The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-07
A TRAMP WITH NERVE.
HE WAS USED TO DIGGING UP coRPsEs
AND DIDN'T FEAR GHOSTS.


viii j. Davis told the saunterer a tale
that smacks of the favor of frontier life
and is so different from the usual type Of
floating anecdotes that it is worth a place
in a newspaper. He calls it the story Of
the tramp with nerve. The scene is pros
porous little town on the Union Pacific
road There the engine had to stop for
water and from there also stage line or
two diverged, so that it was bustling
metropolis for small town on the wide
plains. But the place had greater repu-
tation than the stage line or its CONNER
cial Importance could give it. 1t was the
station where the tramps were "fired"
from the trains coming east and going
west. They were so many in number that
they became great nuisance, for they had
TO be cared for in some way, else the results
of their predatory excursions would cause
general sorrow.
The business men were all healthy, ro-
bust, jolly lot of fellows, every one ready
and anxious to play practical joke when
he could do it without endangering his own
physical welfare They put their heads to-
gether-for there is wisdom in multitude
vi SSuliSCA plcsAA VI
was agreed upon. Each new tramp visitor
was to be met by committee of one, who
would formally wish him all sorts of bodily
comfort and material success with mental
serenity He would be escorted to the
leading restaurant, and at the towns ex-
pense the best dinner was given him,
topped off by satisfying drink and good
cigar.
THE GREAT SCHEME.
And when the victuals and viands had
warmed him up to a condition of mellow
ness and the fumes Of first class cigar
had lulled his brain into placid state this
committeeman unrayeled to him a scheme
that would pan out rich to any one under
taking it. 1t was this: A rich and miserly
woman, so the narrative ran had died
few days ago. and her last request was that
her diamonds, valued at $4,000, should be
sewed up under her left arm and buried
with her. 1t was the desire of the commit
teeman to undertake this job of resurrect-
ing the body and getting the diamonds,
and there was only one obstacle in the
way. He could get no one to go in with
him.
Every one in town was too cowardly and
dared not do it in spite of the confidential
offer made by local ieweler that he would
give $500 spot cash for the jewels. "If
you go in with me-" the committeeman
would remark, you can have one-half in
hard dollars, or $3.50" The offer was al
ways accepted and the fun began without
delay The citizens had on hand lot of
the tools of a grave resurrectionist, all
ready for use. This joke was played on
every tramp on the day of his arrival and
so that no time should be lost and no more
money expended in his care than was abso-
lutely necessary the same night was the
time fixed for the deed.
In anticipation of the arrival of vagrants
a committeeman was appointed each day.
There was great disappointment in the
town when the diurnal tramp failed to put
in an appearance. Generally they were
quite punctual. Their visits averaged five
week. The tramp Of nerve came on the
day that VIII Davis, calmly waiting his ar
rival when the train pulled in, was to olli-
ciate. He was dirty, greasy, wholly di-
lapidated appearing fellow, with desper-
ate air and determined pock marked face.
The word was passed round that the vic
tim had come. Will Davis treated him as
the other distinguished visitors had been
treated-with an excellent dinner and ci-
gars. He was at the top notch of physical
comfort. A hearty dinner, old rye and a
Havana have a wonderful effect on a
tramp's nature.
IN THE CEMETERY.
Then the grave robbing scheme was
broached. The man thought it o capital
idea and a mighty good way to earn pile
of money. 'Pard, | can give you some
points on raising 'stiffs,'" hesaid to Davis.
Pm an oldhand at the business and no
one can do better piece of work in that
line than l can." So the preparations
were completed and the two waited for
nightfalL The town jokers also got ready.
In due time Davis and his friend went to
the cemetery with their tools and rigging
and commenced to work.
By way Of depression it may be stated
that twelve or fifteen fellows supplied
themselves with white sheets and revolvers
and also went to the graveyard before
hand. Each one threw the sheet about
him and hid behind a convenient grave
stone. In the midst of the resurrection
proceedings-of course it was on mound
prepared for the purpose that they oper-
ated-these figures would rise up stimuli
taneously and with a series of unearthly
yells would fire off the blank cartridges
with which the revolvers were loaded.
The committeeman would beg his friend
the tramp to fly for his life, and in every
case heretofore the tramp had dropped
spade and tackle, and with yells outyying
the ghostly apparition would take to his
heels and get him out Of sight as far as his
legs would carry him. He would never
come back again, and that was the way
the town got rid Of its tramp visitors and
had heaps Of fun in securing that result.
But VIII Davis tramp was another kind
OF breed. When he had dug big hole and
seemed to be in fair way of reaching the
buried treasure the figures rose up accord
ing to custom and began firing. Davis
rolled over and exclaimed: 'NOh, Pm shot.
I'm killed. Run, run for your life." Did
the tramp runs Not bit of it. He turned
TO Davis and in a courageous voice said
Partner, Pm here with you, and Pm 90
ing to stay with you" And he took big
revolver from each Of his hip pockets and
began to fire, directing his bullets where
he thought the other shots came from. He
fired real balls and Davis said that he
could hear them ringing against the grave
stones, and he trembled for the safety Of
his joking comrades.
The way those jokers got ont of that
cemetery was caution. They did not run,
but like lot Of snakes they wriggled and
crawled out. Fortunately no one was in
jured, and it is wonder, too, for that
tramp seemed to know how to use revol-
yer. Will Davis was only too glad to quit
work and get back to town on the plea that
the surprise had disjointed his nerves. 1t
was some time after this before they treat
ed their tramp visitors in like Manner
Chicago Post.
The Judge Laughed Last and Best.
A lull in the conversation gave the man
from Kentucky his opportunity. "Talk-
ing about the laws delay" he began,
knocking the ashes from his cigar, which