Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-14

happen to somebody and she would be
around when it did She paused before
the window washer. who, impressed by
his growing value as public character,
began to put a little more life into his
work.
The little thin woman watched him as a
cat watches a mouse. OF course she
couldn't hope for big, important acct
dent He was on the pavement. so he
couldn't very we'll fall and break his
neck But there was the chance that he
might stick his mop through the w!n-
dow or-ard then the other possibility
became a reality.
The window washer agitated by his
unaccustomed activity, stepped back and
kicked over the bucket A flood of soapy
water started toward the seedy man, who
plainly had no use for water, soapy or
otherwise He hoped briskly away from
the tree. The window washer, swearing
heartfully, retrieved the bucket and start
ed inside The little thin womans nose
wabbled with sheer joy. She was the
happiest person on 18th street at that
moment. Something had happened; some
thing she could tell about. She had not
waited in vain.
The show was over. The little knot
of people melted into the crowd. And
then ii struck the Observer that he might
wander farther and fare better.
1t is astonishing how many people
there are who have plenty of time TO
spend in viewing the most trivial Incl
dents To them an arrest or small
fire means a red letter day. They don t
expect such things often. They are
thankful for small blessings, willing to
wait any length of time where they think
anything at all is going to happen.
The Observer joined the merry band OF
hopefuls who are always waiting, and
with a prayer in his heart that he might
be lucky enough to see an automophe
accident he started up Pennsylvania ave
nue.. His prayer was modest one. He
didn't insist on casualties. All he wanted
was a mild automoble-street car after
cation. Most people who are watching
For things to happen insist upon
broken collar bone at least.
Hardly block had been traVerseu
when beginners luck hit the Observer.
Right in the middle of the Sidewalk
were too red-faced men who were arguing
with their voices and arms and heads.
Any moment might see the start OF q
deadly combat People We're hurrylng
around the men so as to have gooo places
when the massacre began.
II tell you" roared the first man,
that I will not stand financially re
sEunsible for a man whom | know TO De
Irresponsible 1t is absurd"
Look here." beloved his friend,
shooting one fist toward the sun:
You can't talk like that about old
jim! l know Jim. Good old Jim is all
right. Jim is just, jammed at the
Yes" snorted the first. Jim
jammed! That's what he is. He mas
been getting full for eight or nine
weeks. He ought to be locked up. He
is not responsible"
IF you keep on threatened the other,
ayo,, Cojup 70 get me mad and IL
He stopped off short, realizing for the
first time that a large and interesting
group was waiting for the bout TO
start.
Huh" he said, in accents of alarm.
The other man had been doing lit
tie looking around also. Under MS
baIeful glare those nearest him
shrank back. A bold spirit in the rear
was not to be discouraged. He called
and his voice bore a resemblance 10
the voice of the seedy man.
"Aw GAVIN, mister" urged the voice,
GAVIN. Soak him. 4ssz.@-~5se.. =
7rDon't you think" said the ffrst man
somewhere and sit down and talk this
|over?"
Eyes, I do" said the other, grimly.
81 don't see why we should be telling
our troubles to lot OF long-eared
idiots who don't understand the rudi-
ments of common politeness."
When he said this he looked at the
Observer until the Observer began to
feel conspicuous. Why should the man
pick him out of large crowd? This
amounted to discrimination as well as
false preeenses. He first refused to
have his fight and then got angry with
the one person in the crowd who didn't
care a boot whether he fought or not
X
1t was some minutes before the OBJ
server could feel at ease. Not until the
explanation came to him did his sense
of security return. He was not the only
one the red-faced man was looking at.
The man had looked clear through him