The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-01-08
eATrLe IN A STREET CAR.
4 elight-Built GentIsman's Victory Over
. Duriy Washer.

elight-Built (sent1sman's vlcto5y Over
. Huriy Naslsr.
New York SUM-
A gentleman, apparently about 40
years Of agc, Of a slight but wiry build
aud rather an absent minded de-
mcanor, sat between two ladies' in q
street car the other night ut about s.
o'clock There were two other occu-
pants OF the car, one Of whom was q
young and rather attractive woman who
sat directly opposite the gentle
man and his two lady friends. The
girl, who sat alone, WAS one Of the
many plump, bright-fac aud we'll
dressed working women of New York,
and her manner WAS entirely modest and
self possessed. As the car went east
ward across Fourth avenue a man Of
stalwart physique aud rather dissipated
face swung through tho car, deposited
his fare in the box, and sat down de-
liberately alongside Of the girl. She
concealed look which WAS Of partial
recognition, coupled with annoyance.
aud 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, q
silver-topped stick, and was entirely at
his ease, allowed his elbow to rest over
the arm Of the girl. She moved along !
foot or 10 in the scat, and he calmly
followed her. This sort Of thing went
on until they were both up in the corner
of the car.
Such scenes are not 20 very rare in
New YORK - to attract much attention.
but this case was particularly striking.
on account Of the effect it had upon the
escort Of the two women on the other
side of the car. He fidgeted norvously
about in bis seat Is the pantomims vent
on opposite him, and the blood slowly
left his face until hs was 10 white as 4
sheet. His lips we're compressed, and
he wet them constantly with the tip Of
his tongue. Every time the easy-going
backyard on tho opposite side of the
car offered : fresh annoyance to the
working girl the blood would slowly
mount to tho little mans face, and then
rs slowly recede again. He wore IRON
gray side whiskers, but the rest Of his
face WAS clean shayen. Az he drew
his gloves OF, his hands trelnbled
violently. He folded the gloves with
great nicely and placed them in the
pocket of his coat. His two companions
talked to him quietly, aud one put her
haIN as,ectionately on his arm.
Il Think" she said, ALFRED, that we
had better walk the rest of the way. It
Is very close in here, and would rather
b in the air." -
She half rose in her seat, but he
didn't move. He was still glazing 1t
the big man across the car, who re-
turned his look once in . while with the
most tranquil indifference imaginable.
Meanwhile the working girl, who had
apparently been having quite as much
excitement rs the little man opposite
her, rose to change her scat. As she
did 20 the man beside her took her
gently BY the arm and pallod her down
into the seat again. Thereupou tho
little man sprang to hts feet, doubled
up his fist, pointed his finger at tho
man across the car, and said slowly and
with great decision: You Internal
scoundrel, II you don't move away from
that Lady Ill throw you out Of the car.
The words were delivered in rather
singsong manner, but there WAS 10
doubt about the earnsstness Of the man
who uttered them. The big IMAM simp Y
smiled, and deliberately turned around
and dropped his hand on tho girls arm
again. Vi hat followed occupied very
short space Of time. The white-facou
and wiry man bounced upon his bigger
rival as hawk does upon = chicken.
There was no attempt at hitting or claw
ing. He jumped ct MS throat and
twincd both OF his hands into the breast
Of the mans coat. TLs.. there WAS an
instant's struggle and the zig masher
lay nat on hia back, with his head out
on the platform and against tho
dashboard and his long legs stretching
into the car. Before no could got up
the little man had tossed his cane and
hat out into the street. His face was
working into extraordinary grimaces
sail cient to alarm colossus. And rs
the man lay on tie ..Oor and looked up
at it the conviction seemed to On
ter his soul that be had enough. lie
scrambled awkwardly to his feet and
stood in the door in some doubt whether
to tackle his assailant or not. while the
assailant said in the same sing-song and
falsett0 voice:
''If youCome in this car again I win
break yoI nose"
The car had not stopped during the
struggle, and the man jumped off and
left his assailant ia fun possession Two
of the buttons had been ripped OF Of
the gsllant's coat in the scrimmage and
the little man picked them up, pre-
sented one to tho girl and put the other
in his pocket, with tho remark: These
will do for souvenirs"
The rirl eaid the man hid ANNOYED
her for several nights in succession but
she was sure he would never trouble her
again. The little man gave her . courtly
bow - he left the car, and it WAS no
ticeaLle that he trod the floor with .
tip-toed grace and naughty mien that
belongs by right to conQuerora