The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-07-11

his hands hanging by his side list
lessly, his low slouched hnt pulled over
his face and his eyes hungry and fierce in
the expression. He sat in apathetic indif-
erences or deep thought 1t was hard TO
determine which, until a man, an employe
of the factory passed him by, and then OBJ
serving him, turned and addressed him.
You look tired, partner
The man raised his head quickly. Then
lowered his gaze TO the ground.
am tired"
"Out of work
Yes"
The man scrutinized the stranger sharp
ly.
You must have come far. What is
ycur trade !"
Laborer, factory works or mill-works.
Is there any show here q
Where have you worked n
The tramp,-for such we may term him,
did not at first reply Then with q side
long glance at the man, he muttered, IN q
low tone of voice.
AT Amoryvllle, Delaware.
A look of interest came into the work
mans face.
"You had better 20 to the boss" he
said, Indicated the Office with his hand, and
cooly passed on.
cit is beginning to tell" grated the
tramp, harshly. However I'll try the
othce.
He entered shiftlessly, his listless man
ner indicating no faith In his success.
What do you want 7" demanded the
solitary occupant of the office, a little gray
haired man, looking up from some writing
he was engaged at.
Work.
At what z
Laboring."
4" Where have you worked before I"
AT Amoryvllle."
"Ah :"
The man lifted his shoulders with an
ominous shrug as he gave utterance to the
exclamation. The tramps eyes blazed
hercely. Had be not his bun die to clutch,
it would have been possible that he might
have caught the man by the throat.
All his anger was aroused. For the
shrug was an insinuatiOn. And the in
sinuatiOn q sneer.
In what way
1t was a tacit refusal to give work to the
man.
"You can not employ me, then :"
queried the tramp.
Il will not =
The tramp raised his hand menacingly
''You bloodhound !" he iterated "You
are worse than demon. You drive me
away because | am one Of the few men
who, asserting their rights, at Amoryyille,
refused to submit to eXtortion and slavery.
You put your men in fear of you by refus-
ing to employ them if they speak to
Union man. You sneer at us now-the
time will come when you who now hold the
reins will cover to the wOrkingmen who
will one day demand and obtain their
rights. If it were not for your gray hairs,
would prove to You the weight of work
ingman arm.
He did not wait for the man to recover
from his amazement and rage. He only
subsidized as he concluded his ungovernable
outburst and then hastened away.
He did not stop until feeling of utter
exhaustion delayed his further progress,
and then it was before little bakery, in
the open windows of which was spread
specimen tray of the articles kept within
for sale. Hunger was too much for him.
Criminal as he perhaps was, devoid of fine,
subtle morality, he would spurn the
thought of theft But his rough mind
was incapable Of that power Of delicate dis
in the matter Of begging and
stealing. The law made begging crime
punishable by penalty. Stealing was q
crime punishable BY penalty.
He must either beg or steal, or starve
and die. The temptation was too strong.
Morality repudisted theft, but nature
sustenance. A moment more
his hand had reached out for aud taken a
loaf of bread.
Five minutes later he was running at
full speed along the beach, dozen men at
his heels. Weak as he was, however, he
soon outwitted his pursuers, gaining q
remote spot near shore of the ocean.
Then he began to ravenously devOur the
bread, bresthlessly, fercely. 1t was soon
gone, and with it the mans hunger was
appeased. 1t had strengthened him to
some purpose, however. Deliberately
rising, he removed his ragged coat and
looked around A long series Of rocks
hid the waters Immediately under him.
81 have suffered long enough ~ he
said simply. ''This ends it all" J"
1t was q singular resolve. He sprang
was a splash, a loud cry,
and boat shot out from under the rocks
a boat before invisible, its single occupant
q man.
(To BE CONTINUED.)