The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-09-17

/ to read them In Il BOOK.
| "Your first adventure" went on Mrs.
! Bowser, occurred when you were four
years old. You swallowed a peach
stone, and your father had to ride sew
en- miles for a doctor. The doctor
came and didn't do anything. He said
you were the sort of boy that could
swallow dozen peach stones with
out the least injury. Anything very
thrilling In that, Mr. Bowser?"
Mr.. Bowser gave sniff in answer.
your second adventure came when
you were seven years old. You threw
stone and put out an old woman's
eye, and thereafter she had only one
the case for $50. Does the reader feel
chill go up and down his spine when
he reads Of the terrible circum-
stance?"
Mr. Bowser gave grunt in answer.
"Your third adventure took place at
twelve years of age You went fish,
ing In the family cistern and fell in.
Your mother was deaf and your father
away buying hogs, and for four long
hours you were foundering around in
the cold water and yelling at the top
of your voice before any one heard
you and rescued you from the awful
peril. You had a sore throat and an
earache as the result Are you hold
ing your breath as you listen, Mr. Bow
ser?"
Mr.. Bowser looked as if he was. but
would explode later on.
"In due time," continued Mrs. Bow.
ser, "you arrived at the awful age of
fourteen. You had safely passed
through the crises Of the measles and
the whooping cough. You were going
home from school one afternoon, walk
ing with freckled faced little girl,
| when you heard shouts of Mad dogv
You looked around and saw coming to-
ward you dog which seemed to be as
big as horse barn and to have teeth
a foot long. His eyes glared. The
foam from his mouth few over the
fences on each side Of the road. There
was no doubt that he meant to chew
you and little freckled face to strings.
You were prompt to act. You left the
girl and scooted for tree and climbed
to the top of 1t, leaving the girl to
climb another or tumble over fence.
The dog pursued you and let her go.
AS you climbed the tree he bit off both
your boot heels, but failed to infict
any mortal wound. After raving about
for half an hour and being unable to
reach you he walked away and began
chasing rabbit, and, Of course, you
descended and went home. You must
have recalled the circumstance many
times, Mr.. Bowser, and it must have
given you the nightmare score Of
times"
Mr.. Bowser had turned the color Of
red barn as he listened and now
made a move to get up. Mrs. Bowser
| waved him back into his chair and
continued:
"YOu were sixteen years old when
you played the hero again. Your school.
ma ans dress caught fire as she pass
ed too near the stove. and you threw
six pals of water on her before she
| was burned to cinder. In fact she
wasn't burned ut all. Your prompt
and heroic action didn't give the flames
a chance to raise even u blister. You
had saved her life, and it resulted in
your falling in love with her. You
| proposed marriage to her, and when
she refused you you threw yourself
into a snowdrift and tried to freeze
| yourself to death. 1t was too cold q
death for you, and you dug your way
out and went home. Doesn't 1t make
you cold, Mr.. Bowser, when you recall
the incident?'
The redness of Mr.. Bowser's face
had extended clear round to the back
of his neck, and the cat realized that
crisis was near at hand.
"Your last adventure" said Mrs
Bowser to the helpless man before
her, was in saving my life, and
action. had gone out In a boat ON a
creek about two feet deep. The boat
ran on a log and stuck fast. The thun'
der rOared, the lightning flashed, and
the waves ran mountains high. real
lied that l was doomed, and l was re-
peating IA prayer for mercy when yOu
came running out Of turnip field and
plunged into the raging food ant
brought me to shore. All wet and be
draggled as | was, you proposed mar
riage, and in my gratitude to you
accepted, and after keeping you Oh th'
fence between hope and despair fo
} over three years we were married. Il
is needless to add that we have lived
very happily ever since. That adven
ture does not exactly curdle tho blood
Mr.. BOwser, hut 1t surely gives ont
cold feet Is it your opinion that I
book containing these terrific adven
lures will be sold by the thousandT
Mr.. Bowser didn't answer, but ther'
was murder In his eye as he looked
the cat and then walked down the hal
, and put on his hat and left the house
AT the gate he met the publishing
house man, who soapily said:
"Ah, Mr.. Bowser, l was just comin
! In to have another talk with you.