Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-12-19
A MORTIFIED MasHER.


How Little Man Punished "a street Car
Ruff.n.
In a Twcnty-third street car in New York
un Sunday evening, n gentleman of about 80
years, of slight but wiry build, was seated
between two ladies, and opposite them
was young aud rather good looking girl
well but plainly dressed and OF modest self
possessed manner. She evidently belonged
to the working class. As the car went east
ward across Fourth avenue man of stalwart
physique and rather dissipatod face swung
through the ear deposited his fare In the box
and sat down deliberately alongside of the
girl. She concealed u look which was OF par
tial recognition, coupled with annoyance
and turned her face toward the window, with
every appearance of being nervous and i'll at
ease. The newcomer, who wore high hat,
light overcoat, u silVor-topped stick and
was entirely at his ease, allowed his elbow TO
rest over the arm Of the girl. She moved
s'ong foot or SO IN the scat, and he calmly
followed her. This sort Of thing went on
until they wero both up In the corner OF the
.ar
The gentleman cscorting the two ladies'
watch the performance with nervous anxiety,
and at every fresh annoyance offered the
girl opposite the blood would slowly mount
10 his face and then recede. Finally he
drew Off his gloves his hands trembling
violently, but he folded the gloves and
placed them quietly in his pocket. His two
companions evidently understood his feel
ipgs, and one put her hand aiiectionateiy on
his arm.
al think" she said, I" Alfred, that We had
better walk the rest OF tho way. II Is very
close in here and | would rather be i'll the
air"
She half rose In her seat, but did not move.
He was still glaring at the big man across
the car, who returned his look once in while
with the most tranquil indifference imagin-
able. Meanwhile the poor working girl, who
had apparently been having quite as much
excitement as the littlo man opposite her,
rose to change her seat AS she did so the
IL. hos vl.n
and pulled her down into the seat again.
Thereupon the little man sprang TO his feet,
doubled up his fist, pointed his finger at the
man across the ear, and said slowly ana with
great decision: "You internal seoundrel, II
you don't move away from that lady III
throw you out OF the car."'
The words were delivered In rather sin
gular manner, but there was no doubt about
the earnestneSs Of the man who uttered them
The big man simply smiled, and deliberately
turned around and dropped his hand ON the
girls arm again. What followed occupied a
very short space of time The white-faced
and wiry man pounced upon his bigger rival
as hawk does upon chicken. chicken, There i,,,vos was
at his throat and twined both OF his hands
into the breast of the mans coat Then there
was a struggle, and the big masher lay nat
on his back, with his head out on the plat
form and against the dashboard and his long
legs stretching into the car. Before be could
get up the little man had tossed his cane and
hat into tho street. His face was working
into extraordinary grimaces sufficient to
alarm Colossus. And as the man lay on
the floor and looked up at il the conviction
seemed to enter his soul that he had had
enough. He scrambled awkwardly to his
feet and stood in the door in some doubt
whether to tackle his assailant or not, while
tho assailant said in the same sing-song and
falsetto voice
"If you come in this car again will break
your nose"
The car had not stopped during the strug-
gle, and the man jumped off and left his
assailant in full possession. Two Of the but
tons had been ripped oil of the gallants coat
in the scrimmage and the little man picked
Sshem up, presented one to the girl and put
the other In his pocket, with the remark
"These will do for souvenirs"
The girl said the man had annoyed her FOR
several night in succession, but she was sure
he would never trouble her again. The
little man gave her courtly bow as he lefl
the car, and II was noticeable that he trod the
floor with a tip-toed grace and naughty mien
that belongs by right to conquerors.