Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-11-15

en- or more persons standing up and
holding to the straps. Among the
latter was the woman with three toy
balloons on string, which bobbed
around in light and airy fashion.
A fat man standing just behind the
woman became involved with the
balloons. One or the other Of them
would bob around and hit him on
the nose, averaging about three
knocks minute. To the passengers
who looked on there seemed to be
some system in the attack. The bal
looms would come at the fat man
in single file. If he lodged the
first the second was pretty sure to
land on his nose. IF he succeeded
in lodging both the first and second
it was sure bet that the third would
reach his nose with terrific effect, as
we say in prize-ring circles.
Sometimes the balloons would adj
vance on the fat man three abreast,
forming a solid front that he could
not escape, and on several occasions
it was observed that, while the GEN.
ter one hit him on the nose, the two
comprising the right and left tanks
would deploy suddenly and bang
him on either ear.
The fat man put up his dukes, and,
although in guarding his face he dis
played considerable science, yet it
was soon evident that he was getting
the worst of it.
But fate isn't as unkind to a man
as sometimes appears. So, as if fol-
lowing the suggestion of some sweet
spirit, he took his knife from his
pocket, opened blade, felt tenderly
of its point, and seemed satisfied.
Despair fed from the fat mans face
and hope hung its rainbow there
instead. He looked twenty years
younger than he did ten minutes be-
fore.
He fixed the most aggressive OF
the balloons with his glittering eye,
and with the knife poised between
thumb and finger awaited for an at
tack. Emboldened by recent victor
les the balloon bobbed nearer and
nearer the fat mans nose. That was
now showing plainly the effect of re-
peated assaults.
A carful of passengers watched
the outcome with breathless interest.
The fat man had himself well in
hand, and when the balloon came
near enough he made dexterous
thrust with his knife blade and, lol
the usefulness of that balloon was
ruined in an instant. A moment
before it was pulled up with an air
of joy and gladness, and life for it
had rosy glow. It danced on the
end of its string like thing that
knew no sorrow, and now where
was it? There was a puff of
escaping air, a gasping for breath, a
wrinkling as of sudden old age, a
letting go of all the things of this
life, complete and utter collapse
a shriveled, shrunken bit of red rub
Der hanging to a string, and that was
all.
The fat man had stabbed it in a
vital spot.
The woman chung TO the strap,
nor rocked of the tragedy behind
her.
The fat man stood up proud and
erect, as q gladiator who had just
rammed his arm down the lion s
throat and turned the beast inside
out.
There was lull In the battle. as
if to give the two balloons time to
bury their dead, and hostilities were
renewed. 1t was plain that the two
surviving balloons were suddenly
seized with the spirit of red revenge.
While the victor's smile still illumin-
ed the fat mans face and made
more rubicund his nose, one of the
balloons danced up his way and
gave him q bat on the ear. He
reached out for it with his right and
missed, and the other one fetched
him one on the nose.
The fat man felt again of his
knife blade and smiled. The second
balloon danced near, fell back again,
rose to the full length OF its string,
quivered in the air q moment as if
about to spring upon its victim,
and
Zip went the knife through the
air and another balloon went to join
that silent majority of one.
The fat mans face broadened to
a foot and the woman still chung to
the strap.
The one remaining balloon had
more room and made the most Of
it. 1t felt that the day might still
be won by heroic effort, and it hit
the fat man fifteen or sixteen times
with q rapidity that surprised the