The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-04-14
ROY AND A TRAMP
Funny Experience of Wichita Young Man
With a Weary Watkins,


Up-to-date, an illustrated Chicago
paper Of considerable popularity, pub
lished this week the following story
written by Leroy Kramer, of this city:
One day last week a human parasite,
commonly known as a bum" walked
into my Office and tackled me for a
quarter. l asked him why he thought
] should give him the desired coin, and
led him on in a conversation both anus
ing and instructive.
you seem surprised" he said, that
/ should request a loan of you. Well
that is not so surprising as it looks.
Shall l explain MYSELF"
/ nodded assent.
ITO you" he continued, 81 represent
one Of that class Of people dependent on
others for support. Am I not correct
IN my suppOsition? 1 thought so. You
don't regard me as an unfortunate?
Again you are right You think am
tramp from choice, and again you
played trumps. Now that we under
stand each other 1 will be frank. and,
with your kind indulgence, viii proceed
with my tale"
So saying. he seated himself in one Of
my Office chairs and continued in a slow
dreamy voice, unlike the usual article.
Years ago I was a clerk in an office
much like this, and my many friends
predicted a brilliant future. Yours
have done the same. At any rate, l was
a student Of human nature. and could
borrow money of others by tickling their
vanity AT the proper time. That was
my great fault. 1 studies peoples
vanities too much. My employer pro-
moted me above others, because would
say in his hearing, that he was an excel
hrrc ,, !,
for his interest alone, and such other
like remarks that always bore fruit.
AT my boarding house. I would praise
the coffee that was too weak TO stand
alone. and get the breast of the chicken
for so doing. My landlady never press
ed me for rent because I told her. with
a show of feeling, that she reminded me
Of my dear grandmother, lady l al
ways remembered on account Of her
great goodness Of heart. The young
ladies thought 1 was an adorable crea-
ture. They had so many v6nities, and
/ could compliment them all without a
CULVER OF an eyelid.
''AH this. in the vernacular of the
street, gave me- the swell" and
thought the world owed me a living
Well. TO make a long story short. the
world Is giving me a living, such as it
Is. and that suits me-
'EWhen I first opened voUr door 7
knew your weakness. You want to
know them. do you? Look at that
picture OF Harrison over your desk. and
then at Blaine's and McKinley's on the
other side. You also dabble in politics
q little, just a little, however. or Won
wouldn't leave that letter from your
congressman so conspicuous on your
desk. Being something Of local ora
tor, I am not surprised that you should
hang Webster and Clay in a good light
Your surroundings tell that you are
prosperous. and that you wouldn't miss
q quarter given TO poor devil like my
self You are busy too, for your desk
has not been Strengthened up for q week
at least. What? Why certainly You
are married, but your wife IS away on
p visit. How did I know? There's a
button of your vest and your coat col
lar hasn't been brushed since You were
! in barber-shop. but you are having a
good time for there are TWO tickets 20
the theater in your vest pocket.-yes.
end the Black Crook IS on this week.
mo, no, only want a quarter. I'm
sorry, but / can't change a flyer You
want some change, You say, and viii let
me go out FOR il? Amt YOU afraid 10
trust me? Well, wait for me here. and
I'll show you how can appreciate kind
hess Ike yours.
He left the Office holding the five dol
lar bin carelessly between his fingers. !
f,Eas convinced he would bring back the
change.
An hour later he had not returned. ont
ssI left the Office that night, I noticed
a scrap OF paper under the door.
nickel IL I'D and read: You were
student Of human nature. too. Thanks.
Good bye"