Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-03-29
Mr.. CHARLES WASHING
BY LOUISE OLIVER.
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ster-a very muddy corner and full Of
puddles-heard little boy yell. Just
at first her heart stood still, for 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 a grimy fist in her
direction. Beside him on q small wag-
on was a waShbasket full of clothes
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. care
you sure?'
"Sure as [ am that dassent go home
and tell ma. She'd beat the tar out of
me for spoilin' Mr.. Charles washin'.
He's her most particular customer"
"That's too bad, little boy. I'm sorry.
| I hadn't any idea | was splashing SO
and know just how you feel. Once
I had on a new dress and Il 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.
'And l 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 it up
cts a dollar and half"
'Here it is, then, and if you'll bring
the basket over beside my car | think
we can lift it in. You run home, now,
and don't you worry about the wash
ing. I'll fix 1t all up. Good-by, now,
I'm going
"Good-by," he turned away as she
started the engine, then came back.
ooh, 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 bit of paste
board.
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 paste
board. But to her surprise she saw her
own features looking back at her.
"My picture. And in his pocket! The
little boy said his name was Charles. L
don't know any Charles, not q single
one. It's very odd Well, I'll look over
the clothes. Maybe his names on some
of the things"
Jane took the washing to the Work
ing Girls home, where she and Il few
of her friends showed the girls the dig
nifty of labor by cooperating with them
at their work.
"Girls," called Jane merrily, give
brought home something out of the or
binary; do you think we can do emp
"Sure, Miss Jane, we'd wash a circus
tent if you'd bring it."
Now in his apartment on the other
side of the town one Charles Arm
strong was pulling out bureau drawers,
rummaging through boxes and turning
out pockets. "Im darned if [ can re-
member where put that picture. Fun
ny how things turn out. When they
sent home my camera pictures that
girls was in by mistake, and | haven't
been able to get her out of my head
for a minute since. And the day of
the fire l splaShed mud all over that
same little girl and she's hated me ever
since. I don't Know her name and /
don't dare to find out"
He started to dress for dinner and
dug through his drawer for certain
shirt. Hang it, ny Washing's two
days late. I'll have to run down in the
car, guess, and get it. Mrs. Miggs or
Dickie must be sick
Didn't you get your clothes, Mr..
Charles? said Mrs. Miggs in astOnish-
ment little later. 'Why, Dickie took
them two days ago. Dickie come here"
And Dickie, shifting and scared to
death, told the whole thing. She prom
Used to take them, she did. She said"
Did you give her my name and add
dress, Dickie?"
"No. She didn't asst"
do you know hers?"
mo, but | gave her the picture, and
say, didn't she look like the picture,
though? 1t must "a been her"
us that all you know about her?
Did she say anything elseY
mo. Oh, yes. She said a man
splashed her once!"
"All right, Dickie. Don't cry and
here's a dime"
He drove to Kelso's. did any young
lady lose a picture? One was sent in
with mine few weeks ago by mistake.
No, l haven't it with me, but thought
[ could mail it to her if l knew who it
was"
"Why, yes. Miss Jane Cartwright
lost one. Likely that's it. Yes, 1 have
her address,"
SO Charles headed for James.