Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-07-09
TWO TRAMPS.

A young fellow was swinging along
up the dusty road whistling In way
that made the robins cock their heads
to listen. He was good looking young
fellow. with dark curly hair and fne
bronzed complexion. His clothes were
coarse and stout, he wore a SLOUGH hat
turned down all around, and from hat
to shoes he was gray with dust. He
bore stout stick in his hand and walk
ed with light, springy step, whistling
gayly AZ he advanced.
He had just reached the brow Of the
hill when peculiar sight drew his at
tentlon. To the right at some distance
stood a pretty white cottage with bud
ding naples all about 1t. twas 80 neat
and oozy that the young man would
have paused to look at 1t II there had
been no other attraction. Something
else did attract him, however, some
thing which quickened his pace to q
run.
Standing on the steps of the porch
was gray haired lady, and facing her
from the walk below stood defiant
specimen of the genus tramp. Behind
the old lady In the doorway was a
young woman with fire shovel In her
hand. As the young man opened the
gate he heard volley OF oathaHrom the
tramp, coupled with an emphatic do
mand for food. From this the gray
haired lady shrank back, and the ruff
fan sprang up the steps, and, pushing
her aside, attempted to enter the door.
"Hold on, therel" cried the young
man from the graveled pathway. The
tramp turned and saw him coming.
"Wot's that?" he snarled.
With one more bound the young man
was ON the porch, painting slightly. but
ready for action.
Has he annoyed you. ma 'amr" he
cried, and his hat came off as he spoke
yes" said tho gray haired lady in
trembling voice. HE said we must
get him some breakfast and give him
some money"
The tramp stood In u defiant attitude,
his sullen eyes regarding the young man
with an ugly stare. AS the youth turned
from the lady, the ruffian glared at him
from head to toe.
Say" no growled, "you amt
a-workin this side o. the street, too, DO
your"
"Come, now." said the young man
quietly, "you climb off tho porch and
chase yourself down the road. vamoosei
aitr"
He made sudden move toward the
fellow, who backed quickly down the
steps. There he paused and delivered
another volley of profanity.
"Come down here" he shouted, IAN
we'll fight to see who runs this ranch. -
"I'm coming" said the youth. and
he flung his hat OH the porch and fol-
lowed it with his coat. Then he turned
to the women and said, Ladies', have
the kindness to retire within the house
until this job IL over. !"
Then he leaped from the porch and
the battle royal began. 1t was not a
fight for poets to sing. 1t was strug-
gle between blind force on one side and
skilled agility on the other. 1t didn't
last long, but the young man was dimly
conscious that one time In the fight,
when the big fellow was crowding him
pretty hard. the young girl stood close
NJ uhhu WIFI bho lAio bhoNSl DDlbOu AL u
decidedly threatening way. Finally an
adroit blow sent the ruffian to grass.
and when he got up he limped down
the pathway and through the gate, es-y
corted by the young man, and 30 disap-
peared
When the deliverer came back for his
hat and coat, the old lady met him
with profuse thanks, and the young la
dy smiled at him in q most charming
way. Was there anything he wanted
breakfast. glass of milk2 He said he
would like glass Of water, and the
young lady swiftly brought it, AS the
young man took it from her hands he
permitted himself to be instantly con-
WINGED that she was decidedly pretty--a
slender young woman in cheap dress
Of dark material, with big blue apron
over it, and white cap concealing her
dark hair. But her face was bright and
rosy, and when she said, "Will you
have anotherf' the youth was quite
sure he had never heard Is more music
al voice. AS he picked up his hat. the
gray haired lady said:
Would you like to earn o little
money, my good young mani"
why, yes. l would" the young
man admitted.
Then" said the older lady, per
haps you could beat few rugs and
small carpet for usf'
The young man looked at the pretty
girl and said he thought he could.
Its Just this way" said the older
lady: "Our hired girl has been called
home by sick mother. and our hired
man sprained his wrist 80 badly In try
ing to stop a runaway horse that he's
gone into town TO have 1t doctored, and
so Stella and are left alone to finish
up the houseoleaning. But II you'll
clean the rugs 1t will be great help 20
US. Stella will show you where every
thing is."
And 20 under Stella's guidance the
clothesline was put up, and the rugs
were brought out, and pretty soon the
sound of stout stick well applied was
heard. Every time the young man
paused he looked toward the young
ytr xsha nth 49,. .kt-4. -,