The Victor

It was a short way to the station; running among the passersby in the street was a traveling man. On the slippery slope of the clock face the hand slid. In the tight shoes the man's toes had blistered. "Not far to go. To hell with it!" He pulled off his shoes and ran faster. The hand slid round a new lap; the scarf and coat fell, the briefcase was flung... "Damn it all!" At the moment of departure at the top of the steps stood one stark naked, victorious, with a loud laugh. A watch fell on the rail beneath the wheel...