Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1916-01-08
THAT MAN CHARLIE
ey ROBERTA CARSON.


Paula. windbiown and rainsoaked.
burst into the living room where her
mother was reading. mo luck. moth.
erl There isn't . maid. black. white
or Indifferent, who will bulge foot
In our direction Just because we're .
couple Of yards out Of town. Mo.
Manus at the employment ONCE says
they're all that way and lie cant do
anything about II. told him to send
out anyone who came along. A man
would do II he could get one. Oh.
why did dear old faithful Lizzie have
to get married. And Just now Of all
times!" She dropped dismally into .
chair. "What can we do?"
Mrs. CORTLAND tapped her book
thoughtfully. III II were anybody In
the world but the Remingtons who
were coming II really wouldn't make
10 much difference. But they live 80
well and are 20 precise about every.
thing"
And there's . son coming. tool"
groaned Paula. "Oh, we just cant
have them. Father might telegraph to
Remington pater that somebody has
died, or that we've had . fire. or
smallpox. or something"
"They are motoring here from Bos-
ton, Paula, and left the middle Of the
week. We would not know where to
reach them by wire."
"Well, then we still have two days!"
Paula got up and took on her hat.
For fOrty.eight hours I'm going to
clean the house till II shines. What.
ever the Remingtons find. It won't be
dirt"
Bang! Bang! Bang! went the car.
pet heater welded by round. white
arm, strengthened and seasoned by
man, rounds Of golf and tennis.
Paula was talking to . man. She
had seen him pass slowly along the
side street az II searching for house.
IN .Manus has sent US man I do
believe.-Stop! Wait minute! Are
you looking for Courtland's?"
Eyes"
Did Mr.. McManus. the employment
man. send your"
"Yes-but how"
'Never mind! There's no time to
talk. No matter what you can OF
can't do now-you &re better than no
body and we need you. I'll give you
an old coat Of fathers Till your things
come. Then beat these rugs and
sweep them of. Get the hose In the
laundry and scrub the porches and
walks. Shine the brasses around the
front door and then come up stairs
I've forty windows for you to clean
Sounds like q lot. but It's got to be
done!"
So Charlie banged rugs. scrubbed
stairs. oiled floors. cleaned windows
beat eggs. stripped the fat of the
ham. ground coffee. ran errands
changed furniture and cut glass. Al
the last minute on Friday he helpet
iron the curtains after Paula hat
shown him how. and then after dinnel
he washed the dishes carefully, pu
them away and cleaned up thu
kitchen.
Then he presented himself to PAUL
in the library. miss. I'm sorry. bu
I've got to leave"
"What? You can't 60 now. Charlie.
She sat down with shaking knees.
Sorry. but I gotta"
"But-why?"
my family needs me. I gotta 60.
tried to help all I could"
"Oh. you did. Charlie. You're q Jew
81. But what will we do when tn
company comes in the morning? N
ono to do dishes or anything!"
"Mebbe the company can help"
Paula laughed weakly. Yes. ma,
be they can. but then again mayb
they won't. But Of course you don
understand. Charlie. All right.
you've got to 60. we've got to let 20,
I'll get your money from father, Fou
dollars-is that right?"
The next morning the CORTLAND
watched the clock anxiously, fearf,
lest their guests should arrive befor
the work was done. But things wer
in order and mother and daughter
faultless toilets when an automobil
containing three people drew up
the curb.
Mr.. and Mrs. Remington were gree
ed cordially and the Courtlands wal
ed expectantly for the begoggled 90
who was busy with the car outsid
Then he came. and something in Il
travel.worn suit and shapeless ca
seemed familiar to Paula. on can
the goggles. and behold-Cbarlie!
The Remingtons enjoyed the stu
ton so hugely that the astonisht
Courtlands Joined in the laugh. Nv
have heard from our son how the lar
y lies!" laughed Mrs. Remington. Il
we are all prepared to roll up o.
sleeves and pitch In and help"
II later, Charlie Remington had fe
words alone with Paula in the libra
where he had handed In his resign
ton the night before.
/ Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newsp
III per Syndicate)