The Springdale news., 1914-09-25
HIGHER PRAGMAT|SM
Story of How a Diffident Lover Got Out of the Amateur
 Class.
B. O. HENRY.

Once upon time found a ten-eent magazine lying on q be1ch n little city park Anyhow. that vas the l amount he asked me for when l sat on the bench next to him. He was q musty, dingy, tattered magazine. with some queer stories bound in him. I vas sure. He turned out to De scrap ] book
 T am newspaper reporter" said to him. to try him. T have been de tailed to write up some Of the experi- ences of the unfortunate ones who spend their evenings tn this park May l ask you 10 what you attribute your downfall in
 I was interrupted by laugh rom my purchase-a laugh So rusty and un- practtsed that I was sure 1t had been his first for many day.
 "Oh. 10, ne. 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 9 reporter on sight Is park buns get 10 be fine judges of human nature. Ne sit here all day and watch the people go by=I car size up anybody who walks past my bench in way that would surprise you
 Well. I said. go on and tell me. How do you size me up"
 T should say. said the student of human nature with unpardonable hesi- tation. that you was. say. in the con tracing business-or maybe worked in storSor was sign-painter.
 l frovned gloomily
 reader Of men. I'd say you ain't got 6 wife
 No said I, rising restless1y "No. no, no.. aint But I will have. by the arrows Of Cupid That Is, if-"
 My voice must have trailed away and muaed itself in uncertainty and despair
 T see you have a story yourself. said the dusty Fagrant-impudentl | seemed to Suppose you take your dime back and spin your yarn for ne. I'm interested myself in the ups and downs e unfortunate ones who spend their evenings h the park
 Somehow that amused me looked at the frowsy- derelict with more in- terest did have story. Why not tell it to him had told none Of ny friends
 Jack. said [
 Mack said he
 Mack, said l. I'll tell you
 Do you want the dime back in ad- vance? = said he.
 handed him a dollar
 The dime. said l. was the price Of listening 10 your story"
 Right on the point Of the jaw" said he. Go on
 And then. incredible as it may seem to the loTers in the world who confde their sorrows only 10 the night wind and the gibbous moon. laid bare my secret to that wreck Of all things that you would have supposed to De in sym pathy with love.
 told him Of the days and weeks and months that I had spent in adoring Mildred Telfair spoke Of ny despair. ny grie1ous days aa3 Hakefai nights. ny dNinliing hcIes and distress Of mind l even pictured 10 this night. provler her beauty and dignity.
 Why don't you cop the lady out2" asked Mack, bringing me down to earth and dialect again
 explained 10 him that my worth was so small. my income 50 minute ard my fears so large that hadn't the courage 10 speak 10 her of my worship l told him that in her presence I could only blush and stammer. and that she looked upon me with wonderful, mad dening smile of amusement
 Now that reminds me Of my oan case. I'll tell you about 1t, said Mack
 was indignant, but concealed It.
 Feel my muscle" said my comparl- ion. suddenly aexing his biceps I did so mechanically. The fellows in gyms are always asking you to do that. Ills arm was as hard as cast iron.
 Four years ago, said Mack. T could lick any man n 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-I won't give the num- Der Oh the door l was 2 scrapper when was ten, and when was twenty no amateur in the city could stand up four rounds with me s fact You know Bill McCarty2 No2 He managed the smokers for some of them swell clubs. Well. l knocked out everything Bill brought up before me. was a middle weight, but could train down to a vel ter when necessary. I boxed all over the West side at bouts and benefits and private entertainments. and was never put out once.
 But, say, the first time put my foot in the ring with professional I was no more than canned lobster. l dun