Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-04-16
THE TRAMP.

The slouching figure of man
moved slowly along dim prairie
road. His garments were thread
bare, and his general appearance
presented a picture of wretchedness
and want.
A cold March wind was blowing
through the dry, dead grass, and
patches of shadow and sunlight were
chasing each other over an unbrok.
en- waste of prairie.
The man drew his thin coat more
closely about him, and shivered as a
keener blast than usual swept around
him.
"Hit's perty pass yer come to-,
Jim Skinner said the figure in the
road. rye have been trampin' all
day without bite ter cat, an if yer
get anything, yer goin' ter halter
bag-yas, bag ~
And he threw out his hand with a
gesture of disdain, and quickened
his pace, flush OF shame and humil-
iation mounting his thin, pale face.
"Who'd although ye'd ever come
ter this z" he exclaimed, almost
fiercely. What did yer ever come
West fer? Ter git land-cheap
land-land fer almost nothin'l Rich
land'-that's what they said"-he
laughed sort of choking-''cheap
-4and-rich land-buffalo walters
and alkaly water and ager |"
There was a look of vexation and
infinite disgust pictured on his face
as he strobe onward.
For six months jim Skinner had
been "holding" a claim, and had bat.
tied with all the hardships and pri-
vations that fall to the lot of the
poor who seek home in the "Great
American Desert"
He had lived in dug out, work
ed hard and half starved himself
spent all the money he had, took the
ague, and lived in his hut helpless,
till at last starvation had driven
him forth, weak, half sick and afoot,
to look for some kind of work among
the cattle-men to gain his daily
bread.
Mile after mile he had trudged
along, with no sign OF habitatiou to
break the monotony, save now and
then the rude cabin or dug. out of
some poor claim-holder, who, like
himself, was struggling with misfor.
tunes and battling with want.
1t was near the middle of the af-
ternoon. He was now nearing that
part OF the prairie country which
was monopolized by the great cattle
men, and called the Range"
A mile further on was small cat.
tie ranch. He felt weak and sick,
and knew he could not continue his
journey much further without rest
and something to eat.
If he could not get work at the
first, he could not go further-he
must have something to eat-would
he be compelled to beg? He had
no money-nothing to give but his
clothes. A bitter smile stole over
his face. There were no ragmen on
the range
He quickened his pace, and hur-
ried on. A few minutes later, he
paused in front of a large frame
building, surrounded by numerous
harb-wire corrals. He stood for a
moment in the road, irrtsolute. II
he failed 10 get work, should he ask
for a lodging and something to eat
His fsce flushed az the thought.
Work +? What could he do in his
present weak condition? Nothing.
He turned toward the building.
Dave Foster, the owner OF the
cattle ranch, came cut of the build
iug and saw the slouehing figure
standing in the road.
"What are you prowling around
here for 2" he demanded, casting 8
look of distrust on the forlorn Great
ure before him.
"I-I'm lookin' fer work." STAN.
mered Jim Skinner, hardly knowing
how to answer the harsh question.
"A likely story was The answer
Il guess you are ore Of those fsl
lows that look for work in tie Ia,
time and other people's cattle b
night. Clear out, I've had enough
! L.