St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-05-05
TRAMP OR GENTLEMAN
Unanswered Questions Concernina
His Identity.

AA1O 4000SAtys
Undoubtedly he was a tramn
Inc solitary marshal. whose busi-
nc<s 1t was to represent the majesty ol
the law Ia the little village of Blue
Kock. spotted the stranger as soon as
he entered The nlace. The visitor was
eaabbily dressed Hs coat was
ragged. aad his trousers were patched.
II hat was wi,hou- \ brin. and his
Shoes let his feet touch the ground-
'Tn shadow him." said the marshal
to himself
The tramp slouchcI along down
the shady side of the street until he
reached the depot. Hire he paused
and took seat Oh the platform.
H lilo. thcrer' said the marshal
rs !,c came u. You must move on. "
The man thus rudely spoken to
turned weary face toward the Of
fccr 1t was not = very clean face.
and it bore traces of care. But it
was no: had face. nor = very old
1acc. On the contrary. it was rather
frank ana youthful
All this the marshal took in. but he
had his orders and he had to carry
them out Blue Rick had passed IN
ordinance subjecting all tramps to
thirty days imprisonment at hard
labor.
WHIST are You doing here7" asked
tn ,.fficcr. rongily.
Il am looking for work." was the
rrp.x
'Who are You and where are you
frUm?'
Il am a geatlcman. said the tramp.
wcarily.
"a gentlemanr' shouted the mar
shal. '.You look like one. What is
your name. and where are you fromF'
Tho wayfarcr put his hand to his
head. and q puzzled look came over
his face.
Il would give any thing to b. able
to answer your questions he said.
''but can't answer. for l do not
know"
At This Astounding reply the mar
shal raised his BE- ION.
None of your chaff." he growled.
Snow. TIL give you one chance You
must march out Of town or I'll run
yoa in."
The stranger evidently understood
the ful meaning Of the threat He
leaned from his sea: with = frig htcned
look. and without word walked OF
down IN, railroad track
HIS been arrested before" said
the "ificer. thoughtfullv. mo doubt
he has been in dozen jails. Well. 50
H. leaves here it is all ght."
Two hours later the guardian Of the
peace found his tramp occupying his
former seat on the depot platform.
Now. you must come with me-"
said the marsh l. angrily.
H. seiz ii the lounger by one arm
anil .rked him up The prisoner
made no resistance. H. looked re-
Irnachiully at his captor. and started
If with him without word.
At Blue Rick justice was always
swift although perhaps. it was . little
crude.
In less than an hour the tramp was
coav ctel and locked up in the stock
ade. where he was set to work break
ing rock. The prisoners obstinacy in
ass ring that he had forgotten his
name and his former place Of abode
made the retty village officials very
mad. and the poor fellow was put 10
work mt harder tasks than usual As
the weeks rolled on it was noticed that
The prisoner displayed no resentment
or inpatiencc. He went about his
work cheerfully and without . COM
plaiat.
When the prisoners term was out
The first man he met after his release
was the marshal
.Ge: out Of the town right away"
was lhc officers advice.
But I want 10 stay here" said the
tramp Il want work. and / like the
place"
You are a blank fool to want to
stay in the town." replied the other.
a d it will be my daty to arrest You
again. If you don't leave. So march!"
The unfortunate wretch made no
further appeal H. limped OF slowly
and was soon out If sight
Later in the day the marshal passed
b, he depot and saw . spectacle tha,
m:.de him open his eyes The tramp
was on the platform. and the superin-
tenient was talking to him
Come here" sail the superintend-
ent to the marshal. land take this
vagabond orr
There Was nothing to do but to
make The arrest A speedy conviction
follow, d and the luckless victim was
again sent TO the siockade for thirty
daya
At last the month came to an end
sni the prisoner wss turned out
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