The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-11-26
A Change
OF Heart
~! 4.
b. WILLIAM CHANDLER !.

By WILLIAM CHANDLER ],
Jim Edwards was young and frisky
and full Of Old Nick. He was. fid,
ing on suburban train one day, on
his way to the city when IN old gen.
tleman Of eminently respectable ap-
pearance came into the car and took a
seat beside him. Jim was reading in
morning journal an account d a
prisefght The gentleman took from
his pocket copy Of the Missionary
Intelligencer, opened it and began to
peruse 1t.
"Have you seen an account Of the
bout between Andy Sheehan and the
Philadelphia Kid, sir?'' asked Jim in a
deferential tone.
mo. l don't read accounts Of such
inhuman transactions"
Il suppose you wouldn't care to see
fight Of that kind. But don't you
think IL we kill of all blood splitting
affairs it's bad for the military spirit?
We must have wars. you know, even
II to protect ourselves from a. foreign
enemy, and If we young fellows should
get too soft we'd all have to knuckle
under in case Of an invasion. Forsmy
part think the way the Kid stood up
against Sheehan was admirable. He
broke the big mans jaw and let a
pint Of blood from his nose."
At this the gentleman turned his
back squarely on the young man and
buried himself in his journal.
Jim, who had been amusing him
self with the old man, smiled inward
~, much pleased at the shock he had
given him. When they reached the
city Jim waited till the passageway to
the door was cleared Of the outgoing
passengers, then arose to go himself.
On the seat beside him he espied q
pocketbook. 1t must have belonged to
the gentleman who had sat beside him,
and Jim hurried after him. but failed
to catch him. An examination Of the
contents Of the pocketbook revealed
the name of Howard Spingler and his
address, besides some $40 In bills. In
pocket by itself was a small; photo
graph Of girl evidently in her teens.
Jim fell in love with it on sight.
Instead Of sending the find to the ad-
dress Jim waited till evening, when he
thought he might possibly get sight of
the original Of the photograph, then
went to the house, rang the bell and
told the butler who answered It that
he would like to see Mr.. Spingler. He
was ushered into the library, where
sat the owner of the pocketbook and
near by, doing some fancy work, the
girl Of the photograph. When the old
gentleman saw the advocate Of prize
fighting he frowned. Jim handed him
the book and said: i''.
after you left the train this morn.
Ing, sir, L found this where you n&A
been sitting. It contained your name
and address. so am enabled TO return
it to you.'
Mr. spingler, without. unbending,
took the pocketbook. He, was too
much Of gentleman to examine the
contents to see that all had been re-
turned, but he was not cordial. He
simply thanked Jim and waited for
him to withdraw. -
Don't you think, father. said the
girl, surprised at her fathers want Of
warmth in acknowledging his obliga-
ton, that inasmuch as the gentleman
has taken the trouble to return your
pocketbook In person we should ask
him to rest before going?''s'~ 4
|, The fathers mind was ON Jfm's
prizefghting proclivities, and he wae'
not to be moved to any courtesy to one
Of that kind. ,
young man." he said, II have thank.
ed you for returning my pocketbook;
do not offer you reward, for you
do not look like one who would accept
1t. Indeed, was surprised to meet,
with one having the appearance Of a
gentleman advocating the barbarity Of
prize1ghting."
Jim colored under the reproof to the
roots Of his hair. He had had his fun
with the old gentleman, and he was.
now paying the price. The young lady
took pity on him. -
"Why. papa" she said, $50 many
persons take IN interest in such mat
tiers that you can't blame one young
man for doing so. After all, l don't
think as many persons are killed in
the prize ring as at football, and YOU
know you shouted and waved at BROTH
er when he knocked down five men
and broke the leg Of one carrying tho
ball to goal.'' . q
Mr.. spingier looked embarrassed.
Jim. bestowing silent blessing on thu.
young lady, with regained courage
pushed on to undo the damage he had
done by his Righteousness on the train
"Ralph spingler!" he exclaimed
1.-THE great Pennsylvania footbali
player?'' q
my son." said the old man proudly.
"I've seen him play some Of his besf
games. During his supremacy ON the
gridiron there was no man who could
down him. i congratulate You, sir. Oh
having such q SON."
you've seen him playr' exclaimed