The Ordway new era., 1911-06-16

has plenty to do. anyhow-it really
Will be kindly act!"
Thereupon Mrs. Wilcox put up the
custer. tied on large apron and went
over to the Maltbys' house.
She encountered the children In the
side yard. Come" she said beguil-
ingly. I'll give all OF you q nice. hot
bath! Think how pleased your father
will be"
There was a concerted shrek from
a!l three. The baby threw down the
Kitchen spoon. with which he was dig
ging In the sand pile. and stared with
Indignant eyes as he howied. John
regarded her lercely.
MOI" he protested. I'VE don't want
no baths! We want to play! We had
baths"
Now. john" said Mrs. Wilcox with
severe frmness as she clasped his re-
bellious hand. 1T is wicked to hb!
You come right along and the others
will follow!"
Mrs. Wilcox had always felt that
Mrs. Maltby had never used enough
firmness to have perfect discipline
over her children and she rejoiced in
his opportunity to show them real
ilrmness. First. John. then Edna and
then the baby were put into the tub.
scrubbed within an inch Of their lives
and. still yelling. garbed in fresh
clothes. Mrs. Wilcox. disheveled. paint
ing and flushed. regarded her red.
faced. angry charges with satisfaction
"You will feel 80 much better" she
told them. soothingly. Nov. keep
yourselves clean!"
About two o'clock that afternoon
Mr.. Corcoran. who lived on the other
side Of the Maltbys from Mrs. Wilcox.
rang the bell.
"Hilda." she said. mechanically.
knowing quite well that Individual
couldn't understand a word. but 60
ing through the form. Il thought I'd
help you out and give the children
their baths.''
"Yes." beamed Hilda and departed
for her kitchen.
The three Maltby children drew to-
gether in a compact bunch and glared
af tAC uChahtiys Ato SOICoi hu
realized that the youthful human be-
ipgs. as well as pet dogs and puppies.
always act that way when bath Is
at hand. They hated water and 1t
couldn't be helped. She put on an in
smile.
I'm going to make you all nice and
Clean" she purred. shooing them up
stairs. From the mingled walls and
shrieks that assailed her ears she de-
tached the remark that they had been
bathed.
Mrs. Corcoran always did things
thoroughly and the Maltby children
had the baths of their lives.
Maltby got home late and tired that
night and at the dinner table reused
from his abstraction long enough to
realize that his youngsters we're un-
usually still. They were eating Ian.
guidly and were rather pale. Horror
his heart-were they coming
!own with any disease? Out Of his
.ninds chaos he remembered some
hing.
Before you go to bed" he told
them. "dad'll give you all nice. hot
i,ath and you'll feel better. What the
'lckens-"
He started in alarm at the bedlam.
Tohn precipitated himself at his father
from one side and Edna from the
other, while the baby wadded his
,racker desperately into his eye. They
al shrieked tremendously. Then John.
with angry tears rolling down his
lace, got the floor.
I'VE don't want no bath" he sobbed
helplessly. First Hilda she gives US
me when we get up and then Mrs
Wilcox stopped us building our fort
and washed us and then this after
noon Mrs. Corcoran she came over
md put US in the tub again an she
rubbed the skin off'n my shoulder. An
now you"
Maltby gathered his much washed
md weeping family into his arms as
le comprehended. The first laugh he
lad had that week crinkled his eyes,