The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-05-13
WOULDN'T TAKE A SHARE.
MIR. Cridge Declined to Profit by His
FeIlOwman'a MisfOrtunes.

MFs Cr1O&& DGC11M&u TO front by HIS
FeIlowman's MisfOrtunes.
The Utah Northern train was dis
appearing in the distance when Arch
Cridge, the storekeeper at Market
Lake, who had gone over to the sta
ton to ascertain If any oysters had
come up from Granger for him, saw
a badly battered and tattered figure
hobbling along the ties, coming from
the direction of the vanishing train.
Cridge forgot his oysters in wonder
ment at the outlandish raggedness and
general damage and disaster revealed
in the person of the oncomer.
He was a tramp, and his face was
scratched and his eye was BACKED, as
Cridge saw when he drew near. But
he was polite tramp, nevertheless.
Good morning, my friend" he said,
bowling courteously to the storekeep-
er. Can you tell me the name of
man who would care to share in the
benefits rising ont of $50,O00?"
He did not appear to be crazy, so
Cridge, who had once chased elusive
gold mines, gave him some atten-
ton.
81 don't just know" he said. "T
myself
Exactly so. And a first-class part
ner you will make. twenty-five thou
sand sounds nice, doesn't it? Let me
have chew of tnbacco, please"
Cridge gave him lump of the de-
sired commodity and asked him to ex-
plain what he meant.
you observe the train now dim
ming in the distance?" inquired the
tramp.
Cridge did.
"You might not believe it, but I
was elected from, that train for the
vulgar reason of poverty
But you have how about your fif-
ty thou
Zone moment. Wait. was thrown
off like mere bag of rags. l tore my
apparel. l cracked my kneepan. I
dug up the soil AID turned seven SOM
ersaults."
Cridge nodded sympathetically.
I'm other words, l was treated vile
ly. By a brakeman. A red-headed
brakeman. who lNed profane language.
think he also struck me, but there
was some confusion, and perhaps it
was telegraph pole. Receiving such
indignity, you can readily understand
what must be the prompt action of a
gentleman"
well, do'no, said Cridge, guard
eddy. But a man with money
Exactly. l see you perfectly un.
derstand. You appreciate the enor-
nifty of the Offence. l shall sue for
$4,000 damages You will pay the
costs and will give me SIS now as
guaranty of goot faith. When l win
I shall levy on the road to pay my
claim, and you will be made general
manager, with power to issue passes.
Please give me IL st S. as soon as pos
sible. l am aware that my present
guise and. garbf--
ing back. You see
you surely dent doubt my word?
You surely don't question that l was
thrown off the t'sin, substantially as
described"
mo. / should rather guess there
was even more hl.s.le to it than you've
told. But
"You don't derry that l was damag-
ed seriously? This eye. This peeled
arm. This ear"
mo, that's all right; but I can't go
into it,
The tramp loo Eed upon the store
keeper with great loftiness beaming
from his one COOL eye.
Il see. You ere not in sympathy
with the peer AMIR oppressed. You arg
allied to the money power, You are
subsidized. Your finer feelings of hui
mainly have beer crushed oft by your
association with capital. Never mind
Never mind. am used to disappoint-
ments. If you will give me 10 cents
I will dance three extremely interest
ing jigs and will then, by clever fei,
of parlor magic, swallow knife and
withdraw it from, my ear"
But Mr.. Cridga said he had to go
and see about his oysters,
The human machine starts but once