People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-07-29

'"Then skin along and make yer in
vestigations. I'll sit here and smoke
till you come back. If you could pinch
bit o bread an meat by the way, it
wouldn't hurt"
"Fll try" answered the tall tramp.
I'm goin' to ask the kids yonder, first,
if any O. my people still live hete."
The tall tramp strobe over to the two
boys His companion shambled down
the embankment to obtain, at the turn
table near the locomotive shed across
the railroad, ared-hot cinder with which
to light his pipe.
do you youngsters know people
here by the name Of Kershaw?" began
the tall tramp standing beside the two
boys.
Both remained sitting on the grass.
One shook his head. The other said:
No"
The tramp was silent for moment.
Then it occurred to him that his mother
had taken his stepfather's name and
his sister might be married. Therefore
he asked
"HOw about family named Coates2"
"None here" replied one of the boys.
But the other said: "CoateS? That's
the name of Tommy Hackett's grand
mother. Don't you know, Dick-old
Mrs. Coates"
The tramp drew and expelled a
quick, audible breath.
Then" he said, this Mrs. Coates
must be the mother of Tommy's moth
er. Do you know what Tommy's moth
er's first name isl"
81 heard Nom call her Alice once"
The tramp's eyes glistened.
"And Mr.. Coates?" he inquired.
"Oh, l never heard of him. | guess
he died long ago."
And Tommy Hackett's father, who's
he?"
Hes the boss down at the freight
station. Agent, think they call him. p"
where does this Mrs. Coates live?"
"She lives with the Hacketts. Would
you like to see the house? Me and Dick
has to go past on the way home. Well
show you"
Eyes, would like to see the house. ="
The boys arose, one of them rather
sleepily. They led the way across the
railway company's lot, then along a
sparsely built-up street, and around a
corner into more populous but quiet
highway. At the corner was a grocery
and dry-goods store; beyond that were
neat and airy two-story houses, fronted
by yards closed in by iron fences. One
of these houses had little piazza. on
which sat two children. From the
half open door and from two windows
came light
That's Hackett's house," said one OF
the boys
Thanks, very much," replied the
tramp, continuing to walk with them.
The boys looked surprised at his not
stopping at the house, but they said
nothing.
At the next corner the tramp spoke
up: 81 think I'll go back now. Good
night, Youngsters
The boys trudged on, and the tramr
retraced his steps. When he reached
the Hacketts' house he paused at the
gate. The children, boy of eight and
a girl of six, looked at him curiously
from the piazza.
Are you Mr.. Hackett's little boy anC
girl" he asked
The girl stepped back to the hal
door and stood there. The boy looked
up at the tramp, and answered: "Yes
SIR"
SIS your mother in?"
mo, she's across the street at Mrs
Johnson's."
She'll be back soon," added the girl
"Grandmother's in, though" contin
ued the boy. Would you like to Sc,
her?"
mo, no. Don't call her. l jus
wanted to see your mother"
: do you know mammal" inquire,
the girl.
"Well-no! l knew her brother, you
uncle"
1--WE haven't any uncle-except Uncl
George, and he's papa's brother" sal,
the boy.
What! not an Uncle Will-Uncl
Will Kershaw?"
oh! yes, assented the boy. ''Di
you know him before he died? Tha
was long time ago."
The tramp made no other outwar
manifestation of his surprise than t
be silent and motionless for a time
! Presently he said in a trembling voice
I Eyes, before he died. Do you remeu
Der when he died?"
''Oh, no. That was when MANN
p was girl. She and grandmother ofte
talk about it, though. Uncle Wi
e started west, you know, when he wa
fifteen years old. He was standing O
o a bridge out near Pittsburgh one da
and he saw little girl fall into tn
river. He jumped in to save her, bu
Y he was drowned, cause his head hit
q stone and that stunned him. The
Y didn't know it was Uncle VIII or VIII
/ it was, at first, but mamma read abor
7 it in the papers and Grandpa Coate
q went out to see if it wasn't Uncle vii
/ Grandpa Identified him and the
brought him back here, but, what q
a you think, the doctor wouldn't allo'
q them to open his coffin, and so gran,
+ ma and mamma couldn't see him. He
d buried up in the graveyard, next Gran,
n pa Kershaw, and there's a little mon,
= ment there that tells all about how
| died irwin IN Sava q lttla r,;,l g.,