The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-31
THE GRAND PROMOTER.
He Ffttingly Rewards His Old-Time
Iaundress.

Major Crofoot had just reached his
office the other morning and given
things a business look by laying a new
red penholder- and three blue blot
ting pads on the desk when there was
tfmid knock on the half-open door
and in walked a woman who in
quired: e@ e; &c. '~"
Excuse me. but is this Major Gro
The Major gaveHhers keen looking
over If she wasIone of his creditors
that was not his noffice; II she was
looking around for IAN investment
paying four hundred per cent it was.
He was still puzzling over her when a
smile came to her face and she adj
vanced and said: 0t +AIt'fd @s-
"Ah, but st is you-it certainly is
you! have found you at last
Madam, you have the advantage
of me- H &c
you don't pretend to say that you
don't remember me? Why, T. was
your laundress for two years. 4 am
Mrs. Riggs. For more than year
now 1 have been looking for YOU. I
had begun to fear that you were
dead" .G-s
The Major drew himself up and
started to brazen it out. He meant
to deny his name and identity. He
meant to assert that he had never set
eyes on her before, and if she had a
bill against him he would threaten
her with blackmaiI. Mrs. Riggs SEEM
decided to take chances, and so he
unbent and extended his hand and
exclaimed:
so it is my dear old laundress.
Well, well, but you are looking so
much younger and handsomer that
you must excuse me for not recog-
nizing you at first glance. Welcome,
dear woman-welcome."
Thanks" she replied. "I knew
you would be glad to see me. What
CT hriF
your shirts and collars around, and 1
can truly say 1 have missed you You
always had such a, soft smile and so
many kind words, and how often you
said to me as you came after your
laundry:
.''Chalk it down. my dear-chalk. it
down. I don't happen to have the
change today
weren't they. Days gone never to re-
turn"
yes replied the Major, wonder
ing if she had forgotten the amount
of his indebte dness.
'And I always chalked it down. Ma
jo-always. L knew that the day
would come when you could pay and
would do SO. 1 read integrity in your
face Folks used to tell me that you
were a scOundrel and hadn't an hon
est hair in your head, but I wouldn't
believe them. When your bill got I'D
to twelve dollars my sister said that
1 ought to threaten you with the law
but I only laughed at her When it
reached fifteen and you suddenly dis
appeared she laughed at me She
said that was what 1 got for being
fool. but 1 replied:
Mary, 1 am only poor laundress.
but I can read men, The Major is as
honest as the day is long. He is simply
hard up. He cannot be kept down for
long, however, and as soon as he makes
the money he will hasten here to paw
me-
That's what said, Ma jor, and though.
YOU have never been near me L believed
the reason was because you were dead "
Noble woman" exclaimed the Pro-
moter as he forced tears to his ewes and
held out his hand. cit makes nv heart
swell with gratitude to find one person
in this world who reads me Alright and
has confidence in me. Yes, 1 left you
when the laundry bill had reached the
sum of fifteen dollars, but why? 1 was
suddenly called away to South Africa
to see about a diamond mine. When 1
returned only a few weeks ago, count
ed out the money due you and put it in
my vest pocket and started for the old
familiar place. I had come within two
blocks of it when met the governor. and
as we shook hands he says:
That was a sad case, Major-a very
sad case
What is. it?' says I.
Your old and dear laurldress dropued
dead of heart disease two DAYS ago. and
we shall see her earth no more. Ma