The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-05-17
A Kindness That
Failed
By Martin Wilson
Copyright, by J. B. Idpplneott Coz
By Martin Wilson


philanthropic men who are always
efforts to do. kind deed. no matter
how trihing In Importance IL may be.
One day Hawkins was on a railroad
train, and directly in front OF him
in the crowded car sat big. red
faced. pusflstic looking man and a de-
mure looking little woman. Presently
the beefy-looking man got up and went
forward into the smoking car
At the next station but one the de.
mure looking little woman got up and
left the train She had been gone hut
a moment when Hawkins noticed she
had left handsome silk umbrella with
an ebony. and silver handle on the seat
In which she had been sitting. Here
was Hawkins opportunity to obey the
old song In which we are hidden to
DO a kind deed when you can. brother,
DO "a kind ded when you can.
Snatching up the umbrella, Hawkins
ran quickly to the door of the car and
looked for the woman in the crowd
on the platform He saw her at some
distance from the car talking TO a
herdic driver, and he was about to
hasten after her when the conductor
called out:
"All aboard"
Handing the umbrella to a boy by
the car step, Hawkins said:
Here. boy! Hand this umbrella to
that lady with the blue hat talking to
the herdic driver at the end OF the plat
form. She left it on the train Per
haps she'll give you five cents for re.
turning it to her-yes, yes, the lady
in black, with the blue hat"
The train started, and Hawkins went
back to- his seat with an inward exalta-
ton that comes from the doing OF a
good deed.
The trAn had gone three or four
miles when the beefy and pugilistic.
looking Individual came into the car,
and, walking up to the seat he had va
Gated, looked around for a moment.
and then said to Hawkins:
Scuse me, my friend. have you
seen anything OF an umbrella left
a
the smoker"
Hawkins paled as he said:
r-ah-ah-oh, did you leave an
umbrella on this seat?"
That's what | did, An a bran
spankin' new one ii was. at that!
gave six dollars an fifty cents for it
only yesterday! 1t had an eb'ny an
silver handle. an, by jacks, want it!
Didn't see anyone swipe it, did you? It
couldn't be that that little woman |
was settin with pinched it,"
Mono --she~-she---didn't." Hawk
ins said.
At that moment the conductor en-
tered the car and the big man said:
'Lookee here, Mr.. Conductor some
chump on the train has swiped my
umbrella AN want il back A man
who'll steal an umbrella will steal a
who done it, I'll wipe up the ground
with him; that's what | will! Things
have come TO a pretty pass when a
man cant leave an umbrella In a car
without having II swiped,"
A hook nosed old woman with a pair
OF small black eyes glitter1ng behind
iron-rimmed spectacles leaned for.
ward across the aisle and, pointing
lean finger towards Hawkins, said in
high-pitched, nasal voice:
That man there TUX yonr umbrella
an handed 1t to some one on the plat
form. ! seen him!"
The irate man squared himself and
glared at Hawkins.
What You got TO say to that, my
friend?" he asked.
'I-I-beg your pardon" said Hawk.
ing. but I-I--thought the umbrella
belonged to the lady who left the car
at the fast station. 1-I--gave II TO
boy to hand to her. I'm very sorry"
Are, hey? Well my meddlin
friend, hope you're sorry six dollars
an fifty cents worth, for that's what
it'll cost YOU to git out o. this scrape
So fork overt"
Tilt seems TO me that-tbat-"
ut seems to me that you'll fork over
six dollars an fifty cents. or I'll take
it out of your hide! / amt goin' To
lose no xdollar-and,a.h umbrella
on account O. your meddlin'. So, you
anty up"
Hawkins. who tips the beam at 1876.
looked at the muscular giant before
him. and then, holding out a ten-dollar
bill, said ,meekly; a.
Have You three dollars and fifty
cents in changer"
There is such thing as a man bein'
too derned obligin." said the heefv
man. as he handed Hawkins the re-
CURED change and then went back TO
the smoker, while Hawkins affected
NOT to hear the litter Of the hook-nosed
old lady across the aisle.