Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-03
Willy OLD GENTLEMAN.
He Had Gained Wisdom by Sad Ex-
perIence.
New York Tribune.


A man with a forid face and clear
cut features, whose eyes had a pecul>
iarly innocent look in them. got On
an elevated railroad car the other day
to come down town. He became ab~
sorbed In the contents of a newspaper
and apparently did not notice a Young
man sitting near him whose eyes
seemed riveted upon his heavy gold
watch-chain. After several stops at
the stations the car became nearly
empty. The young man suddenly
rose, and, crossing over to the old
gentleman, remarked:
Il beg your pardon sir, but is not
this your pUrse2 [ found it in the
seat by your side.
The older man looked at the purse,
and then at the young man for full
minute. Then ne carefully removed
his glasses, wiped them with his
handkerchief, smiled to himself, and
calmly Queried:
f"And If it was not mine what would
you do with it2"
"Why-of course" said the young
fellow, slightly coloring, 'I'd return
it to the owner"
'Oyes, | see. But young man, sit
down here for a minute and let me
tell of scene that once witness
edn
The young man, somewhat discon>
certed, mechanically obeyed, and al
lowed the elder one to proceed.
'One day in April, some three
years ago, [ was passing through
Chambers street on q business errand,
when /; espied pair OF lady's kid
gloves lying upon the sidewalk. |
hurried forward to pick taem up,
but was just to late, as another per-
son short distances ahead of me- Sc
cured them. He looked at me in a
quizzical manner, and when [ asked
him to let me see them he politely as,
sented. But, as if fearful Of being
seen, he rudged me 10 come in an OPP
en- doorway, where we could look at
our prize with comparative safety. AS
IL took the gloves fIom his hand aud
pulled them apart SO as to examine
their worth, I was surprised to find
a large heavy lump of something tied
up IN one of the fingers. With greedy
haste [ communicated to him my dis
covery, when he snatched the gloves
from my hand and commenced work.
ing the article out of the finger hOl".
In few moments he held up to nay
astonished view handsome j6weled
ring, which at the lowest ought to be
worth $50. I expressed my surprise
in very open way, and asked him to
let me see 1t. This he did, and at the
same time asked me what thought it
was worth. / unhesitatingly gave
h hot hod
better do with it," he asked. why,
advertise it in the papers, suggest
ed, and the owner will probably give
us handsome price for returning it, )
This he thought was q very good plan,
but he was then on his way 10 the
train to go out of the city for a month
or two, and consequently he would
not b able TO receive any Of the mon
ey. ''Tu tell you, he finally said,
toe owner will give you at least SO
for returning it, aid # you will give
me SIS now | viii surrender the gloves
and ring to you. How does that suit?
It's fair, Isn't it8'
"Well, yes, / had to acknowledge
1t was, and so without murmuring I
handed him S. and walked away with
the ring. The next two days adver~
tised in the papers for the owner of
the ring; but no one came to claim it.
On the fourth day I concluded [ had
acted honestly in the matter, and was
now justified in selling it. [ took it
to a prominent jewelers. where I
knew It's true value would be given,
and-what do you think il was
worth9"
The young man shifted uneasily in
his seat, and lodged the smiling eyes
of the speaker.
"Why, it was brass ring worth
about cents, and put IN the gloves
by that rascal of swindler. Now,
them" continued the gentleman in q
severe tone, "what would you do if
you discovered that same fellow at
his old tricks again2"
''Ahl but this is my station; I must
go. Good morning." And the young
man with the purse slid gently along
the car, and disappeared in the crowd
on the platform The old gentleman
resumed his reading, and chuckled to
himself now and then.