Part 26 (1/2)
Jack recoiled at this.
”Go ahead. Be a sport,” urged Ed.
Then Walter burst into a laugh.
”Why, they're dummies!” he gasped. ”Straw figures!” And so they proved.
”All over!” announced a man. ”Have another wash. It will do you good.”
”Not for mine,” declared Jack. ”I'm clean enough to last a month.”
”I'm going to have some more,” announced Walter.
”So am I,” declared Ed. ”I'll go through with the girls this time.”
”And there's Paul yet to be initiated,” added Walter.
They hurried back to where they had left their friends.
”The greatest ever!” declared Jack. ”I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Go ahead, girls. It's the greatest fun!”
”But those wringers?” faltered Bess. ”Aren't you pressed flat?”
”Try it--and see,” replied Jack, all unconscious of the joke he was perpetrating at the expense of the plump girl.
”Were they rubber?” asked Belle.
”Go through and see,” was all Jack would answer.
”I'll try it,” volunteered Paul.
”So will I,” added Cora bravely.
”Oh, don't!” begged Belle.
”Of course I will. I'm not afraid, after Ed, Walter and Jack have been through it. Besides, look at all the other girls and ladies who venture in.”
”That's the way to talk,” said the attendant admiringly. ”In you go, young lady,” and he a.s.sisted Cora upon the narrow footpath of the first ”tub.” Cora went through it all, with Paul close behind her. It was all perfectly proper, and not too rough, and the girl thoroughly enjoyed it, even to the two rolling machines. She came back with her cheeks flushed from the exercise and excitement.
”Go ahead, girls!” urged Cora to her chums. ”It is a most novel experience.”
”I would, only for the wringers,” agreed Bess.
”And I would--only--only for the slide,” declared Belle, and no amount of urging could induce her or her sister to venture the novelty. But they had lots of fun watching others get ”washed,” and even Hazel took a trip, with Jack to keep her company, for he reconsidered his determination not to take another ”dip.”
Jack, his chums, the boys, and Cora and Hazel were such a merry party, and attracted so much attention that the man in charge of the machine, after they had each enjoyed two trips through it, came up, and said:
”Say, go through again--for nothing.”
”Why?” inquired Jack.