The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-07-28

Mrs. Bowser spent her evening plan
she smiled sarcastically and now and
then she laughed aloud to herself. She
was going to test Mr.. Bowser, and
there was no doubt in her mind how
that test would result.
Nothing was said about economy
effect at once. Mr.. Bowser dearly
loves his porterhouse steak and his
roast beef and mutton. He likewise
smacked his lips over his Mocha and
Java coffee, and his potatoes are al.
ways mashed to his liking. Mrs.
Bowser went over to the butcher shop
herself that day, and she asked for the
cheapest and poorest roast of beef the
butcher had III stock.
"There is to be change, eh? smiled
the butcher.
YES" replied Mrs. Bowser. "Mr.
Bowser says am too extravaganza"
'He won't say 50 after eating this
as she went out.
Returning home. she said to the
cook:
MARY, l want you to empty the COT
fee grounds out on Il dish and put
them in the oven to dry. When it is
time to make the coffee for dinner use
the old grounds
Lord. ma'am." exclaimed the as
tonished cook. do you want to kill of
Mr. Bowser?"
mo. Mary; Just want him to see
that am not an extravagant wife.
You can also boil the potatoes with
their jackets on and not peel or mash
them. For sauce we will have stewed
prunes. Mr.. Bowser. as you know.
loves lemon pie. Lemon pie is very
eXtnvagant. You might therefore
make one Of cocoanut. | believe we
have part Of an old cocoanut in the
house. II 1t has a moldy taste 1t
won't make any difference. 1t is only
economy to use up old cocoanuts. That
is all. Mary. we will have for dinner
tonight. Oh, yes; you may put ON
some of that cooking butter in place Of
the print. Print butter is too extrav.
agant for these hard times" -4.
When Mr.. Rowser entered the hall at
dark for an hour He found the hall
almost as dark us the outside Of the
house. The flame OF the gas Jet was
turned down until 1t was no larger
than a buckshot. and after winking
and blinking for n spell he called out:
Mrs. Bowser are you here?"
YES" came her answer.
''Then why In thunder and blazes
don't you have this hall lighted as II
should he?"
She came forward, and without turn
ing up the light she said:
II knew | could save 3 cents worth
Of gas by keeping 1t low down be
tween 5 and q. Three cents is 3 cents
these hard times. and we are going t.
save it,"
Mr.. Bowser reached up and turnet
on full light and walked down int
the basement without even "humph!
1t was after he got seated ut the tabl
that he looked around and said:
"You must have expected three Q
four tramps to dinner this EVENING"
II have put economy into practice.
was Mrs. Bowser's reply.
ut strikes me that you have beel
making fool Of it," he grunted, bu
realizing that he had been caught IL
his own trap he resolved to make tn.
best of It,. He tried In vain for five
minutes to carve the roast. He might
as well have tried to carve an old boo
leg He held up a potato on forl
and looked at it for about fifteen sec
onds before he returned it to the dish
He did not fancy that kind. The bread
was stale and the butter was strong
and one mouthful satisfied him. III
swallowed gulp Of coffee and mad
such face over it that Mrs. Bowse
almost laughed aloud. The cocoanu
pie remained to be tasted and 1t fairl.
lifted Mr. BOWser out OF his chair. Iii
had a part to play, however, and HI
remained Mt the table until Mrs. Bow
ser had finished. Several times durin,
the meal she spoke OF the tender roas
and fragrant coffee and how they hat
saved ut least 81 on that dinner ant
had plenty that was good and palata
bic. She likewise thanked Mr.. Bowse