Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-07-07

party broke up into groups, wilkins
and Kit reclining on the floor smoking
cigarettes.
AS he could not then talk with Will
kins Van proceeded to satisfy his curl
osity by questioning the one known as
Missouri Kid"
The Flying Sword? Oh, he got the
name by carrying that tin trowel He
viii go and ask for work. telling the
boss that he lays brick, not by the hun
dred a day but by the acre. If you
doubt me look at my trowel' The
righteousness of his ways usually gets
him job, too He is a very fair brick
layer, but of course not so good as
Diamond Kit, who is considered the
best in the United States"
How about our hobo stew" now
chimed in wilkins voice.
How much can we raise?" was
Kits practical supplementary remark.
The sum of two dollars was collect
ed, with which Kit and Wilkins de-
parted to do the marketing.
Soon after they returned with vari-
Gus bundles, five-gallon tin sausage
can and an empty tobacco can for
each person present.
Van was interested, and pressed for
ward to see what was going on.
While Kit made the stew he sent
some of the boys out for empty cans.
He ordered the solder removed from
them, and that they be hattened out
and washed.
Each man had a tomato can, and a
small portion of ground coffee with
which he made his own drink. army
style, and this was drunk with CON
densed milk. Slices of steak were fried
on the pieces of tin which they had fat
tened, and soon the first course was
eaten, amid much testing and laugh
ter, for all hoboes are apt to be jovial
when certain of one full meal in a day.
After the coffee was drunk the cans
were filled up with the rich. savory
| stew.
AS dusk came on the men reclined
about the floor. telling their expert
ences. Van determined 20 try to In
| fluence wilkins into telling the truth
as he was interested in the man, who
seemed above his fellows, 81 sat by his
side and watched him stealthily while
Jim told of his life, how he had start
ed out from necessity, and so fallen in
love with the wild freedom that he
could rot bear to give it up.
Scarcely had he ceased when all were
surprised to hear wilkins the Silent
saying:
Il was born and raised in New York
city. While yet young man l learned
| locomotive engineering, and for years
had a freight. That paid me aboat
| one hundred and forty dollars month
and | saved my money. When | was
twenty-eight I married. My wife had
| been one of a large family and | meaAt
her never to be lonesome nor unhappy
| bought a nice house and furnished Il
| costly, deciding it to her. That USED
up all had saved; but had a COED
run, was considered one Of the bsst
men on the road, and everything vast
smoothly for a year. l was home eva+y
second night and my wife was CONTEXT
ed
"One day l had sudden order Ia
trade engines when | met a certain
train, as that engineers wife was sick
and he wished tC return home. / never
tired Of my wife and loved to be with
her, so was glad to go to her sooner
than | had expected"
Here he paused, and here all looked
at him in surprise, particularly jim,
who muttered:
by God, he is telling the truth
about his past, and I have not heard
him mention it for years! Thought he
had forgotten it,"
To this Kit responded:
IF there is anything you don't want
him to tell. go over to him. That man
Raymond has him sort of mesmerized.
| believe"
Jim half started from his seat but
Missouri Kid drew him back as wilkins
continued:
1T was nearly ten o'clock when l
reached home. What a sound of
drunken revelry met my ears! Could
1t be there was no mistake? Was that
house mine?
Il asked a passer-by who lived
ethere.
The blindest fool in the world.
was his reply. He runs an engine on
the New York Central, and his wife
raises the roof when he is away
zone minute later l entered. The
crowd, composed of my wife's brothers,
sisters and cousins, quickly dispersed.
was too much hurt to demonstrate
with her; but she, being guilty, could
rot keep quiet.
"'You had no business marrying me
when you could not support me the
way | want to live. she began. 4 have
mortgaged the house and the furniture
and I've not paid a bill in two months
You may as well know it all now, and
not have to find 1t out later. I've
spent the money for suppers and good
times I'm tired of this lifei I'm 60
ing on the stage
THAT is why I'm a hobo"
Curious French Iepend