Frank and I then took off our shirts, and wrapping them in paper, informed "the kid" of our predicament, and of the fact that we would be obliged to remain shirtless in our room while he took the bundle to the washerwoman and left them as security for the laundered, without money and without price.
We gave him special instructions, just how to manipulate matters in order to be successful.
He said: "Oh, what cher giv'n us? Don't yer s'pose I know how to 'fake de ole hen'?"
He scampered off, and returned very shortly with our laundry, when we hastened to make our toilet for the six o'clock dinner.
We expected our papers from Washington inside of ten days from the time we sent them. In this we were disappointed, and were compelled, to use "the kid" several times to carry out "de exchange act" "wid de ole hen," as he called it.
After repeating it several times, he came in one evening very much excited, and said:
"Yer can bet yer life it was by de skin o' my teeth I ever collar'd der wash dis time. De ole gal's gittin' dead on, an' says if de gemmen are such big-bugs dey better settle; but I gin' her a great song an' dance, an' squeared her up."
We asked if he had any idea she would stand another deal of that kind.
"Yer can bet I'll fix 'er," he replied.