Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-08-28
HIGHER PRAGMAT|SM
Story of How a Diffident Lover
Got Out of the Amateur
Class.
ex o. HENRY.

city park. Anyhow, that was the
amount he asked me for when sat
on the bench next to him. He was a
musty. dingy. tattered magazine, with
some queer stories bound in him. l was
sure. He turned put to be a scrap
book.
Il am a newspaper reporter" l said
to him, to try him. Il have been de-
tailed to write up some of the expert
ences of the unfortunate ones who
spend their evenings in this park. May
l ask you to what you attribute your
downfall in"
l was interrupted by a laugh from
my purchase-a laugh SO rusty and I'M
practised that l was sure 1t had been
his first for many a day.
"Oh, no., no." said he. you amt 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 a
reporter on sight. Us park buns get
to be fine judges of human nature. We
sit here all day and watch the people
go by. l can size up anybody who
walks past my bench in a way that
would surprise you"
WELL" l said. "go on and tell me.
How do you size me up?"
Il should say" said the student Of
human nature with objectionable hest-
tation, that you was, say, in the con-
tracing business-or maybe worked in
Q store-or was a sign-painter."
/ frowned gloomily.
but, judging again." went on the
reader Of men. I'D say you amt got
O wife,"
NO" said I, rising restlessly. mo.
NO, no. amt. But / will have. by the
arrows Of Cupid! That is, if"
My voice must have trailed away
and muffied itself in uncertainty and
despair.
Il see you have a story yourself"
said the dusty vagrant--impudently. it
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. l looked
at the frowsy derelict with more In
terest. l did have a story. Why not
tell 1t to him? l had told none Of my
friends.
Jack" said l.
Mack" said he.
Mack" said l, "IHn tell you
do you wan the dime back in ad-
vance?" said he.
handed him a dollar.
~The dime" said l. was the price
Of listening to your story"
Right on the point of the Jaw" said
he. go on"
And then, incredible as 1t may seem
to the lovers in the world who confide
their sorrow only to the night wind
and the gibbous moor l laid bare my
secret to that wreck of all things that
you would have supposed to be in SYM
patty with love,
told him of the days and weeks and
months that / had spent In adoring
Mildred Telfair. l spoke of my despair.
my grievous days and wakeful nights.
my dwindling hopes and distress Of
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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 SO small, my income 30 minute
and my fears so large that | hadn't the
courage to speak to her Of my worship.
I told him that IN how ~~.I
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
ase I'll tell you about it." said
Mack.
l was indignant, but concealed It
Feel my MUSCLE" said my compan.
ion, suddenly flexing his biceps. / 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, 81
could lick any man in New York out
side Of the professional ring. Your
case and mine is just the same. l come
from the West side-between Thirtiett
and Fourteenth won't give the mum
Der on the door. / was a scrapper when
| was ten, and when l was twenty nc
amateur in the city could stand up fou,
rounds with me. S fact. You know
Bin McCarty? No? He managed the
smokers for some Of them swell clubs
Well, I knocked out everything Bill
brought up before me. l was a middle
weight, but could train down to a wei
ter when necessary. / boxed all v
the West side at bouts and benefits
and private entertainments. and wa
never put out once.
But, say. the first time / put my foo,
In the ring with a professional l wal
NO more than a canned lobster. / dun
no how It was-I seemed to lose heart
I guess l got too much Imagination
There was a formality and publicns>s
about 1t that kind Of weakened m,
nerve. ! never win a fight In the ring
Lightweights and all kinds of scrubs
used to sign up with my manager ant
then walk up and tap me on the wris