Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-05-03
Mr.. CHARLES WASHING
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

ut 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 Il
little boy very much alive, jumping up
and down like an angry little Jackin-
the-box and shaking grimy fist in her
direction. Beside him on small wag-
on was 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. "Are
you sure?"
"Sure as / am that / dassent go home
and tell ma. She'd beat the tar out Of
me for spoilin' Mr.. Charles washln'.
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
had OH a new dress and man
whizzed past In his automobile just like
that she chafed her hands together,
"and spoiled my dress forever"
swell, that amt me. Look at 'em.
II
"And / don't want you to hate me
like that, so I'll tell you what I'm going
to do. Tell me how much 1t is and
I'll pay you. Then I'll take the wash
ing home myself after I've fixed 1t up"
"It's a dollar and half"
"Here it is, then, and II you'll bring
the basket over beside my car think
we can lift 1t 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.
"Oh, say, will you give IN this7 Ma
found it In one OF his pockets an Il
nearly got spoilt In the water. She
dried 1t an ironed it. Don't forget,
now" He held out bit of paste
board.
She showed 1t 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. /
don't know any Charles, not a single
one. It's very odd. Wen, I'll look over
the clothes. Maybe his names on some
of the things"
Jane took the washing 20 the Work
ing CHS home, where she and a few
Of her friends showed the girls the dig
nifty of labor by cooperating with them
at their work.
'Girls," called Jane merrily, ave
brought home something out OF the or
binary; do you think we can do emf
"Sure, Miss Jane, we'd wash circus
tent IL 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. I'm darned If can re-
member where put that picture, Fun.
ny how things turn cut. WhGn-they
sent home ms 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 splashed mud all over that
same little girl and she's hated me ever
since. ] don't know her name and l
don't dare TO find out"
He started to dress for dinner ant
=, dug through his drawer for certain
shirt. Hang 1t, my washing's tive
days late. I'll have 10 run down In the
car guess, and get It. Mrs. Mlggs or
Dickle must be sick"
didn't you get your clothes, Mr..
Charles?" said Mrs. Mlggs in nstonish-
ment little later "Why. Dickle took
them two days ago. Dickie come here"
And Dickie, shifting and scared te
death, told the whole thing. She prom
Used to take them, she did. She said =
Did you give her my name and ad
dress, Dlckief"
mo. She didn't asst"
''Do you know hersT
mo, but i gave her the picture, aud
say, didn't she look like the picture
though? 1t must "a been her"
rs that all you know about herr
Did she say anything else?"
mo. Oh, yes. She said man
splashed her oncew
Gan right Dickle. Don't cry anG
here's n dime"
He drove to Kelso's. Did any younf
lady lose a picture? One was sent In
with mine few weeks ago by mistake
No, ! haven't II with me, but thought
| could mail it to her II l knew who It
was"
"Why yes. Miss Jane Cartwright
lost one. Likely that's 1t. Yes, have
her address"
So Charles headed for James.
They recognized each other In an In
slant. "Yes, / have your clothes" ex.
planned Jane. But the mud spots just
wouldn't come out"
"Then we're even. I'm sorry spoiled
your Dress"
"Will you tell me what you were do
Ing with my picture?"
1Yes. I'm in love with It,"
She Redeemed. you make love as
you drive car. It isn't always the
best way"
Il need someone to teach me pa.
tience. I'd be very willing pupil
Won't you try?"
"I'll think about it," answered Jane.
Copyright. 1917 by The Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
Docs Little Mistake.