The herald., 1894-12-20


double purpose. that of protestin'
against the outrageous persecution
which our society is undergoing at pres
ent at the hands OF policemen. consta-
bes and justicss on the one hand, and
to place the claims OF our socisty in
proper light before the public on the
other"
Have tramps society?'
"Tramps!" ne repeated in tone oil
offended dignity and with look OF re-
monstrance at his auestioner, were
travellers, il you please, the Society OF
Ancient an Honorable Travolsra-with
a membership up in the millione," he
added, in tone OF conscious prids.
"Who ia Always Rides by RailW
"rhe president of our society, an the
greatest traveller on earth"
"Wnere has he travelled, I'D and down
California ?"
Nav. He's travelled hundreds OF
times over every atate an territory in
the union, Canada an Mexico. Oh.
he's the king OF travellers"
That the fellow considered himself
"traveler" was also evident, but he
had other qualities which became OBJ
vious later.
"Say. boss" he asked in an insinuat-
ing tone, would you kindly favor me
with the loan OF four bits, rs l want TO
get my wash out OF the laundry? You
eee, Pm to be one OF the speakers at the
meetin', an | want to look a kind OF
respectable"
That the fellow was lying wac plain. as
he had only arrived in Los Angeles, but
his excuse for the money was considered
80 original that he was given the half
dollar, which he stored away in a recep.
tacle in his coat, just as his companion
returned with the beer.
Come to our meetin' tonight an ask
for T. L. T. an I'll give yer an inter-
duction to our president"
"Who is T. t. T.? 90
II. Timothy Trsinbeater, at your
SERVICE" the knave replied with pre-
tended seriousness and without moving
@ muscle.
Promising to attend left just as 1
heard the fellow who went for the beer,
with some asperity ask his companion
why he did not get the price OF another
beer, and heard I. Timothy Trainbeater
! reply that he did not have the nerve to
ask for it.
1t was a little past midnight when
reached the place where the meeting
was to be held. By the light of the
moon could see a number of persons
sitting around a camp fire, and on my
approach they suddenly disappeared as
| il by magic behind q number Uf railroad
cars that stood on a side-track. On
being assured that their visitor was
neither policeman nor a constable
they quickly returned and seated
themselves around the fire as
before. They were a worthy group.
the sun was represented, and strange az
it may. seem the nativsborn element
was in the majority. Unkempt and un-
OF dress, they sat around the blazing
iaggots, some toastng their lame feet at
the fire, the rest circled around young
fellow who was reeiting his experiences
in Los Angeles. The speaker was not
more than 10 years OF age and was
known to his associates as the "Bowery
Kid" probably because he came from
| New York. His face had deathlike
pallor, but he was better dressed than
the other tramps. He was telling with
great gusto his experience with lady
on Olive street, and from the manner in
which he mimioksd her, as we'll as the
style in which he told the story, it was
evident that he was something of .
comedian.
He said that he went to. one OF the
most sristocratic looking houses in Los
Angeles, about 2 p. m, on last M Monday,
and rang the bell at the front door.
He had handkerchief, saturated with
blood which he held to his mouth
| Just ~ the door WAS opened BY
a servant. He told the servant that he
would like cup OF beet tea
as he was after having q hemorrhags
from the lungs. Before the servant. who
seemed to be aatonished at his ch eek,
could give him an answer. the lady OF
the house, who happened to be listening,
came to the door and glanoing at the
visitor hsr sympathies were so aroused
that she ordered the servant to 20 at
once and make the beef tea. telling her
how it should be done. She went her.
self and got him medicine, which che
said was good styptic for cases like
his, but not liking its taste he en- ptied
the stuff into cuspidor when the lady's
back was turned.
After the beef tea was cooked and par
taken OF she got him tea and toast and
then offered to send him to the in6rm-
ary. As he had no notion of going to
the in6rmary, yet wished to work the
lady's sympathies to their fullest ex.
tent, he, Stimulating a good deal of pre-
tended feeling, thanked her for
her kindness but declined to 90
60 to the infrmary, giving his reason
that the doctors told him he had no
chance OF ever getting we'll and, having
an only sister living in Fresno, he would
try and reach her, if he was to die on
the road in making the attempt. This
recital 30 touched the compassonate
lady that she went and got her purse
and gave him money enough to pay his
fare to his eister. She also gave him a
suit OF clothes belonging to one of her
oons.
OF course he did not 60 to Fresno, nor
had a sister living there, nor ever had
a hemorrhage. He had learned to bleed
his throat without pain, and his cadav-
erous look was due to fondness for
morphine. All Of the young tramps
seemed to be proud of their youthful
companion, whom they looked up to as
a person worthy of emulation.
I met I. Timothy Trainheater, my ao.
quaintance of the afternoon before, who
was acting IS secretary OF the meeting,
and noticed that he had not ch anged his
linen since I saw him before, but then
he might have lost the laundry ticket.
He gave me an introduction. to ALWAYS
Rides by Rail-" just as the lat
tor woa ahnut cu.linU vnaat.