Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-04
A "DunnO" Man.
Opie P. Read in America.

Opie p. Read in America.
A passul Nv US was settin in Parker's sto',
over whar the Caney creek road crosses the
bayou, an the boys lowed that it was goin' ter
be putty dull Chrismus. fur we didn't see
nothin' comm our way. Wall, we sot thar
chawin' our terbacker an lendin' out lies at a
small rate NV intrust. when the wust lookin'
tramp l ever seed come a-limpin' in. He
nodded at fust one an then luther. an then sOt
down without sayln word.
"POdner," said Parker as he retched over
an sOrter poked the fire. Which way?'
Dunno" the tramp replied.
which way did you come frum?'
Dunno"
You amt right bright, air you, podner?'
Dunno"
What do you know"
Dunno"
wall. now here" said Parker, hittin' a stick
NV burnln wood so hard that it spit a shower
Nv sparks, I'VE don't banker airter these dunno
sort Nv folks. Ever time one comes through
the neighborhood suthin turns up missin' so
eff it's jest the same to you wy we'd like to see
the last Nv you putty quick"
Vas. Nose Simmons jined in, sorter wal
lopln his terbacker round frum fust one jaw to
the other, its bad idee to have sich dunno
chaps round, specially in the Chrismus times
so don't you think it's time you was pulln
out!''
Dunno"
Parker he then got up an tuck him by the
ear an showed him out. Then we all sot down
ter wallOpin our terbacker ergin-we was most
too lazy to chaw outright-an putty soon who
should come sauterin' in but Joe Piper The
boys all groaned, fur Joe Is IA chronic beggar
and the --LATEST man in the world. | reckon. 1t
was his habit to go about the neighborhood
Chrismu5 times. an beg fur g'ints NV meat an
meal an SIGH, fur he gest wouldn't work
What are you on the skirmish fur now, Joe,
meat or meal?" Parker axed.
''Nuther one" he replied.
Then we boys laughed till the terbacker Juice
run outer our mouths. NO fellers." said he
Il have got a little meat AN meal, but III tell
you whut wush you'd do: wush you'd sorter
fling III an raise me a few dollars; my chillun
Is about naked an my little gal amt got no
shoes. 1t amt laZinesS on my part this time
fellers, fur you know that l amt been able to
work sense that saw-loS fell on me. I'm afeerd
the little gal will have pneumony, for we KANT
keep her IN the house. Say, Parker I've done
good deal NV tradin' with you i'll my time SO
now set the ball to rollin' by lettin me have q
few things"
We had to laugh. Here" said Patsev Buck.
well make you the finest present you ever
seed" an then he tuck up a ole wooden shirt
that the tramp had left. 1t was rolled up in a
sort NV bundle an was the wust lookin piece
of goods / ever seed. Joe he got mad
Oh said Parker, you've got to take it"
Joe-Dinged eff l do. L amt round pickin'
up ole shirts
Parker-Wull, we'll see that you pick up this
one.
Buck-Take it, ur we'll bang you agin that
black ook out thar.
Joe-Fellers l didn't think you'd treat me
tniser way.
Parker-But YOU think SO now We air not
only gOin' to make you take it, but were goin'
to make you put it on. Buck, git that rope
over thar. an well tie him.
He seed that they was i'll earnest, an to keep
down trouble Joe he tuck holt Nv the shirt.
'Unroll it," said Buck
He hesitated mint an then unrolled it on
the counter. Then he uttered a cry an
snatched a roll nv bills. the bows gathered
around him. but he whipped ont an old pistol
an told EN- TO stand back, an they stood He
smiled, he did, stepped to one side an counted
ten $40 bills.
Here" cried Parker, ''this money belongs
to that crazy tramp. Let's hunt him. Come
on, all hands,
We went out an hadn't gone fur till we
found him layin' side the road
Parker lifted him up an says:
Didn't you leave some money back yon-
der?'
The Teller he looked at Parker and said
Dunno" then he dropped back dead. Joe
walloped his terbacker from fust one Jaw to
the other an said suthin' about shoes