The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-09-30
I'ERMS-BY MAIL,
A TRAMP'S STORY,
As Overheard Yesterday by One Of Our
Reporters.

During the past few weeks there has been
a large influx Of tramps into this city, and
the efforts of our officers to rid the city of
their presence has, so far, proved futile.
The kind OF tramps that seem to have ta
ken up a permanent residence in Butte are
not OF very dangerous character, although
some of them are evidently old timers and
know how to work a racket in good order.
Yesterday afternoon, while MINER re-
porter was out for stroll near the Gagnon
works, and was metlitating on the view be-
fore him, he heard human voices from the
other side OF the ridge near by. They
proved to be those of two tramps, as will
be seen by the following:
What IL measley poor country this is,
anyhow. Let's go over here and lie down
behind that shed and wait for the weather
to clear Off before we strike the town for
another meal Wonder what's become of
Lankey Billn'
"Larkey Bill! Why he is in Portland by
the water tank this side OF Pocatello?
That's morn two weeks ago. Bill is
dandy, isn't he? He's only been on the
road six months, and he was at Kansas
City, San Antonio Salt Lake City and
several places in Nevada and California.
He never stops for nothing. Daddy Will
liams must have gone with him through
Idaho. Bill says he has got to get back to
Omaha before winter, as he thinks the old
man will pass in his checks by that time
and there will be 16O-acre ranch in the
matter. He'd make good one to tie to-
"Ies, but give me the unknown He's
the boss. Im willing to 60 anywhere with
him. Down i'll Arizona, he played it fine
on me- when there was at least two days
grub and some good clothes in sight, but
forgive him. Both of us had Government
pants on at the time. When we hove in
sight OF an adobe on il ranch, l took Off
my shoes and stockings and hid 'em under
a bush and tied my feet up in an old gunny
sack that found. That'Il touch the old
mans or probably a gals heart, won't it?'
said l. "You just lie low and let me work
this" and he squatted. | tackled the house
very cautiously and kept Il lookout for
dogs. There was big nm but he was tied,
and naturally went to the other side.
Then | saw a woman and a good-sized girl.
Good mornin' good mornin,' said the
girl. Pm scout and got of the trail,
said |, and my pony died for want of water,
back some forty miles, and my feet swelling
| had to throw away my shoes and this is
the way l have Travelled for two days with
out nything to eat. Here l showed my
gunnies. Did you see them Apaches
around here?' says |, when saw the wo-
man getting ready to tell me she had moth
ing for me to eat. Goodness sake!' said
the girl, didn't tell you them Apaches
would be coming this way? Ask the man
to come in | saw | was solid. The old
woman got me a pair OF the old mans
boots, got good supper for me and in
sisted that 1 should stay all night.
How ! was to rope my pard in
was what puzzled me. Finally after
dark, when the old woman was scourin'
1<>1 k<DA
back door and not MORN hundred yards
from the door was. unknown" bobbing up
and down and lookin'. "See he" said he,
'what in the devil have you caughtIon to-"
"Hits, said |, and told him my game and
told him to work the same racket. "Pull
out OF the game" said he, land let's move
on. "Too soft u thine /" said =, aassl in I
goes a. gin. IN ten minutes there came Il
loud rap at the door and l boldly went to
the door and opened it. There stood un>
':,known." ''That man." said he to the
woman, "is a dcserter from the army nn'
bffse btfsew w a9eEsisaner ,Ie hin g!dAtckuhpp up ne 6ere e
picketed my horse down the canyon and
walked up. You rascal" said he, Ive
something here for you.' And he took out
a rope and tied my wrists together. The
old woman then got fried ham and eggs,
cold baked beans and coffee, |, regular four
DlJ meal. Inc gal sJOOd OH Ill acOfuef anu
looked scared. saw the situation was
mine no longer, so kept mum. After ''un
known" got his meal he told the woman to
make it an even IS and put him up good
lunch and he would. see that Uncle Sam
paid the damages. We got the lunch and
lit out, buta madder man than unknown"
appeared when he tackled the house | never
met. But he worked it tine though. We
tried the same dodge further on, but there
was an old man to deal with and he
wouldn't have it.