The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-04
A TRAMP AND HIS PAL
THE TRAIL THAT ONE MADE TO GUIDE
THE OTHER.

Cincinnati 10 Houston.
eve have Il good many tramps up in
our part Of the country" said "A sugar
planter, "and I've made something of a
| study of their peculiarities. The old
idea that they carve marks and signs
on fences that can be read by all other
members of the fraternity is pure nom
sense, OF course, but have known sew
| eral instances in which one tramD
! would leave trail so to speak, for the
guidance Of partner who might not
put In an appearance for months.
"The first case Of that kind | ever
| encountered was rather amusing. l
was riding, one spring day, down a
road that passes through my place,
when noticed typical hobo indus
triously carving a sort Of hierOglyphic
on big pest standing near the fence.
The mark consisted Of n square and
triangle side by side, and he was Just
putting on the finishing touches as
| arrived.
my curiosity was ut once aroused.
and determined to find out If possible
exactly what the thing meant, so pro-
ceeded to collar the fellow, and after a
little vigorous blufting he told me he
was putting up directions for his part
ner, who would be along some time in
the fall. He assured me that the marks
meant nothing in particular, except
that he had passed and was going in
the direction Of the point of the trian-
gle.
His partner, according to the story
which l dragged out of him piecemeal,
was doing a six months jail sentence
for slugging policeman in Cincinnati
and when he got out on Sept. 1 would
strike south, following trail Of carv-
ings on water tanks, depots, barns and
fencepostS. When the first tramp
| struck good place to loaf, he proposed
to stop and wait for the other to catch
up.
"'What's your partners name" l
asked
Its by rights William Sparks said
the hobo. but everybody calls him
appetite Bilr' on account of his al
ways being hungry. He carries a sack
to pack grub in and has red whiskers
and funny looking wart on one side
Of his nose
II was satisfied from my prisoners
manner that he was telling me the
truth. so l took him up to the house,
gave him a good dinner and sent him
on his way rejoicing.
Nov for the sequel" continued the
planter. Zone afternoon in the fall
was driving home from the station
When passed n very dilapidated hobo
with red stubblc on his chin and 4 gun
ny sack under his arm, and some in
stinct told me that Mr.. Sparks, alias
Appetite Bill had at last arrived.
He seemed to be looking for land
marks. and when lie reached the big
post | saw him stop, scrutinize the
carving and then start Off with n new
and confident step. That settled it,
and l drove ahead and intercepted him
at the house. half mile farther on.
"'Hello. Bill" said 'How's your
appetite this evening"
Appetizer he stammcrcd and gave
such violent start that he dropped
his gunny sack.
"'Why, yes said l. Perhaps they
didn't feed you very we'll ut Cincin-
natl
AT the word Cincinnati he turned
livid and glared around with such evil
dent intention Of boiling that made
haste to explain.
Don't be alarmed l said. I met
your side partner few months ago,
and he told me to look out for YOU 1t
took me some time to dissipate Bills
suspicious, but when I finally succeed
ed in convincing him that it was ali
right he told me most interesting
story Of his journey across the coun-
try.
"A professional hobo will follow the
track Of another hobo with an accura-
cy that is curiOusly suggestive Of wood
craft. All the way down from Cincin-
natl Eill had never once lost the trail.
and before he left l gave him an adj
dressed postal card and got him to
promise me he would put it in the mail
ut whatever point he caught up with
his partner. Less than month later l
received the card, bearing Houston
(TcX.) date mark; SO presume it was
there they met.
Both Of these tramps could read and
write, and l asked Sparks particularly
why his friend didn't use some brief
message In place Of the hieroglyph.
He replied that it would attract too
much attention. and other hObOes
would be likely to add misleading
words, while the little square and tri-
angle passed unroticcd.
"Since then I have encountered two
other nearly similar cases. in each Of
which tramp was leaving a cipher
trail for n crOny TO follow when he got
ont OF jail. and ! infer that the prac-
tice is tOlerably common. At any rate
it Is curious feature Of tramp life
which have never seen mentioned in
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