The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-11

to leave and several ladies were al
ready aboard the car. There was no
other alternative but to board the car
and start for Birmingham, which he
did On the car was seated the Hon.
William Barnard, the statesman and
legislator from Pratt City, at that time
known simply as Bill" Barnard. Nor
man called him to the front of the
car and explained his trouble
Now, Bill loved Norman like a brother
but could not resist the temptation to
have little fun at his expense. The
way Bill enlarged on that little micro
scopic rent was a shame. Norman grew
hot and then sold and begged Bill to
either take his place or knock him on
the head and throw him in the creek
Bill positively refused to do either, but
advised Norman to buy an apron from
one of the colored passengers and wear
1t backwards. AS a drowning man grasps
at straw Norman followed the sug-
gestion and trade with buxom negro
nanny was quickly made. 1t was now
time to collect fares and true to his duty
Norman donned the apron and started
through the colored car He had scarce
~ taken two steps when his feet got
tangled in the apron and down he fell.
Rising to his feet, his face crimson, the
first thing he saw was his friend and
counsellor gazing at him with a broad
and expansive grin on his povial coun-
tenance. With a jerk Norman separated
himself from the apron and threw it out
OF the window. Reaching the white car
by series of flank movements he again
commenced collecting fares. Quite a
number of ladies were on the car at this
time and the maneuvers he executed to
keep the enemy to his front was a sight
to behold. He chassezed to the right,
aa,l ,,t-T ,IaA IN HA 11Ff =; 4
left front into line, and the backward
guide right; and finally by a stragetic
rush gained the rear end of the car
where stood his friend Bill.
How does it look now, Mister WHIP"
queried Norman, wiping the beads of
preparation from his brow, referring,
of course to the break in his jeans. Get
ting worse every minute" replied the
Jobs comforter without batting an eye.
Norman groaned. Just then a stop was
made at Thomas. A bevy of pretty youn g
girls were waiting usual to be helped
on the car. Norman ''reneged." He
thought they all boarded the car at the
front end and again started to collect the
fares. Just as he made an elaborate bow
to a young lady in front, a soft feminine
voice at his rear said, Let me pass.
please" Norman jumped as though he
| had been shot Remembering his bow
| and the what it may have revealed, he
| rushed to the front of the car and decided
| that regardless of consequences at the
next stop he would abandon the car to
| It's fate and take to the woods. His sense
| IF duty prevailed, however, and he stuck
| 60 his post despite his growing discom-
| fort.
He made one more trip through the
| car. His passage resembled the march
| of an inebriated crab or one-legged man
| trying to waltz. The passengers at this
| time totally unaware OF the cause of his
antics began TO laugh. Norman imagined
| they were laughing at his predicament
and almost collapsed Finally the long
| trip was ended to his great relief and
| Norman got a fellow conductor to take
! his place.
| Rushing to his apartments he began
! an investigation. When he saw how
| slight was the damage 10 his trouserines.
and reflected. the agony he had uselessly
| gene through, he gritted his teeth and
| vowed revenge on his old friend Bill.
And history has 1t that Bill kept out Of