Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-05-09
THEFATM MANSV VICTORY.

dozen 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 a light
and airy fashion.
a fat man standing inst behind
the woman became involved with
the balloons. One or the other OF
them would bob around and hlt
him on the nose, averaging about
three knocks a minute. To the
passengers who looked on there
seemed to be some system in the
lattack. The balloons would come
at the fat man in single file. If he
lodged the first the second was
pretty sure to land on his nose. lfI
he succeeded in dOdging both the
first and second il was a sure bet
that the third would reach his nose
with terrific effect, as we say IN
prize. ghting circles.
Sometimes the balloons would
advance 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 center one hit him on the
nose, the two comprising the right
and left nanks would deploy sud
denly and bang him on either ear.
The fat man put up his dukes,
and, although in guarding bis face
he displayed considerable science,
vet it WAS soon evident that he
was getting the worst Of it.
But fate isn't as unkind to a tat
man as sometimes appears. So, as
if following the suggestion of some
sweet, pirit, he took his knife from
bis pocket, opened blade, felt
tendel'y OF its points, and seemed
satisfied. Despair fled from the
fat mans face and hope hung its
rainbow there instead. He looked
twenty years younger than he did
ten minutes before.
He fixed the most aggressive OF
the balloons with his gIittering eye,
and with the knife poised between
thumb and finger waited Tor an at
tack. Emboldened by recent vic
tories the balloon bobbed nearer
the fat mans nose. That was now
showing plainly the effect of re-
peated assaults.
4 carful of passengers watched
the outcome with breathless in
terest.
The fat man had himself we'll in
hand, anG when the balloon came
neal enough he made a dexterous
thrust with his knife-blade and, 10
the usefulness of that balloon was
, ruined in an instant. y moment
before it was puffed up with an all
, of 10y and gladness, and life for II
had a rosy glow. 1t danced on the
end of it's string like a thing thai
knew no sorrow, and now where
! was 1T There was puff of escap
. ing air, a gasplng for breath,
wrlnkling as OF sudden old age,
I letting 90 OF all the things of thi
T. life, complete and utter collaps
"a shriveled bit OF red rubbe
: hanging to a string, and that wa
j. all.
j The fat man had stabbed it in
/ vital spot.
e The woman clung to the strap
n nor rocked of the tragedy benin,
her.
s The fat man stood up proud an,
n erect, as a gladiator who had jus
s rammed his brawny arm down th
Il lions throat and turned the beas
, inside out.
G There was lull in the battle, a
II if to give the two balloons time t
bury their dead, and hostilitle
we're renewed. 1t was plain tina
J the two SURVIVING balloons wer
+ suddenly seized with the spirit {
7" red revenge. While the victor
smile still illumined the fat man
face and made more rubicnnd b
nose. one of the balloons dance
i up his way and gave him bat o
the ear. He reached out for it wit
his right and missed, and the othe
y one fetched him one on the nose.
The fat man felt again for h
knlfe-blade and smiled. The SCI
3 ond balloon danced near, fell bac
II again, rose to the full length Of i
" string, quivered IN the air a N
'e ment as if about to spring upon /
IL victim, and -
Zip went the kaife through Il
air and another balloon went
ION that silent majority of one.
~ The fat mau'S face broadened
:" a foot and the woman still clung
- the strap.
ho The one remaining balloon hi
more room and made the most
idIlt. 1t telt that the day might st
- be won by a heroic effort, and