The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-05-16
THE BICYCLE TRAMP.
New Species q vaerant Who
Haleeo Quoer Living.



bicycle tramp. Kansas City was Wis
tied by one Of this fraternity recently.
lie came to town astride fairly good
wheel, with ten cents in his pocket.
The ten cents he at once invested in
something wet. Then he made in
quiry al to the whereabouts Of the
various bicycle dealers. Selecting the
nearest one, he called and secured an
interview with him. Here's the kind
of . man the dealer saw: Probably 80
Years Of age; football hair; skin tanned
to deep brown; face lined by dissipa-
rion; dark sweater, very dirty; q pair
Of badly worn bicycle trousers, so thor
oughly begrimed as torender their orig
inal color doubtful; stockings also
dirty, and pair Of badly used up BIZ
cycle shoes.
The tramp made himself thoroughly
at home without waiting for an invi-
tation. He selected the best chair in
the room, dragged it to the side Of the
dealers desk, and, after elevating his
feet, was ready to talk business. As
Stunning an easy, confidential tone, he
said:
"Look here, my friend, I'm broke.
Haven't red I'd like small loan
say couple Of dollars SOS to get on
my feet. Now, I'll tell you what I'll
do. I'm 4 trick rider. Let me have
decent wheel, and I'll ride it at the
races and pay you back two dollars out
of what / make. What say p
"Where are you from?" asked the
proprietor, after moments reflection.
'Been towering out west" was the
response.
where's your homer
Down east
Questioning failed to draw much
more from him. He had been in every
state in the union, and had earned
enough to live on by doing an occa-
s,onal trick ''turn."
"Have you an outfit for exhibition
purposes?" asked the proprietor.
"Only what I've on. carry my
freight with me. This is a cOmbina-
tion outfit. I've . jersey bathing suit
under this outfit. just shed my WOOL
ems and pants and I'm ready for biz: :
These clothes is all I've got" But the
lack of a complete wardrobe did not
seem to weigh his mind.
"Much Of rider, are your" queried
the dealer.
'Well, I guess yes" said the tramp.
''Sid Black, Lee Richardson, why, dog
gone it, they amt in it with me. I'll
10 anything they do, and more. Come
out here q minute, and III show you
sample of my goods"
A wheel was selected from the stock,
and the tramp led the way to the street.
where he showed off, to the crowd
that gathered. He could ride, there was
no doubt about that. and after the
brief performance was over the dealer
gave the man two dollars and told him
to come back the next day.
That night the tramp made q win
plng at the crap table. The next day he
sauntered into the bicycle place swing
ing cheap cane and wearing new
suit of clothing and new straw ha.
with red, white and blue band. His
trousers were creased and had bell but
tons, the style several years ago, and
were so long they dragged behind. A
colored shirt of gorgeous pattern and
startling neck scarf were visible in the
opening Of the vest. 1S was . COM
plete transformation.
The transformed tramp borrowed u
wheel and got an engagement to ride
Mt country fair. For this he received
good bit Of money, but lost at gam
bling what he had not spent in treat
ing the ''sports." He had another en-
gagement to ride, lost his money, and
finally drifted back to the dealer who
mad first taken him up.
"Say, my FRIEND" said he, you
helped me once when I was oh my up
pers. help me out of town. won't you?
Give me enough for square meal and
a pocket piece"
He got another two dollars and was
gone. But he left town in better con-
plition than he entered It, for he had a
suit Of clothes. He win probably fol-
low the same tactics all over the coun-
try until winter stops him. trick rid
ing, passing the hat in country towns.
and riding at fairs. When he goes
dead broke" he will, - he has done
many times before, pawn his wheel and
beat his way along on trains.-Kansas
City Times.
MAry's Little LAmb - Fstiah.
King Prempeh Of Ashanti does not
understand the use of newspaper cor
respondents. "What are your he said