The Afro-American advance., 1900-03-24
She Had Smiths Money
yoahT woman foot Isis Last Quarter
ssss ~ ~ m ~ 4

CMTH, Of brooklyn, had been out
y paying bills. He had settled with
the butcher the baker. the bicycle
maker and a yariey Of department
stores. which combined practically all
the other functions OF trade. At the
end he found himself possessed of a
sensation Of temporary coutentment
and rs cents In cash. The sensation was
distributlve, but the cash was all In
one piece, and its proud proprietor held
il In his hand ns he waited for the troll
ley ear which should bear him home Tor
one fye-cent fare. To be able 20 re-
turn 10 Mrs. Smith. tell her that all bills
were settled, and heap the minted
richness of 2s cents surplus in her lap.
would be indeed "a proud achievement.
Trolleys loomed and neared and
passed. but not Smiths trolley. One
OF the virtues that goes with residence
In Brooklyn is patience, and the troll
ley system does much 10 foster IL.
Smith waited patiently. Presently "A
tall young woman Of majestic but dis
tinctly ornamental presence mp
preached with no little speed. and
Smith. CHANGING TO make u side-step
at the moment. she came m contact
with his back with such force that
he was jolted into the gutter. Look
ing up with some wrath Smith met
pair Of serene eyes, and ON the spur
Of the moment apologised humbly.
The next moment he wondered why he
should apologize for being knocked OF
the curb by n young woman who could
just as we'll have had all the rest OF
the sidewalk. The apology didn't seem
To have taken. either The young wom.
an looked at him ns II he were n bug
Then she turned her back without
deignlnR 20 respond 10 his apology,
marched out 60 the track and stood
waiting. says the New York Sun.
Smith marched after. not that he
particularly yearned for proximity. but
because he saw down the street troll
ley car which looked like the one he
wanted. No sooner bad he come 10
halt behind the young woman than
she turned and swept him from head
10 foot with look that chilled and
amazed him. lie pondered what he
could have done Co merit such treat.
ment and presently II flashed upon
him that she wng one of those curl
oua female phenomena who pass
through n troubled existence under the
painful oppression that every man In
sight Is trying Ia fllrt with them This
theory so satisfied Smith that he
chuckled. lie would have sworn that
he heard low but penetrating snort
OF contempt in response The car came
and II wasn't smiths after all. Meth.
er was II the young woman's. They
both stood waiting and the car
passed on.
To fdRet Ii human. In Smith fidget-
ting took the form OF manipulating
whatever chanced TO be In his hands
at the time. lie began TO Zip the lone
quarter In the air and catching II. At
the third or fourth trial he misflippcd
and the coin, soaring easily over the
edge Of the high turnup collar upon
the young woman's coat. disappeared
from view. The young woman started
and turned. Smith hastily looked the
other way. and began to persplrc
Could he get II out without her per.
criving it9 Certainly. he couldn't. as
long as she kept her hasilisk eye upon
him. To make matters worse. another
ear waa approaching. and he was sure
Il was his. He mustered up his eour-
age.
81 beg your pardon" he began.
"bnt--~"
'Slrl" interrupted the young WON.
an with such fvrocity that the unfor.
tunate man fairly jumped, hut IL was
two-mile walk home. aud hc tried
again.
III you viii let me explain"
''Sir TT"
Madam. am very sorry"
''Sir--S--r--r,' The young Woman
was hsginnlng TO look around as II for
help.
''0oodneHA!" said Smith 20 himself
This isa't a girl. She is one of those
automatic dolls II Id touch the right
button she'd play tune; | know she
would"
"Just n word" he said aloud. 81
ooAat wish to-"
"Sir~-r--r-=r-rl"
"oh. blaxes." cried Smith In utter
evaporation. ''no you think I'm
spending all this time trying TO iish up
an acquaintance with you2 l want my
quarter
A look OF fright came over the face
of the yonng woman She began to
fumbls At her purse.
aOh, I'm not hegEar." growlci the
eErAged smith. II don't want yanr
money. want mine"
..rsiten street ear. All aboard,s
HE kir excitement Smith hadn't no.