The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-07
A Kindness That
Failed
a., M..: Nr.ll
tCopyrig hit, by J. b. Lppinsott CS.I
BY Martin Wilson

Copyright, by J. b. Lppiusott CUJ
Hawkins is one OF those amia BILE an.
philanthropic men who are - ay
ready to fall over themselves In thei
efforts to do kind deed, no matte
how trifling in Importance 1t may be
One day Hawkins was on a railroa,
train, and directly in front of hin
in the crowded car sat big, red
faced, pugilistic looking man and de
mure looking little woman Present.,
the fy-looking man got up and wen
forward into the smoking car.
At the next station but one the de
mure looking little woman got up ant
left the train. She had been gone blu
moment when Hawkins noticed sh,
had left handsome silk umbrella will
an ebony and silver handle on the sea
in which she had been sitting Her,
was Hawkins opportunity to obey tn,
old song in which we are hidden to
Do kind deed when you can, brother
Do kind ded when you can.
Snatching up the umbrella, Hawkins
ran quickly to the door of the car ant
looked for the woman in the Grove
on the platform. He saw her at som,
distance from the car talking to
herdic driver. and he was about t,
hasten after her when the conducto
called out:
"All aboard"
Handing the umbrella to q boy b,
the car step. Hawkins said:
Here. boy! Hand this umbrella t,
that lady with the blue hat talking t,
the herdic driver at the end Of the plat
form. She left 1t on the train. Per
haps she'll give you five cents for re
turning 1t to her-yes, yes, the lad,
in black, with the blue hat"
The train started, and Hawkins wen
back to his seat with an inward exalta
ton that comes from the doing of
good deed.
The train had gone three or fou
miles when the beefy and pugilistic
looking individual came into the car
and. walking up to the seat he had va
Gated. looked around for a moment
and then said to Hawkins:
Scuse me, my friend. have 70,
seen anything of an umbrella | lief
on this seat when | went forward into
the smoker?"
Hawkins paled as he said:
"Er-ah-ah-oh, did you leave al
umbrella on this seat?"
That's what | did! An bra1
spankin' new one 1t was, at that
gave six dollars an fifty cents for +
only yesterday! 1t had an ebny an
silver handle. an, by jacks, want 1t
Didnt see anyone swipe it, did you? |
couldn't be that that little woman
was settin with pinched it,"
"No-no-she-sh e-didn't," Hawk
ms said
AT that moment the conductor en-
tered the car and the big man said
Lookee here. Mr.. Conductor, som,
chump on the train has swiped m,
I umbrella an ! want II back! A MAJ
who'll steal an umbrella will steal
sheep If kin lay hands on the MAJ
who done 1t, I'll wipe up the grount
with him; that's what ] will! Things
have come to pretty pass when
man cant leave an umbrella In a ca
without having it swiped,"
A hook -nosed old woman with pai
OF small black eyes glittering behint
lron-rimmed spectacles leaned for
ward across the aisle, and, pointing {
lean finger towards Hawkins, said II
a high nif ~ bod al
That man there TUX your umbrella
an handed II to some one on the plat
form. | seen him"
The irate man squared himself anC
glared at Hawkins.
What you got to say to that, my
friend?" he asked.
l-l-beg your pardon" said Hawk
Ing but I-l-thought the umbrella
belonged to the lady who left the cal
at the last station. I-I-gave 1t to 9
boy to hand to her. I'm very sorry.
Are, hey? Well, my meddlin
friend. ! hope you're sorry six dollars
an fifty cents worth, for that's what
It'll cost you to git out o. this scrape
So fork Overt"
Tilt seems to me that-that-'
1T seems to me that you'll fork ovel
six dollars an fifty cents, or I'll take
1t out OF your hide! amt goln' tt
lose no x-dollar-and half umbrella
on account o your meddlin'. So, yo,
anty up"
Hawkins. who tips the beam at 1876
looked at the muscular giant before
him. and then, holding out ten-dollal
bill said .meekly
Have you three dollars and fit,
cents in changer"
There is such thing as man bein
too derned obligin'," said the beefy
man, as he handed Hawkins the re
quired change and then went back tc
the smoker, while Hawkins affected
not to hear the litter OF the hook.noset