Middletown transcript., 1883-01-26
ONLY A TRAMP.

shirt, tied at the neck WitH pI0 VI
rusty black ribbon, and the little bundle
borne on his shoulder from the end OF
stout stick, told the story plainly
Added to this was the beard of week.
growth, except the mustache, which
had not been touched by a razor. Ht
was rather gay and good-looking fel
low for all that, with keen eye, al
open countenance, and well-knlt tlg
ure, and he strobe along as though he
felt that the wandering idler was really
the king of other men, and tramping
superior art.
Presently he threw down his sticE
and bundle, and made leap in the
road, just in time to stop a runaway
horse, with the long reins Tapping
about his feet, and the wagon behind
him swaying from side to side. The
occupants of the wagon, a couple az
old-fashioned as the carry-all in which
they sat, had been frantically crying tC
the horse to stop, and now that some
one had stopped him, were profuse IL
their thanks.
Bob is not vicious" said the man
whose language and dress showed hin
to belong to the Society of Friends
but two geese flew across the road
and before 1 knew it he had jerked the
reins out of my hands and started on g
run. Pm obliged to thee, for if thee
hadn't caught him, he might have
spilled us over the high bank below
there"
The tramp nodded, and turned to 60
when the woman spoke.
Friend = she said, "thee has split
thy coat up the back. y
"Have 1 ?'' returned the. tramp
feeling for the rent. $50 L have.
must get it mended somewhere.
GAS thee did it helping US" sale
the man, putting his hand in hi'
pocket.
81 bar that" said the tramp, raising
his hand, and showing with his laugh
set of white teeth. II don't TAKE
money for stopping horses but thank
you for your intention"
81 tell thee what to do friend
don't know thy name," said the wo
man.
The tramp smiled again, and said
g You may call me John Paul, if yOI
choose"
"Well, friend Paul, does thee sex
that white house among the trees, of
from the road back yonder Thee g
there, and say to Raehel-that's ou
neice-that her uncle and aunt, Mahlol
and Naomi Stacy, sent thee, and asl
her to sew thy coat for thee. Shell
make it passable at least.
'Thank you, nam I'll do So"
The tramp removed his battered fel
hat, made bow rather more COURT.
than might have been expected, ant
the parties pursued their several ways
A brisk two minutes walk brough
John Paul to the lane leading from tn
road to the Stacy farmhouse. Dow
this lane he turned, and when half wa
in it, heard woman scream. Th
next minute pretty young girl, wit
her hair flying over her shoulders, ia
out of the house, pursued by a grea
burly, rough fellow, who stopped whe
he saw the other tramp coming. Tn
girl kept on, but when she observed tn
newcomer, stopped also, in dout
whether it was not confederate.
Anything wrong 2'' inquired job
Paul.
That-that man l'' gasped the gir
"There be tramps, and tramps." !" Th
one to whom Paul advanced was of th
baser order, brawny, whisky-saddel
and brutal.
"What do you mean by frightenin
this young lady 9''
tTake it easy, pard," rejoined Il
big tramp, grinning. "The gal gay
me lunch, an wanted to sweete
the victuals with a kiss. There's I
bones broke"
John Paul's face Redeemed. He toe
= off his coat and threw it on the pailini
I of the lane fence.
"Now,'' said he, quietly, lyon
leave"
"When l get good an ready" an
wered the other, insolently.
: No, sir-now."
"Ha ha ! Suppose you spell abl
Do you see that r. and he thrust b
| fist under the nose of the young
/. man.
It was dashed aside suddenly, al
= the right hand of John Paul fell wi
full force between the eyes Of Il
tramp, who fell, doubled in a hea
He was up in an instant, to go dov
:, again by another facer. Picking hiI
self up, he made rush with both arr
extended toward his opponent. 1t W
impossible to parry this, and it was n
!, attempted. Paul stepped suddenly asid
: and before his antagonist could recov
himself, caught him on the throat wi
his right arm, and suddenly bendil
him over his own extended knee, thrt
the great mass of flesh to the groul
2 with force that made quite an audit
sound. The rufian lay there for
N minute or SO motionless.
"Thee hasn't killed him ?" timid
es inquired the girl.