The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-18

other gentleman wearing a police uni
form may give him the collar, they
call it. if he doesn't hustle down those
front stepsi"
'-Then-then I can't see the short.
ba1d-headed man."
you may meet him On the street
tomorrow
Just so, ma am-just so. And if
do 1 will tell him that he is no gen
tleman."
Mrs Bowser was softly laughing to
herself as she returned a second time.
There were no signs that MI. Bowser
had awakened during her absence and
tried to turn over and gone to sleep
again. His was the sleep of an easy
conscience. No nations gold pieces
had bribed him to place an internal
machine on board an ocean liner. The
cat had ceased toying with the watch
chain and seemed to be meditating on
the adventures of life when the door
bell tingled again. 1t was a tinkle in
stead of a ring, showing that some
timid person was on the outside of the
front door, Again Mrs. Bowser went
down the hall. When she opened the
door it was to confront a youth with
a pale and anemic face. He had long
hair, long ears and a long nose. He
had a very humble air about him and
the first words he uttered showed that
he did not have an aggressive spirit.
said.
about what?" asked Mrs. Bowser
''You didn't come to steal the rug, did
you?'
a paper here, which I wish you to sign.
If you will let me come in where there
is more light"
but I will mott" she responded.
what are you carrying around a
paper for at this hour and asking folks
to sign?"
81 beg your pardon, ma'am-I sin
cerely beg your pardon. 1t is a paper
drawn up by the Peace Commission
praying that the war be stopped. 1
have been employed to circulate it for
signatures. 1 would not have disturb
ed you if it had been any other pa
per"
IT'S probably the only paper I
sensical. You and your crowd ought
to know that you can no more stop
the war than you can stop the water
pouring over Niagara Falls
But you will pardon me ma am,
when 1 beg to differ with you. If
every woman in America, with a good
many men, would sign this paper we
should soon have peace
But I won't sign and neither will
any other woman who has got sense
enough in her head to get on and off
a street car. It's none of our war and
! is none of our business to butt in
| But the man of the house.
IF he were home he would prob
ably throw you into that heap of snow
down there. We think alike on this
question. Don't step on your own feet
that way or you will get a fall down
the steps,"
Mr.. Bowser had not heard nor
moved. Two villains could have en-
| tered the hall and abducted Mrs.
Bowser and he would not have heard.
And the cat had ceased to mediate
and gone to sleep as well. The two
made a picture of contentment which
would have been applauded at the
movies
| 1t was a quarter to nine when the
next ring came. Mrs. Bowser did not
stamp her foot in Vexation. She rather
enjoyed the adventures. This time she
opened the door to a sleek, slick look
| ing man, who lifted his plug hat with
a smile and explained:
| 'I called to see your husband.
Then you'll have to call again. she
replied, but not with the emphasis she
| had used on previous occasions.
Il don't think 1 could call any other
evening" he continued. THE matter
/ is this and perhaps you can attend to
/ it yourself. You are Mrs. Bowser,
aren't you?"
Yes, SIR
when your husband got off the
car two hours ago a greenbaek drop
ped from his pocket and 1 picked it
up and walked along. 1t is a $40 bill,
| Mrs. Bowser, and my conscience has
so troubled me that 1 have come here
| to restore it. l have a sick wife at
home and she is in great need of food
and medicine and warm fire. This
1 bill will buy all of them, but when
went home full of joy and told her
how l acquired it she said that it must
not be-. She would rather die than to
| know that 1 was a dishonest man. 1t
was hard struggle on my part, but
conscience triumphed and here 1 am
and here's the BILL
| Mrs. Bowser took the bill and
scanned it. 1t needed but one glance
to tell her that it was a Confederate
with:
And what do you expect for your
honesty, sir?"
"'Why-why,' he stammered, 81
thought, being as 1 had a sick wife
who needs comforts that you might be
moved to hand me over 81 or SO and
thus relieve my great anxiety. l don't
put it on the ground of my honesty,
but because of my sick wife. walked
about five miles to find that it was a
Mr.. Bowser who dropped the bill and
to restore it to his hands"
Mrs. Bowser did not return the bill
With it clenched in her fingers she
brushed past him out on the steps and
said:
You seem to be a good walker. Let
me see if you can disappear around
the corner before that policeman up