The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-05-14
Hshes, Of ali in La,enins P0veU Govt Report Aug n, 1882
Re-! g! Bssi9s Bsxasss
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ONLY.A TRAMP.

bPPeHanee pFceeuteu picture OF sfetcn-
edosss aud wait A cold March wind vas
blowing through the dry. dead arsss. and
patches OF shadow and sunlight were chss
ing each other over an unbroken prairie.
The msn drew bis thin coat moie closely
about bin. aud sbivered as = kvtuer blast
than usual swept around him
Hitss perty pass yer come to. jim
Skinner, said the 6sure 10 the road, Ye
have been usmpin all day without = bit
ter eat. an yer get snythiug' yer goiu
ter halter bag -yss. bag
And be threw out bis hand with . ges
ture OF disdain, and quickened his pace. .
flush OF shame and humiliation mounting
his thin. pale face.
Who'd a.tbougbt ys'd ever come to ihis3
he exclaimed, almost fiercely,
What did yer come West fer2 Ter git
lsnd-lsnd fer almost no
thinl Rob land that's what they said -
he laughed sort ofchoking laugh cheap
aud rich land = buffalo walters -slksly
ws'er sn sgerl
| There was look OF vexstioD and inf
mite disgust pictured on his face ss be
strobe onward. For six months Jim Skin
ner bad been holding" claim. and had
battied with sll the bsrdsbips and privs
tiops that fall to the lot Of the poor who
seek to make home in the Great Amer
Jean Desert" He had lived 10 dug ont.
worked hard and bali starved himself
spent all the money be bad, took the aguo
and lived in his hut helpless. till at last
starvation had driven him forth, weak,
bali sick and sfoot, TO look for some kind
OF work among the cattle men 10 gain bis
daily bread Mile after mile be had
trudged along, with no sign Of hsbitation
to break the monotopy, save now and then
the rude cabin or dug.o out Of some poor
claim holder who, like himself. was strug,
Cling with misforiuues and battling with
want 1t was near the middle OF the after
noon. He was now nearing that part OF
prairie country monopoliz d by the great
cattle men. and csllad the range" A
mile further on was email cattle ranch.
He felt weak aud sick. and knew be could
not continue bis journey much further
without rest and something to eat. II be
conld not get work ct the first place - he
could go further he must have something
to eat would be be compelled to besp
He bad no money nothing to give but
his clothes. A bitter smile stole over his
face. He quickened bis pace, and hur
ried. few minutes later be paused in
front Of large frame building. surround
ed by numerous barb wire corrals. He
stood for moment in the road, ilresolute
II be failed to get work should be ask for
. lodging and something to eat' His face
flushed at the thought. Work? What
could he do 10 his present weak condi
tion9 Nothing. He turned toward the
building.
Dave Foster. the owner Of the cattle
ranch. came ont OF the building and saw
the s!onchiug figure standing 10 the road
What are you prowlng ground here Tor?
he demsnded, casting a look Of distrust
ou tue forlorn creature before him
I'm lookin' for work, stammered 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 Tor
work in the daytime and other peoples
cattle by night. Clear ontl I've had
enough Of such ss you already.
A hot flush mantled Jim SINNERS face
for and instsnt. and then disppesred,
leaving lin as pale as death. He tried to
speak, but the words stuck 10 bis throat.
He mastered his emotion. with great ef
fort. He turned npon the speaker, bis
oyes flashing. his breath coming 10 gAsps.
Move onl commanded the cattle man.
sruiiiy.
Jim Skinner turned away. sick and diE
~ -tumult OF anger and moriifcstion sur
giuR through his breast.
An this is the way l'm treated. is il?
he u uttered A tramp -su ou,csst = brand
ed AZ a thief.
HIS eyes q ishei his bosom hesved his
breathing b, came heavy aud labcred. He
shut bis hands tightly aud trudssd 90.
Dave Poster stood for several moments,
ustching the figure oI,he stranger moving
down the road.
,hink | made = n,istske 10 that msn,
after oil H- looks seedy enough though.
Tor anythinp; AID ho~'s f,lios 10 tell
the genuine from the boeusy I've bad SO
mspy cattle stolen Of late. that I've begun
TO .aspeet every stranger s,e
He tgfaei spa re,sntcrei tue house. |
Nearly . mile further on Jun Skinner
came 10 small frame bonse: He felt that
be could mol 40 much further. He must
stop somes befe soon or fail 10y the road
.iie. lie you'd make one more fou-
one more iii.l = aud u be failed -His
face psied "a look Of despair came iuto
bic eyes. He approached the door OF the
hou.s srd Knocked. A mac came - the
door wlib book is hi. bsud.
sm weak aud and -huDsry. be i.i
tered. Gusi stop somesh.re. ] have 90
money
This i. . schooihouse. spswered ibe man
q, the door. shortly. aud tbeu eiossd the
door 10 Jin.s face. lie tarnsd svay; o.
look Of despair on bis thia. shlie isee-
All the uorld seemed to grcs dark about
hin. Where would he 60 nsx.i He hard