The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-30

Findley was long with the glad rush
play. He just dotted on the ELUSIVE
greeting and all his old friends worked a
eIdestep every time he appeared on the
scene. Findley had a hand much the
shape of one of the hams that go all
the way round the world When the
old friends forgot to sidestep the hand
landed and then the unfortunate friend
went home to have a liniment massage
These remarks about Findley must
go IN the past tense. For the past three
days the glad rush has been relegated
to the closet of forgotten tricks. Find
ley carries with him a resolution to for
get the ELUSIVE greeting, and though
three days have passed he feels no wild
yearning to tear loose with the hand
again.
1t all happened three days ago. Find
ley was hurrying down the street At
the postoff1ce corner he sighted an old
friend. The old friend had his back
turned. Findley., experienced a tickIed
feeling, for he could work a better free
swing with his arm.
Findley started for the old friend on
lope. Then the old friend caught the
ham-shaped hand full in the back He
gulped and almost swallowed his cigar
His hat rolled across the sidewalk to the
gutter and then
Pardon me, pardon me-" simpered
Findley talking as fast as he could while
the red color worked up into his ears
L assure you on my honor, sir, I
thought that you were a friend of mine
and wanted to surprise you"
BY this time the man who resembIed
the old friend had regained his breath
and he at once started conversation
The things he said about Findley's rat
ing in funny house collection were
spoken too fast to follow and then came
more remarks about the numerous and
sundry things the injured stranger had
mind to do to Findley.- F'indley had
to stand there and take it all, but his
nerve was fairly we'll caked about the
edges and he did not care much as long
as the stranger confined himself to per-
Sonal remarks
81 beg your pardon again. declared
Findley when the stranger topped for
breath, 'and assure you again that
ain sorry that made mistake"
''Well,'' said the stranger, dor ever
try it again or will forget that y>u are
trying to be a gentleman and knock your
fool head clear off. You had better CIT
out that hand-swinging turn or you will
quit this world in hurry some1%ue''
F1ndley offered to shake hands, but the
stranger was still angry, so the glad rush
er continued on his way. He wandered
down to Fourth and Wabasha and went
AlCo d SdlOOH 10 ten now 1t happened to
crowd of friends. The crowd thought it
great joke and Findley purchased sew
eral rounds
Then he started back up the street He
hurried some in passing Fifth street, but
the stranger had moved from the post
office corner and all was well. The sew
erai rounds purchased by Findley were
working and the glad rusher began to
feel better Like the friends in the sa
loon crowd. he began to believe that the
encounter was great joke He was
chuekiing to himself when he happened
to glance across Seventh street and there
On the corner he saw his old friend. who
should have been, but wasn't, standing in
front of the postoffice when FindIey d.
livered the effusive greeting.
''I'll have to tell him all about If. ;, sail
the glad rusher to himself as he chuckIed
another ehuekle, and across the street he
hurried
Say, Tom he laughed as he reached
out and slapped .ethe old friend on tha
back, Il just had a funny experience.
Slapped guy on the back down here
thinking it was you, and it wasn't at ali.
and the lobster got ugly and threatened
to knock my head off. You'll have to
wear label or viii pass you by on the
streets after this"
you had better pass me by. nv friend
for 1 am just lobster enough to make
good with what I said and give Won =.
beating up that will make you ache for
several weeks"
It was the stranger who had STONED
the slap on The back in front of the most
office and Ffndley turned and fled down
the street.
The friends still think it is a good Joke
but Findley has reformed