The little man was perfectly harmless

The little man was perfectly harmless, but the lady sitting next to him in the car was a spinster, and suspicious of all males. So, since they were somewhat crowded on the seat, she pushed the umbrella between her knee and his and held it firmly as a barrier.

A shower came up, and the woman when she left the car, put up the umbrella. As she did so, she perceived that the little man had followed her. She had guessed that he was a masher, now she knew it. She walked quickly down the side street, and the man pursued through the driving rain. She ran up the steps of her home, and rang the bell…

When she heard the servant coming to the door, feeling herself safe at last, she faced about and addressed her pursuer angrily:

“How dare you follow me! How dare you! What do you want, anyhow?”
The drenched little man at the foot of the steps spoke pleadingly:
“If you please, ma’am, I want my umbrella.”