Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-20
1T WAS A GLASS EYE,
but h friRhssned Man Into the Belief that
lie "usd En-"
New York Times

oh friuay morning about 1880 tall,
slender man came out through the green
baize doors of well-known place Of
resort up Broadway and leaned against
the side of the building, reflectyely
gazing into vacancy. His eyes were
rather sunken, and they had that
CLASSY look which indicates long-con-
tinued endeayor to put down the liquor
interest by means of monopoliziog
the consumption Of intoxicants. Its
skin had bluish-gray shade, and its
surface was quite shiny with the traces
of an all-night sitting. The tall, slen-
der man shifted frequently from one
foot to the other. and played with his
watch-chain in manner that indicated
extreme nervousness. Presently there
came in sight on the block a short,
thicb-set, and well-dressed gentleman,
whose eyes beamcd pleasantly through
a pair of large spectacles. lie ap-
peared like a prosperous commercial
citizen walking down to business. As
he approached the tall, slender man he
fixed his eye upon that person with the
gaze of recognition. Then he stopped
and held out his hand with a cheerful
"geod morning" The tall, slender
man looked at him vacantly for a mo-
ment, shook hands in limp, disinter-
ested way, and then began to call his
acquaintance Slswly back to memory.
They had apparently met once or twice
previously, though they were not on
exactly intimate terms. The short
man in good clothes and humor was in-
vited in to indulge in morning cocktail,
declined, was urged, declined again, was
urged some more, and accepted. As
the two acGusintances stood leaning
upon the bar waiting upon the move
ments Of the airy young gentleman in
white, who condescended for the mo-
ment to execute their order. it came
out that the tall. slender man had been
playing poker all night, and felt rather
shaky in consequence. 1t would be
impossible for him to 60 home and Sc
cure an hours sleep, for the reason that
he was obliged to be in his office by 10
o'clock. Consequently his system had
to be braced up with morning appeti-
zcrs. The two gentlemen consumed
their cocktails and continued their con-
yersation.
Suddenly the tall. slender man, whose
fingers had perceptibly trembled as he
lifted his glass to his lips, began to look
steadily and with a growing look of
agitated fascination at the left eye Of his
companion. lie tried to speak, but
stammered somewhat painfully, and
then with great effort he smiled in
rather sickly and agonized fashion. His
lips moved, but no sound came out of
them as his gaze continued to be riveted
upon the single point in the short, stout
mans countcnance where it had first
been arrested. Behind the large round
spectacles of the serene little business
man a fat brown fly was crawling
up in leiSurely and ruminatiye fash
ion across the eyelid, over the ball Of
the wide. open eye, and upward to the
forehead. The tall, slender man gaSped
and cleared his throat, but made no
sound. Not a tremor had passed over
the eyelids Of the short, stout man, and
he was, apparently, entirely uncOn-
scious Of the iy's parade. That dellb-
crate insect having reached point half
way up his brow, calmly turned and
started to retrsce its footsteps. On the
face of the tall, slender observer the
expression OF astOnishment had changed
to a look OF settled horror. lie passed
his hand across his own eyes
as if to diSpel some awful
vision, but he could not keep his
gaze away from the movements of the
fat brown fly. The notice Of the airy
young gentleman behind the bar had by
this time been attracted to the singular
proceedings here described. Following
. the look of the tall, slender man, he,
too, seemed deeply surprised by what
he saw. The short, stout gentleman
was looking straight ahead of him at
his excited companion, and the express
sion of his face indicated that he
was considerably concerned regard
ing what appeared very like that
PERSONS mental unbalancing. Mean
while the fly was proceeding with the ut
most apparent Indifference upon his
downward walk. lie crossed the upper
eyelid, strolled sedately out to the
centre of the eyeball, and paused. The
tall, slender man gave utterance to a
hoarse gurgle, and then turned quickly
upon his heel and fled wildly from the
room. As the green baize doors slam
med behind his retreating form he left
the short, stout gentleman looking after
him in great amazement. and the airy
Young person behind the bar glaring
fixedly into the eye Of the solitary GUS
toner.
"What on earth can be the matter
with him." murmured the short, stout
gentleman.
Matter enough, should say re-
sponded the young gentleman thus ad-
dressed.
d" Can it be the dev-?" continued
the Questioner, in ailable interest.
4" Ii is either that or very good lml-
tation Of it," Then, leaning over the
bar, the airy young person continued in
confidential tone " If he hasn't got
the jim jams, and if haven't got 'em
too. perhaps you can explain to me how
it is that fly has been rambling around
for the past five minutes on your left
eye"
Z" Goodness me " exclaimed the
short, stout gentleman, tearing off his
spectacles with gesture which caused
the sudden departure Of the insect :;
THAT is my glass eye. and | hadn't
the faintest notion-dear me, dear me-"
The airy young person behind the
bar heayed long sigh Of relief, and the
short, stout man walked slowly out.
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