The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
81 TED ny A POLICEMAN.
A WELL dressed Mana CoIIiaion with an
Old Womnn In sixth Avenue.

A WELL Dressed Man. Coiiaion with an
Old Woman In Sixth Avenue.
A stout, red-faced old woman, whose head
was mufled in n thick drab shawl, from be-
meath which n few wisps of gray hair struggled
down over her eyes. was waddling slowly down
Sixth avenue the other evening. The chilly
wind from the north swooped along with such
fury that people met it with high-buttoned
coats and lowered heads. In front of one Of the
big stores below Twenty-third street tho old
woman, through apparent stupidity. suddenly
collided with q handsomely dressed, middle
aged man who was hurryinR In the opposite
direction. toppled over as easily as u poorly
poised tenpin. and lay motionless and feebly
grooming on the pavement.
Tho man who had run into her stopped down
and tried to stand her on her feet. but she made
no effort to stifen her muscles. and so he lot her
sink back again. as limp as a jellyfsh. He tried
again, but she only groaned louder, as II every
motion gave her pain. Meanwhile a crowd had
gathered and looked on silently.
What's the matter 2" inquired q loud voice
from the outer fringe.
It's de gents old mudder. She was tryin' to
get him to come home wild her. but he got mad
an soaked her in de peeps volunteered a mes
senger boy who had just come up and was fran
tically trying TO work his way into the centre of
the crowd.
THE brute.' chorused q dozen feminine
voices.
Things began TO look sqnnlly for the WE'LL
dressed man. and he gave a hurried glance
about him as IL seeking a chance to fade away
into the crowd.
planned TO those about him. II was not to
blame for her falling. / barely touched her. I
am inclined to think she's drunk. and she would
have dropped anyway. lCries OF Shame.
to stand by her all night"
who had heard the last remark. les get tn cop.
/ seen him down tn street jes' now. They say q
real gents killed a lady an, has swallered pot
son. Hurry or we won't git back in time
A moment later the policeman came running
MP. his club tightly rripped in one hand. and
now grown TO several hundreds. As he p~loughed
through the mass broken bits OF information
mo,her"lons lost son"tried 10 stranpls ali hs p.u
died of joy.-she had a stroke" &c.
Meanwhile the old woman. hearing the word
begun to whine a tale of starvation and mistor-
tune generally. The well-dressed man, seeing
In this n possible chance of escape, had diyed
into MS pockets ana brought forth a dozen sill
yer coins. which he WAS about to put into the
into the circle. The policemnn's first glance
was at the old woman. who had now recovered
the officer with some uneasiness. He at once
stopped down and. seizing her by the shoulders,
lifted her to h"r feet with such skill that it ex-
cited the admiration of those nearest AT hand,
while those further away. who could not com
prehend. murmured at the officers hRrshness.
See IL your watch's all right. or IL you've lost
anything else" he said to the well-dressed man
who stood dayed, but joyful, at his sudden de-
liverauce. she didn't touch you? Well. that's
good. She must have been too drunk to play
her game for ANYTHING but charity to.nieht:"
Of loud-voIced and %profane abuse OF everybody
ard everything.
mi have TO take her to the station house
anyway. | guess. continued the officer. address,
ing the crstwhile villain In the Little street
drama. This is an old game OF hers. ! suppose.
that she has been up to. Got In your way and
fell over. didn't she And when you tried 10
pick her M she would have pinched your watch
II she had nj been so full. Be quiet" he con-
tinued ms he turned TO the old. woman. Twill
you every step of the way as usual?"