.
you were onoring," explained MI.
BOwser.
well, what Of it? Is it any business
of yours?"
You bet it is! If you want to make
a hog Of yourself get off and take the
stock train!''
The jaw lasted ten minutes and as
two-thirds Of the passengers sided with
Mr.. BOwser, and as the SHORES dimin-
ished to signs and gasps he felt that
TTWME