The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-08

coma down, - Il - ~ easy for cat 20
descend as to go up, but tho feline re-
manned fast t.. the limb. Mr.. Bowser
Went 70 the kitchen after q stepiadoer.
As he brought II out and placed IL
against the tree two men came along
and halted. He had climbed han-way
up the ladde when three more came
along. Then came two boys. and ne
offered one Of them q nickel to 80 up
and bring the cat down.
I'm no cheap kIdv' was the reply.
IF go up after dat cat, she'll bite me.
and cat bites mean six months In de
he.R,s 1t re fifty cents OF aoe aa. rD
the eighth person who came along. ~
a cat is fool enough to climb tree. let
her be fool enough TO come down
again."
Men," said Mr.. -Bowser as he looked
around him. have you no hearts!
Would you deliberately permit the neip-
less to suffer-"
But if she il suffering. why don't she
come DOWN. protested three or A~''r
voices in chorus.
Because she's lost her nerve. 1
wouldn't nave believed that such cruelty
existed in the twentieth century,"
And Mr.. Bowser got 70 the top OF .ns
coaxed again. Tho cat was ten feet be-
yond him and refused to stir. He In
creased his offer to the boy to ten cents,
hut it was refused. He must either
climb the tree or back down. and the
reader knows that Mr.. Bowser IL man
who never gives up unless knocked I'M
conscious.
Say, you can't climb that tree!'
shouted one Of the crowd below as he
witnessed the preparations.
But I SHALL"
bet you ten to one you Come down
kerflunk! You are too fat and logy.
Better cut the tree down."
People had been coming along an
halted, and the crowd now numbered
score. OF the fifteen different remarks
| addressed to Mr. Bowser as his feet left
| the stepladder. not one was replied to.
He was too busy. His first move rip
ped his coat under each arm and bark
ed his knees, and the crowd yelled and
3; applauded. There was q momentar!
1 hesitation, and then he went ahead and
tore a piece Of cloth out Of one leg OF
his trousers and ripped two buttons on
his vest. The applause that followed
was enthusiastic and sincere. and one
Of the crowd followed it with:
''Well. II any one had told me that
climb, wouldn't have believed it,
| BY the time the crowd had number
ed fifty, Mr.. Bowser was almost within
reach OF the cat. His eyes were CLASSY
and his jaw set. He knew that Mrs.
Bower was watching him from q
sympathizer in the crowd, but he
would accomplish his object II death
overlook him In the doing Of 1t. He
now got q tcehold on a limb and
at him and jumped away, and as he
started back the limb broke. and
there was q Fourth of July yell from
the crowd below. Mr.. Bowser de-
scended like q load OF brick, but, for
ltunately, the stepladder was below to
and twisted around until he lay across
it on his stomach, and he heard far
off voices saying:
Somebody 90 to the drug store and
ring for an ambulance"
Didn't the old coon know more
than to climb a tree? Who know:
where he lives?"
"Dere's a woman comm out. and
Imebbe she owns him. called a boy
las Mrs. Bowser appeared; w
She soon settled all doubts Of hel
ownership. She asked assistance tt
lower Mr.. Boweer from the stepladder
and when he had been Strengthened
Iout as we'll as possible four men vol
He knew he was being carried, but HI
made no resistance. He knew wheI
Ithey bumped his back along the hal
floor. and left him in disorganizes
heap in the sitting room, and he plain
ly caught q voice which said:
Il Here he Is ma'am, and though HI
amt dead, he'll probably let cats alon'
after this! When 2 cat gets up a tree
!, it's her business to get down again
Lands alive, but he must be Quee
man to pay any attention to cats"
!. Little by little Mr.. Bowser recovere'
from the shock. He opened his eye
and saw the family cat and Mrs. Bow
ser watching and waiting. He sat VI
and decided on what he would do, an
as he crawled over to the lounge an
sat down on it he hoarsely whispered
''woman, do you think I'll ever for
give you II live to be a thousan
years old. Think of me, Mrs. Bowsel
Think of the ridicule and contempt.
1.-THE cat came down while the
: were bringing you In" she quietly re
piled.
| do you mean-mean'
l II mean that the cat came dowr
She could have come any time.
!. you haven't any papers to look over i
e the library and don't want to see you
lawyer about a divorce. you'd better 8
to bed"
: And Mr.. Bowser went.-(Copyright
1914, by the Mcclure Newspaper Syn
dicate.)
First Girl Tin the crush at the parade)-
= mercy! What a dreadful crowd. 1 wis
: now I'd stayed at home. don't you?
:. : Second Girl-"Certainly not: but I wis
a to goodness those others had. '-Bosto