Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-08-28
HIGHER PRAGMAT|SM
Gary Of How a Otfident Lover
Got Out Of the Amateur
Class.
ey o. HENRY.


Once upon q time l found q ten-cent
nAsAsins lying on Z bench in . little
~ park. Anyhow. that was the
onount he asked me for when l sat
= the bench next to him. He was .
nasty, dingy. tattered magazine. with
ooDe queer stories bound in him, was
sare. He turned out to be . scrap
book.
Il Am . newspaper reporter" I said
- him. to try him. Il have been de-
tailed to write up some Of the expert.
saces Of the unfortunate ones who
spend their evenings in this park May
ask you to what you attribute your
downfall in"
was interrupted by q laugh from
~ purchases laugh SO rusty and un.
Dsactised that was sure It lad been
HI nrst for many day.
"Oh. NO. no" said he. you amt .
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. l can tell a
reporter on sight Us park buns get
- b hne judges OF human nature. We
1T here al day and watch the people
- By. ! can size up anybody who
walks past my bench In . 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 hest
ta0on. that you was, say, in the con-
tracing business-or maybe worked In
. store-or was . sign-painter."
frowned gloomily.
But. judging again." went on the
reader Of men, I'D say you amt got
. WIFE,
NO." said I. rising restlessly. mo.
%. no. amt. But will have. by the
arrows Of Cupid! That 10. If"
Ny voice must have trailed away
end mufned itself In uncertainty and
Despair.
80 you have . story yourself "
sa5d the dusty vagrant-impudently II
seemed to me. Suppose you take your
dine back and spin your yarn for mo.
I'm interested myself in the ups and
6owns Of unfortunate ones who spend
their evenings m the park"
Somehow that amused me. looked
q the frowsy derelict with more in.
tsrsst l did have q story. Why NOT
tell It to him? had told none Of my
friends.
Jack" said l.
Mack" said he.
Mack" said l. ''I'll tell you"
do you want the dime hack In I'd.
vance?" said he.
] handed him q dollar.
The dime" said |. was the prics
q listening to your story"
fright on the point Of the Jaw" said
- Go on
And then, incredible 40 It may seem
- the lovers In the world who confide
tAetr sorrows only to the night wind
and the gibbous moon. ! laid bare my
secret to that wreck Of all things thai
you would have supposed to b In sym
pathy with love.
told him Of the days and weeks and
oonths that l had spent in adorina
Mildred Telfair. spoke Of my despair
ny grievous days and wakeful nighta
my dwindling hopes and distress a
mind. even pictured to this night
prowler her beauty and dignity.
why don't you cop the lady out =
asked Mack. bringing me down u
earth and dialect again.
explained to him that my worth
was 20 small. my income 20 minute
and my fears so large that hadn't thu
courage to speak to her OF my worship
! told him that in her presence / coult
only blush and stammer. and that shs
looked upon me with wonderful, mad
dening smile Of amusement
Now that reminds me OF my ow,
ease. I'll tell you about It," sais
Mack.
was indignant, but concealed Il
Feel my muscle" said my compan
ION. suddenly ticking his biceps. l d,
% mechanically. The fellows in gym
are always asking you to do that. Hi
arm was as hard ~ cast iron.
-Four years ago." said Mack. !"
could lick any man In New York on,
Us00 Va SNO RAVA0o01Vu&l YOU
ease and mine II Just the same. com
from the West side-between ThirtietI
and Fourtsenth-I won't give the mum
Der on the door. l was scrapper whe,
! Was tan. and when was twenty n,
amateur In the city could stand up fou
rounds with me. 8 . fact. You know
Dlll McCartyf Not He managed III
smokers for some Of them swell club,
Well. l knocked out everything Bil
brought up before me. ! was . middle
weight but could train down 70 . vel
tor whom necessary. ! boxed all ove
he West side 1t bouts and beneft
and private entertainments. and Va
sever put out once.
But cay. the nrst time put my foo
b The ring with Q professional Va
% moro than . canned lobster. dur
no how Il was-l seemed 70 looo heart
I guess got too much imagination
There was = Formally and puhlicnS,
about it that kind OF weakened n,
nerve. never win fight In the rina
Ii9htvAights and al kinda 0f aormh