Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-09-03
Willy OLD GENTLEMAN.
n. Had Gained Wisdom by Sad Ex-
pertenee.
New York Tribune.

New YORK tribune.
A man with n forid face and clear
cpt features, whose eyes had a pecul>
;arlv innocent look in them, got on
ON elevated railroad car the other day
~ come down town. He became ab,
sorbed in the contents OF a newspaper
and apparently did n0tnotice a young
man sitting near him whose eyss
seemed rivetea 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:
II beg your pardon sir, but is not
this your pUrse9 | found ii in the
seat by your side"
The older man looked at the purse,
and then at the young mau for a full
minute. Then he carefully removed
his glasses, wiped them with his
handkerchief, smiled to himself, and
calmly queried:
And II 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"
80 YES, | see. But young man, sit
down here for a minute and let me
tell of a scene that once witness
ed.n
The young man, somewhat discon>
certed, mechanically obeyed, and all
lowed the elder one TO proceed.
zone day in April, some three
years ago, | was passing through
Chambers street on a business erran@.
when ? espied a pair OF lady's kid
gloves lying upon the sidewalk. I
hurried forward to pick taem up,
but was just to late, as another per>
son q 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 nudged me to come in an OPP
en- doorway, where we could look at
our prize with comparative safety. AS
I took the gloves flom his hand and
pulled them apart so as to examine
their worth, | 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 Singer hol".
In few moments he held up to nay
astonished view a handsome jeweled
ring, Ehich at the lowest ought to be
worth $50, I expressed my surprise
in a very open way, and asked him to
let me see it. This he did, and at the
same time asked me what l thought it
was worth. / unhesitatingly gave
him my opinion. Then what had we
better do with it9' he asked. why,
advertise it ia the papers, [ suggest
ed, and the owner will probably give
us a handsome price for returning it,
This he thought was q very good plan,
but he was then on his way TO the
train 10 go out of the city for a month
or two, and consequently he would
not b. able to receive any of the mon
ey, ''Ill tell YOU he fually said,
the owner will give you at least $40
for returning it, and if you will give
me s. now | viii surrender the gloves
and ring to you. How does that SUITE
It's fair, Isn't it2'
well, yes, l had to acknowledge
it was, and so without murmuring /
handed him IS and walked away with
The ring. The next TWO days / adver~
Used IA the papers for the owner of
the ring; but nc one came TO claim it.
Ga the fourth day l concluded | had
acted honestly in the matter, and was
now justified ia selling il. I took it
to a prominent jewelers. where l
knew its true value would be given,
and-wbat do you think it was
wOrth2"
The young man shifted uneasily in
his seat, and lodged the smiling eyes
of the speaker.
"Why, it was a brass ring worth
about 3 cents, and putt in the gloves
by that rascal Of a swindler. Now,
theA," continued the gentleman in a
severe tone, ''what would you do if
you discovered that same fellow at
his old tricks again.
"Ah! but this il my station; must
go. Good morning. And the young
man with the purse slid gently along
tho car, and disappeared in the crowd
on the platform. The old gentleman
resumed his reading, and chuckled to
himself now and then.