The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-14
TRAMP OR GENTLENAN?
BY wallace p. Reed.
For The Constitution.

soon rs he entered the place.
The visitor was shabbily dressed His coat
was ragged, and his trousers were patched.
His hat was without brin, and his shoes let
his fee. touch the ground.
"I'Il shadow him, said the marshal to him.
self
The tramp slouehed along down the shady
side of the street until he reached the depot.
Here he paused and took seat on the plat
form.
"Hello there!t said the marshal as he came
up "You must move on"
The man thus rudely spoken to turued a
weary face toward the officer
1t was not q very clean face. and it bore
traces of care But it was not bad face, nor
very cd face. Onthe contrary, it was rather
frank and youthful
All this the marshal took in, bat he had bis
orders and he had to carry them out. Blue
Rock had passed an ordinance subjecting all
tramps to thirty days imprisonment at hard
labor
"Wiiat are you doing here ?" asked the Off
Ger roughly.
81 am looking for work" was the reply
''Who are you, and where are you from 2"
"I am gentleman" said the tramp, wea-
rily,
look Ike one. What is your name. and where
are you from?"
Tire wayfarer put his hand to his head, and
a puzzled look came over his face.
81 would give anything to be able to answer
your questions" he said, "but / can't answer,
For ] do not know
AT this astounding reply the marshal raised
his ba;nn
"None Of your chaff," he growled ''Now,
III give You one chance. You must march
out OF town or L II run you in.
The stranger evidently understood the full
meaning OF the threat. Tfe leaped from his
Seat with a frightened look, and without
word walked off down the railroad track,
Hes been arrested BEFORE" said the
officer thoughtfully. "No doubt he has been
in a dozen jails. Well. SO he leaves here it is
all right"
Two hours later the guardian of the peace
found his tramp occupying his former seat OH
the depot platform.
"Now you must come with me" said the
marshal, angrily
He seized the lounger by one arm and
jerked him up.
looked reproachfully at his captor, and start
cd off with him without word.
At Blue Rock Justice was ALWAYS swift
although perhaps it was a little crude.
In less than an hour the tramp was convicted
and loci ID up in the stockade, where he was
set to work breaking rock,
Tie prisoners obsiinaey in asserting that he
sv.-., tt1 his iit.l.ie si.G his Hrnaer place
of abode made the petty village OFFICIALS very
mad. and the poor fellow was put to work at
harder tasks than usual
As the weeks rolled on it was noticed that
The prisoner displayed no resentment or impa-
thence. He went about his work cheerfully
and without complaint.
teii .le hi oTlaa WAS Iu' Inc irSt
aa 10 lie' t ms was el,e iilarsll
"a. uet out OF .he 'o"h flShe away was the
on 1.ye auFice. 80,
81 want work and / like the place"
10y are q Dl.iih ioui w "snU 70 sway III thiS
Town, re!'eu the oinGF aA 1, !. wllt oe my
uu.S ~ a. io'' YOU again 1t w" "ol icaNe' oo
h' sEE,a eon.,,o4o ,,.r,+o,, ,,5, ,,,u.,.
ne "l s 'i m VIZ iauo no l..rther
appe 90 ~ iinpe" oh SLOWLY anu was soon
out VI SiSit
Late N me day the MARSHAL t passed by the
pupos a''e' Sd" Spoo'"oie 'ii"' l''0e MIN open
ii' NJ ~ .,.,, -, .,,o ,,o.ror., - A.
~: tIdli Up Was oii tHe plaSiotuh' anu inc
arn was ad i4 the !" @ 70 +
Come mere sald tae superintendent TO the
naf Tn anu d daS9 TINS rs Edagdoo 4 "a OH M
i"9c ~ % n9tl'IlS ~ Nv. oo rTS " i'dhe tne
arret = sne os o5in snt nc WEE ana ae