The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
"In Search of a Towelw
by JOHN cosaY,)


(By JOHN Cosby
(Copyright 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
Jimmy, blinking and blinded by the
shower, reached for o bath towel.
u His fingers. clutching the first one
With which they came in contact, gave
II q Jerk on the rack that very nearly
1oosened the thing. but as It Travelled
from its resting place on the smooth
glass bar toward Jimmy's newly laun-
dered head the towel caught on o
, faucet Of the bath tub and that. had
Jimmy known It, settled his fate for.
ever, for his Aunt Brewster had given
him the towel and Aunt Brewster was
his chief hope for the future.
Damn IT," said Jimmy giving It a
jerk. but the thing chung to the spigol
with fiendish tenacity and all OF
1fmmy's swear words could not loosen
II. Then he pulled with both hands
and desperation born Of smarting
eyes calculated to pull out the plumb.
ing. Suddenly the towel, or rather
the lace on the towel, let go and Jim.
my didn't Out he went over the end
OF the tnb clean smooth shot like a
golf ball spOomed OUT o. ii bunker, and
he lit on the hard tiled floor.
Things we're quiet enough for 4,
minute but when the fireworks in
Jimmy's head had subsidized and he
had cautiously tested every bone for
breaks he swore again. you blankety
blouk fool thing, you. with your silly
blue roses and lace. Get out OF
here!" And without any apologies to
the donor he hurled the cause Of his
troubles through the window and
reached for another towel of sober
white that lacked even an initial to
adorn its sanitary ends.
Well have Jimmy to dry and dress
and rub his bruises. and follow the
towel out Of the bath room window on
the sixth floor OF the apartment hotel
It hoated downward-hardly floated,
either, for 1t was as wide and heavy
as rug-but It arrived at airy rate at
certain point In the street over which
a roadster was passing at the instant,
and having penchant for catching
on things 1t caught on button OF the
cars top and spread itself out luxuri.
ously for ride through the city.
All unconsciously beneath her gay
canopy Of lace and blue roses sat
Eileen Brannon turning the wheel this
way and that among the crowding We.
htcles Of Fifth avenue. She saw peo-
pie stare. laugh and point, but there
was nothing wrong that she could see.
But In front OF Anna Katherine's
Shop" she stopped to investigate. What
was attracting such attention? And
then she saw the towel spread shame.
iessly over her natty little car. For
goodness sake. where did that old
thing come from?" she cried, and as
U to echo her words voice behind
her inquired:
Where did you get that towel so
blue?
Out Of the sky as you came through"
She turned quickly. "Oh. Charley,
isn't 1t the limit! Where you you sup.
pose It came from? Get it down, will
you, and I'll take 1t into Anna Kath-
Rrine. These things are in her line
and maybe she'll know something
about It"
But Anna Katharine didn't except
that there were weeks of work on the
lace. 1.-THE towel is new" she declared,
never been used!"
Then keep it." offered Eileen.
Maybe some nice old lady will buy It
Tor her college grandson"
In the meantime more thing were
happening to Jimmy.
Evidently he had got out OF the
wrong side Of the bed. The postman'
brought some letters, and there was