The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21
SIZE HAD SMITHS MONET.

ShE ~ Hh1xAh'S 1uON
Smith Was Happy Until q Young Woman
Bumped Into Him and by Accid ent Took
Possession ~ His Last -Rebuks
to Ono SuspectinE Men Of Flirting.
Smith Of brooklyn had been out paying bills
He had settled with the butcher, the baker, the
bicycle maker and a variety Of department stores
which combined practically all the other functions
Of trade. AT the end he found himself possessed
OF a sensation OF temporary contentment and 25
cents in cash. The sensation was distributve.
but the cash was all in one piece, and its proud
proprietor held II in his hand as he waited for the
trolley car which should bear him home for one
Ayecent fare. To be able u return 70 Mrs Smith,
tell her that all bills were settled. and heap the
mintsd richness Of 25 cents surplus in her lap.
would be indeed a proud achievement
Trolleys doomed and neared and passed, but
not Smiths trolley. Ono Of the virtues that goes
with residence in Brooklyn is patience. and the
trolley system does much " foster il Smith
waited patiently. Presently q tall young woman
Of majestic but distinctly ornamental presence
approached with no little epsed, and Smith,
chapcing 70 make a sidestep at the moment
she came in contact with his back with such force
that he was iolted into the gutter, Looking up
with some wrath Spith met a pair of serene eyes.
and On the spur OF the moment apIlogized humbly,
The next moment he wondered why he should
apologize for being Knocked oil the curb by a
young woman who could Just as well have had
all the rest of the sidewalk. The apology didn't
seem 10 have taken, either. The young woman
looked at him as II he were a bug, Then she turned
her back without d~eigning 10 respond TO his
apology, marched out 10 the track and stood
waiting.
Smith marched after, not that he particularly
yearned for proximity, but because he saw down
the street a ridley car which looked like the one
"a tKunt.A M D.,n hal ha roma. a.. a half
behind the young woman than she turned and
swept him from head 10 foot with a look that chilled
and amazsl him. lie ~pondered what he could
have done u merit such treatment and presently
II flashed upon him that she was one OF those
curious female phenomena who pass through
a troubled ~existanCe under the painful oppression
that every man in sight IL trying " iHt with
them. This theory So satisfied Smith that he
chuckled lie would have sworn that he heard
a low but penetrating snort Of contempt in re-
Spouse. The car came and il wasn't Smiths
after all. Neither was it the young woman's.
They both stood waiting and the car passed on
To hdget is human In Smith hdgetung took
the form OF manipulating whatever CHANGED to be
in his hands at the time He began to Zip the
lone quarter in the air and catch H. Al the third
or fourth trial he misflipped and the coin. soaring
easily over the edge OF the high turnup collar
upon the young woman coat. disappeared from
view. The young woman started and, turned.
Smith hastily looked the other way, and began To
pcrspire. Could he get IL out without her per
ceiving it, Certainly, he couldn't, as long as she
kept hsr basilisk eye upon him. To make matters
worse, another chr was approaching, anu he was
sure it was his. lie mustered up his courage,
Il beg your pardon, he began, but
"Sir," interrupted the young woman with such
ferocity that the unfortunate man fairly jumped.
But IL was a two mile walk home. and lie tried
again.
Madam. am very sorry
"SirIr-r-r" The young woman was begin
ming ~ look around as i for help
Good Lord said Smith to himself This
isn't a girl. She is one Of those automatic dolls
II I'd touch the right button she d play a tune:
-Justa word, he said aloud "Idon'tw wish To-
oh. bla,es,' cried Smith in utter evaporation
"Do you think I'm spending all this time trying
" fish up an Acquaintance with you want my
look of frigh, came over the face Of the young
woman. She began TO tumble AT her purse.
Oh, I'm not a beggar," growled the enraged
Fulton street car! All aboard"
In hi IS e ,Ss capnbis ' ea1 I Ths vo m"pT sam ,no
hurried aboard Smith followed. lie took a seat
across from her and she glared at him, but Smith
lisa pretty good glarer himself when he gets mad,
and she moved along, To Smith great thank
fulness, there were few other passengers When
the conductor came 10 him he pointed at the tall
She will pay my fare, he said,
~Sir-r-r-r-r" gasped the young woman.
She has every cent have in the world" pur'
Soh, dear. The man is crazy. He followed me
on the cor. He's crazy, conductor. Idon'tknow
I've touched the other button" said Smith
grimly. 4 thought there must be something be.
sides 'Sir-r-I" In her
ductor, who was somewhat puzzled. Smith
didn't look either drunk or crazy, or the kind Of
man to throw off a car without well substanua,ed
reasons,
"She doesn't" said Smith; but she's got a
where? How demanded she.
Il don't know where IL is now, and I'd hate Il
GUESS" said Smith,
Conductor" said the young woman, in trem,
ulous tones. this man came up 10 me on the come,
and tined to engage me in conversation. never
saw him in my life before.
Il thought So" said Smith, composedly. BE
cause l yentured TO address a lady who had Il rsI
thrust me into the gutter and then absorbed my
last cent. you immediately jump TO the conclusion
you yourself being the lady IN question, that
B am so overcome by the atuactiveness Of the per
~formance as 10 Try, 10 get up a Irritation with you.
That's what you think, ~isn'tit"
! "Sirr-rr" said the young woman, but thi.
I time she said il without any enthusiasm. as II
, rather, she couldn't think Of anything else 10 say
4, One OF the other passengers was u youthful Great
, ure. who now conceived that here was his grand
| chance TO play the part Of hero for a dsmsel in
distress. Accordingly. he arose and approached
: Smith from the rear.
I what night have you TO annoy this LADY, he
began and then stopped, for Smith had whirled
so suddenly as TO make him blink.
t oh" remarked Smith in pleased accents
,ro Ss re a and aa the f S'sn d he i.u garb anyway You veal
What do You mean, sir" demanded the othel
I In fierce accents,
| Why, you sec. I've been labOring under IN,
I disadvantage If argument with q lady. BuI
1 you're different, My fr.sn1"-hcre Smith laid
/ a hand. none too lightly. on the shoulder Of the
/ othrr-"unless you wish to ex perimPnt with n
usually placid temper you will go back 10 YOU,
. seat and make money minding your business,
! The young man sat down, aided Slighu!, ii maj
I be, by gentle pressure from the hand Of Smith
, Then the conductor asked Smith II he wouldn't
= rather pay his own fare than make a lot Of trouble
"Of course | would, answered Smith, III could
but my last cent Is now helping 10 keep that lady
/, warm"
Here the conductor turned 10 get the young
woman fore and she, in her nervousness. dropped
' IL on the foor, Then she stopped over 10 recover
1 II. As she stopped she gave u little exclamation
{ OF alarm and put her hand TO her neck. Tn,
next instant a quarter rolled out from the from
= Of the collar and fell upon tho floor. Smith pointed
I to II and smiled swaetiy.
"Do you commonly carry loose change in tn,
back OF your neck, Madam he 0sked.
how II got there,
, NO, It's mine" said Smith, aunexing IL, "aud
you'd have found out long ago that IL got there
by slipping out of my hand rs | WAS tossing il
, In the air II you hadn't boon so sfrsid that | was
trying to take advantage Of your unchaperoned
!, youth and beauty"
l The young woman turned very red. Smith
handed the quarter " the conductor.
Take two ogt Of that" he sold.
woman with vast dignity and she went, leaving
} the coin she had dropped, under the floor grating
The youth who had intorfe red went out, too
:. Smith got his change and said 10 the conductor