The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-23
CURLING OF CHARLIE
BY LAURA HOOVER.

Miss Stelter finished arranging thu
last of the display cards of buttons
and then gave final pat to the large
wads of hair plastered over each 81
her ears as she warily located the die
tant form OF the hoorwalker.
"Mame!" she called across the isle
seen them airships?"
"Sure!" responded the girl at the
handkerchiefs. art he said last
night he'd take me up in one. only be
was afraid I'd yell. He knows 4
man who II cousin to q man who
cleans an airship garage-an-"
Charlie took me down Michigan
avenue yestidday." interrupted Miss
Stelter. ruthlessly. Charlie always
wantsme to be in on everything. Say, II
was great! nearly broke my neck
"Thoso r ten cents q card. No.
We amt got none bigger for ten cents.
Wouldn't some people frost you,
always wanting more'n their moneys
worth! Well. we looked at them
things floating around in the sky tin
was dizzy. Then grabbed Charlie
by tho arm. Don't you never l said
to him, don't you never 60 up in one
Of them machines - long as you know
me. Charlie Johnson! You've got to
promise!
"What'd he say!" inquired tho girl
1t tho handkerchief counter.
Il oughta,known better" pursued
Miss Stelter. II ought-a remembered
Charles high-strung nature, and how
Il always makes him stubborn to cross
him. But was that foolish! Il
made my head ache to think Of his
being . thousand miles up In the dir
and mo down below wondering II
two baskets'd be enough to gather "
tho pieces tn. Anyhow, I'm nervous.
Dress goods, three aisles to the left
No. madam. We don't carry that style
button. I tell you that We don't, 20
what's the use Of looking for It here!
I'd like to give these people .
piece Of my mind who think because
this Is the basement they can impose
on US! So said, Charlie johnson.
you can Just promise me this min.
ute. You know how stern Charlie
can look when he wants to-l suppose
It comes from ordering people to step
forward in the car-and he Just turn.
ed his full expression on me. And then
he said he wouldn't"
"My!" said the girl at the handker.
chiefs. ''ls he that Stubborn
"Uhhuh." said Miss Stelter, proudly.
"That man is q regular stone wall
He said man that was q man court
ed danger instead Of running from
It, and it was duty he owed
"Six cents a dozen. These. a,v
eight.
HE looked grand. too, as he said
Il. Five aisles down. I wish PEG.
pie would 60 long about their busi.
ness and stop interrupting! He said
he wouldn't humor me in such fool
ishness.
"'But aren't you afraidr I ast him
He just laughed at me In . scornful
sort Of way. 'Afraid!' he said. Ne
afraid! Well. I guess not! Going up
IN airships Is the best thing I do!
Why. I'm perfectly ct home in the air!
OF course he says, I've never been |
up In one OF these here machines, but
being on top Of the Masonic temple
shows . fellow what To can stand. |
These people who talk about danger. |
huh!' I felt proud Of Charlie when he |
talked like that!"
"Of course you did," agreed the girl |
1t the handkerchiefs. Il know when
Art says"
but l wasn't going to give In" went
on Miss Stclter. "lt's bad habit to
get into. But It's dangerous l told
him.
Charlie just hooted. 'Dangerous!'
he said. About as much danger ~
you could put in your eye! The ma.
chimes are perfectly harmless, and you
can manage 'em with a single twist Of
The wrist, because I've read about
EN-. l expect I'll buy one when
they come down cheaper. Why, there
won't be any accident when every.
body travels by airship. They're
great!'
I'VE were standing looking up with
ous necks most broke an me hanging
On to Charles arm. coaxing him.
was bound to get my way. though
vas proud to hear him talk.
Right In the middle Of q sentence
Charlie give . yell that you could have
heard . mile on. and waved his arms
ike . thrashing machine. RUM he
Ihrieked, run for your life! The
.hing'll get 10 ALL and he streaked It
'You see. somebody in IN upper
tory Of q hotel had dropped an open
newspaper from the window, and
charlie's eye had caught . glimpse Of