The Ravalli Republican., 1898-03-23
CURED OF FLIRTING,

CURED OF FLIRTING.
The manager If the firm was an
old friend of mine Notwithstanding
the fact that our acquaintance began
when ] was quite well 70 do and he
was a commercial traveller, the
change which had taken place in our
fortunes, change that had brought
him tn the head of one of the lead
ing mercantile Establishments in the
west and reduced me to the necessity
of earning my living with my pen
had not strained our friendly rela-
tions. / could approach him with
the same old freedom. Twas in need
of a story, an incident OF romance of
some kind, and waiting until was
certain that his business for the day
was completed I went into his Office,
knowing that he would help me out
if possible, and after exchanging
the usual cordial greeting said:
John, am looking for story,
and want you to tell me one. "
MY dear boy he always called
me "boy, although I am his senior
~ could not be of any service to
you, l am afraid. -
"Well, I have an idea," I said,
"and will ask you question by way
of suggestion
"Go ahead" was the rejoinder.
"Iwant you to tell me, if you will,
the incident or accident Of yonr life
in which you suffered the greatest
humiliation.
John laughed heartily at this, but
with a blush that suggested some
thing romantic OF sentimental, and
! got out my notebook.
In tell you a story, but if you
should ever mention my name"
said he, II might forgive you, but I
know sweet little woman who
would be very slow to forgive me. -
"Go on. ! think you can trust
me-" said, and he told me the fol-
lowing story:
"You are aware of the fact" he
began, "that ten years ago repre-
kented the firm of - of this city
on the road. ! Travelled over western
Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. In
those days l was up early, worked
hard aud late, but was jolly and
quite a ladies' man.
"Yes," I said, II remember, es-
pecially about the latter phase Of
your character" And it was true.
John -- was not a bad man, but l
knew him in his younger days to be
an inveterate flirt and that the wo-
men all admired him. He was good
looking, wore smile that was full
OF sunshine and carried heart that
responded to the nisfortunes of
mankind wherever or whenever
found No one could truthful]y say
that John was ever unkind OF self
ieh, but for all that he was a t1irt,
and many were his innocent esca,
pades. He thought of nothing out
side of his business but good times,
and if anybody had them he did.
But it did not enter his mind that
there was any harm in what he was
doing until he grew older and more
serious thoughts took the place OF
his prankish ideas. But to return tc
the story.
IF you have never Travelled over
the branch railroad running from
Burlingame, Kan, on the Santa Fe
to Manhattan, on the Union Pacific, ,
said he, "I'll explain the situation
SO you will understand that ant
what I am going to tell you, for
trip over this road was the com
mencement OF an incident which le,
to my greatest embarrassment ant
forever cured me Of the habit 0
flirting with the fair sex.
Burlingame is south Of Topek;
about 40 miles, on the Santa Fe, AM
Manhattan is west of the Kansa
capital Oh the Union Pacific some 6
miles. Well, this short line connect
these two points, via Eskridge, Aim
and two or three minor stations.
was in the fall of the year 1889.
visited Burlingame on my regula
trip and was going from there t
Alma I had finished my business il
Burlingame, good business at that
and after settling my bill with min
host Collins of the principal hote
and instructing him to send IN,
grips to the depot, sauntered ou
in town to kill the intervening hour
before train time. This short lin
train did not leave the Burlingam
dennt until after the Santa Fe mai