The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-09-19
An Invisible Nail,

"A lHl-lOOhlHE ltNlNcT pOCkcFDooh lH'
visibly nailed to sidewalk on Madison
street, near Peoria, furnished amuse-
ment to n crowd Of boys and men in that
neighborhood Sunday evening, The
first person to try to pick it up was
bootback, who dved down swiftly
arose quickly, looked at the grinning
spectators, put a grimy thumb to a
stumpy nose, twirled his fingers, and
then ran away. The next was large,
fat woman carrying q market-baskot
As she espied the prize her red face
frightened expectantly. Looking
covertly at the persons nearest her she
dropped the basket, top downward
then stopped as if to regain possession.
She remained STOPPING quite n long
time, and when she arose her face was
much redder than before, while drops
of perspiration were gathered on her
forehead. As a laugh arose from the
bystanders she gathered her skirts ire
fully and shook her fist in their faces,
shouting at the same time; "Bad sean
to we, We mischievous amadhouns Och,
if had ye in me arms wanst!" Fol-
lowing her came tall, slender man
who wore spectacles, high stiff hat,
black gloves, high collar, creaking
boots, and long coat of funeral black
matching his threadbare trousers. Even
if one had not observed little pack
age Of tracts in his hand, he would have
been classed rs n church deacon or a
member of the Young Mems Christian
association. Gliding like shadow, his
toe struck the book before he saw it.
"Ahl' he calculated in an unctuous
tone. Then he dove. Then he came
up again. The bobbing down and
up did not consume much time, but
just enough to allow of n great change
in his appearance. The kindly smile
had disappeared and in place was a
stern expression. The corners of his
mouth twitched convulSively, and his
face was white with passion. 1.-The
ways of the wicked availeth them not, y
he declared, and started down the
street. After he had gone short dis
lance an idea struck him, and, return
| inc, he distributed some Of the tracts TO
| his tormentors. BY this time his coun-
tenance had resumed its wonted appear
ance, with regard to which and to his
distribution of tracts an Irish workman
said $50 in, old man; you've turned
the tables, so We have The deacon
was Just out of sight when the fourth
victim approached. He was a dude.
When his gaze encountered the book he
stretched forth his cane till the end
rested on it, said in an unconcerned
tone, saw, weally, me pyurse,' and
stopped. The stoop was fatal to him.
A sound as of ripping was heard, and
long rents became visible in his lately
tight trousers. With a Mortified look
on his face, the dude clapped his hands
behind him. Hang these tight
thingsr' he declared forgetting for the
moment his dudish role. An adjacent
clothing store probably prodted by his
discontinue, for he made break thence
as fast as he could 90. As the laughter
over this last episode was subsiding,
practica-appcaring man of 40 years or
so asked a clerk Isn't that new
pocket book" The clerk said it was,
had, in fact, just come from the store
he worked in. What is it worth?'
The clerk said, about 40 cents and
in response to another question added
that the nail was through the flap.
Then it is about as good as if not nail
ed at all, commended the practical
looking man. SO saying he drew a
pair Of pincers from his pocket, pulled
the nail up, put the book in his pocket
threw the nail away, and started off,
A howl of Indignation arose, but hepaid
no attention to it, calmly pursuing his
course till lost to view. The fun was
over for that night Chicago Times.