The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-04
A RESPECTABLE CITIZEN.

! awaken him The respectable citizen rea-
liZed this five seconds after he had sue
ceeded in shaking into consciousness the
recumbent form in the corner of the open
! car, which stopped at Fourteenth street
| to take on the crowds from the theatres
and carry them up town. Two other man
had made the attempt earlier in the trip
! up Broadway, but had given il UP in dis
/ gust, after five minutes of shaking and
adominition loud enough TO attract the
( atten -ion of all the other passengers 10
9 their actions, but insufficient to arouse the
sleeper. So they had retired and sought
J seats elsewhere.
/ When the respectable citizen boarded the
car, Their were just two seats left in the
; front aisle-and there wer three in the
! respectable citizens party-hinself wife
! ana little girl, apparently about half
dozen years old. Two vacancies were on
! the bench with its back TO the motor
man and ther was room for one other
passenger in the corner facing-that is,
/ there would have been room had not the
/ long legs of the sleeper rested firmly on
| the woodwork
! The respectable citizen deposited his
! wife and little girl in the vacant seats
and then approached the slumbrous one.
with respectable determination in his re-
! spectacle eye, and respectable force in his
! respectable arm. He finally succeeded.
( The man in the corner slowly opened
| his eyes and gazed beerily around him.
| He drew in his long legs and looked I'M
decidedly at the respectable citizen who
| sank into the opening. He wasn't angry
! over being Weakened. but he was puzzled
| by his surroundings The respectable CT
| tizen. encoura ged by the others placidity,
/ and noting that in the course of the nap
/ the jaunty necktie had been disarranged,
leaned over and obligingly informed the
| drowsy man.
| The eX-sleeper smiled and thanked his
| informant and labored five minutes in
| getting the tie adjusted. He looked again
| ia the respectable citizen and smiled his
| gratitude. The respectable citizen smiled
/ in return.
'Szall RI now?" asked the awakened
one.
Yes" treasured the respectable citizen,
your tie is straight now
'Stakell happen. Y know" went on
| the berry man. "C'mere minute, and
| he drew closer to the respectable citizen
and his voice assumed a tone confiden-
tial and persuasive. The respectable citi-
zen submitted TO the familiarity because
| he was a respectable citizen and didn't
| like a scene.
"Spose I'll get in?'' asked the stranger,
anxiously.
We'll, really, 1 don't know What is it
you want to get IMP
"Masons. Been tryin' me out y'know.
Givin' me all kinds of sterrs. but stuck
it out all right, all right, all right, all
right. all right"
The other passengers were watching the
little comedy and enjoying the growing
discontinue of the respectable citizen.
The man with Masonic ambition had
started in to talk in a reasonably low
| tone, but as he struck the succession of
all right" he assembled the scale ana
fairly shouted the last tone.
Ever in the five holes. he next asked
The respectable citizen admitted he had
never occupied that position and was
wise enough TO ward off garrulous ex-
plantations by declining to inquire as 10
the defination of the term.
Put me in the five holes, they did
But won out al right, all right, al right
all right. Stay? Don speak s'loud?
Ats all right. Som l. I'm all ri -
but the respectable citizen headed him off
by asking a question in a low tone. For
wonder. the other answered pianissimo
and steady conversation followed, ter
minated by an insistent handshake when
the respectable citizens little girl beckon-
ed her father to take a seat beside her
another passenger getting out.
The respectable citizen left his acquain-
lance and sat by his little girl, seemingly
forgetting his late tormentor in minute
of the car. The gentleman with the jag
looked around until he located the respect
ale citizen. Then his hand went into his
trouser pocket and he fished out pile Of
change. He selected a nickel. leaned over
and tapped the respectable citizen on the
arm.
"Giv't little boy" he said, endeavoring
to press the five cent piece on the man
Of family.
mo. thank YOU" said the respectable
citizen good humoredy.
"Giv't little boy. Let him buy candy.
Always like t see little boys with candy"
Thank you, l never let her accept
money from anyone but myself
The little girl was snickering and the
rest OF the passengers wore expansive
smiles. as the man leaned over and pro-
tested in an injured tone:
Just let me .giv't him this once You're
not friend of mine if you don't If you
wanted to give my little boy a nickel I'd
let you do it,
We'll, 1 won't" returned the respect
able citizen, forced TO continue the argu-
ment by the others persistence. Il never
let my little girl take money. If she wants
candy, I can buy - for her"
Sure, you can buy it. Sure you can.
You're right. all right all right. all right.
all right. But L want give this t your
little boy"
Il haven't any little boy. confessed the
respectable citizen in desperation. think
ing, possibly the admission might end the
conversation. This is little girl
The other sank back in his seat The
car ran three blocks and he never moved
but he was thinking. Suddenly. he said
To himself: well. fits little girl. that's
different. Much different" And thon his
hand with the nickel still in il returned
20 his pocket Out came another pile OF
loose change. Fits little girl he said.
refiectively, she'll want more candyn a
boy and he selected dime and once
more turend his attention 10 the respect
able citizen.
Didn't know't was a little grill he
explained apologetically. MY mistake.
Hope you'll overlook IT, Here's dime FOR
little girl I buy candy with
No. thank you. she doesn't need IT,
thank you Put your money in your
pocket. Buy some candy for your own
little girls and boys
1t was really wonderful the patience the
respectable citizen displayed. Even when
tho offer was increased TO a quarter. h
held out for a rejection.
i don't want your money" he said.
You keep il. You'll need il.
"All right. all right. all right, al right
returned the would-be donor Tell you
whstH do. Let her buy a dolly" and h
brought out from another pocket p bundle
Of bills and tried TO press one on the little
girls parent
II you don't want to lose all YOUR
money. you better put it in your pocket,
couseiled therespectable citizen
Sail right. m boy said the lcqusc-
- A.