Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-07-14


Tommy had been fond Of spsrring. He
hooked his right arm into the big mans
eye and swung his left into his stom-
ach. where. from the big mans build.
he was sure that II would make an Ina.
precision.
Then for a space of two minutes
things happened swiftly. The big man
was as strong as a buffalo. and he un-
doubtedly knew what n boxing glove
was. But also. undoubtedly. he was q
good liver. and Tommy hammered his
waist line faithfully. Tommy had also
found the big mans other eye. and his
upper lip. which needed a stitch. and
his nose. which called aloud for the at
tention of a surgeon. On the other
hand. Tommy's own eye was sealed like
government envelope.
A respectable-sized crowd had gath I
cred. who evidently appreciated the
fact that they were getting a choice
sample of the fistic art at bargain
price. The three women who had ac-
companied the big man stood where
they could view proceedings. wringing
their hands. Suddenly the one whom
the vandyke-bearded man had accosted
uttered a little CRY of horror. This dis
tractcd the big mans attention for a
fraction of a second. and Tommy
promptly inside-right-countered him
on the saw and brought him 20 his
knees. Then two policemen came up.
"Thith fellow inthulted young
woman in my party" said the big man.
stcrnly. through his damaged lip.
ooh. Hcnryi" gasped the Young won.
an who had been insulted. she is not
the one at all. II was a tall man with
beard"
The man wot spoke 20 the Young
lady cut down that there alley" said
cabman whose cab stood across the
street. This young fe:ler was jis'
comm roun' the corner wen it hap
pened."
The big man regarded the two young
women ironically. Tommy smiled out
OF his one eye. and the policeman and
the crowd smiled. too.
'Will you be so kind as TO call a cab,
ofiicer?" asked the big man.
Just a moment said the police
man. You assaulted this young man,
didn't your"
II did" said the big man. tenderly
testing the bony structure Of his nose
with his pocket handkerchief.
do you want TO make a complaint ?"
asked the policeman of Tommy.
Not at all" said Tommy. with great
geniahty.
Then they called a cab for the big
man and his party. and Tommy went 20
his hotel and 10 bed.
The next morning when Tommy con-
suited mirror his eye resembled q
Turner sunset. He was strongly tempt
ed 20 go back 10 Boston on the morn
ing train. Within three hours he was
to apply 20 a stranger for q responsible
place. without a sign of n recommend
alton and an eye that looked as though
he had spent the previous night on the
Bowery. Then for the first time Tommy
swore az the big man. But IL o'clock
found him at the office OF the National
Cold Storage company. The man il.
charge smiled skcptically when Tommy
told him his business Then he in
formed Tommy that the president had
been called cat OF town tn at day, and
applications would have 20 be made
on the day following.
Tommy breathed a sigh Of relief, and
went back 10 his hotel. The rest Of
that day and night he wore a beef
steak poultice over his eye. This was
beneficial from a medical point OF view.
but as far as appearances went. the
eye was more glaringly impressionistie
the next morning han before. Tommy
felt depressed as he started for the
Cold Storage Office. There were four
OF five applicants in the outer office.
who looked as though they had been
brought up in self-respecting Chris
tian homes Tommy sat in one cornes
and glared at anyone he caught look.
ing al his eye. He sat there two hours
before his turn came. Then the clerk
said the president would see him, and
smiled again pessimistscally. But by
this time Tommy felt too much like q
social outcast to resent il.
The president sat at a handsome
cherry desk. He was large man. but
he was pale. and looked i'll His upper
lip was g.oriously decorated with
court-piaster. His right eye was COW
cred by a patch, and his left eye was
partly closed and of color scheme
that rivalled Tommy's own. Tommy's
heart slid down into his boots and
tried 10 get through the floor. The
next moment he found himself sitting
IN . chair at the right OF the presidents
desk He sat there and regarded the
presidents infirmities dumbly.
You are applying for this position ?''
asked the grea. man harshly.
Tommy admitted that he was. Rec
concentrations? Tommy explained hol-