Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-02-25
Love and a
Laundry Check
The Way Two Lovers Became
Reunited.
BY MABEL d. CALHOUN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
"Well-I'll-be-ilg gered."

square of yellow paper that fluttered
before Dixle's dancing hoofs like
wiIl-o -the.wisp of the daytime. sud
denly he dug his knees into Dixics
shoulders. and as she sprang forward
Chris leaned over and caught the fly
ing paper with a practiced hand. Then
he scanned 1t closely and uttered n
long drawn whistle.
Plainly Il was Chinese laundry
check and represented TO It's own.
or n necessary article OF wearing up.
parcl that probably lay unclaimed IN
the wash house OF some moon faced
Celestial
A laundry check found Oh the side
walk In town Is common occurrence.
4 laundry check discovered IN an Oh
scure canyon In the desert regions OF
Arizona becomes 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 Chink laundry within
fifty miles, or I'm a sinner! And was
sure I'd struck new trail. and after
naming that gulley and all to find
this
Hours afterwurd when he rolled
Justify up to the bunk house and turn
ed Dixie over 10 the friendly proffercd
services OF Dutchy Fink there was
some comment on his extended alb
sence.
where's the crItter:" asked Hen
derson. making room Cor his comradc
at the table and passing Webbs cup
TO be filled.
Dead" replied Christopher, his
strong white teeth biting deep Into
Il hunk of corn bread. II followed the
trail clean off the range into the sand
and cactus and then missed II. Az
or awhile saw buzzard high In
the air. and guessed what had hap.
pened. so followed and found the
critter under twisted cottonwood"
"Dead" questioned Peters.
almost OF course couldn't leave
her that way with that devilish buz
Yard hanging around. so"-he paused
for another draft of coffee.
$50 you shot her. Chrls?'
"Yep, and then shot the buzzard.
They laughed indulgently. You al
ways was soft hearted. Chris" com
mented Peters, filing his pipe. Who'd
stop to bore a strayed critter aftci
chasing her twenty miles,"
tsY n tl.,.t., t.. hul
indicated he was weary Of the topic.
ANY you chaps got baccyT"
He dcftly rolled cigarette In his
lean brown fingers and drew light
from IIenderson's smoke. (which one
of you fellows is wearing billed shlrts?'
he asked lazily
mot gulltyw they cried in chorus.
and Peters continued. "Thcy amt a
chap had nerve enough to sport a billed
shirt on the Three Forks outiit-not
since Pinky Fleming was took for
ghost and greaser shot him dead
right through the billed Shirt
"Since then billed shirts has been
looked on like sudden death" put In
Henderson gravely mo. sir. there
amt nobody on Little Forks wearing
billed shirts. Why you ask. Chris?"
Anybody know where there's
Chlnk laundry" demanded Chris pa
tlently.
~ expect there's one IN Tucson"
suggested Peters. Seems like dream
Il remember shooting up n Chink
laundry there. That was long time
ago" he added hastily.
"Then there amt Chink laundry
nearer than Tucson" said Chris
"IIow about Cactus Branch:" sug-
gested Redwood from his quiet corner.
Seems I recollect once when | was
passing the Lone llorn-I was going
TO the roundup nj the Branch, you
know-some Of the wimmcn folks ask
ed me would | leave bundle at thr
laundry there and git check for t.
Being Of an obliglng nature, ! jest nat.
ulully said would. and I'm blamed
n they didn't tote ont big, squashy
bundle. aud me expecting Il couple OF
collars or mebbe n billed shirt Mrs
Traymore-. Won know Jim Traym0ro's
running the Lone Horn now Mrs
Traymore says not To lose H. because
It's precious thing It's nothing but
fancy white dress her sister was ok
pectlng TO wear TO the schoolhousc
dance. and the girl had set her heart
II should be done up right and nobody
hut Chink must do It.
as ! was ropcd In for the job |
bows most polite and says I Will leave
the check on my way lack. Well'-
he paused ana eyed his companions du-
blously-"you all rccollect the roundup
nj Cactus Branch"
"Bcing MS II only happened last week,
We have strong rccollcctions." confess.
cd Chris. rubbing his head thoughtful
IT, I'VE specially rccollecf all about
you. Redwood, and you sure didn't
take the trail by the Lone Horn when
you came back. and you amt been or
this outfit since"
THAT'S right" admitted Redwood
gloomlly