Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-02-23

larger. Hurriedly she poured out half Of
the bottle and went over one whole
breadth OF the skirt. hoping that by going
over a large surface and rubbing 1t dry
the rings would be cleared away. But
wherever she sponged with the fluid II
left the same notified. streaked appear
ance. She used the other half Of the
bottle trying TO improve IL. but only made
II worse.
Almost in tears, she shook the dress
out over a chair. Had she ruined it,
Oh. II she only hadn't touched II. AT
least she could have worn II at night
even II II was soiled. But now. with one
whole breadth streaked and notified, she
could never wear II.
Il told you, ma'am. didn't take no
stock in them cleaning fluids" said
Della. They amt none Of them no
good" And then. seeing Helen was al
most in tears. she added eonsolingly:
But l guess you can take them stresks
out II you dip the whole thing In gaso-
llne-it's much better than all them
cleaning fluids and cheaper. too"
''oh, can - asked Helen eagerly.
why didn't think OF gasoline? But
where can We get it-enough to dip the
whole dress in?'
Paint store. I'll take two OF them
gallon water bottles and get 'em full"
/ Half an hour later Della returned with
the big bottles Of gasoline weighing down
the basket on her arm.
My. that's heavy" she Erumbled.
And I had to go three places fore they'd
sell II TO me-
Helen TO koit into the bathroom. where
there would be no danger of fire. Empty
ing ono Of tho bottles into large dish
pan, she dipped the whole dress In. The
odor was sickenlng. Not wanting II 10 get
through the house, she kept the bathroom
door closed.
In a few minutes the dress had soaked
up the whole painful. and she had to pour
in the other bottle. Most Of this, too, was
quickly soaked up. and the rest was
almost black. She tried TO rinse 1t up and
Gown, but there was not enough gaso-
line left for that. The fumes were more
and moro sickening. She was growing faint
and dizzy, as though she was being
ehloroformed. And her hands were red
and smarting.
Almost overpowered with the fumes, she
still tried to swish the dress around. 1t
was only black. wet mass now. and she
could not tell whether or not the streaks
were out. Yet. with desperate determine
ton she kept at II. II would be hard to
get more gasoline. and now that she had
begun she must do II as well as she
could. So she shook and swished the dress
about until she could stand II no longer
Then she opened the bathroom door and
staggered out. the wet dress on her arm.
Get a coat-hanger. quick. Della. Hang
this up somewhere
what's the matter
''oh, the gasoline-lt was awful In there.
Here hang this up quick
Della took the dripping dress and hung
1t on the wooden hanger. And Helen
fell almost fainting on the couch.
open the window Della. oh, I'm so
sick"
Della threw open the window and
dragged the couch before IL. Helen.
desthly white, ives lying almost in a
stupor. Saul up In the bathroom, with
the fumes from two gallons OF gasoline.
the effect had been as drugging and
much more siekening than from gas or
chlHroform.
Thoroughly frightened. Della wanted
to send for e doctor. But in spite Of the
stupor. the word doctor brought to
Helen the thought that had dominated
her through Il all. the saving Of ex-
pense."
No, no." she protested family. Il
cont need a doctor. IN be all right IN
few moments.
| As she lay on the couch by the open
window tine horrible sense Of nausea
gradually parsed away. slowly the fresh
air revived her, blew away the worst
effects of the gasoline, but left her with
throb5ing sick headache. which lasted
| the rest Of the day.
Della brought some cold cream for her
| hands, which we're still red and smarting
: from the gasoline. At length she sat up.
I diEzily.
FIRING me the dress, Della. Let me
see bow it came out.
Wait till you feel better" urged
Della You're dead white get, and it
I amt dry nOhow."
1 Oh, 1t must be dry b. this time.
Bring II in-I want to see It.
( Reluctantly Della brought the dress.
| laid 1t on e chair by the couch and dis
creetly vent back TO the kitchen. Helen
gave one glance al it. and then buried
her face in the pillow. 1t vas ruined
ruined. All over it the dirty gasoline
had settled in c!ouded. mottisd s:reaks.
She turned her face to the =al and
burst INTO tears.
And ihis-ihis vas the result Of he-
efforts 10 economize.~