The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-10-05
Mr.. CHARLES WASHING
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

Ster-a very muddy corner anu Aull Vi
puddles-heard a little boy yell. just
at first her heart stood still, Tor she
thought she had run over him, but on
coming to sudden stop and LOOKING
back through the curtains she saw
little boy very much alive, Jumping up
and down like an angry little Jack-in-
the-box and shaking grimy fist In her
direction. Beside him on a small Wag-
on was a washbasket full OF CLONES
and she was not too far away to see
the ominous black spots all over the
snowy white cover.
Jane pulled up to the curb and got
out. ''Did do that?" she asked. ARE
you sure?"
"Sure as am that dassent 60 home
and tell ma. She'd beat the tar out OF
me for spoilin' Mr.. Charles washin'.
He's her most particular customer"
"Thats too bad, little boy. I'm sorry.
I hadn't any idea was splashing so
and I know just how you feel. once
I had on a new dress and a man
whizzed past in his automobile just like
that" she chafed her hands together,
"and spoiled my dress forever"
"Well, that amt me. Look at 'em.
II
sand / don't want you to hate me
like that, so I'll tell you what I'm going
to do, Tell me how much it Is and
I'll pay you. Then I'll take the wash
ing home myself after I've fixed 1t up"
"Tt's a dollar and half"
"Here it is, then, and If you'll bring
the basket over beside my car l think
we can lift it in. You run home, now,
and don't you worry about the wash
ing. 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 1t
nearly got spoilt in the water. she
dried it an ironed it. Don't forget
now" He held out bit of paste
board.
She showed it into her pocket ana
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 paste
board. But to her surprise she saw her
J own features looking back at her.
"My picture And in his pocket The
little boy said his name was charles.
don't know any Charles, not single
one. It's very odd. Well, I'll look over
the clothes. Maybe his names on som'
of the things"
/ Jane took the washing to the Work
| ing Girls home, where she and few
of her friends showed the girls the dig
| nifty of labor by cooperating with then
at their work.
"Girls," called Jane merrily, 1--WE
} brought home something out of the or
$ binary; do you think we can do 'emT
p, "Sure, Miss Jane, we'd wash circus
tent if you'd bring it."
! Now in his apartment on the othel
= side of the town one Charles Arm
strong was pulling out bureau drawers
q rummaging through boxes and turning
2 | out pockets. "I'm darned II l can re
: member where put that picture. Fun
t ny how things turn out. When the'
; sent home my camera pictures tina
; girls was in by mistake, and haven
been able to get her out OF my hea'
for a minute since. And the day o
the fire l splashed mud all over tina
same little girl and she's hated me eve
g since. I don't know her name ana
s don't dare to find out"
J. He started to dress for dinner an
d dug through his drawer for CERTAIN
:. shirt. "Hang it, my washing's tW
e days late. I'll have to run down in tn
car, I guess, and get it. Mrs. Miggs o
! Dickie must be SICK"
e didn't you get your clothes, MI
Y Charles?" said Mrs. Miggs in astonisf
l. ment little later. "Why, Dickie too
r them two days ago. Dickie come here
h And Dickie, shifting and scared
death, told the whole thing. She prom
u ised to take them, she did. She said
n Did you give her my name and az
dress, Dickie?"
Il mo. She didn't asst"
r "Do you know hers?"
y "No, but I gave her the picture, an
8 say, didn't she look like the pictur'
g though? 1t must "a been her."
q 'Is that all you know about her
Ii Did she say anything elseT
d "No. Oh yes. She said a ma
re splashed her once!'
r "All right, Dickie. Don't cry an
=, , here's dime" ...
l. He drove to Kelso's. did any youn
IL lady lose a picture? One was sent
If with mine few weeks ago by mistak
No, I haven't it with me, but though
I could mail it to her If / knew who
was"
III "Why, yes. Miss Jane Cartwrigl
2, lost one. Likely that's it. Yes, hay
" y her address,"
u !, So Charles headed for James.
ID They recognized each other in an Il