El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-20
THE TRAMP.


He was a real BONA fde tramp. His
coat was a marvel of grease and ~tatters,
on one foot he wore a tolerably respect
able boot, while the toes of the other
protruded through a very ragged shoe,
and his hat would never nave been rec
ognized for that article of headgear if it
had not been upon his head. Altogether
he might nave been the original of the
funny papers latest edition of Weary
Willie.
At present he was resting. This was
the chief occupation of his life, his pro-
fession, as it were, and after many
years of experience he had succeeded in
bringing it down to a very fine point,
being able to pursue it under the most
~unfavorable conditions and in circum-
stances that would have daunted an or
binary mortal. Such is the result of
practical
just now the conditions were ex-
tremely favorable, the day being warm
and the fence corner grass grown and
shady, so the tramp lay upon his back,
with one leg thrown over the other and
his hat pulled down over his forehead.
Over IN the field opposite a farmer
was blowing up stubble, pausing now
and then to wipe his perspiring face,
while his blue shirt chung in damp
streaks to his skin.
The tramp watched him meditatively.
81 wonder why people like to work."
he soliloquized- ''Queerl They're al
ways a-doin somethin. Now, I amt
~nnva lo~4 ---%- 81 T - 11~-
just the same. 1 bet that chap owns
this whole place all round here, but he
amt havin as good a time as I am,
and 1 amt got a red cent. I wonder
what people van to be always wcrkin
for when they might be takin it easy.
It's a funny world. Wisht I had a
chaw of terbaccer."
By and by the tramp climbed the
fence and began to investigate a hay
stack standing a short distance from
the road.
"Might's well fix my bed for to-
night" he said and squirmed into the
heart of the stack. Presently he heard
the sound of voices. 1t was probably
the farmer, and he lay still in his hid |
ing place.
1tOf course $50 is a little early for
our biz, but that is a through train and
bound to be worth more than either of
the other two"
"But there will be more people on it. ="
whats the odds? A dozen more or
less. They won't sit heavy on our con-
sciences"
"It's a dead easy thing too. All it
takes is grit. Well be pretty sure to
strike a gold lined pocket or two before
they can make out what's happened.
And if any n turns up beforehand ?"
Shoot him dead. We don't stand no
trifing. You stand at the bottom of
the gully; amt likely to be a soul walk
that track, but if there is crack him
dead without a word. I'll take care of
my part. 1 tell you, I'm desperate, and
if Look, there's a man over in that
field. Get around on the other side. He
didn't see us. Make a bee line for that
hedge. We cam
The voices died away. The tramp
turned over on his side.
"Train wreckersl Well, it amt no
business of mine" he grunted.
Nevertheless the vision of a wrecked
train disturbed his nap, and he crawled
out of his hole. He sat on the fence and
his ragged foot, watching the
sunset.
''It's a pity for so many people. 1
guess some of 'em would be young, too;
some little babies; maybe a
Teller about my age. They're all a-look-
n at the sun for thelast time if they
only knew it,"
What kind of a queer feeling was
He tried to whistle it off, but it
only came back the stronger. The
singing had never disturbed him
before, but tonight it sounded weird
sad, and after awhile the very stars
;ame out and looked at him as if they
new something about it.
"What a strange thing it must be to
lie! Maybe somebody'n be waitin and
Vaitin for some of hose people to come
Not in his remotest past could he re-
member any love, but somehow he I'M
this waiting.
The frogs sung on, the young moon
allied slowly down the heavens, and :
~ and by the tramp climbed off the
ence and slouched away down the :
Dad. Hanging beside a stable door he !
lad seen a lantern when he passed that
Ifternoon, and he crept up, hooked it =
IF the nail and went on his way. He l
lad no definite purpose in view except .
hat he was going toward the gully,
nd it might be useful. 81 never did
anything, and I always got along.
it's a pity to let them all die. Bet
er to have one old teller go. I wonder
low it feels to diel" I
ear the voice again, "Shoot him c
oodI' Y