Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-10
AN Ex-TRAMYS STORY.
ANY ne NEVER CAN REFUSE 4
POOR FELLOW A QUARTER

Any he NEVER CAN REFUSE |"
POOR FELLOW a QUARTER
Re Wess 10 See His susseAeArt CD Has -
ss<s, = Ride Ho0e-As EscAped Csessss
Ex-ha.g-. CiosAi.g vtsh His-as r.
.,rteses In Actual Tr.aptng.
One Of these gentlemen took quarter from
ais pocket and handed it to the old man. a.
the Same time saying to his friends that %
could never refuse a tramp money, because %
had once been tramp himself He was I'M
n,eiiatsly assailed BY . storm Of inquiries.
and finally told this story Of bis strange ex
psrisnces;
You gentlemen may not know, no SAID.
that At one time was q clerk here In Az
lanra didn't Ike standing behind aeount~
all day and found it especially bard work
70 keep nv mind on my business, because Al
my thoughts were taken up by dear g1ri
who lived long way OF 1t was my habit
to go down twice a month to s-e her
would leave Atlanta Saturday afternoon,
srend SUNDAY with her and return in time
for work Monday morning These nttle
trips used up all my spare cash and ! was
kept in a constant state Of dead broke a
time came when had TO buy a new suit OF
clothes, and when had paid for them had
Just enou.J money left TO buy railroad
ticket To the place where my sweetheart hved
and return | thought nothing OF tSat, how
ever, a. was in the habit OF staying with
the youn, Iaiy's father over the one night
remained As bad luck would have IT, when
| reached the place the house was full OF COM
pany and was obliged To go to the hotel
didn't sleep much and didn't have very
good time. The next day | was thinking all
the time how | WAS going to get back
thought would borrow the money from the
girls father hated that 50 much that
concluded to jump my hotel bill instead
RESULT OF A BRIGHT IDEA
Suddenly a bright idea occurred TO me. |
could pay my bill, leave like gentleman and
then aide i'll an empty freight car, and 50 re-
turn TO Atlanta That night ! said good-by
al the usual time and left for the depot. But
instead of taking the passenger train slipped
around and crawled into a box car. After
long wait heard some one running over the
roof of the car. and soon after We pulled out.
1t was rough riding, but finally grew sleepy
and, placing my travelling bag under my
head, lay down. | could see the stars through
the open door and lay there and watched
hind me, until, worn out by anxiety, fell
asleep
must have slept very soundly, because
had only an indistinct sensation of stopping
several times and backing, with occasional
severe jolts. After one of these stops must
Of half awakened. because seemed to see a
mans head looking into the car Just as We
were moving ahead again the head rose until
a complete man seemed outlined between me
and the shining stars outside. started up,
feeling sure some one was in the car besides
myself. 1t was dark as pitch, except just by
the open door, and could distinguish moth
ing | called and asked if any one was there,
but received no answer. Then | thought it
was all d dream and lay down again and
went to sleep.
| was rudely awakened by a kick in the
ribs, and us tried ~ rise something struck
me on the bead. knocking me Hat. Then
heard voice out of the darkness, telling me
take oil my clothes or my brains would be
knocked out | tried to demonstrate, but
another blow on the head was my only an
swer. When l came to myself was quite
naked, and sitting in the door could see the
figure of a man AS moved he sprang up
and came to where was lying. He kicked
towards me the clothes he had himself taken
off and told me to put them on. 1t was too
dark to see an thing, besides | was bewildered
by the blows on the head and very cold, so
did as was told This figure which l could
indistinctly see stood by with a club ready to
strike until the train began to slow, then he
ran to the door and jumped out
IN A TIGHT FIX
Finally we reached station, and | saw
man run out from the depot and say
few words to the train hands Then the
whole party came toward the place where
was concealed, and as they did SO heard
few words, among them ''convict'-"tee-
graphed'' - escaped" = this train were
plainly distinguishable. Suddenly bright
light flashed into my car and heard them
all cry, Hes here." Then half dozen men
jumped in seized me and dragged me into the
depot For moment the light in the room
blinded me after the darkness. Then caught
sight of my own figure in a small glass over
the mantelpiece and started back with hor-
ror was dressed in the striped clothes Of a
convict. | tried to explain but the men
would not listen to me- They threw me into
small closet and locked the door. l could
hear my captors talking on the outside, and
the station master told how notorious Grim
inal had escaped from convict camp down
DtIpN. diIl IpN uc iail ttiH W
search every train for him, as it was thought
he might have concealed himself in box car
t. get away.
The next morning u man came who said he
was sheriff. and put handouts on me and
took me to Jail tried to talk to him and
tell him all my troubles, but he would not
listen to me He told me, however, that some
one from the prison camp from which I was
supposed to have escaped, would be up that
evening and take me back. Ny situation
was very hard. | entered that car only in
tending to steal a ride, and was taken from
it a convicted and sentenced burglar.
That night the convict camp keeper ar
rived and as soon as he saw me he began to
swear frightfully He told them was not
the man he wanted. Then they began to lie
lieve my story, but even then they only be-
lieved it in part They concluded that v -
u tramp trying to steal ride and secuted
the idea Of my being gentleman. Early
the next morning they gave me some old
clothes, very ragged and dirty, and pair OF
old shocs and told me TO clear out. didn't
knew a soul in the place, and every one
asked for help turned away from me with
some remark about the cheek of tramp
Finally was forced to really become a
tramp and made my way home on foot l
tried to steal another ride on q freight train
but they found me and kicked me OFT, 50 l
walked all the way home, kegging little
food by the way. 1t took me two days to do
it, Fortunately it was night when arrived
here slipped into my room like thief and
did not feel Ike an honest man again until
had taken bath and burned my tramps
outfit
al suppose" remarked ope of the listening
senator's, that that little trip cured you OF
going to see that particular sweetheart"
mo, it didn't replied the ex-tramp.
"She is my wife now, but can never refuse
fellow a quarter when see he is down on
his lu.s - n W iii Atlanta Constitution
Common Sense and Pianoforte rinylps
r.lfn.s.r " atznl.if no iirost1.s e.