The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-04-08

II was ike all others OF MI. oOWser
schemes. all m0onshine, and after .
gesture Of despair Mrs. Bowser said:
LET us figure little"
"Of what use to dgureT replied Mr.
Bowser AZ frown came to bis face.
IAN schemes have to be figured on.
Dur druggist once told me that the
coarsest Of sponges cost about dollar
4 pound at wholesale. You proi0se to
put In fsfty tons into the hold Of = ship.
What will be the cost Of such . cargof
It will he 100000. according to my ng-
ures."
Mr.. Bowser's face turned red and bis
Jaw fell. but be let her 60 on.
How much water will dfty tons Of
dry sponges absorb7 cannot give you
the figures exactly. but It must be thou
sands Of barrels-enough to sink ship
a. II her cargo was lead"
'Hold on-hoid ON. right there!' ex-
claimed Mr.. Bowser. II told you the
sponges were there to absorb the water
as 1t rushed In"
But the water d In the ship. isn't
itr' asked Mrs. Bowser. what differ
ence does II make whether the water IL
In the sponses or sloshing around loose.
30 to say? The weight II the same. and
1t will BE- the weight that will sink her.
You must see the point"
II don't $50 anything Of the kind!'
was shouted. II have told you twice
over that the sponses would take mp
the water rs fast a. It came in
80 you have. my dear. but It will
make no difference where that water -
II 1t b In the hold. Fifty tons Of wet
sponges would at least be equal to
thirty Of forty tons Of iron. Can't you
see that. Mr.. Bowserr
II can see that you want to discour-
age me. n you always do" be mutt
tered. II have dropped upon a good
thing. 4 great thing, the greatest thing
ever ran up against. and You are try
Ing to knock II to pieces II had mar
ried the right woman
"But you didn't, Mr.. Bowsef. You
married the woman who won't let you
make q donkey Of yourself II she can
help It. You jump to conclusions In
stead Of stopping to figure little.
Why. man. you are thinking Of sinking
the crippled ship instead Of saving her!
The scheme must DO to keep the water
out altogether. II b the water that
fills the hold Of q ship and carries her
down."
Mr. B0wser sat in silence for time
and gritted Nis teeth now and then.
and by and BY he spoke.
II still believe In the plan Of the
sponges. but how would II do to put h,
nfty tons Of cork slabsl Cork viii NOT
absorb water to any extent; therefore
It viii keep the 6uA from rushing in.
Come to think Of II. perhaps that ID the
best scheme Of the two"
Mrs. B0wser smiled and appeared to
be thinking over the cork plan. and Mr..
Bowser was growing impatient when
she said:
do you think you could ind ship
owner who would 90 to the expense Of
buying either cork OF the sponges? In
time the sponges would rot and be
worthless and the cork would mildew
and decay"
He'd be Q queer man to let his ship
go to the bottom when she might be
saved" sulkily replied the man with
the great idea.
"But have shown you that the
sponses would only help to sink her.
and. a. for the cork. II there was
q great rent In her side the slabs
would surely noat out ~ well as POT.
tons of the other cargo. You must
see that for yourself. Mr.. Bower. II
! have not made 1t plain to you, then
consult some man whose common
sense you can trust. Men have got
rich through schemes, but they have
been practical schemes- You must
have common sense a. the basis
THAT II to say that lack common
sense. Mrs. D0wserr'
ut Is to say that your schemes are
visionary and impracticable. You get
thought and jump Instead Of taking
time to think Il well over. II isn't
late yet. and lst's go to the moving
pictures for an hour"
I'VE might zee q picture Of q ship
loaded with spenges o. cork going
down like lump Of lead" was the
reply as Mr.. Bowser walked down the
hall and left the house.
He was full Of chaSrin and vexatiOa.
and he wanted to work It Cd. He
therefore walked over to the family
butcher and opened the door and
shouted:
Jones. you are q liar and = swim
dler! Your meat II tougher than an
old rhinoceros. and there u more bone
than meat! Blast your eyes. viii
1 never trade . cents worth with you
ngain. and III send you to state prison
II canr'
Saying which. Mr.. Bowser immedi
ately felt better. and after hitting Z
stray dog . blow with his cane b.
walked back home and sat down ant
lighted his nrst cigar and remarked tt
Mrs. Bowser that all signs indicated {
| mild winter.