Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-10
PICKED THE WRONG GIRL

He had that arrogant, self-pleased, what
i-don' t-know -about-the Tenderloin you
can-put-in-a- corner Of your eye manner
about him that New York men assume
when they get out "in the provinces" to
the deep WEAKNESS OF the "provincials" He
was undeniably well-groomed, but he look
ed as If he were too well aware OF 1t, and
so the effect was spoiled. He swung onto
14th street car, up-bound, about o'clock
the other afternoon. The car was crowded.
and people were. as usual. huddled in the
aisles-what would the interior of an up
bound 14th street car look like. anyhow. If
people weren't huddled and shoveled to-
gether in the sisles?
The misunderstanding man got hold of
strap, and Immediately began to occupy
himself by gazing languishingly and kill
ingly into the face of a pretty woman who
sat to the right of where he stood. A smile
fingered around the corners Of the mouth
OF the pretty woman, and the self satisfied-
looking man twisted his mustache with his
loose hand and seemed to be saying to him
self: Il think I'll just have this one hope
lessly and madly infatuated with me before
this car crawlS another three blocks!
Then he gazed searchingly and killingly
into her countenance some more. That
fetching smile still fingered around the cor
ners of her pretty Cupids bow mouth as
she seemed to be looking out of the car
window opposite, and the complaisant-look-
ing chap apparently figured that the smile
was all meant for him.
When the car reached K street a man
on his left abandoned his seat and left
the car and the man who looked as II he
thought quite a heap of the power of his
own winning ways took the seat. He
twisted his mustache again. and furtively
glanced across the aisle at the pretty wo-
man. She was still smiling in that mysteri-
Gus fashion, but the self-satisfied-appearing
man couldn't exactly catch her eye. Her
pensive gaze was fixed on a point about
two feet to his left, and she seemed to stu
diously avoid catching his eye. He looked
to his left. His left-hand seat-mate was
solid-looking young man with a serious
countenance-nothing dashing or winning
about him at all. And yet 1t appeared to
the Notwithstanding man as If the pref
ty womanS smile was meant for the solid
looking young man on his left. The latter
did not smile in return however, and the
whole situation plainly seemed exceedingly
peculiar to the man who looked as if he
had plenty of regard for himself.
This sort of thing went on until the car
reached r street. the mustache-twister
never abating his efforts to catch the pref
ty woman's eye. and the pretty woman
continuing to smile at intervals in the d.
rection Of the man on his left. At street
the soiid-looking man seemed to catch
on to something, and he turned his
head and looked smiling amusedly. at the
chap who had New York. spelt all over
him. Then he looked across the way at
the pretty woman and smiled at her. She
returned the smile. The self-complaisant
man was obviously put out over this, and
he looked as If he was about ready to throw
his hand into the discard and pass out.
Well said he. inclning his head to-
ward the solid-iooking man on his left. 81
guess I'm nosed out, all right. You've won
her. nodding in the direction of the pretty
woman across the way.
The sold-looking man turned and looked
the chap over.
"Oh, yes, WILLIE he replied, 1T win all
square enough, but it's a pretty dismal
run you've had for your money, isn't it? I
won her as you phrase it, about eight
years ago. son, but l wasn't pin-head
enough to make a Street-car campaign of
it l married her from her fathers house
with drums a-beating and colors flying.
Now, Archie. there's no manner of doubt
about your being real cute and lovely, and
you have a pretty large head. outside
measurement. but nevertheless you won't
do. You're a dreary fiZzle as n blandisher.
You'd probably win out all right as mash
er If you confined your eye-ogl;ngs to the
ong somble young loiies WHO portray think
ing parts in Bowery choruses. but when
you try it on in a civilized community like
Washington you make such hash of 1t
that
But the sef-satisficd- looking chap had
pulled his hat down over his eyes, touched
the button, and raced for the rear plat
form.