The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-12-28


ing else
! Mr.. Bowser rose up and went to n
back window to look out. He never
was so tickled in his life before. but
he must keep il to himself. After
minute he came back and sat down and
asked:
IL heard some men talking about the
IS o s the other day. but / couldn't
make out what it was or is. Is it
bird or animal, Mrs. Bowser?"
why, a bird. of course" she an
swercd. 1T Is some such bird as the
condor of Peru. but curiously enough
| II has one long wing and one short
one. Thus when it flies 1t flies I'm cir
Gle. and to get anywhere 1t must de-
scend to the ground and make use Of
! its legs to get over the ground. Its
legs are weak and tottering. and as 1t
walks 1t utters cries of IS o S. Al
though the strange bird Is native of
Java. think | have heard its cries
several times right here. They are
monrnful beyond description. They
make you think of II poor orphan child
wandering In the dark aud expecting
to he devoured by Il panther at any
| moment. What Is the matter with you.
Mr.. Bowser?''
IL feel too full" was the hesitat-
| ing reply "S1ebbe it's il case of indi-
gestion.''
1t was a case of wanting to laugh
and holding back OH it like man
holding to the reins of IL runaway
| team. but Mr.. Bowser stopped the
team by great effort and huiubly
asked:
There is the mon ami. Mrs. Bow.
ser. / don't remember that ever saw
one.'
But / have. 1t was when | was a
little girl. however. There has not
been one seen in this country In
great many years. and | believe the
thing is extinct. ! was out in the
woods gathering wild flowers. and
suddenly ! heard a gruff voice speak
ing to me. I thought 1t was man
ard looked up with IL start of alarm.
1t was no man. Mr.. BOwser. but 1t was
mon ami. After | got home and
told my father about it lie said it was.
and my Sunday school teacher said 1t
was. and the preacher said it was. and
nll agreed that | had had n narrow es-
cape. for the fling did not attack me-"
But how did it lOoli?'' asked Mr.
Bowser.
ut had the general appearance of Il
monkey. But it had six legs. two tails
and four eyes. Its two front legs were
like human arms and were armed with
six claws on each foot. Its eyes shone
Ike Goals of fire. and its teeth were as
long as Il finger. 1t was dreadful
looking animal, Mr. Bowser. ana 10
wonder that little girl. only ten years
old. was almost frozen with terror. /
screamed. | shrieked. | called upon
my father and my mother ana my
brother Zen TO save nc. | should have
called upon you. but ] had not met you
then. The thing screamed when l
screamed. it shricked when shrieked.
Then it began TO run backward in a
circle around me. l saw that three of
the legs were so constructed that 1t
could run backward as well as it could
run forward with the other three. 1t
kept up its running backward for sew
|
and began to run forward. 1t was hOr-
rible. Mr.. Bowser, TO hear its teeth
clicking together and to see those four
eyes emitting sparks of fire."
"But get along to the end" said Mr.
Bowser. who half believed the story in
spite of himself
''Thc end Is very near. my DEAR" re-
piled Mrs. Bowser. "'rhe thing came
closer and closer and was preparing to
spring upon me when tainted away.
What else could Il poor girl do? When
recovered consciousness the terror
had departed. ana | WAS Unharmed.
He had simply united my sunbonnet
ana made or with It. He probably
waited 1t for his Santa Claus gift to
his own little girl. That's all. Mr..
Bowser. / notice that you are getting
uneasy"
Yes" he answered as lie rose up.
IL think | will go over to the drug
store and get few troches for my
throat. Ii feels rather stuffed up
When Mr.. Bowscr got OFT to the gate
he leaned oil il and laughed until the
tears came 20 mis- eyes. He had caught
MTs. DpWSeT Ut HIST, Hilu ic tuNSt tcil
the druggist about it. He laughed all
the way over To the store. ana when he
entered be had such broad grin on
his face that the man of drugs ex'
claimed:
why. Bowscr, what has happened?"
: And when Mr.. Bowser tcld him all
they laughed and chucilcd and pound
: ed on the counter in unison. and the
= druggist said:
E "Bowser, you are great. You are
: simply immense. by George. by
A George. you have done nobly!"
: And about the same time Mrs. Bow
ser was wiping the tears from her eyes
= caused by laughter and saying to her
i self:
T poor Mr.. BOwser. If Il wife didn't
I Lot h.