Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-10-18
Mistellanenms.
THE GENTEEL TRAMP.

"He wants nights lodging, ma'am,
said Hannah Ann
every well, y said Miss Eliot; 'lci
him have il There's the barn chamber
unoccupied, and the little cot bedstcad
is very comfortable. I'm sure"
But Hannah Ann still hesitated, with
the door. knob in her hand
Whats the matter ?" brusqucly in
quired her mistress
"Begging pardon, ma'am," said Han
nah Ann, "but amt certain he's the
barn chamber sort Of company. Hos
very gcnteel-looking. and"
Miss Eliot turned her specialized gaze
upon Hannah Ann with mild toler-
ancc which was akin to contempt.
"Hannah Ann" said she, don't be
q fool !"
"No, ma am courtesied Hannah
Ann, who had not lived for twenty years
in her mistress service without being
well accustomed to her mistress ways.
"There's the gentcel ones and the
roughs,' said Miss Eliot. "And one
is every bit as bad as the other. And
we shan't have bit of peace 10 the
country till this tramp nuisance is abat-
ed, Is he old or young. Hannah Ann y
"Middle-aged, ma'am, | should say"
"Then he ought to be ashamed Of
himself for not going to work to earn
an honest living" said Miss Eliot,
sharply. "Put him into tho barn cham
Der, Hannah Ann, and give him bowl
Of tea and bite Of cold victunls, and
be sure you turn the key on the outside
of the door after hos fairly in for the
night. One cant very we'll turn fol
low creature away from ones door with
such u thunder storm as this brewing
with glance at the darkening West-
"but it does make ones blood creep, the
idea Of letting en- in, after all the hor-
rible stories in tho papers. And all
alone in tho house with only Hannah
Ann and the bound boy. do believe
I'll send down to Sopus' and borrow his
big dog until tomorrow there's no tel-
ling what mischief these ruilians may
be contemplating Yes, Iii borrow tho
dog and then VIC shall DO safe !"
50 little Tim Trottcrsby, the bound
boy, was sent down to neighbor Sopus'
for tho loan of muscular square-jawed
bulldog with glisteuing teeth and rod
hanging jaws, who arrived on the scene
of action with growl that made Miss
Eliot's blood run cold
"Dear, dear, said Miss Eliot, what
a horriblc-looking beast p
"IIe's dreful savage, ma'am," said
little Tim, who, ostensibly loading the
dog, was, in reality, being dragged along
by the rope. and only released himself
from the Mazeppa like fate by throw
ing tho sIip-knot Of tho fastening over
hook at the side of tho kitchen door.
"Taipt safe for no one to pass in or out
while hos here
"But what nrc We to do = gaspcd
Miss Eliot, instinctivoly rocoiling. as
the animal displayed his threatening
inws and immense rows of bristling teeth
10 q portentious yawn Little Tim
scratched his head.
"Don't know, ma'am," said he
Guess you'll have to go in and out OF
t'othcr door.
Mrs. Eliot bit her lip in vexation /;
but then as her thoughts REQUIRED TO
tho tramp, she told herself that perhaps
IL was lust M we'll, under all circum-
stances to have savage dog about the
place.
In the meantime Hannah Ann was
doing out meal Of cold odds and ends
10 a harmless looking individual 10
seedy black, with leather bag beside
him ("burglar tools" thought Hannah
Ann, a. she eyed tho leathcrn recepta-
Gle with a dubious glance, and bald
spot on the top Of bis head. lie did
not wear particularly fierce expression
of countenance, nor was there muir
derous glitter in his eyes--in fact, there
was nothing bclligoreut in his appear
ance.
"Can not | see Miss Elliott" said he,
mildly, rs he drank up the last Of bis
weak and lukewarm tea.
"Missus is engage, special" said
Hannah Ann. "But she says you're
to sleep in the barn chamber, and it's
very comfortable there"
Tn the barn chamber p repeated the
old man, in accents Of some surprise.
not TO say distaste Hannah Ann fired
up at once.
Il guess you've slept in woryI places
H., ,b.. afora unw aaid Lho. and