The mirror., 1923-04-19


emerged into an alleyway, where he trip
ped and fell headlong over pile of soft
coal slack. Here he lost his cigar and his
hat, and spit again and again in futile
effort to eject the gritty coal dust from
his mouth.
Regaining his feet, he recovered his
derby, brushed it hastily, and placed it
once more upon his head. His next dis
covery, was what he took to be barrel
of water, which stood nearby and close
to the rear door of small store building
Gee Whiz!" calculated Bill, under his
breath. "Luck is with me for once any,
how. Here's barrel of nice warm water
to wash up in"
Bill at once proceeded to bathe his hands
and face, wiping them upon his handler
chief, and when replacing this impromt',
towel in an outside coat pocket, his fin
gers, discovered pair of light kid gloves.
These he drew on, then finding an un-
broken cigar in his vest he bit off the
end, adjusted it to jaunty angle in the
corner of his mouth, and strobe bravely
and confidently out to the sidewalk. Pro-
curing a match from passing pedestrian,
and turning to strike light for his cigar,
he read, by the light Of the flame, the
sign upon the store window "Cleaning
and Dyeing."
Walking rapidly along toward the near
by carline, Bill chuckled to himself,
"Great Scott! A Negress! And I thought
her either Spanish or French! Wonder
what will happen when her daddy meets
the big blacksmith?".
As he boarded a passing streetcar the
conductor gazed at him strangely, grin
ned, ran up the fare and passed on into
the empty car, while Blunt remained upnn
the platform to smoke and think. The
streets were almost entirely deserted as
he alighted near his club, and entering
at side door, he ascended the staircase
to his rooms, encountering no one.
Hardly had he entered his rooms and
turned on the light, when the door again
opened, and in walked his chum Frank
DAILY, cub reporter on the Tribune.
"Hello Bill,"-"Hello Frank" they
greeted each other, then, Suffering Csts
Where the II you been? Take look at
your face!" fairly yelled the reporter.
Bill cast glance into the full length
&c
plexity registered upon his features.
"Holy Mackerel!" roared Bill, for his
face was deep blue. Withdrawing his
gloves his exposed hands were likewise
indigo. Then it all dawned upon him.
Instead of in barrel of nice warm water
as he supposed, he had washed his face
and hands in barrel of blue dye!
"Whats the rip anyhow? Been re-
hearsing for minstrel show?" inquired
Frank with broad grin.
Whereupon Bill unloosed the story of
his nights adventure.
"Ye gods and little fishes" exclaimed
DAILY as he gave vent to roar of un-
SOHtloudDiC laughter.
Bill scowled, and said not in reply, but
stepping into his den, he presently
emerged carrying baseball club which he
began to caress.
"Whats the idea of the ball bat" en-
quired DAILY still laughing.
\ "You'll see, when 1 visit your DANCED
news Office if you don't keep mum!"
threatened Bill.
"All right old top. NUNS the word,
replied DAILY as he strobe out into the hall,
still shaking with ill-concealed merrimen.
"Confound this DANCED wife-hunting
and chicken-chasing business! Never
again!" vowed Bill, as he began scrub
bing and securing that lasted until near
ly dawn. And to all appearances he kept
his word, for his ad disappeared from the
Tribune, and although several years have