The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885, 1884-12-20
A MoRr1ErEp WASHER.
How a Little Man Punished Street<c;
Rnff1an

HOW u LllLle man q StNCct-StA
Ruffian.
In Twenty. third Street car in New
York on a recent Sunday evening gen.
tleman of about forty years. of slight but
wiry build was seated between two Ia
dies. and opposite them was young and
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 eastward
across Fourth avenue man of stalwaIt
physique and rather dissipated face
swung through the car, deposited his
fare in the box and sat down deliberately
alongside of the girl. She concealed a
look which was of partial recognition,
coupled with annoyance, and turned her
face towards the window, with every APP
pearance of being nervous and i'll at ease.
The newcomer, who wore high hat, a
light overcoat, silver-topped stick and
was entirely at his ease, allowed his elbow
to rest over the arm OF the girl. She
moved along a foot or so in the seat, and
he calmly followed her. This sort Of
thing went on until they were both up in
the corner of the car.
The gentleman escorting the two ladies
watched the performance with nervous
anxiety, and at every fresh annoyance
offered the girl opposite the blood would
slowly mount to his face and then recede.
Finally ne drew off his gloves, his hands
trembling violently, but he folded the
gloves and placed them quietly in his
rocket. His two companions evidently
understood his feelings, and one put her
hand affectionately on his arm.
81 think" she said, "Alfred, that we
had better walk the rest of the way. 1t
| is very close in here and | would rather
| be in the air.
She half rose in her seat, but he did
not move. He was still glazing at the big
man across the car, who returned his
! look once in while with the most tran
uuil indifference imaginable. Meanwhile
the working girl, who had apparently
been having quite as much excitement a:
the little man opposite her, rose to change
her seat. AS she did so the man beside
her took her gently by the arm and pulled
her down into the seat again. Thereupor
the little man sprang to his feet, doubled
up his fist, pointed his finger at the mai
across the car, and said slowly and will
great decision: "You Internal scoundrel
if you don tmove away from that lady Ii
throw you out of the car. j."
The words were delivered in rather
singular manner, but there was no doub
about the earnestness of the man VIII
uttered them The big man simpl.
smiled, and deliberately turned aroun
and dropped his hand on the girls arr
again. What followed occupied a yer
short space of time. The white-tace
and why man bounced upon his bigge
rival as a hawk does upon chicken
There was no attempt at hitting or claw
ing. He jumped at his throat andtwine
both of his hands into the breast {
the mans coat. Then there was a
instant's struggle and the big masht
Law flat on his back, with h
head out against the platform and again
the dashboard, and his long legs stretch
ing into the car. Before he could get u
the little man has tossed his cane and b;
out into the street. His face was worl
ing into extraordinary grimances sui
Gent to alarm q Colossus. And as Il
man lay on the floor and looked up at
the conviction seemed to enter his so
| that he had had enough. He scramble
awkWardly to his feet and stood id tt
| uOOE III SOIlC uOuuG nACbhOA w SeNSAA
his assailant or not, while the assaila
said in the same sing song and falset
voice.
l eff you come in this car again | wi
5 struggle, and the man Jumped off al
3 left his assailant in full possession. Tv
, of the buttons had been ripped off of Il
gallant's coat in the scrimmage, and Il
t little man picked them up, presented OF
, to the girl and put the ether in his peck
with the remark: "These will do for so
venirs."
; The girl said the man had annoyed b
for several nights in succession, but 81
was sure he would never trouble hi
: again. The little man gave her a court
bow as he left the car, and it was motto
able that he trod the floor with til
toed grace and naughty mien that b.
longs by rights to conquerors.