Sunday Washington globe., 1902-05-04

A tragedy was barely missed one evening
the past week adjacent to one Of Mr. c. r.
Hunters department shops, located at II3
Pennsylvania avenue A womans ready
wit saved her husband from involving him
self in the meshes of the law and incident
ally saved the negro who insulted her from
a bullet in his kidneys.
Early in the morning Wednesday last
respectfully dressed and stylish looking
gentleman took his seat in a bootblack's
chair in the store mentioned, one side Of
which is devoted to the business of shining
boots. The gentleman, who was apparently
a white man, made goo-goo eyes at the
modest lady cashier, which were unnOticed
by the lady. Finally when paying for his
shine he entered into conversation and made
several, inquiries which were answered
briefly but politely. He wanted to know if
she was married or single, how long she
had been a resident of Washington, her
native state, name, etc. Having answered
all these questions, Mrs. Viola M. Reynolds
the lady in question, and who is a sister, by
the way, of the beauty of the Florodora
Company, permitted the matter to pass from
her mind In the early evening the stylish
looking white man called again and mounted
a chair for a shine. He wrote a note On a
piece of yellow paper and requested the
boOtblack to hand it to Mrs Reynolds, The
note was as follows
what time d. you get Off"
Mrs Reynolds, who was behind the
cashiers desk engaged with Mr. Hunter in
a business conversation after reading the
note innocently answered verbally, in tile
hearing of all in the shop, six O'Clock.
She attached no other meaning to the in.
quiry than that of a harmless question
prompted bY the curiosity of a customer,
and threw the yellow piece of paper on the
counter. Later in the evening, however,
she noticed that the man was hanging
around the vicinity of the store evidently
awaiting her departure at six O'Clock. She
became alarmed, and recalling the note,
placed finally the correct construction on
the insulting missive. She fingered in the
store after her usual time for departure,
aud Mr. Hunter finally Snoticing that il was
within few minutes of seven o'clock,
asked her why she did not go homee Mrs.
Reynolds pointed out the waiting indi-
vidual, and Mr. Hunter recognizing him
instantly surmised his pr >ose. He gal
lantly volunteered his escort aud prepared
to teach the fellow a lesson if he atte mpted
to speak to the lady. Just as they were
nods came along slightly alarmed at his
wife's prolonged stay which she explained
by stating the reason.
The husband and wife left tue store and in
approaching the waiting individual Mrs.
Reynolds reflected that if she could NOT pie
vent her husband assaultiug him it would
result in his arrest aud more trouble, hence
when the husband reached the fellow aud
peremptorily questioned him Mrs. Reynolds
exclaimed, This is not the man" Hus-
band aud wife then proceeded home and
the would-be masher sueaked off. Invests
CATION by Mr.. Hunter developed the fact
that the mans name Is Charles or Wright
Quincy of Texas. former employe of the
Senate POstofice. Cuuey wears eye glasses
and is to all outward physical appearances
a Caucasian, but much to his astonishment
Mr. Hunter was informed that Quincy is a
colored man When Mrs. Reynolds was in
formed of this fact she partially regretted
having saved him from the clfastisement of
her husband When Mr.. Reynolds is IN
formed it is probable a warrant for the ar
rest of Cuney for insulting a white lady will
be sworn out as it is to be hoped he will not
involve himself in trouble by taking the
law into his own hands, although the provo
cation to do so is certainly great. Mrs.
Reynolds is very handsome, gentle and
refined lady, extremely popular with the
employees Of the store, white and colored,
who are all justly indignant at the unwar-
rauted insult she was subjected to by
Cuneys impudent advances. Il is safe to
state he will never again get his shoes
shiued in the store in question while the
present owner and employees are on deck.
It Is stated that Cuney's people are
wealthy and highly respected colored people
in Texas and that they furnish him with an
unlimited supply Of funds, which in Wash
iugton obliterates ali race lines aud with a
certain class OF white women opens their
doors and arms to a coal black Ethiopian on
the same social equality extended his white
brother.
The only mistake Cuney made was in
making overtures to the wrong white
woman and the end is not yet