The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-05
B0WSER RIDES OUT.
And of Course Something Happened
to Him.


And of Course Something Happened
to Him.
When the cook came back from the
butcher shop with the steak for din
ner she said to Mrs. Bowser:
AN old woman in the shop told my
fortune"
How foolish
But I'm all in a tremble for fear It
will come true
What did she say?"
That the man worked for would
come home tonight and blow the house
up
Maggie. you are very silly girl.
Mr.. Bowser will probably sit and read
all the evening"
But IL he don't?'
IT will take care of him."
When Mr.. Bowser reached home at
the usual hour there was the broad
est. blandest and Juneist sort OF a smile
on Mr.. Bowsers face, and before Mrs.
Bowser could ask him a question he
called out in a CHEEKY voice:
Hey. old girl. but weren't you say
ing last night that you'd like to make
| a trip to Europe?"
Yes, I'd like to co." she replied.
| but you know"
Then get on your bonnet and We'll
START" he chuckled as he chucked her
| under the chin.
'What-what has happened?'' she
asked as she looked at him in a puz-
zled way
! He didn't answer, but laughed as he
went Waiting up and down with the
family cat close at his heels.
| Dinner was half over before Mr. Bow
ser's secret came out. He hadn't dis
covered new fall tonic nor bought
anything new in rat traps. For a
month or more, without giving himself
| away by as much as a wink, he had
been quietly investigating the merits
OF the hOrseless carriage. He hadn't
jumped to conclusions. 1t was only
| after weighing the pros and cons sew
| eral times over that he had made up
his mind that a horseless carriage was
good thing. It saved horses; 1t saved
| harness and horseshoes; it saved oats
and currycomb and horse-blankets. A
hOrseless carriage never had the collie
or poll evil. There was Just exactly
one hundred reasons why a horseless
carriage was better than a. live horse
and a detached carriage.
well. what of all this? Why, I'm
going to buy horseless carriage. of
COURSE"
You don't me an it,"
why not? We have long wanted a
horse and carriage. We need the fresh
air and recreation 1t will give us. More
than a dozen doctors have told me that
II didn't get out more my lungs would
CO."
But I'd never dare ride in a horse
less carriage!" he protested. please
| give up the idea. Your lungs are all
right, and I'm sure"
| Mrs Bowser," he interrupted, I'VE
are to have a horseless carriage. That
is. friend Of mine who owns one and
can be induced to part with 1t, is COM
ing around here with the vehicle in
about an hour. We are to try it, and
il pleased in every respect I shall give
him my check"
| And you are to manage the We
hicle?'
| IT am to manage. 1 haven't said a
word about it, but I've been out with
! the carriage on three different occa-
sions. 1 can manage it to perfection.
Craze q thing. It's q bright moonlight
night, and we'll take a ten-mile spin
and have lots of fun over it. Better
get yourself ready
| IL don't think I'll go. and I wish
you would give this thing up. II you
will I'll never say another word about
your other fads."
"Other fadsv shouted Mr.. Bowser. as
he fired up in an instant. Woman.
I've heard enough about the fad bust
| ness. One would think me a fool to
hear you talk. II It's a fad to buy a
$3.50 horseless carriage for $500. then it's
fad to buy meat for dinner. If you
don't want to go along with me this
| evening, then you can stay at home"
Butt don't want you to go. either"
she protested. "A horseless carriage is
a dangerous thing to trif1e with. You
can't have had much experience, and
| i feel certain there will be an acci-
dent Don't be angry with me. ana
don't run any foolish risks"
Mrs Bowser." he said. after a long
look at her. 1--WE lived for forty years
without a guardian, and I object to
one now. 1 shall try this horselesE car
riage this evening. l shall buy 1t.
shall make daily use Of it. There is no
need of any quarreling. You car take
your outings in a rocking-chair and die
of consumption
At that moment the Vehicle arrived
and Mr. Bowser vent out to meet it.
Bowser had not appeared he was told
that she was not feeling well. He
seemed bit relieved at the news. and
added:
II guess you had better take me
along with you this evening. I don't
think anything will get out Of order
but you'll have more confidence In
yourself IL I'm along"
"Oh. I've plenty OF confidence" re-
piled Mr.. Bowsef. I'm just going tt
scoot up and down in front Of the house
for awhile. Mrs Bowser is little biz
Il shy Of the carriage, but when she looks
Iout OF the window and sees me gliding
1along she'll ut over her nervOusneso.'