The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-09-23
EXPERIEN CE WITH TRAMPS.

Perry Dakin had been eagerly scan
ming the Help Wanted" columns of the
daily papers for several days. He need
ed something to do. His, father: had
died after a brief illness, leaving no
property, and a widow and two little
girls, besides Perry. The boy must
care for. them. He was seventeen
years old, strong and active.
Perry faced. the situation manfully.
He had intended to go to college, but
he gave up his high hopes without be-
moaning He procured some good let
ters from men who knew him well,
vouching FOR the sturdy character that
he had proved. ~.,..
He was ready to do any honest work
that boy Of hisyears and inexperience
could do to earn even a small salary.
One day he read this notice In paper
published in the. city where he lived:
Wanted-A young man OF from eight
cen to twenty years Of age for re-
sponsible positions q few miles from the
city. No previous experiences. required.
Must come well recommended as to
character, and be ready to go to work
at once. Call between nine and eleven
;. this morning at 2ss 9 p street Room B Il:
Perry was at 269s B street, armed
with his letters, and standing at the
door of room "a at eight. O. clock, where,
by nine, twenty five boys and men had
formed in line: Perry was third in
At nine O'Clock the! door was opened
by an elderly man, who gave an excla-
nation of surprise when he saw how
many were waiting. Then he said:
Well, First & eone,l first served
Sorry I can't, employ oil Of you, but I
need only one. IN talk with you"
He nodded toward a tall young man
at the head Of the line, who stepped
briskly into the room, and the door was
closed. ..c...
The young man came out five min
utes later looking little crestfallen.
Then the gentleman came to the door
and said, Next" ~ -"
The next young man came out, too,
and then it. was Perry's turn. =:
He was asked regarding his age and
family, and his recommendations were
il; examined. -. <'@@- =
"~=AAAoo0 oAC an SOOA, Sdlu .tue SeULle-
man. Now do you know where Lake
Window is?', -:
Eyes, SIR
IF I engaged you, I would want YOU
to go out there and stay until October" !"
Very Well, sir
Have you ever been out there?"
Yes, sir; / went out there to a pic
n1c one day last summer" -. +
- Ihere are picnic parties at the lake
+ nearly every day from the middle OF
about the 7enIn OF sOctober.
The owners Of the lake and grounds
want some one to 90 out there and
take charge of the boats that are hired
out oy the hour to picnic parties, and
collect the charges. :
Inere are some other things to be
oOne' but nothing that a boy Of your
age could not do: But l. want to tell
you beforehand that you would have
lonely time oft at night"
"Wouldn't there be any one else there
at night but myself?"
No; you would be entirely alone
There is a. cafe there, and a. neannt
stand or two, and a man. who takes tin
types. !; But these people 20 to their
aomeS IN Crofton, q, town about a mile
from the lake, at night. We should
want you to stay at the grove for sew
era1 reasons. / think you'd be safe
enough, Dut. 1t would be lonesome"
les suppose so," replied Perry.
visions OF, long, lonely nights nassed
through his mind;:" but his need ~
money was urgent. ::
III be glad to go if the nav s,,;ts
me-" he said. ''
wen, l will give you ten dollars q
week and your board at the cafe and
uoket on the railroad, So that Won
can come to the city every Saturday
night and stay until Monday morning !"
t was more than Perry expected
He had not hoped to receive more
tnan seven. or eight dollars a week for
anything an inexperienced boy like him.
self could do.
Thank you, sir,'' he said, ST will
report for duty tomorrow morning"
All right There is to be 4 big nic-
Mo party out at the lake tomorrow
ana the young man who had charge of
the boats and swings last year viii 20
out with you and instruct YOU in vo11r
duties I would like you to 90 out on
fhe seven o'clock train. Call here at
about three this afternoon and get
your railroad ticket for six months
Lake Window, twenty miles, from the
c1ty' was clear, deep body of water
about three-fourths Of mile long and
han mile wide. The grass grew to
the very edge Of the water all around,
ana at one side was large and pretty
grove fitted up for picnic parties that
paid for the use of the grounds, 4. :.
There were thirty five or forty small
: boats for hiring out ut fifty cents an
hour to picnickers. It was Perry's duty
to take full charge Of these boats and
to collect the money for their use.
There were some swings with box
seats for four persons near the boats.
Ten cents q hah-hour was charged for
the swings. Then there was d bowling
alley in charge Of a young man named
Hale, who lived In Crofton. He went
to his home every evening, after turn
ing over the receipts Of the bowling al
ley to Perry. " = - 7 7 -
The total sum thus placed in Perry's
charge sometimes amounted to seventy
five dollars s5>
Perry'S situation was a nleasant one