Thomas County cat., 1889-12-12
AN OLD LApY,s DUCK.
And How 1t Induced Scared Young
Man to Turn Over New Leaf


And How 1t Induced a Scared Young
Man to Turn Over New Leaf
A very funny scene occurred on a south
side car
At one Of the downtown streets young
man got ON, and selecting . comfortable seat
took out his evening paper and began to read
He was youth who had an A No. opinion
of himself, and didn't care who knew it. He
was supremely satisfied with the existing con-
dition Of things and his soul was stepped in
serenity.
At one Of the cross streets woman carry
ing live dick in a brown paper package got
on the car. There were several vacant seats,
but. as fate directed, tine wopaau sat down
beside the ycung man. When the car began
to bowl along again and the bird got used to
the motion. it proceeded to size up" the sur
rounding objects. After it had satisfied its
curiosity it turned its attention to the young
man. There was q piece of white thread on
the la,ter's coat sleeve The duck saw it and
made 4 meditative peck III it, The young man
didn't notice this, but every one else in the
car did. and two girls on the opposite seat
snickered. Everybody was anxious to see
what the duck would 90 next.
Not succeeding in mailing the morsel at the
firSt shot, tine creature tried ii again. Just
;i,en the young fellow unconsciously moved
LIS arm. The duck uttered loud quack of
disappointment and d;sapproval The youth
heard the shout which greeted this act on the
part of the duck, and. looking up, saw that
al eyes were fastened upon him. He finally
turned to his p.per and tried 70 appear as if
he were not conscious of the presence of the
bird, which had thus disturbed his eQuanimi-
ty. For possibly five minutes he managed to
keep his attention riveted upon his paper, but
by and by he began to Ie affected with
burning desire To know what the duck was
doing. He could hear We passengers laugh
ing cOnvulsively. and every now and then
the gutteral guffaw Of q coarse minded man
s,note upon his ear. The unhappy victim
tried to quell bis rising desire, but nature
finally asserted itself and he looked down at
the fowl. The latter was gazing up into his
eyes with cold, fshy glare that was positively
horrifying in IFS intensity and grotcsqueness.
With gasp Of despair and mental anguish,
the youth got up and wen; out on the plat
form, slan,ming the door iiehind him.
Say" said the young fellow to the con-
dactor, isn't there an ordinance which pro-
hibits the transportation of live stock on the
sueet cars?"
s'Whyr asked the knight of the puncher.
because thought it might possibly in
clude that duck in there"
Now, the conductor was n good deal Of q
wag, and so, tipping the wink to the by
standers. asked: what duckF'
"You don't mean to say you don't see the
duck that old woman is carrying in a brown
paper parcel?'
Certainly, don't see it," said the conduc
tor, because there amt duck or an old wo-
man in the car"
Here he appealed TO the bystanders, who
each and every one Of them solemnly upheld
the conductor in his statement.
The young mans face becsme ashy pale.
Great beads Of sweat stood upon his brow,
and his knees smote together. "Boys," he
whispered hoarsely, 81 feel that you are right,
but hope may die if don't see in the car
this blessed moment an old woman with a
duck in her lap Boys, last night witnessed
the last oyster supper which I shall ever at
tend. I have laughed at the warnings of
friends, and am now reaping the fruits Of
my folly. You are now looking at a reform
FL man. get of here. Good night"
The reclaimed youth faded into the dark
ness, and above the roaring of the passengers
could be heard the wild, triumphant squawk
Of the duck as the car jolted around the
corner.-Chicago Evening News.