The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-09
HOW SHE SECURED A SEAT.
The Girl of Nerve Does Not Stand In q
Street Car.

The girl of nerve has found a way
which, she says, is most efficacious for
securing a seat in a horse car. It was
in Broadway car, and the men seated
along each side of it were evidently
gentlemen, for they were we'll dressed.
The car was full. There was not a seat
to spare when, at the next crossing, a
young woman entered. She was a slim
girl, rather pale, but, like her own
teeth, small and white, yet with plenty
of nerve.
she glanced up and down the two rows
of men. No one noticed her. All the
faces wore stolid. preoccupied look,
and those of the men who had papers
or note books handy began to study
them. Not a man budged from his
place. And now what do you think
that girl did? Walking slowly along
the car, she looked carefully at the
faces of the men until she selected her
victim. Taking up her stand in front
of him, she grasped the strap by hitch,
ing her umbrella handle in it, and then,
leaning slightly forward, she gazed in
tently at the mans feet.
He stood the scrutiny for moment,
then he looked to see if there was any
thing unusual about his boots; but no,
they were nicely BACKED and in as good
trim as a new "shine" could make
them. He looked up again at the girl.
She was still staring hard at his feet.
There must be something wrong I'm
easily ne hitched about little in the
seat, crossed one leg over another and
tried to look sideways out of the win
dow. But the scheme wouldn't work,
for there in front Of him stood that
small bit of q girl staring with two
wide-open eyes directly down at that
pair of boots Again he moved, this
time crossing his legs and selecting a
new position, where he hoped that his
feet would appear less prominent and
conspicuous. But no, there they were,
looming up as aggressive as ever, and
there in front stood the mite of girl
absorbed in studying them. The man
had big feet, and the girl knew this
when she selected him. and being a
woman, she had judged where to hit him
in just the place that would strike his
sensibilities.
1t was becoming too much for him.
He could not stand it much longer. He
must move his seat or get out upon the
platform. This was really becoming
too awful when the size of his feet could
attract attention from a woman in a
street car. More and more uneasily he
hitched about, more and more intently
the girl stared, and ere two blocks had
been traversed he got up, made lurch
towards the door and got ont upon the
platform, where it was two blocks more
before he recovered his equanimity and
get over feeling that all the world was
wondering at the size ofhis extremities,
The little cheat of girl meanwhile,
with the sweetest possible smile and
half-whispered Thank you," sank
blissfully and gracefully into the seat
and enjoyed her ride home. In telling
about it afterwards she said she had
worked her little game at least three
times daily for the past month, and had
always succeeded. How the man liked
it or what he thought of the unscrupu-
lous nature of the proceeding, as it re-
vealed itself to him in his calmer mo.
ments, history tells not.-N. Y World.
HONOR IN AN ORGAN GRINDER.
One does not look for very much sem
timent or very high sense of honor in
the organ grinder. He is a dark, rag.
rnH o. Fol LOW 10 lan IN
misses the classification of tramp by
Juggling about with him from morning
I'll night a load every whit as heavy as
a bod of bricks could be. He is enough
more bitterly despised than is the Jew,
and whether monkey relieves his ex-
lie or he wanders alone, he is voted a
nuisance by the adults, though he is
permitted to remain at large because
the children appreciate him. He has
been banished from many of the richer
districts of the city; but out in the sub
urbs he is a welcome visitor.
Rockwell street boasts one of these
patient beggars whose ancestors may
have shouted in triumph in Trajans
train. He was trudging home one
evening when he came.to rather good
neighbo"hood and set down his dreary
old organ for a final serenade. A dozen
children gathered about him, as they
always do, and he began to play when
a larger boy came out of one of the
houses and asked him to stop, as little
girl lay sick within and the music
troubled her.
One little fellow had already given up
five cents, the last he had in his bank,
and he wanted to get the worth OF it.
The Italian was ready and willing to
play, but he could not play here, and
the parents of the children would not
allow them to 60 away from home at
that time of the evening.
well, you come around when Nellie
gets well and play US FIVE tunes" said
the little fellow who had advanced the
price OF concert
"Alla right" said the grinder, and he
shouldered his load and trudged away.
Older people laughed at the credulous
lad, and were sure he would never see
his money again or ever receive its
worth in music.
But one evening, about two weeks
afterwsrd, here came Marco just about
the same time of day, and asked IN mis-
uncouth fashion if the little girl was
"wella now" She wasn't well, but she
was very much better, and the little
fellow, who had put up the money,
went with the others TO see if the noise
of the barrel organ would annoy her.
Marco strengthened them with the