Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-28
MASKING A WASHER.
Comedy and Tragedy AgreeabIy Mixed
on a Washington Street Car.

It was quite evident to the observant pas.
senger with gig-lamps and market basket tina,
the pretty young matron on the opposite side
Of the car was being annoyed. Her cheeks were
slightly flushed and her lip tremblsd nervously.
A big fat woman in a plaid shawl at her lief,
was so tightly wedged in between herself and
the front end Of the car that it was impossible
for the lady-and such she palpably was-to
move away by so much as an inch from the man
at her right. The latter was rather we'll dressed,
though trife too conspicuousy, and his good
looks were OF the unrefned order SO attractive
to the feminine taste that is not too highly cul-
tivated. His build was stocky, and, as he
curled one extremity Of an intensely black
moustsche, diamond of considerable size was
displayed upon the middle finger of a white,
though stubDy-fngered hand. His attention
at the moment, however-as the passenger
with the gig-lamps had noticed-was mainly
bestowed upon the pretty young matron at bis
left to whom he was
MAKING DELIBERATE ADVANCES
OF q constructively amorous nature with one
foot and an elbow. Presumably, he was una
ware of the distress which the said advances
were causing, inasmuch as this sort of person
Is incapable of imagining that his ssductions
can be resisted by the other sex in so much as
single instance. At any rate, he kept them
up until the obssrvant passenger opposite
picked up his market basket, went out upon
the rear platform and, before stepping of at
the next crossing, addressed a few quiet words
to gentleman OF unobtrusive appearance who
was standing there by the conductor chewing
the end Of an unlighted cigar. The gentleman
was seen to utter brief word in response, to
remove the cigar from his lips and to contem-
plate fxediy, through the doorway, the pretty
young matron at the forward end Of the vehicle.
Presently their eyes met and
THERE WAS LOOK OF APPEAL
in the glance that met his. Whereupon he
strolled leisurely through the car and took up
position, as if by chance, and without looking
again at the lady, imme lately in front of the
stocky man with the black moustache, taking
hold with his left hand of the strap that hung
just above the stocky mans head. For about
two minutes the gentleman of unobtrusive as
pset stood there, holding on to the strap and
apparently taking notice of nothing in particu-
lar. Meantime the stocky man proceeded with
his offensive attentions to the lady next him.
and there is no telling how much longer she
would have been able to endure the persecu-
ton had not
SOMETHING JUST THEN HAPPENED.
The unobtrusive gentleman was seen to clinch
his teeth tightly upon the end Of the unlighted
cigar which he still retained Then, more sud-
denly than it can be told, his left hand relin-
pushed its grasp upon the strap and descended
like lightning upon the steeky mans collar
simultaneously his right fist began to work back
and forth. straight from the shoulder, at the
rate of about two strokes a second, impinging
each time upon the countenance Of the stocky
man, whose head, held as it was against the
window-frams Of the car, received each blow
with a force that made the side of the
conveyance rattle, SO that within not more
than five seconds his face was covered with
blood, and in ave more he was being thrown
off the front platform an entire wreck, with
his silk hat smashed over his eyes and his light
overeoat split down the back. The conductor
had not had time to interfere and the other
passengers had been too aghast
Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen" he said,
as he sat down beside the pretty young matron,
in the place just vacated by the stocky man
"but couldn't see my wife insulted you know,
and Washers are ruled out where come from
II it had happened in Dakota" he added, Just
bit regretully, ~ should have been obliged
to kill him."