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　realized　what　a　big　place　it　is。〃

And　then　Tripp　joined　in　with　a　little　grating　laugh　that　he　had；　　still　trying　to　drag　in　a　little　story　or　drama　to　earn　the　miserable　　dollar　that　he　craved。

〃Oh；　the　boys　from　the　country　forget　a　lot　when　they　come　to　the　city　　and　learn　something。　　I　guess　George；　maybe；　is　on　the　bum；　or　got　　roped　in　by　some　other　girl；　or　maybe　gone　to　the　dogs　on　account　of　　whiskey　or　the　races。　　You　listen　to　Mr。　　Chalmers　and　go　back　home；　　and　you'll　be　all　right。〃

But　now　the　time　was　come　for　action；　for　the　hands　of　the　clock　were　　moving　close　to　noon。　　Frowning　upon　Tripp；　I　argued　gently　and　　philosophically　with　Miss　Lowery；　delicately　convincing　her　of　the　　importance　of　returning　home　at　once。　　And　I　impressed　upon　her　the　　truth　that　it　would　not　be　absolutely　necessary　to　her　future　　happiness　that　she　mention　to　Hi　the　wonders　or　the　fact　of　her　visit　　to　the　city　that　had　swallowed　up　the　unlucky　George。

She　said　she　had　left　her　horse　（unfortunate　Rosinante）　tied　to　a　tree　　near　the　railroad　station。　　Tripp　and　I　gave　her　instructions　to　mount　　the　patient　steed　as　soon　as　she　arrived　and　ride　home　as　fast　as　　possible。　　There　she　was　to　recount　the　exciting　adventure　of　a　day　　spent　with　Susie　Adams。　　She　could　〃fix〃　SusieI　was　sure　of　that　and　all　would　be　well。

And　then；　being　susceptible　to　the　barbed　arrows　of　beauty；　I　warmed　　to　the　adventure。　　The　three　of　us　hurried　to　the　ferry；　and　there　I　　found　the　price　of　a　ticket　to　Greenburg　to　be　but　a　dollar　and　eighty　　cents。　　I　bought　one；　and　a　red；　red　rose　with　the　twenty　cents　for　　Miss　Lowery。　　We　saw　her　aboard　her　ferryboat；　and　stood　watching　her　　wave　her　handkerchief　at　us　until　it　was　the　tiniest　white　patch　　imaginable。　　And　then　Tripp　and　I　faced　each　other；　brought　back　to　　earth；　left　dry　and　desolate　in　the　shade　of　the　sombre　verities　of　　life。

The　spell　wrought　by　beauty　and　romance　was　dwindling。　　I　looked　at　　Tripp　and　almost　sneered。　　He　looked　more　careworn；　contemptible；　and　　disreputable　than　ever。　　I　fingered　the　two　silver　dollars　remaining　　in　my　pocket　and　looked　at　him　with　the　half…closed　eyelids　of　　contempt。　　He　mustered　up　an　imitation　of　resistance。

〃Can't　you　get　a　story　out　of　it？〃　he　asked；　huskily。　　〃Some　sort　of　a　　story；　even　if　you　have　to　fake　part　of　it？〃

〃Not　a　line；〃　said　I。　　〃I　can　fancy　the　look　on　Grimes'　face　if　I　　should　try　to　put　over　any　slush　like　this。　　But　we've　helped　the　　little　lady　out；　and　that'll　have　to　be　our　only　reward。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Tripp；　almost　inaudibly。　　〃I'm　sorry　you're　out　your　　money。　　Now；　it　seemed　to　me　like　a　find　of　a　big　story；　you　know　that　is；　a　sort　of　thing　that　would　write　up　pretty　well。〃

〃Let's　try　to　forget　it；〃　said　I；　with　a　praiseworthy　attempt　at　　gayety；　〃and　take　the　next　car　'cross　town。〃

I　steeled　myself　against　his　unexpressed　but　palpable　desire。　　He　　should　not　coax；　cajole；　or　wring　from　me　the　dollar　he　craved。　　I　had　　had　enough　of　that　wild…goose　chase。

Tripp　feebly　unbuttoned　his　coat　of　the　faded　pattern　and　glossy　seams　　to　reach　for　something　that　had　once　been　a　handkerchief　deep　down　in　　some　obscure　and　cavernous　pocket。　　As　he　did　so　I　caught　the　shine　of　　a　cheap　silver…plated　watch…chain　across　his　vest；　and　something　　dangling　from　it　caused　me　to　stretch　forth　my　hand　and　seize　it　　curiously。　　It　was　the　half　of　a　silver　dime　that　had　been　cut　in　　halves　with　a　chisel。　〃What！〃　I　said；　looking　at　him　keenly。

〃Oh　yes；〃　he　responded；　dully。　　〃George　Brown；　alias　Tripp。　　what's　　the　use？〃

Barring　the　W。　　C。　　T。　　U。；　I'd　like　to　know　if　anybody　disapproves　of　　my　having　produced　promptly　from　my　pocket　Tripp's　whiskey　dollar　and　　unhesitatingly　laying　it　in　his　hand。




THE　HIGHER　PRAGMATISM


I


Where　to　go　for　wisdom　has　become　a　question　of　serious　import。　　The　　ancients　are　discredited；　Plato　is　boiler…plate；　Aristotle　is　　tottering；　Marcus　Aurelius　is　reeling；　Aesop　has　been　copyrighted　by　　Indiana；　Solomon　is　too　solemn；　you　couldn't　get　anything　out　of　　Epictetus　with　a　pick。

The　ant；　which　for　many　years　served　as　a　model　of　intelligence　and　　industry　in　the　school…readers；　has　been　proven　to　be　a　doddering　　idiot　and　a　waster　of　time　and　effort。　　The　owl　to…day　is　hooted　at。　　　Chautauqua　conventions　have　abandoned　culture　and　adopted　diabolo。　　　Graybeards　give　glowing　testimonials　to　the　venders　of　patent　hair…　restorers。　　There　are　typographical　errors　in　the　almanacs　published　　by　the　daily　newspapers。　　College　professors　have　become

But　there　shall　be　no　personalities。　　To　sit　in　classes；　to　delve　into　　the　encyclopedia　or　the　past…performances　page；　will　not　make　us　wise。　　　As　the　poet　says；　〃Knowledge　comes；　but　wisdom　lingers。〃　　Wisdom　is　　dew；　which；　while　we　know　it　not；　soaks　into　us；　refreshes　us；　and　　makes　us　grow。　　Knowledge　is　a　strong　stream　of　water　turned　on　us　　through　a　hose。　　It　disturbs　our　roots。

Then；　let　us　rather　gather　wisdom。　　But　how　to　do　so　requires　　knowledge。　　If　we　know　a　thing；　we　know　it；　but　very　often　we　are　not　　wise　to　it　that　we　are　wise；　and

But　let's　go　on　with　the　story。


II


Once　upon　a　time　I　found　a　ten…cent　magazine　lying　on　a　bench　in　a　　little　city　park。　　Anyhow；　that　was　the　amount　he　asked　me　for　when　I　　sat　on　the　bench　next　to　him。　　He　was　a　musty；　dingy；　and　tattered　　magazine；　with　some　queer　stories　bound　in　him；　I　was　sure。　　He　turned　　out　to　be　a　scrap…book。

〃I　am　a　newspaper　reporter；〃　I　said　to　him；　to　try　him。　　〃I　have　been　　detailed　to　write　up　some　of　the　experiences　of　the　unfortunate　ones　　who　spend　their　evenings　in　this　park。　　May　I　ask　you　to　what　you　　attribute　your　downfall　in〃

I　was　interrupted　by　a　laugh　from　my　purchasea　laugh　so　rusty　and　　unpractised　that　I　was　sure　it　had　been　his　first　for　many　a　day。

〃Oh；　no；　no；〃　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。　　I　can　tell　a　reporter　on　sight。　　　Us　park　bums　get　to　be　fine　judges　of　human　nature。　　We　sit　here　all　　day　and　watch　the　people　go　by。　　I　can　size　up　anybody　who　walks　past　　my　bench　in　a　way　that　would　surprise　you。〃

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃go　on　and　tell　me。　　How　do　you　size　me　up？〃

〃I　should　say；〃　said　the　student　of　human　nature　with　unpardonable　　hesitation；　〃that　you　was；　say；　in　the　contracting　businessor　maybe　　worked　in　a　storeor　was　a　sign…painter。　　You　stopped　in　the　park　to　　finish　your　cigar；　and　thought　you'd　get　a　little　free　monologue　out　　of　me。　　Still；　you　might　be　a　plasterer　or　a　lawyerit's　getting　kind　　of　dark；　you　see。　　And　your　wife　won't　let　you　smoke　at　home。〃

I　frowned　gloomily。

〃But；　judging　again；〃　went　on　the　reader　of　men；　〃I'd　say　you　ain't　　got　a　wife。〃

〃No；〃　said　I；　rising　restlessly。　　〃No；　no；　no；　I　ain't。　　But　I　will　　have；　by　the　arrows　of　Cupid！　That　is；　if〃

My　voice　must　have　trailed　away　and　muffled　itself　in　uncertainty　and　　despair。

〃I　see　you　have　a　story　yourself；〃　said　the　dusty　vagrantimpudently；　　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。　　I　looked　at　the　frowsy　derelict　with　more　　interest。　　I　did　have　a　story。　　Why　not　tell　it　to　him？　　I　had　told　　none　of　my　friends。　　I　had　always　been　a　reserved　and　bottled…up　man。　　　It　was　psychical　timidity　or　sensitiveness…perhaps　both。　　And　I　smiled　　to　myself　in　wonder　when　I　felt　an　impulse　to　confide　in　this　stranger　　and　vagabond。

〃Jack；〃　said　I。

〃Mack；〃　said　he。

〃Mack；〃　said　I；　〃I'll　tell　you。〃

〃Do　you　want　the　dime　back　in　advance　？〃　said　he。

I　handed　him　a　dollar。

〃The　dime；〃　said　I；　〃was　the　price　of　listening　to　your　story。〃

〃Right　on　the　point　of　the　jaw；〃　said　he。　　〃Go　on。〃

And　then；　incredible　as　it　may　seem　to　the　lovers　in　the　world　who　　confide　their　sorrows　only　to　the　night　wind　and　the　gibbous　moon；　I　　laid　bare　my　secret　to　that　wreck　of　all　things　that　you　would　have　　supposed　to　be　in　sympathy　with　love。

I　told　him　of　the　days　and　weeks　and　months　that　I　had　spent　in　　adoring　Mildred　Telfair。　　I　spoke　of　my　despair；　my　grievous　days　and　　wakeful　nights；　my　dwindling　hopes　and　distress　of　mind。　　I　even　　pictured　to　this　night…prowler　her　beauty　and　dignity；　the　great　sway　　she　had　in　society；　and　the　magnificence　of　her　life　as　the　elder　　daughter　of　an　ancient　race　whose　pride　overbalanced　the　dollars　of　　the　city's　millionaires。

〃Why　don't　you　cop　the　lady　out？〃　asked　Mack；　bringing　me　down　to　　earth　and　dialect　again。

I　explained　to　him　that　my　worth　was　so　small；　my　income　so　minute；　　and　my　fears　so　large　that　I　hadn't　the　courage　to　speak　to　her　of　my　　worship。　　I　told　him　that　in　her　presence　I　could　only　blush　and　　stammer；　and　that　she　looked　upon　me　with　a　wonderful；　maddening　smile　　of　amusement。

〃She　kind　of　moves　in　the　professional　class；　don't　she？〃　asked　Mack。

〃The　Telfair　family〃　I　began；　haughtily。

〃I　mean　professional　beauty；〃　said　my　hearer。

〃She　is　greatly　and　widely　admired；〃　I　answered；　cautiously。

〃Any　sisters？〃

〃One。〃

〃You