The Portland daily press., 1894-01-17
ONE HELPLESS LITTLE WOMAN.
She Held the Car Until There was Block
ade, and the Conductor Lost His Job.

She was sweet little woman with
that air of appealing helplessness about
her that is distinguishing characteristic
of the meek members of her sex who
are usually referred to as dear little
home bodies" With a. young man OF
the swagger overcoat descrip ton she
boarded car at Eighth and Bainbridge
streets. At Columbia avenue she mo-
toned the conductor to step. When her
signal had been obeyed she arose and
began to push her way through the
crowd in the car to the platform. Having
accomplished half OF this journey she
suddenly thought of something and re-
traced her steps to the young man, who
evidently did not propose to leave the
car with her.
Now, Jack. she said, bending over to
him and speaking earnestly, you will
be home early won't you.
Then she carried on al animated and
whispered conversation with him until
interrupted by the now thoroughly i'm
patient conductors adomintion Of Gear
waiting for you, madam"
Again she started for the door, and this
time succeeded in making her exit. She
had reached the sidewalk when she
suddenly turned and called to the con-
ductor, who had just given the signal to
start
20 dear! I've forgotten something
Please do wait one minute!"
Obedlently the long-suffering conduc-
tor gave the signal to stop, aud the little
woman scurried back to the Car and,
standing on tiptoe raped on the win
COW 60 attract the young MANS atJen-
ton.
Jack" she called, IT haven't the key
to the housed You've got lit"
Jack arose from his comfortable seat
and went out on the platform. The
passengers Stood aside, making space so
that Jack could step off or the little
woman climb up to his side. Neither
budged. Jack proceeded to search for
the missing key. He went through all
his pockets, and drew forth and exhibit
ed for the little wolnan's inspection all
the various articles that the average
mans pockets contain, but no key, not
even watch key. Meanwhile the con-
ductor stood on his tip-toes and chung to
the bell cord, anXiously awaiting the
outcome OF the search. "Mary," ex-
claimed Jack with an air of conviction.
- haven't the key You must have it
youself." Mary protested Indignantly
that she hadn't, and Jack was compelled
to repeat the search through his pockets.
Three cars were then standing in pro-
cession awaiting the outcome of this
second search. Some of the grumpy pas
sengers were beginning to grumble au-
dibly. The conductor fidgeted and look
ed anxious, but apparently the bright
idea din't enter his intellect to toss
Jack off the car to his little woman and
let them solve the problem of the key
on the street, and the little woman made
the situation more complicated by
mounting the platform at jacks side
Mary" said Jack in final desperation
look in your reticule and see if it isn't
there"
Mary demurred but looked. The kew
was there. Then Mary babe Jack a
leisurely and affectionate goodby and
carefully stepped off the car.
The street railway resumed operations.
At the end of the trip the conductor was
discharged for the delay. He told the
story Of the incident and protested that
he couldn't well throw the little woman
off the car, and he couldn't get her off
an other way. The rules of the COM
pany, he maintained, prevented him