The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-07-18
A GENTEEL TRAMP.
He Ought to Have Been Ashame d
Of Himself, But He Wasn't.

'He wants nights lodging, ma am,
said Hannah Ann.
"Very well, said Miss Eliot; "1et
him have it. There's the barn cham.
Der unoccupied, and the little cot bed
stead is very comfortable, I'm sure.'
j, But Hannah Ann still hesitated, with
1he door-knob in her hand.
whats the matter?' brusquely in.
quired her mistress.
Begging pardon, ma'am," said
Hannah Ann, ''but amt certain he's
the barn chamber sort of company.
He's very genteel-looking, and"
Miss Eliot turned her spectacled gaze
upon Hannah Ann with mild toler-
ance which was akin to contempt.
Hannah Ann" said she, don't be
a foolr'
No, ma'am," courtesied Hannah
Ann, who had not lived for twenty
years in her mistress service without
being well accustomed to her mistress
ways. ~..-.s
There's the genteel ones and the
roughs.n said Miss Eliot. "And one
is every bit as bad as the other. And
we sha'n't have bit OF peace In the
country until this tramp nuisance is
abated. Is he old or young, Hannah
Annpn
'.Middle-aged, ma'am, should say"
Then he ought to be ashamed of
himself for not going to work to earn
an honest living" said Miss Eliot,
sharply. put him into the barn
chamber, Hannah Ann, and give him q
bowl OF tea and Ii bite Of cold viutuals,
and be sure you turn the key on the
outside of the door after he's fairly In
for the night. One can't very well turn
"A fellow-creature away from ones door
with such thunderstorm as this
brewing q glance at the dark
ening West-'but it does make ones
blood creep. the idea OF letting 'em in,
after all the horrible stories in the pa
pers. And l all alone in the house
with only Hannah Ann and the bound
boy. do believe I'll send down to
Sopus' and borrow his big dog until to-
morrow morning; there's no telling
what mischief these ruffians may be
contemplating. Yes, I'll borrow the
dog, and then we shall be safe!"
So little Tim Trottersby, the bound
boy, was sent down to Neighbor Sopus'
for the loan OF muscular, square
jawed bulldog with glistening teeth
and red, hanging jaws, who arrived
on the scene OF action with growl
that made Miss Eliot's blood run cold.
Dear DEAR" said Miss Eliot, 'what
a notwithstanding beast!"
Hes drefful savage, ma'am," said
little Tim, who, ostensibly leading the
dog, was, in reality, being dragged
along by the rope, and only released
himself from the Mazzeppa-like fate
by throwing the slip-knot of the fast
ening over hook at the side OF the
kitchen door. "'Taint safe for no one
to pass in or out while he's here"
"But what are We to dop" gasped
Miss Eliot, instinctively recoiling, as
the animal displayed his threatening
jaws and immense rows OF bristling
teeth in portentous yawn. Little Tim
scratched his head.
Don't know, ma'am,h said he.
'.Guess you'll have to 60 in and out of
t'other door!'
Mrs. Eliot bit her lip in vexationi
but then, as her thoughts recurred to
the tramp, she told herself that per.
haps It was just as we'll, under all cir
cumstances to have savage dog about
the place.
In the meantime Hannah Ann was
doing out meal OF cold odds and
ends to Misunderstanding individual
in seedy black, with aoleather bag be
side him ("burglar's TOOLS" thought
Hannah Ann. us she eyed the leather
receptacle with a dubious glance, ant
bald spot on the top of his head HI
did not wear particularly fierce ex
preston Of countenance, nor was there
q murderous glitter In his eyes-ir
fact, there was nothing belligerent IL
his appearance.
"Can not see Miss Elliott" said he
mildly, as he drank up the last Of hi
weak and lukewarm tea
'Missus Is engaged, special" !" sal,
Hannah Ann. But she says you're i,
sleep In the barn chamber. and H.
very comfortable there.
in the barn chamberi" repeate
the old man, in accents Of some sur
prise, not to say distaste. Hanna
Ann fired up at once.
Il guess you've slept in worse place
than that afore now" said she; an
away she whisked the tin tray npo
which the reflection Of the strange
had been set out.
The old man was duly locked Int
the barn chamber, and duly unlocke
again at dawn. by the dett fingers
Hnanah Aun, who seuddea away aga!r
hIlef sAs Aas taFasA We words as v