The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-03-03
NV Old Yae


made q wreck OF him. It's singular
about these tramps and vagabonds.
Once In awhile theirs something in one
OF them which will make Won take TO
him in spite OF his rags and vice and
drunkenness. On Jack was uncouth,
red-faced and ragged. but he came in
with his hat In his hand and made every
effort to keep his legs under him as he
said:
'In case you can overlook my pres
EN- condition should like TO be given
a show"
He got it Thereafter he attached
himself to me. / became his banker.
The feeling gradually grew upon him
that, no matter how luck went with
him. he had reserve to fall back
upon. 1t put him above other vaga-
bonds In point of independence. He
invaribly used the same words and sem
tence In addressing me. and Inever re-
piled with word. For the first five or
six weeks he went over the whole sen.
tence as have given 1t above. Then;
as he felt that formalIty could DO dis
pensed with. he abbreviated IL TO:
Overlook my condish and lend me
dime"
1t meant the same thing and saved
time. He had three regular days in
the week for coming. and many time
/ have stopped at the postoffice to get
change SO that he should not be disap-
pointed. The police got hold of him
one night and run him in. and be was
sent up for thirty days as 3 vag.
saved out his dimes at regular intervals.
piling them up in pIgeon-hole. and on
the day he came out he came to sec me.
There had been break in our arrange
ments, and he felt that an explanation
was due me- He began clearing his
throat to make it. but / handed over
the money. He slowly counted it over.
found the sum was correct, and went
out with the observation;
1--WE does business on reg'lar sys-
tenn, we does"
As time went by and he felt him
self more solid, he abbreviated his
opening address" still further. He
came In, steadied himself on the cor
ner OF the desk. and said:
Present combustion cen ts."
He acted as II he expected kick or
a protest on my part bnt there was
none. don't think he ever satisfied
himself as TO my motive in giving. For
a long while he must have argued
that was batting a trap for him. and
would some day read him lecture on
temperance and industry. but as the
days went by and nothing of the sort
occurred he felt moro at ease. On
several occasions he waited n minute
as IL anxious to have me ask WHY he
didn't brace up and become better
and different man. but i didn't do
IL.
Old Jack finally became jealous OF
me. That is. jealous of his income.
One day there was wrangle in the
hallway. A strange vagabond had
come up to hit somebody for a dime.
and old Jack had followed after to say
TO him:
"Who Yer going TO strike. because
I've got rights up herep"
"Who BIO you as talks so blgl Do you
own this foundryp'
IL say I've got rights as no bundle
o. bones must interfere With You
skipr'
IL won'tl'
Then I'll make yer!'
And the strange tramp was hustled
down stairs In n manner TO damage
every square inch OF his anatomy. On
another occasion. when was convers-
ing with an old vag on the market. my
friend happened to pass. Ho didn't
proceed TO violence. but no gave me
such look of reproach that / felt 1t
for week. There was that in the
look which accused mo OF an Intention
20 swap vngs and secure cheaper one,
but after week or two Jack evidently
realized that IL was only a chance meet
ing and that was not to blame.
One regular pay day again missed
him. He was always on time to the
minute. and when he did not show up
was somewhat alarmed. Had the police
run him In againP Had the end finally
Gomez ! was waiting and wondering
when bit of bootblack appeared
and handed mo piece OF brown wrap
ming nnner ON which Mna scrnWled;