The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-06-14
WHERE HE FOUND HIS NAME.
Dick, the Bus Driver Whs
Defended the Fair Sex.


Defended the Fair Sex.
"Gentlemanly Dick he was called, {"
and the speaker took his pipe out of his
mouth and glanced around the waiting
room where he and two comrades were
sitting watching for the night express
with the hope of getting few passen-
gers for the hotels. They were all bus
drivers, young and hearty looking fell
lows.
YES" unused one of the men, "I
know who he is, seen him one day not
long since. He had just rescued poor,
'croppy' lookin dog from the boys and
said he was goin to take it home to his
gals. What was the reason of his bein
called 'Gentlemanly Dick. ,"
Didn't you never know?" asked the
first speaker.
"Nope. Let's hear about it. I've had
some curiosity to know" and the other
two men lit their pipes afresh and set
tied themselves comfortably in expecta-
ton of the forthcoming interesting mar
rative.
"Well, you see, he ulster drive for
the Brown House. Drove their best bus
for eight years, and he allus tipped his
hat to the passengers. Some of them he
seen so often he got to know 'em, and
they'd say some pleasant thing now and
then to make Teller feel good. One
night him and me wos settin round this
here stove, and there wos four feliers
come in. They sat down in that there
corner" and the speaker jerked his
thumb toward the spot indicated, "and
begun to talk. l wos settin here smolzin
and Dick wos smollin too. He WASH t
sayin much, but seemed to be doin some
deep thinkin. Every little while he
would run his fingers through his thin
gray hair.
"All of a sudden one of them fellers
let out string of oaths as long as my
arm" And the speaker held out good
brawny specimen for illustration.
"Dick didn't say nothin, but he
looked up sudden and scowled; then he
pulled away on his pipe again, Finally
one of them made remark. Well, it
was pretty sweepin. Twas about wom-
en- in general, and there wasn't no get
tin round it. Itmade me hot. Well, sir,
Dick got right up and walked over to
them.
Boys, he sez, I've lived nearly 60
years, and in the same space of time
I've never heard so much profanity, vile
talk and SANDER as I've heard from you
fellows tonight in 20 minutes. Then
he went on: Il had a mother and wife,
God bless 'em, and I've got one sister
still livin, though hain't seen her for
years, and it makes me shiver in my
boots to hear the way you speak. You
are all good lookin chaps and seem well
dressed and respectable. For the sake of
your mothers, sweethearts or wives quit
talking such wickedness. / don't mean
to be harsh. only speak with the priv
ilege which comes of old age
"Them fellers, sir, if you'll believe
me, set still and never spoke all the
while that Dick was a-talkin. Finally
one Teller, who knew Dick, the biggest
one in the crowd, said in hearty way:
Thanks, old fellow. l say, boys, three
cheers for Gentlemanly Dick. And they
were given with hearty will. Then
one after another got up and sneaked
out in the night Hello, here comes
the expressl Hope she's loaded for this
here town" And the men all left. The
little waiting room which had served as
lecture room was ant.-Chicago
Tribune.