The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-06-18
A TRAMP'S STORY.
Ho Was Not Thoroughly BAD, NotwIth-
standing Ills Appearances.

convict; but I've had touches of human
feeling. and they've interfered with my
prospects moren once. No, l don't
mind telling of one case, and l remel.-
ber at this moment, and sometinD; I'm
sorry, and sometimes I'm glad 1t was
to have been robbery, and it might have
been murder, though I've always kept
clear of that.
Me and Bill Doolin-he's doin' time
in the pen for lifting gentlemen's va
]ises on the cars was set to rob a house
in the suburbs. There was money
and plate. an only feeble woman and
two chi dren, girls at that. in the place.
afore midnight, SO as to take train
that would carry Us out of reach if we
were suspicioned, and we walked out
eigLt miles to the place, and got there
early in the evening
AT the depot we heard of dog-a
blood thirsty mastiff that was kept
chained day and night-only at night it
was taken into the house. So we had
| to change our plans. There was park
| in front Of the house. and 1 got up
scheme. One of US would be taken
| sick suddenly, and call out to attract
attention The women and children
| would run out to see what was the
| matter, ard then the other one would
slip inside and ge: the valuab.es As
| the house was only an ordinary family
| residence we believed this could be easily
done. The night was dark and there
| was no street lamps, which favored our
scheme.
Bill insisted that / should 90 the
| sick act, and when the folks came he
| was to slip i'll and rob the house. Up
10 then it seemed easy enough. but
you've heard of burglars luck? No?
Well, it's a kind of presentiment that
gets hold of you just at the wrong mo-
ment and makes You weaken. Oh,
| psliaw! 1t was tine soft spring night
| and the pure country air that turned
my head, and all i'll iifly, and you
might say, l got sick of the job and
wished myself out Of it.
"Howsomever, l was ashamed to
back down now, SO l told Bill not to
start till | gave him certain signal
agreed upon betwixt us, and then be-
| gan to groan, and holler, and call for
help. There was no other house near.
the next building being church, and
now ! saw lights moving i'll the house.
| Then woman came out on the veranda
| She had lantern, and looked out into
the darkness to see where tie cries
came from.
Its some poor man in dreadful
pain | heard her say.
She was followed by two children.
Bill was hidin' back OF me in among the
trees, and he whispered loud:
! "'Now's my time
No / said back to him, wait till
give the signal.
Then groaned and carried on worse
than ever. | saw that the lady was
coming down the steps Of the veranda
The chi drcn began TO scream.
Don't go. mamma, don't go; you
will he killedlr
'Nonselise,' she said; suppose it was
papa lying their hurt and suffering q
gave another Yell, wouldn't you lie
thankful to anybody who would help
him.
with that she came direct toward
me, and l groaned and shut n,y eyes as
if in great pain. She leGncu over me,
and could see that she had a good,
kind face
| "'What is the matter with you, good
man? What can | do for you?
Her voice was sweet and kind, and
all the time l could hear Bill making
motions for the signal, in the bushes
behind me. The two children, pretty
little girls. had hold of their mothers
gown, and sere staring at me. There
was everything had planned for jus,
within reach. and yon'll never guess
what did. No, can hardly believe il
of myself.
Are you in great pain? What car
do to help you?' she said again.
Il opened my eyes wide and looked
at her.
Take your children. and go bacl
into the house, and lock the doors
ma'am. Don't wait minute, and dom
send anyone to look after me-you un
derstand?'
"She did. She turned as white as
sheet, but she was plucky, and says she
come, children, and walked straigh
back to the house and into it, and
heard the doors and windows slam, ant
the keys turn in the locks. Then ther,
was a roar like lion, and knew tina
| MIC Aau 1ei tue OoS lUOse IuSIuC w IAo
tect her.
"'What - 1t was Bill Doolin il
: white rage at my elbow.
"'H-s h. Not word or I'll max
it the worse for you.
"ne saw my revolver in my hand ant
, looked ugly, but was his pard. and h
darsn't go back on me. But he rave'
and tore over what he called my 'gir
, foolishness' in letting such snap es
cape, just because woman had said
kind word to me-
But it wasn't that altogether. Whe
heard that my old mother had died ol
that very night, and at that same hou,
,, praying for her wandering, yagabon
, boy with her last breath, l knew ther,
was something more in it than eithe
Bill or me could make out. I'm still o.
D the road, but l amt done time sine
then for breakin' the laws. and neve
will again, SO help me-mother. "--Fre
p | Press.