Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-07-24
HIGHER PRACMAT|SM
Story of How a Diffident Lover
Got Out of the Amateur
Class.
BY o. HENRY.

on the bench next to him. He was
musty, dingy, tattered magazine, with
some queer stories bound In him, was
sure. He turned out to be scrap
book.
Il am newspaper reporter" ! said
to him, to try him. 81 have been de-
tailed to write up some OF the expert
ences Of the unfortunate ones who
spend their evenings in this park. May
ask you to what you attribute your
downfall in"
| was interrupted by laugh from
my purchase-a laugh SO rusty and un-
practised that l was sure It lad been
his first for many a day.
oh, no, no." said he. "You ain't a
reporter. Reporters don't talk that
way. They pretend to be one OF us, and
say they've Just got in on the blind
baggage from st. Louis. can tell u
reporter on sight Us park buns get
to be fine judges OF human nature We
Sit here all day and watch the people
60 by. ! can size up anybody who
walks past my bench In a way that
would surprise you"
WELL" said. go on and tell me.
How do you size me up?"
Il should say" said the student Of
human nature with objectionable hesi-
taton, that you was, say, In the con-
tracing business-or maybe worked In
q store-or was sign-painter."
frowned gloomily.
But. judging again." went on the
reader OF men, I'D say you amt got
o wife"
No" said l, rising restlessly. mo,
no, no.. ! amt. But will have. by the
arrows OF Cupid! That is, If"
My voice must have trailed away
and mufiled itself in uncertainty and
despair.
Il see you have a story YOURSELF"
said the dusty vagrant-impudently, 1t
seemed to me. Suppose you take your
dime back and spin your yarn for me
I'm interested myself in the ups and
downs Of unfortunate ones who spend
their evenings In the park"
Somehow that amused me. looked
at the frowsy derelict with more In.
terest did have q story. Why not
tell II to him? had told none OF my
friends.
Jack" said |.
Mack" said he.
Mack" said |, I'll tell YOU"
DO you want the dime back in ad.
vance?" said he.
handed him a dollar
THE dime" said |. was the price
OF listening to your story"
Right on the point Of the Jaw" said
he. Go on"
And then, incredible as II may seem
70 the lovers In the world who confide
their sorrows only TO the night wind
and the gibbous moon, laid bare my
secret TO that wreck ol all things that
YOU. would have supposed TO be In sym.
pathy with love.
told him OF the days and weeks and
months that had spent in adoring
Mildred Telfair. spoke OF my despair,
my grieyous days and wakeful nights,
my dwindllng hopes and distress OF
mind. even pictured to this night.
prowler her beauty and dignity.
why don't you cop the lady out?'
asked Mack, bringing me down to
earth and dialect again.
/ explained TO him that my worth
was 30 small. my income 30 minute
end my fears so large that hadn't the
courage to speak to her OF my worship.
told him that In her presence I could
only blush and stammer. and that she
looked upon me with a wonderful, mad.
dening smile OF amusement
Now that reminds me OF my own
case. I'll tell you about IT," said
Mack.
] was indignant but concealed II.
Feel my MUSCLE" said my compan.
lon. suddenly fiexing his bIceps. I did
90 mechanically. The fellows In gyms
are always asking you TO do that. His
arm was as hard as cast iron.
-Four years ago." said Mack, "I
could lick any man In New York out
side OF the professional ring. Your
case and mine is Just the same. come
from the West side-between Thirtieth
and Fourteenth won't give the num-
Der on the door. was scrapper when
was ten. and when was twenty no
amateur In the city could stand up four
rounds with me. 3 a fact You know
Bill McCartyI NOT Ho managed the
smokers for some OF them swell clubs
Well. ! knocked out everything Blll
brought up before me. was n middle.
weight but could train down to n wei.
ter when necessary. ! boxed all over
the West side at bouts and benefits
and private entertainments. and was
never put out once.
But. say. the ilrst time put my foo,
In the ring with n professional I wa,
no more than q canned lobster. I dun
no how II wnB-l seemed to lose henri
guess got too much Imagination
There was 4 formality and publicnc-,
about II that kind Of weakened m,
nerve never win fight In tho ring
Lightweights and all kinds OF scrub,
used 10 sign up with my manager ant
then walk up and tap me ON the wris
and see me fall. The minute I seen th,
crowd and n lot OF gents In eyenin,
clothes down In front, and seen a pro
fcssional como inside the ropes. I 70
as weak N ginger alo.
-Of course II wasn't long TIL
couldn't get no backers. and I didn'