The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-11-20
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

! affairs it's bad for the military spirit?
If 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. For my
part I 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
ly, 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 $50 in bills. In
a pocket by itself was a small photo.
graph of a 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 MIR. 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:
after you left the train this morn
ing. sir, l found this where you had
been sitting. 1t contained your name
and address. so I am enabled to return
it to you"
Mr.. Spingler. without unbending.
took the pocketbook. He was too
much Of a 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?"
The fathers mind was on Jim's
prizefghting proclivities. and he was
not to be moved to any courtesy to one
Of that kind.
young man." he said, Il have thank
ed you for returning my pocketbook.
l do not offer you a reward. for you
do not look like n who would accep,
1t. Indeed. l was surprised to meet
with one having the appearance Of a
gentleman advocating the barbarity of
prizefighting."
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 an interest in such mat.
ters that you can't blame one young
man for doing so. After all. | don,
think as. many persons are killed in
the prize ring Is 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 the
ball to goal"
Mr.. Spingler looked embarrassed
Jim. bestowing a silent blessing on the
young lady. with regained couray,
pushed OF to undo the damage he had
done by his righteousness on the train
Ralph Spingler!!" he exclaimed
The great Pennsylvania footbal
player?"
my son." said the o!d man proudly.
I've seen him play some of his hes,
games. During his supremacy on t,.
| gridiron there was no man who coult
down him. | congratulate you. sir. on
having such a son."
you've seen him play!" exclaimed
the old man. his eyes lighting ut the
mention Of his sons prOwesS.
Indeed l have. ! witnessed the
ain In which he fell-n"cidantally.
IF c%Ourse--on Simpson and crushed
him That was a glorious game. Your
noble boy carried the bah to goal
mid the huZzas of every person pres.
ont"
HE won the gamer cried Mr.. Spin
gIer, Polly. bring a decanter and
some glasses. Our friend must drink
to your brothers health"
That is the way Jim Edwards made
his wife's acquaintance. It looked
sQually at lrst but it came out all
| Falht.