The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-06
Only a Tramp.


eral appearance presented picture OF
wretchedness and want. A cold March
wind was blowing through the dry, dead
grass, and patches of shadow and sun.
light were chasing each other over an
unbroken prairie. The man drew his
thin coat more closely about him, and
shivered as a keener blast than usual
swept around him.
Hits perry pass yer come to, j i'm
Skinner" said the figure in the road.
" Ye have been trampn' all day with
out bit ter eat, an if yer get anything
yer goin' ter halter bag-yas, bag!"
Aud he threw out his hand with a
gesture of disdain, and quickened his
pace, flush of shame and humiliation
mounting his thin, pale face.
"Who'd although ye'd ever come
to this?" he exclaimed, almost fiercely.
What did yer come West fer? Ter
git land cheap land-land fer almost
nothin' Rich land that's what
they said "-he laughed sort of chok-
ing laugh" cheap and-rich land
butfalo-wallers-alkaly water an agerl'
There was look of vexation and inf
mite disgust pictured on his face as he
strobe onward. For six months Jim
Skinner had been " holding" claim,
and had battled with all the hardships
and privations that fall to the lot of the
poor who seek to make home in the
" Great American Desert" He had
lived in a dug-out, worked hard and
half starved himself-spent all the
money he had, took the ague and lived
in his hut helpless, till at last starvation
had driven him forth, weak, half sick
and afoot, to look for some kind of
work among the cattle-men to gain his
daily bread. Mile after mile he had
trudged along, with no sign of habita.
ton to break the monotony, save now
and then the rude cabin or dug-out of
some poor caim-holder who, like him.
self, was struggling with misfortunes
and battling with want. 1t was near
the middle of the afternoon. He was
now nearing that part of prairie coun-
try nonopolized by the great cattle-men,
and called the range.n A mile fur
ther on was a small cattle ranch. He
felt weak and sick, and knew he could
not continue his journey much further
without rest and something to eat. If
he could not get work at the first place
he could go further-he must have
something TO eat-would he be COM
PEELED to beg? He had no money
nothing to give but his clothes. A bit
ter smile stole over his face. He quick
ened his pace, and hurried. A few
minutes later he paused in front of a
large frame building, surrounded by
numerous barb-wire corrals. He stood
for moment in the road, irresolute.
If he failed 10 get work should he ask
for lodging and something to eat?
His face flushed at the thought. Work?
What could he do in his present weak
condition? Nothing. He turned toward
the building.
Dave Foster, the owner of the cattle
ranch, came out of the building and
saw the slouching figure standing in the
road. What are YOU prowlinp around
here for?" he demanded, casting look
OF dlstrust on the forlorn creature be-
fore him.
"I-Im lookin' for work." STAN
mered Jim Skinner, hardly knowing
how to answer the harsh question.
"A likely story" was the answer.
guess you are one of those fellows
that look for work IN the daytime and
other peoples cattle by night. Clear
out! I've had enough of such as you
already"
A hot flush mantled Jim SINNERS
face for an instant, and then disap-
peared, leaving him as pale as death.
He tried to speak, but the words stuck
in his throat. He mastered his emo
ton, with a great effort. He turned
upon the speaker, his eyes flashing, his
breath coming in gasps.
Move onP' commanded the cattle
man, gruflly.
Jim Skinner turned away, sick and
dizzy-tumult of anger and morti6ca-
ton surgiDg through his breast.
81 An this is the way Pm treated, is
it?" he muttered. ga tramp-an out
cast-branded as a thief"
His eyes f1ashed-his bosom heaved-
his breathing became heavy and la
bored. He shut his hands tightly and
trudged on. Dave Foster stood for sew
eral moments watching the figure of the
stranger moving down the road.
" think l made mistake in that man,
after all. He looks seedy enough
though, for anything; and how's a fell
low TO tell the genuine from the bogus?
I've had 80 many cattle stolen of late,
that I've begun to suspect every
stranger / see."
He turned and re-entered the house.
Nearly a mile further on Jim Skinner
came to small frame house. He felt
that he could not go much further. He
must stop somewhere soon or fall by
the roadside. He would make one
more effort-one more trial-and if he
failed His face paled-a look of de-
spair came into his eyes. He APP
preached the door of the house and
knocked. A man came to the door
with book in his hand.
:" am weak and-and-hungry," he
faltered. " l must stop somewhere.
have no money"
"This is a schoolhouse," answered
the man at the door, shortly, and then
closed the door in Jim's face. He
turned away, look of despair on his
thin, white face. All the world seemed
to grow dark about him. Where would
he go next9 He hardly knew. He