Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21
AN ENJOYABLE RIDE


He was short and bulky. and evidently
a stranger. He got on westbound green
car at the Capitol He took stand on the
rear platform. for he was smoking Dig
black cigar that was still too long to be
thrown away. He gazed around curiouSiy
at all of the points of interest
At the Peace monument two -~young
plumbers apprentices scrambled aboard
the rear platform. They were both carry
ing heavy kits. together with many pieces
of lead pipe and such gear. Quite a lot
of this stuff they clumsily dropped upon
the bulky strangers feet. He didn't seem
to care. When they mumbled their jerky
apologies he just grinned am!ibly and told
them not to mention it. The car swerved
and both of the plumbers apprentices
swayed against the bulky man. ana stepped
on his patent leather shoes and damned
him against the side grating of the rear
platform. He had considerable difficulty
in recovering himself, and as he got back
into standing posture one or the pump
er's apprentices knocked the bulky man S
up the derby. pushed the dent out of it,
brushed it off with his sleeve. ana re-
placed it on his head with smile
'''Scuse me, boss said the plumbers
apprentice.
That's all right, boy" said the amiable
stranger, still smiling. Don't mention II.
Little things like that bound to happen
Just then painter, carrying two very
oozy buckets of paint, climbed onto the
rear platform He set his buckets Of paint
SO close to the trousers of the stranger
that the latter inadvertently, owing TO
the swaying of the car, brushed against
the bucket of red lead. and big splotch
of the paint appeared on one of his trouser
legs
beg pardon, cap" said the painter, with
genuine CONSERVATION on his face. Didn't
mean to have that happen, for sure thing.
Boss wagons are all in use or l wouldn
be having to take and spelling peo-
pies clothes that-a-way. Sorry, cap, for a
fact"
Don't you worry. son. said the stranger.
isn't bothering me any,
The conductor and the two plumbers ap-
prentices by this time were regarding the
bulky man with a good deal of astonish-
ment in their eyes.
THAT Teller amt no kicker, FIR a sure
thing, all right remarked one of the
plumbers apprentices in the ear OF the
other one.
Some fellers 'ud be handing TIL bunch O.
US a biff on tn jaw FIR dom tn things we
this car replied the other. AN he looks
like sport at that. Good feller, all ..
X"
The plumbers apprentices and the painter
got off the car at 10th street. but at the
18th street transfer corner a still more
dangerous individual got aboard He was
a plate-glass man, and he carried in box
like arrangement a big four-by-four piece
of heavy beveled glass. The car started
up before the plate-glass man had chance
to thoroughly fix his burden, and a corner
of it came down plump on the bulky mans
foot. The stranger hoped about bit.
but there was still a goOd-natured CLEAN in
his eye. All of the patent leather was
scraped off his shoe, and the leather in
parts appeared to be cut through.
wouldn't ha' done that for worlds,
boss" said the plate-glass man, but the
funny conductor pulled the bell too quick
on me. Hurt much?"
mot little Bit replied the stranger,
still in his marvelously patient and even
tone. Its all right Don't you bother.
boy"
Then the conductor, who had seen the
plate-glass accident from the middle of the
car, came out on the platform.
Excuse me. judge" he said with a smile,
addressing the bulky man. but are you
keepin' 'er down on bet?"
keeping what down, chum?" inquired
the stranger.
"Your temper said the conductor "a
whole lot of measly things have happened
to you since you got on board my car Some
people 'ud have got hostile, that's ALL
The stranger smiled broadly.
II call this good riding" he said.
How do you make that out?" said the
conductor.
"Oh. nothing said the stranger, throwing
away his butt of cigar and preparing to
swing Off, Except that live in New York
Got fiat up in Harlem. Make two trips
a day on the Sixth Avenue elevated railroad
in New York. Maybe you've heard of
what that Is. Sometimes go down town, If
I've got lot of time, on the Eighth avenue
surface cars. Fine riding? Why, this has
been the peacefulest and most enjoyable
ride I've taken for five years."
And he swung off. leaving the conductor
staring.
Must be a cheerful old burg to live in
that New York town." he said to a man
standing beside him.