Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-03-03
THE TRAMP,

On one foot he wore tolerably respect
able boot while the toes of the other
protruded through very ragged shoe,
and his hat would never have been rec
osuized for that article of headgear if it
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 tho most
untavorable conditions and in circum-
stances that would have daunted an Or
binary mortal. Such is the result of
practice!
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 farmer
was blowing up stubble, pausing now
and then to wipe his perspiring face,
while his blue shirt chung in damp
streaks 70 his skin.
The tramp watched him meditatively.
Il wonder why people like to work."
he soliloquized. Queer They're al
ways adoin somethin. Now, 1 amt
never done anythin, and l git along
just the same. l bet that chap owns
this whole place all round here, but he
ain t havin as good time as l am,
and | amt got red cent l wonder
what people want to be always workin
for when they might be takin it easy.
It's funny world. Wisht 1 had a
chaw of terbaccer. /"
By and by the tramp climbed the
fence and began to investigate hay
stack standing a short distance from
the road.
Nights 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.
"Of course $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 oddsI A dozen more or
less They won't sit heavy on our con-
sciences
cts 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 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 a word. I'll take care of
my part. l tell you, P2 desperate, and
if Look there's a man over in that
field. Get around ON the other side. He
didn't see us Make 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 line" he grunted.
Nevertheless the vision of a wrecked
u am ulSlul DCu MS Idp, anu nc CIdWiGu
out of his hole. He sat on the fence and
nursed his ragged foot, watching the
sunset.
Its 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
this2 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
die 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 stable door he
had seen lantern when he passed that
afternoon, and he crept up, hooked it
off tine 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 1 always got along.
BIT it's pity to let them all die Bet
ter to have one old Teller go. l wonder
how it feels to die -
lie shuddered little and seemed to
hear the voice again, "Shoot him
dead
lie sat down by the roadside and said
sullonly, at amt none of my bust
hess. | aG't got nothin to do with it.
don't concern me any.
But after awhile he went on again.
1t must be o'clock now" he said.
The night had grown dark and
cloudy only a few stars glittered at in
.ei'as through the flying rack. The
tramp had reached the head OF the gull
~ 1t was not very deep, but sufficient
% cause terrible disaster. The track
stopped around curve a few yards be-
yono and Just here ran over narrow
oahk OF earth slanting abruptly down