The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-05

low Mr.. BowSerS strange exhibition,
but finally gave it up as one OF those
weak spots which now and again ap-
pear in mems characters.
Mr. Bowser returned with a faint
smile around his mouth and a twinkle
in his eyes, but he was subdued and
the rest of the evening passed off
without alarm.
Next day Mrs. Bowser had shop
ping to do in the afternoon, but be-
fore starting out she said to the cook:
Maggie, 1 want you to keep your
eye on the cat while 1 am gone"
rs she going to run away, mum? ?"
Il don't think SO, but she may be
carried away"
by the cat and dog wagon, mum ?"
Il can't say, but somehow 1 feel that
something will happen to her unless
she is watched. If Mr.. Bowser comes
home unexpectedly make an excuse to
keep your eye on him."
why, mum, Mr.. BowSer wouldn't
take the cat away, would he?"
well, he was most too affectionate
to her last evening. AT any rate, keep
your eye on tho cat-and Mr.. Bowser."
At three o'clock that afternoon two
or three things happened at the Bow
ser mansion. The cook had kitchen
utensils to scOur, and found that she
was out of sand soap and obliged to
go to the grocery for a supply. The
Bowser cat awoke from a nap on the
sitting room rug and passed out into
the backyard and the sunshine to try
a little promenade on the fence to
get the kinks out of her legs.
The cook was at the grocery and in
quiring for her soap and accepting the
clerks invitation to attend Il picnic
with him at the same time when Mr..
Bowser drove up to the deserted home
with a farmer in his wagon. 1t took
him but a minute to rush through the
house and find Mrs. Bowser and the
cook absent. From a rear window
he saw the dear old cat on the al
ley fence, and hustling back to the
wagon he had the horses gallop
around to the alley gate.
With an empty potato sack on his
arm and smile of hypocrisy on his
lips he approached the innocent vic
tim of his wiles with:
Kitty, kitty. Come here, old cat.
am going to give you g. little vaca-
ton. That's right. Show your trust
and confidence in one who. has new
er betrayed you'll"
With that he dropped the feline into
the sack and made for the wagon. and
two minutes later Mr.. Bowser, the
Bowser cat, and the farmer and his
wagon were out of the neighborhood.
The cook had intended to make d
wo-minute job of buying the soap,
but, of course, it was twenty minutes
before she got back to the house. Her
mind being on that picnic, it was hall
an hour more before she looked
around for the cat. Grimalkin was
gone. Nor could an hours hunt re-
veal hide nor head of her.
When Mrs. Bowser reached home no
securing had been done. No prepar-
atoms for dinner, but nothing but
tears and signs and reproaches had
taken place.
The cat-the cat is gone, NUM-
was the doleful news communicated.
But 1 told you to keep your eye
on her"
But 1 had to go to the grocery for
soap"
Are you sure Mr. Bowser didn't
come home" asked Mrs. Bowser.
He might have come while L was at
the store, num-"
Mrs. Bowser looked for the cat for
tho next half hour, and not finding
or hearing of her she gave it up Her
mind was made up as to the fate of
the cat, however. and the policy that
she was 20 pursue was adopted.
Mr. Bowser came home at the usual
hour and he found Mrs. Bowser's
attitude the same as usual. He looked
at her closely. and made up his mind