THE FIRM-FACED WOMAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1926, Page 3

THE FIRM-FACED WOMAN.

AX OMNIBUS COMEDY. LONDON. Dec. 10. Passengers in n London omnibus yesterday were in the stalls, so to speak, at a private performance of a comedy entitled or worthy ot llein K entitled, "The Honest ’Bns Conductor, or Never Intervene.” There are omnibuses and omnibuses, of course; there are even ’buses, and this was one of the lather, having as •buses will, rather a bad morning. It was being stopped all the time; jerk succeeding jerk as it pulled un at intervals of twenty yards to receive woman after woman, frantically waving an umbrella. The conductor was obviously a little tried. He grew still more tried shortly when a girl said, ‘‘You have given me change for a two-shilling piece and I gave vou iinlf-a-cro\vn.” “Excuse me. miss, you gave me two shillings.” The population of the omnibus pricked up its ears and listened. “Oh, I am sure it was half-n-rrown.” "No miss, two shillings.” At this point the firm-faced woman sitting on the sea across the aisle from the Lady of the Florin must join in. "It was half-a-crown ; 1 saw her give it to you.” said she to the conductor. Neatly severing l"?r Jugular vein with a look, tlie conductor turned again to the original complainant, who was searching in her bag. Suddenly. "Oh conductor. I’m so sorry.” came her repentant voice, "you're quite right I only had the two pieces in i silver, and here’s the half-crown. Please forgive me. I should have made certain 'first. Oh, I’ve got to get out here.” and out she got. And then the conductor turned on the firm-faced woman, and every passenger in the omnibus turned on the firm-faced woman. The firm-faced woman stood the silence and the glares for a minute, and then as the conductor rang his hell she fled, colliding in the doorway with an eager delegate of the Women’s Professional ’Busstopping Association,