The Red Cloud chief., 1882-08-03

bound to come for information all those
predatory rascals who are compelled 10
maintain appearances, and who, there,
fore, dare not lodge in the tramp-hO3n0
The usual signs pass betweep
and visitor, and
he reou; i4tter explains that
certain information concern
Ing the neighborhood. He is shown
into . little gloomy hole. barely larger
than q good-sized cupboard, but we'll
away from eaves-droppers and observa-
ton. and therefore just the place for
confidential colloquy between two shady
people. In q little while the agent
makes his appearance. He is a gray
haired gaunt, weather-beaten veteran.
very much stopped at the shoulders.
and in very shabby attire. lie has a
patch over one eye. The remaining
one, however. is bright enough, and the
uushaven face is hard and shrewd-
looking. A reputation for extreme age
ensbles him TO assume the drivel Of Sc
nility whenever awkward people. asthe
police, poster him with awkward ques-
tons. He has been a fixture in the
trAEp-house for eight or nine years past
ever since he was taken on to fill the
place Of just such another who had re-
treated to the work-house to die in
peace. This ono will do the same in his
urn ere long. and then there will be an
other broken down tramp ready to fill
the vacancy. Ostensibiy he is wood
chopper, boot-cleaner, messenger. and
that sort Of thing. In reality he is ad-
wiser of the tramps frequenting the
house concerning the best routes. the
best houses along them, and the best
ways Of utilizing both, for forty miles
round. He has traversed them all,
highway and by-way, over and over, in
days gone by; and constant intercourse
with vagxbonds of all sorts and from
al quarters keeps him just as well ac-
quainted with this wide stretch of coun-
try, and al that concerns tramps there
In. - he was in his best days. There Is
no tramp-house in the kingdom without
such . retainer; in fact, he is ~indispens-
able.
The old man carries a roll of papers
and Q ledger. which he places on the
table beside the visitor. Their in
tcrcoune begins with . little drinking
end hobnobbing; and while they are so
engaged We will take q look at the
roll. First comesa large travelling map
Of England. with all the roads laid
down. and the distances from town to
town carefully marked. Thisi is asst came
from the publisher; but there is q good
deal more besides. 1t is thickly marked
in most directions, especially in the coun-
ties adjoining this particular tramp
house. with crosses. squares, diamonds,
ovals. triangles, and other marks neatly
drawn in ink, and all very pregnant Of
meaning 10 the interpreter; and he will
Instruct the querist of the moment in
every one that concerns his projected
tramp and its business, but not . par
ticle 6eyond. The ros denotes that
theFs SAe police are strict, and the
diamond that they are f&1; the oval
signi6es thai there. Is . house in the
vicinity where the tramp may dispose of
any little tribe he may pick up on the
way, and he is instructed how to make
IT, acquaintance of its keepers; and the
Square intimates that there is charity
Ind b which may be laid under con-
es1bueoa. Other signs tell the char.
oCoeeo q the tramp-houses along the
rod nd of their keepers, and whether
thoy sand well with the authorities or
~ In addition the tramp gets the
o@ncf the gentry along the line of
0orcA, with useful hints concerning
m1lvss and their domestic usagos.
$50 he map d folded . plan Of the
mme1iAte neighboFhood. and with this