Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-04-12

had had on the previous evening. The
young men simply laughed and winked
at one another, They regarded it as a
firstrate joke on Mr.. Hay, who, despite
his many virtues, was not favorite,
on account of his habit of carefully
noting the amount of small advances
during the week and remembering
them on pay day.
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon
a ragged and freckled youngster in
quired for Mr.. Hay. When the book
keeper saw him his hair began to stir
at the roots. 1t was the washerwom-
ans boy.
"Well, sonny, what is it?" he asked.
she couldn't go to your house to-day,
! cause she's got pain in her back; an
| she's very sorry, an SOS me fadder,
cause he amt worllin' now, an he
needs de mum"
Having shot off this message in one
| breath, the boy vanished. This struck
Mr.. Hay as being very tough, but he
bore it with that patience which was
one of the finest points of his charac-
ter. In the afternoon, when the scrub
women began their labors in the big
| building Mr.. Hay engaged one of
| them for the sum of two dollars-half
of which was exacted in advance-to
come over to his house that evening
and set it in order. When he returned
| to the Office he was met by the senior
| partner, who said:
Here's telegram which came this
morning. Barney put it on my desk.
| It's addressed to you. / meant to give
it to you before, but it slipped my
mind"
Expect me Friday. Meet me 1915
at Grand Central if possible"
by Jupiter" exclaimed Hay, turn
ing pale; shes at home by this time.
| I'm ruined"
At this moment there was disturb
ance at the door. A woman of ample
dimensions rushed in. Wrath sur
rounded her like lurid atmosphere.
David Hay" said she, Il should like
to hear you explain this"
And she threw down a dainty white
handkerchief on Hays desk.
MY deac," he began; but the girl
who simply putters around interrupted
| him.
"Why, Millie!" she cried, addressing
the typewriter girl, that's yours!"
"Oh, it's yours, is it?" exclaimed Mrs,
Hay. Then perhaps these are yours,
too, Goodness knows they're too big
to be mine"
So saying, she laid pair of lady's
rubbers on Hays ledger.
NO, indeed,n said the typewriter
girl; those are Jessie's. She wears a
number five"
She had taken the articles from a
handbag as she named them, and, at
the last words, she flashed up the two
bottles which had been contributed by
the gentleman from Gravesend.
"And now, David Hay" she con-
tinued, II have but one word more;
all is at an end between us!'
She made a dramatic gesture, and
retreated toward the door. All the
girls were on their feet, and at this
juncture they cried out, with one
voice:
"We just went over there to clean
house"
"Clean house" echoed Mrs. Hay,
and she laughed Historically. well,
if you'd go over and clean it once more
the board of health would send you to
Jail. And it's where you belong, every
one of you"
With this shot, she made her exit.
For full minute nobody spoke. Hay
was ir trance. The girls were trying
to think of something mean enough
Finally Barney broke the silence.
Say, Haysey, old boy" he said
"we've done yer dirt, an we never
meant ter do it. But jes' pull yerselt
together. Me frien' Swipes IL fix this
ali right. He's been a detective at Co
ney Island, an dis kind o ting was his
speciality"
am happy to say, in conclusion, thai
satisfactory explanation has beer
made to Mrs. Hay, but not by the ex
| detective. HOWARD FIELDING.