Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-10-16
CHASED BY 4 TRAMP.


The highroad, or turnpike, as we called
it, was close by, and this in summer time
was much travelled on by tramps anC
disreputabIe persons. But. as a rule
we at Massies' took little heed of tramps
and few of those who came to beg ever
got served at our door. II any did get
servered they were either the very
needy or the particula " "cheekv"
The former were relieved out pity for
their condition, the latter to get rid of
them
But Mrs. Massie could deny even a
very " Oh ,eky beggar" if she suspected
him of being an imposter. No doubt
she did it with more timiditv than tenn
Gritty, but then there was usually a big
dog or a big farm lahorer within sound
of her voice. Therefore she did do it
occasionally. Only that very forenoon
she had refused to serve a burly turn
pike native who begged hard for piece
of bread and drink OF milk.
"You look strong and healthy. Why
don't you work." asked Mrs. Massi=.
"How can folks work when there
amt any work for 'em to dor"
There's plenty to do, if YOU only
look for it in lively place" she re-
piled.
"I've beeu looking for it for three
months and amt 'ound it yet" said he.
"Then look for it till you do find T.
said the misses, and with that she bang
ed the door in his face and left him to
go his way.
thought it was rather unfeelingly of
Mrs. Massie to talk like that, but she had
been in pet over something or other
that morning and was not quite herself. /
Well. about an hour after that she /
came to me in quite good humor and /
asked me to go for walk and take the |
baby, saying it would do us good to get
out a bit So, of course, I got ready, /
and we were soon enjoying the fresh
air and the sunshiae For some distance
we walked on the Turnpike, but before
long we came to 4 narrow lane which
led to our nearest neighbor's, whose
farm was about mile away.
The lane, except for birds and insects,
was as lonely a place as any one could
wish for Therefore we were not a lit
tie startled when, on turning a corner,
we came upon a tramp-the very NAVY
whom Mrs. Massie had so rudely dis {
missed that morning. I
He was lying in the shade of thick
hedge, and he looked up as we passed. {
When I saw him through the kitchen {
window that morning, noticed that he a
did not look very refined, neither in r
manners nor in features, but now, on a
passing close 90 him in the narrow lane, =
fancied he looked quite ferociosu. Ev-
identity he and Mrs Massie recognized $
each other, and it was plain that this did Il
not please her, for she turned away Il
from him with shudder as though she "
mad seen a serpent. a
The NAVY must have seen that we G
we're afraid of him. and no doubt this a
gave him some satisfaction, but he walk q
I'd on quickly and in silence for neither o.
# rs dared trust ourselves to speak. Il
When we were little distance from j
lin, however, Mrs. Massie whispered &c
o me to look ronnd and see if he was al
till wing down. l turned my head and 2
aw that the tramp was on his feet and 4
GLOWING US, and then I grasped nay SC
arm, and she turned to look
lso o'
Just ;hen the tramp stopped and pick h'
d up something which looked like OF
hick stick or hedge stake, and, with c.
mis- in his hand. he came on a quicker G
ace, as though intending to overtlke tn
5. At this my mistress turned pale, tn
nd trembled with fear, exclaiming: an
"Oh, heavens, he means to murder us sh
9th, and this innocent babe as well. m
What shall we do, Jennie; what shall we in
o." err
"Give me the baby, and let Us run FOR
ur lives" cried. feeling sure that the
amp really intended to do us harm.
But, in her great fear, Mrs. Missile Or,
ould not trust her baby out Of her arms Al
nd instead Of giving j. to me she press m'
! the little thing all the closer to her in
-east Thus weran down the lane as Oh,
ST as oar feet would take US, not dar- il s
o 10 look back upon our pursuer. We 1t
new the tramp was following, because am
G could hear him shouting after Us in Cyl
ul and angry tones. Il seemed that chi
= was trying to brighten us, but we III,