Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-02-22
Love and a
Laundry Check
The Way Two Lover. Became
Reunited.
By MABEL D. CALHOUN
s Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911. s
''Well-1'll-be- jiggered!"

Chris Webb brought his horse to a
standstill and stared down at the small
square of yellow paper that duttered
before Dixie's dancing hoofs like a
will-o'the-wisp of the daytime. Sud-
denly he, dug his knees into Dixie's
shoulders, and as she sprang forward
Chris leaned over and caught the fly
ing paper with practiced hand Then
he scanned it closely and uttered
long Drawn whistle. -
Plainly it was Chinese laundry
check and represented to it's own
er a necessary article Of wearing ap-
parel that probably lay unclaimed in
the wash house of some moon faced
Celestial g.. ..-4r ---
A laundry check found on the side
walk in town is a common occurrence.
A laundry check discovered in an OBJ
scure canyon in the desert regions Of
Arizona becomes a matter for consid-
cradle interest, especially if 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 sinner! And was
sure I'd struck new trail, and after
naming that gulley and all to find
thisv' .-
Hours afterward when he rolled
ed Dixie over to the friendly proffered
services of Dutchy Fink there was
some comment on his extended alb
sence.
''Where's the critter?' asked Hen
derson, making room for his comrade
at the table and passing Webb's cup
to be filled.
"Dead," replied Christopher, his
strong white teeth biting deep into
a hunk Of corn bread. II followed the
trail clean off the range into the sand
and cactus and then l missed it. Aft
er awhile saw buzzard high in
the air. and / guessed what had hap
pened, so l followed and found the
critter under a twisted cottonwood"
"Dead?" questioned Peters.
almost. OF course l couldn't leave
her that way with that devilish buz-
card hanging around, so"-he paused
for another draft Of coffee.
$50 you shot her, Chris?"
yep, and then shot the buzZard."
They laughed indulgently. "You al
ways was soft hearted. Chris" COM
mented Peters, filling his pipe. who'd
stop to bore a strayed critter after
chasing her twenty miles?" H.
II would" said Chris in voice that
indicated he was weary of the topic.
"Any you chaps got baccy?" a: -.
He deftly rolled cigarette in his
lean brown fingers and drew light
from Henderson's smoke. (Which one
Of you fellows Is wearing billed shirts p
he asked lazily.
"Not guiltyr' they cried in chorus,
and Peters continued. ''They amt a
chap had nerve enough to sport billed
shirt on the Three Forks outfit-not
since Pinky Fleming was took for
ghost and a 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 a
Chink laundry?' demanded Chris pa
tiently.
Il expect there's one in Tucson"
suggested Peters. Seems like dream
Il remember shooting up Chink
laundry there. That was long time
ago." he added hastily.
"Then there amt a Chink laundry
nearer than Tucson?' said Chris.
GLOW about Cactus Branch?' sug-
gested Redwood from his quiet corner.
Seems l recol]ect once when I was
passing the Lone Horn-I was going
to the roundup at the Branch. you
know-some of the wimmen folks ask
ed me would leave bundle at the
laundry there and git check for it.
Being Of an obliging nature, jest nat
urally said I would, and I'm blamed
if they didn't tote out big, squashy
bundle, and me expecting a couple Of
collars or mebbe billed shirt! Mrs.
Traymore-you know Jim Traymore's
running the Lone Horn now-Mrs.
Traymore says not to lose it. because
It's a precious thing It's nothing but
fancy white dress her sister was ex-
pecting to wear to the schoolhouse
dance, and the girl had set her heart
1t should be done up right and nobody
but Chink must do it.
"As I was roped in for the job l
bows most polite and says will leave
the check on my way back. Well'-
he paused and eyed his companions du-
biously-"you all recollect the roundup
at Cactus Branch" ..e-.a.s:
Being as it only happened last week,
we have strong recollections,' confess
ed Chris, rubbing his head thoughtful
II. 1--WE specially recollect ali about
you, Redwood. aud you sure didn't
take the trail by the Lone Horn when
you came back. and you amt been OF
this outfit since
That's right" admitted Redwood
gloomily.
"What happened:"
II left the squashy bundle all right,
end the Chink said it would be 4 bits,
and he gave me a piece of paper GOV.
cred with turkey tracks. and now 1
don't know where the blamed paper Is
unless He frightened suddenly and
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