Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1888-05-24
TRAMP OR ansrLEMANg


he entered the place.
The visitor was shabbily dressed
His coat was ragged and his trousers
were patched, His hat was without q
brlm and his shoes let his feet touch
the ground.
.'pll shadow him." said the marshal
TO himself.
The tramp slouched along down the
shady side ofthe street until he reached
the depot. Here he paused and took
| q seat on the platform.
"Hello, therep said the marshal as
he came up. "You must move on"
The man thus rudely spoken to
turned a weary face toward tho off,
Ger.
1t was not very clean face, and 1t
bore traces of care. But 1t was not
bad face nor very old face. On the
contrary, /: was rather frank and
youthful.
All this the marshal took in, but he
had his orders and he had to carry
them out. Blue Rock had passed an
ordinance subjecting all tramps to
thirty days imprisonment at hard
labor.
What are you doing heres" asked
the officer roughly
II am looking for work." was the
reply.
who are you, and where are you
fromf"
~ am gentleman, said the tramp,
YEARLY.
"a gentleman" shouted the mar
shall. "You look like one. What 10
your name and where are you fromP"
The wayfarer put his hand to his
head and puzzled look came over his
face. .-= ~.
II would give anything to be able
to answer your questions" he said
"bnt l can't answer, for l do not
know"
AT this astounding reply the mar
| shal raised his baton.
None of your chaff," he growled.
snow, II give you one chance. You
must march out of town or III run you
in"
The stranger evidently understood
the full meaning of the threat He
leaped from his seat with q frightened
look, and without word walked off
down the railroad track.
"He's been arrested before" said
the officer thoughtfully. mo doubt
he has been in dozen jails. Well,
30 he leaves here it is all right"
Two hours later the guardian of the
peace found his tramp occupying his
former seat on the depot platform.
"Now, you just come with me-"
said the marshal, angrily.
He seized the lounger by one arm
and jerked him up.
The prisoner made no resistance.
He looked rerraachtully at his captor,
and started off with him without a
word. ."... 49,
AT Blue Rock Justice was always
swift, although perhaps 1t was little
crude.
In less than an hour the tramp was
convicted and locked up ia the stock
ade, where he was set to work break
ing rock.
The prisoners obstinacy in assert
ing that he had forgotten his name
and former place of abode made the
petty village officials very mad, and
the poor fellow was put to work at
harder tasks than before.
Az the weeks rolled on 1t was no.
ticed that the prisoner displayed no
resentment or impotence. He went
about his work cheerfully and without
complaint.
When the prisoners term was out
the first man he met after his release
was the marshal.
Get out of the town right away"
was the officers ADVICE.
But | want to stay here" said the
tramp. II want work, anu like the
place"
"You are blank fool to want to
stay in this town." replied the other
"and it will be my duty TO arrest yoa
again if you don't leave. So march,"
The unfortunate wretch made mol
further appeal. He limped OFF slowly
and was soon out of sight.
Later in the day the marshal passed
by the depot and saw spectacle that
made him open his eyes.
The tramp was on the platform, and
the superintendent was talking To-
him.
"Come here" said the superi nten.
dent to the marshal, "and take this |
vagabond off,"
There was nothing to do but to make |
the arrest. A speedy conviction fol-
lowed, and the luctless victim was
again sent to the stockade for thirty |
days,
At last the month came to an end
and the prisoner was turned out. This
time the marshal marched him beyond |
the town limits and left him,
He has got too much sense to come |
back" reported the marshal TO the
mayor.
1--WE may have been too hard on
him." responded the mayor. 81 some |
times think he is wrong in the head"
"Well, it is too late to talk aoout
it," said the other, and the cenversa-
ton ended.
The tramp did not turn up again
that day nor the next.
The worthy marshal began to be
worried and the mayor was a little un
easy. Blue Rock was such small
place that a sensation was always
welcome, and the unknown prisoner
had been the talk of the town Tor sixty
days.
"He's hiding in the woods. and will
slip in here some night and burn the
town." said one,
This idea found great favor, and
that night the villagers found it diff
cult TO sleep.
On the following day there WAS a
railroad excursion to point of inter-
~,,I I