The Press., 1899-07-27
THE TRAMP.

L
had not been upon his head. Altogether
he might have 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 favorab 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 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, amt
never done anythin, and git along
Just the same. l bet that chap owns
this whole place all round here, but he
amt havin as good time as / am,
and amt got red cent. wonder
what people want to be always wcrkin
for when they might be takin it easy.
al L.,
chaw of terbaccer.
By and by the tramp climbed the
fence and began to investigate hay
stack standing a short distance from
the road.
"Might's we'll 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.
"Of course $3.50 is little early for
our biz, but that is 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 dead easy thing too. All it
takes is grit. Well be pretty sure to
strike gold lined pocket or two before
they can make out what's happened.
And if any enc turns up beforehand ?"
'Shoot him dead. We don't stand no
trifing. You stand at the bottom of
the gully; amt likely to be soul walk
that track. but if there is crack him
dead without word. I'll take care Of
my part. l tell you. I'm desperate. and
if Look there's man over in that
field. Get around on the other side. He
didn' see u.s. Make bee line for that
hedge. We can
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 era wled
out of his hole He sat on the fence and
nursed his ragged foot. watching the
sunset.
"It's a pity for so many people.
guess some of 'em would be young, too
maybe some little babies: maybe a
teller about my age. They're all a-look-
in at the sun for the last time if they
only knew it..
What kind of queer feeling was
this3 He tried to whistle it off, but it
only came back the stronger The
frogs singing had never disturbed him
before, but tonight it sounded weird
and sad, and after awhile the very stars
came out and looked at him as if they
knew something about it.
"What strange thing it must be to
diel Maybe somebody II be waitin and
waitin for some of those people to come
home.
Not in his remotest past could he re-
member any love, but somehow he I'M
derstood this waiting.
The frogs sung on, the young moon
sailed slowly down the heavens, and
by and by the tramp climbed off the
fence and slouched away down the
road. Hanging beside a stable door he
had seen lantern when he passed that
afternoon. and he crept up, hooked it
off the nail and went on his way. He
had no definite purpose in view except
that he was going toward the gully,
and it might be useful 81 never did
do anything, and l always got along
But it's pity to let them all die. Bet
ter to have one old Teller 60 wonder
how it feels to diel"
He shuddered little and seemed to
hear the voice again. 'Shoot him
deadi'
He sat down by the roadside and said
sullenly: sit amt none of my bust
T ;-,b% %< 4
1t don't concern me any,"
But after awhile he went on again.
"It must be clock now." he said
The night had grown dark and
cloudy; only few stars glittered at in
tervals through the flying rack. The
tramp had reached the head of the gull
ly. It was not very deep, but sufficient
to cause terrible disaster. The track
sloped around curve q few yards be-
yond and just here ran over a narrow
bank of earth slanting abruptly down
on either side.
The tramp lit his lantern, and, tax
ing off his coat, wrapped it carefully
around. Then he lay down on the ties,
fat on his face and began to creep
slowly along. squirming and crawling
like worm.
After seemingly endless time of
creeping and feeling carefully with his
hands he felt the smooth cold steel of
the track end abruptly. The rail had
been removed just at the highest point
in the gully.
Now he had nothing more to do but
wait. And be killed. He wondered how
it felt to be shot A strong desire to
get up and run took possession of him,
but he might just as we'll be shot saw
ing the train as now, SO he lay still.
"Maybe / won't be killed. / might
git through some way. An old no
count like me 'u'd be likely to git
through with whole hide Anyway,
'twon't be much lost. If 'twould only