The Grinder Papers — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

28 THE GRINDER PAPERS. ‘‘Poor dear; she’s from the country, no doubt. It’s a cus- tom here, ma’am, for the police force to escort ladies over Broad- way. ‘Ts it,” saysI; ‘‘Oh, what a relief. I never was so skeered. Now,” says I, turnin’, on the policeman, ‘‘escort me across if it’s your duty, and don’t give me no impudence. Mind.” Then he laughed, and law how he dd hustle me over, right under the horses’ noses, to be sure. But when I was safe over, that nice lady came along side, and says she: ‘Hope you ain’t none the wuss for your skeer?” ‘‘Oh, no,” says I, ‘‘I’m not particularly nervous, thank ye.” Says she, ‘‘From the country, maam ?” ‘‘VYes'm,” says I. ‘‘Du tell how you guessed it.” Says she, ‘‘From the quiet dignitude of your appearance. New York ladies has in general a sort of boldish look. Then,” says she, ‘‘Shopping ?” . Says I, ‘‘Yes’m, I’ve got twenty dollars along with me to buy some goods with. D’ye know any cheap place?” Says she, ‘‘Oh, yes. Now there’s one around the corner; come with me.” So we went, and she was so polite she offered me her arm, which I took. Pretty soon we came to a shop door, but behold, it was closed. 3 ‘‘Dear me,’ says she, ‘‘they must be gone out. Wait a minute, and I'll run in the side door and call the gentleman’s wife. She'll show ws the things, though she wouldn't everybody. Don’t stir until I come back,” comicbooks co '*. ie PPE re” 2 ae