The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-23
EVENING STORY
MIR. CharIes,s washing.
(BY Louise OliYer.l

stop and looking back thru the cur
tains she saw little boy very much
alive, jumping up and down like an
angry little observation-disclosures and shak-
ing a grimy fist in her direction. Be-
side him on a small wagon was a
wash basket full of clothes and she
was not too far away to see the omi-e
nous black spots all over the snowy
white cover.
'"Just look what she donei'' he cried
to sympathetic crowd. She splashed
mud all over Mas washin' and I'll get
hckin'. You-you come back here
and see what yer done"
Jane pulled up to the curb and got
out. Did 1 do that?" she asked.
Are you sure?''
Sure as 1 am that 1 dassen't go
home and tell ma. Shed beat the tar
out of me for spoilin' Mr.. Charles's
washin'. He's her most particular
customer"
That's too bad. little boy I'm
sorry. L hadn't any idea L was
splashing so and 1 know just how
you feel Once 1 had on a new dress
and a man whizzed past in his auto
mobile just like that" she chafed her
hands together, land spoiled my dress
forever Those mud spots never did
; come out and I'm afraid l hate that
man to this minute"
well, that amt me. Look at en-
'And I don't want you to hate me
like that, so I'll tell you what I'm
i going to do. Tell me how much it is
and I'll pay you. Then I'll take the
washing home myself after I've fixed
it up"
Its a dollar and a half"
Here it is, then, and if you'll bring
| the basket over beside my car l think
we can lift it in. You see. l do wash
| ing myself, and 1 know just how
your mother would feel to see her
days wash coming home again.
"You!' said Dickie. You wash!'
"Why, yes. Why not?"
But you're so pretty
Thank you" she laughed. rs that
ing?"
II don't know" obviously. Ma
and Mrs. Slagel and Mrs. Kelch and
every one in our alley wears blue
dresses and aprons, and you-you're
all fixed up"
to see me when I'm busy. But you
, run home now. and don't you worry
about the washing. I'll fix it all up.
Good-by, now. I'm going"
"Good-by," he turned away as she
started the engine, then came back.
| "Oh, say, will you give m this? Ma
found it in one of his pockets an it
nearly got spoilt in the water. She
dried it an ironed it. Don't forget,
now" He held out a bit of paste
| board.
'.An right, I'll give it to him. Now
good-by again"
She showed it into her pocket and
| started the car. She had gone several
blocks before she realized that she
had not asked the mans name and
address nor did she know any more
| about the youngster she had relieved
/ of his load Suddenly she thought OF
| the pasteboard. But to her surprise
she saw her own features looking
| back at her.
INV picture! And in his pocket!
The little boy said his name was
Charles. I don't know any Charles,
not a single one. It's very odd. Well,
I'll look over the clothes. Maybe
| his names on some of the things Ii
| it isn't I'll have to advertise. Wouldn't
that be a circus! 'Found-a gentle
mans washing. Same may be claimed
by identifying property
| Jane took the washing to the Work
! ing Girls Home, where she ana rev
of her friends showed the girls the
them at their work. They did only
very fine garments for very fine Ia
dies who paid well for it and the
money went toward the support OF the
home. .,,...
brought home something out OF the
ordinary; do you think we can &c
EN-"
"Sure, Miss Jane, we'd wash a cir
Gus tent if you'd bring it.
Now in his apartment on the othei
side of the town one Charles Arm
strong was pulling out bureau draw
ers, rummag ing thru boxes and turn
ing out pockets. I'm darned II L car
remember where l put that picture
Funny how things turn out. Wher
they sent home my camera pictures
that girls was in by mistake and
haven't been able to get her out of m.
head for minute since. And the day
of the fire I splashed mud all oVel
that same little girl and she's hated
me ever since. I don't know hel
name and I don't dare to find out
know she has me put down for
bounder and all my explaining would
int make things right. She Away
looks as if she would murder me-
He started to dress for dinner ant
dug thru his drawer for a certain
shirt Hang 1t, my awashing's tw'
days late. I'll have to run down IL
the car, I guess, and get It. Mrs
NIiggs or Dic<ie must be sick"
"Didn't you get your clothes. MI
Charlest" said Mrs. Miggs in astonish
ment little later. Why Dickie tool
them two days ago. Dickie. COM
And Dickie. shifting and scared tt
death, told the whole thing. "Sh
promised to take them, she did. Sh
said"
Did you give her my name an
address, Dickie ?''
mo. She didn't asst
DO you know hers?"
No, but ] gave her the picture. an
say, didn't she look like the picture
tho? 1t must "a been her.
rs that all you know about her,
Did she say anything else?
NO. Oh, yes. She said mai
| splashed her once.'
"All right, Dickie. Don't cry an
here's a dime"
He drove to Ke1so's. did any youn
lady lose a picture? One was sent Il
with mine few weeks ago by mis-
: take No, haven't it with me, Blu
; thought 1 could mail it to her if
! knew who it was.
why. yes Miss Jane Cartwright
( lost one Likely that's it. Yes, 1 hav
her address.
So Charles headed for James.