The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-11
Love and a
Laundry Check
The Way Two Lovers Became
Reunited.
By MABEL D. CALHOUN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."

| before DiXic'S dancing nOOIS ike
will-o -the.wisp Of the daytime. Sud
denly he dug his knees into Dixies
shoulders. and as she sprang forward
Chris leaned over and caught the fy.
Ing paper with a practiced hand. Then
he scanned it closely and uttered a
long Grawn whistle.
Plainly 1t was Chinese laundry
| check and represented to Its own
or a necessary article Of wearing ap'
parel that probably lay unclaimed In
the wash house Of some moon faced
Celestial.
A laundry check found on the side
walk In town Is common occurrence.
A laundry check discovered in an OBJ
scurc canyon in the desert regions OF
Arizona becomes a matter for cOnsid.
cradle interest, especially II one has
just convinced himself that this par.
ticular canyon has never been trOd by
the foot of civilized man.
There isn't a Chink laundry within
fifty miles. or I'm sinner! And was
sure Id struck u new trail, and after
naming that gulley and all to find
this!"
Hours afterward when he rolled
dustily up to the bunk house and turn
ed Dixie over to the friendly prOffercd
services OF Dutchy Fink there was
some comment on his extended alb.
sence.
"Wherc's the crlttcr?" asked Hen
dcrsOn, making room for his cOmradc
at the table and passing Webb's cup
to be filled.
Dead" replied Christopher, his
strong white teeth biting deep into
hunk Of corn bread. Il followed the
trail clean of the range into the sand
and cactus and then I missed 1t. Aft.
or awhile saw buzzard high In
the mir, and l guessed what had hap.
pened, SO I followed and found the
critter under twisted cottonwood"
"Dead?" questioned Peters.
almost. OF course I couldn't leave
her that way with that dcvilish buz'
card hanging around. so"-hc paused
for another draft Of coffee.
80 you shot her. Christ"
"Yep, and then l shot the buzzard."
They laughed indulgently. "You al
ways was soft hearted. Chris" com.
mentcd Peters. filling his pipe. Who'd
stop to bore u strayed crittcr after
chasing her twenty miles,"
II would" said Chris in a voice that
indicated he was weary Of the topic
"Any you chaps got baccy"
He deftly rolled cigarette In his
lean brown fingers and drew II light
from IIcnderson's smoke. Which one
Of you fellows Is wearing billed shirts!'
he asked lazily.
"Not guilty. they cried in chorus,
and Peters continued. "Thcy amt q
chap had nerve enough to sport billed
shirt on the Three Forks outfit-not
since Iinky Fleming was took for Z
ghost and greascr shot him dead
right through the billed shirt"
"Since then billed shirts has been
looked on like sudden DEATH" put IN
Henderson gravcly. NO. sir. ther>
amt nobody on Little Forks wearing
billed shirts. Why you ask. Chris"
Anybody know where there's {
Chink laundry" demanded Chris %
tiently.
IL expect there's one in Tucson
suggested Peters. Seems like dream
Il remember shooting up a Chinl
laundry there. That was long tin:
ago." he added hastily.
Then there amt a Chink laundry
nearer than Tucson" said Chris.
"IIow about Cactus Branch?" suE
ccsted Redwood from his quiet corner
Seems I recollect once when l wa
passing the Lone Horn-I was goinl
to the roundup at the Branch. yo'
know-some Of the wimmen folks ask
cd me would l leave a bundle at tn
laundry there and cit check for II
Being Of an obliging nature. Jest na,
urally said would. and I'm blame
II they didn't tote out big. squash
+, bundle. ana me expecting couple o
: collars or mcbbc q billed shirt. Mr.:
e Traymorc-you know Jim Traymore'
: running the Lone Horn now-Mr-
. Traymcre says not TO lose it. becaus
it's precious thing It's nothing bu
a fancy white dress her sister was e,
pecting to wear TO the schoolhous
$ dance, and the girl had set her heal
i It should be done up right and ncbcd
e but Chink must do il.
5 AS l was ropcd in for the job
- bows most polite and says will lea,
the check on my way hack. Well
he paused and eyed his companions d.
biously-'you all recollcct the rcundu
r at Cactus Branch"