The broad ax., 1915-07-03

that was the limit OF his experience
After chewing the rag for three or four
minutes he growled:
"You can stay home II you Ike, but
am going. You would probably spol
our day for Us II you went along. Tell
the cook to have me bit Of breakfast
ready soon after O'Clock"
At z O'Clock next morning Mr.. Bow
ser was at Morton's wharf and found
the rest Of the party already there.
During the night he had dreamed Of
being drowned in each of the seven
Deas, but this fact had not lessened his
assurance that he could run q motor
boat The owner OF the boat may have
had his doubts on that point, for he
asked Of him:
"Have you had much experienceT
"only about fifteen years." was the
reply.
THAT ought to be plenty. You see
you manage the engine from the
wheel"
"Sure I see. Don't waste any breath
on me-"
An got into the boat, Mr.. Bowser
took the wheel, and the owner started
up the engine. Mr.. Skilfs wife was a
large, portly woman with a squint in
one eye. The other eye hadn't squint.
but ferocious glare She didn't like
| the looks of Mr.. BOwser at first sight,
and she was ready to pick fuss with
him on the slightest excuse. She got
that excuse within FIVE minutes. A
/ ferrybOat came out OF a slip and whis-
tied for the motorbOat to get out OF
/ her way. Mr.. BOwser was willing
enough to do so. He turned the wheel
70 port and then to starboard and was
still turning back and forth when Mrs
Skill cried out:
"See what the idiot is doingI He'll
have us under the bow Of that ferry
boat In a minute more Take him away
from the wheel, some Of your
Before he had released the wheel
Bowser had escaped a collision by a
margin Of about two feet and the cap
tain Of the ferryboat had told him what
he thought Of him and also OF his IA
Their and grandfather. When the dan
ger had been averted Mr.. Bowser smil-
ingly said in excuse:
II got a cinder in my eye and could
not see for a moment"
IF another cinder comes along II
may mean a broken neck for you" re-
piled the woman with the ferocious
eye.
Mr.. Bowser wabbled the boat along
In a tolerably straight course for about
a quarter Of a mile. Then he had to
look out for an ocean liner coming In
from the sea. Should he pass to port
OF starboard OF her? He didn't know.
The fact that he didn't know put him
In a sweat. He finally decided to go to
port Of her. Then he decided on the
contrary. In the midst Of his pertur-
baton Mrs. Skill screamed out:
Hes at IL again. Well be drowned
this time for surer'
The three men jumped for Mr.. Bow
ser as before, and there was another
struggle 10 wrench the wheel from
him In the midst Of IT the engine
stopped working, and II the big liner
hadn't altered her course by-tTwo OF
three points there would have been a
smash and five people drowned. AS
II was the mOtorboat was half filed
with water from the wash of the
steamships propeller.
You old. liar, but you told me you
could run a motorboatT' exclaimed Mr..
SKIN.
HE couldn't run a plank" added
Mrs Skill
I'VE ought to throw him overheard"
said the two men In chorus:
Mr.. Bowser rose up from the bottom
Of the boat where he had been floating
around and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen told you
that could run a motorboat think
got the thing mixed up. I should
have told you that could run a Mis-
sissippi river steamboat, and I'll stick
to 1t that can. do not ask to take
the wheel again"
But If you are to go along with us
this Is the end OF the trip for me-" half
shrieked the owner Of the ferocious
eye
''Our lunch Is all water soaked" an
nounced one Of the men.
"And the tackle and bait have been
washed overheard" added the other.
After staring at each other for a mo-
ment Mr.. Skill solemnly said:
"Bowser, you have got to go. 1
think can start the engine, and we
VIII land you over there"
Mr.. Bowser hadn't a word In reply,
and ten minutes later was landed In
the woods Of Staten Island he didn't
get away, however. without something
more from Mrs. Skin. She scrambled
ashore after him, saying.
. 'sThat half baked idiot has spoiled
the day for all Of rs and I don't pro
pose to let him 80 so mighty easy.
Come on, the rest OF you"
Mr.. Bowser started on the run as
Mrs.. Skin picked up a club and before