News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-02-26
A TRAMP STORY,
Denver Pete" Gives His Last Dollar to

Denver Pete" Gives His Last Dollar to
an Acquaintance of His Youth.
The day was even more than usually
prolific of vagrants, and at IL o'clock
p. IN. the big ram pasture in the rear
of the station was packed with unfort-
unates of all sorts and ages. There
we're red shirted and heavy booted fell
lows from the lumber country, robust,
bearded men, who seemed disguised at
their i'll luck. There were old men
and young ones, alike ragged and hun
cry looking, and they crowded one and
all around the big stove as though they
never expected to see another Among
the unkempt and i'll smelling herd
there were some striking characters.
Denver Pete" a big, muscular man,
with a face like that of Bill Sykes, and
a voice that might be likened to the
rasping of double edged file, sat in a
chair with his cap down over his eyes
and both hands pushed deep in his
trousers pockets.
He Was talking about the Christ
masses he had when a boy, of little
in Ohio state, when the door of the
tramp room opened for the entrance of
a new guest. He was youngster, this
newcomer There wasn't hair on his
face, and the clothes he wore evidenced
that he had not been tramping it long
The lad looked at the crowd around
him, and then turning to the jailer
asked if there were any beds. A hoarse
laugh from the old timers, in which
the officers joined, told that beds were
not among the luxuries of life in tramp
dom. The door closed, and the boy
found himself heir to the softest spot
he could find ON the floor. He was
picking his way through the recumbent
vags to far corner of the place when
the voice of Denver Pete" bade him
stop.
Come here, your
The stranger drew near, rs though
expecting some new gibe at his misfort-
une.
''Where'r ye fromW
81 came from Hardin county, o.,
and worked in q commission house on
Robert street until two months ago.
Then l got sick. was just let out of
the hospital and haven't any money,
so had to come here"
Where's your folksl"
cat Kenton, o."
cable to work now, amt your
Eyes; am going to work as soon as
/ can get something to do"
Ever been trampin' beforep
'No, sir"
''Shut up and let folks sleep, can't
you2" yelled voice from across the
room.
$50 to Jerichol" responded the
questioner, ut the same time taking
from a pocket inside his shirt greasy
leather wallet. He drew forth a five
dollar bill, crumpled and torn on the
edges, and handed it to the youngst.r
with the remark:
See here, pard, L guess you amt
used to bummin'. There amt no beds
here-nothin' but boards, and hard
boards at that. They don't serve break
fast reglar, an the place amt your
style nohow. Here's a bill You go
out and tell the hotel keeper the lodg-
ings amt up to tho mark. The flve'll
keep you through the week, and then
ye kin look for a job"
'But maybe / can't get one right
away" broke in the other
''Well, mebbe yc can't, but try. My
mother used ter tell me there wasn't
nothin' like tryin' 1t didn't never do
me much good, but you take her tip
and try"
'I'll pay you back as'soon"-
"All right" broke in the lender.
''You jest address the letter Denver |
Pete Police Station, st. Paul, an I'm
liable to get it"
The sick man thanked his deliverer |
profusely, shook his hand and with
drew.
"Got any more jokes to scatter,
Pete" asked q grizzled veteran of the
road.
Pete got up and looked-at the crowd
before him.
''Youse fellers," he said, reckon / |
done a fool job on that kid. Well /
knowed him. come from Ohio my
self, down around Kenton. knowed
his sister, too, an used ter take her
sleigh ridin' behind my old dads grays.
She wouldn't have me, of course;
couldn't expect it nohow, but hain't
going to see her kid brother goin' hun
cry"
''Whered yer get the fiveg" asked a
consulnptive looking listener.
"Been savin' it for q month to cele-
brate on" and with that reply Denver
Pete" cured up near the base burnerfor
the night Paul Globe.