Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-11-21
THE WRONG DUDE.
sr' rLAsrus.

Three aggressive young men
sat on the forward end Of Third
s Avenue Elevated Railroad car one
day last week and made audible
q comments about the other passen
+ gers. They were untidy clad,
4 guiltless Of collars, and notice.
4 ably addicted to tobacco, bui
4 they we're endowed with certain
amount OF assurance that enabled
them to discuss the personal
4 points Of other people with entire
candor and fearlessness.
They were flushed with beer.
One OF them leaned over with
his elbows on his knees, another's
hands were buried deep in his
trowser pockets, and q thi-d had
his arms and head out OF the
window most Of the time. They
were sitting thus when the car
stopped at Chatham square on it's
way to the City Hall.
A dude gently waited In. The
passengers glanced at the dude
with an air OF helpless wonder
ment, or gazed upon him with the
vague interest that an enigma
slways inspires. He was pure
u placid dude. The serenity OF
!. the expression was unmarried by
tFen 30 much as passing
thought. Above a cruelty nigh
Sollar appeared the face; sur
mounting it. o high hat. gener-
ously curved rim, and bell.shaped
crown. The feet Of the dude were
squeezed into shoes that looked
like swollen tooth-picks. and the
tightness OF his trousers inspired
the beholder with . quivering dis.
trust. Around the towering COL
lar was a mild tie about the size
Of q shoe string, and q light-col-
ored coat was buttoned closely
to the neck. He carried . pair
Of gloves and q silver headed
cane. and his hat was worn back
on his head. disclosing a short
bang of straw colorsd hair. His
light mustache had been carefully
nurtured. but it was Of disappoint-
ing growth.
The dud sank Ian guidly to rest
opposite the three young men.
His eyes passed listlessly over
them, and then he fell to sucking
the end OF his cane, while his face
looked blank and mournful.
The three young men stared at
the dude for some time, and then
one Of them yelled:
"Ah, there, Bartholomew
Who united youf Amt you
ashamed. you coy thing, to wear
such tight pants9"
The dude raised his eyes and
stared TRANQUILITY ct the three
young men; and then carelsssly
dropped them again.
Don't you look at me, sauce
box. or I'll slap you real hard,
81 tberel' minced another Of the
yonng men.
The third one had meantime
been glaring at the dude with i'm
mense dislike.
"Ssy, what good are your" be
asked at last, with an expression
Of supreme contempt. "Who
feeds yer? I'll come over there
and stick . pin in yer lung an
kill yer dead, d'y' hear?"
Once more the dude raised his
eyes tranquility. and fixed them
on the eyes Of the last speaker.
who was now leaning forward and
peering ct him with an ugly
scowl.
"Don't you look at me, ye NUT
ion faced IDIOT" continued the
belligerent one, half rising in his
seat. "Pm o man, / am, an I
don't allow no white livered
Gussie to squint at me-"
Still the dudes eyes look
cd steadily into those Of the loud
mouthed bully. while the dude
sucked the end Of his cane. The
rough one rose slowly, and, with
his head thrust forward, and his
eyes half closed, moved toward
ths languid dude.
"Don't touch the poor thing,
Mickey; you'll kill it if you do, "
said one of the trio. 1T amt
alive. It Amt possible"
BY this time the passengers
were leaning forward, and cries
of "Sit down an let him alonel
were addressed to the bully, who
was deriding the dude. The bully
rose and stepped toward the dude
with clenched fists. but before be
could strike the dude had dropped
his cane and was standing square
ly in front of the bully.
An instant the two stood face
to face, and then the dude made a
fsint with his left hand, the bully
threw up both handa to ward OF