The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-10-04
the farmers vie ard troubled her

the morning she brooded over the
sign and tried to imagine what par
ticular calamities were likely to be-
fall her, and, at last, looking out of
the window, saw the pale-faced tramp
the gate.
Her first impulse was to take down
the big tin dipper and ladle out some
scalding water from the iron kettle.
Her next was to go to the pantry and
take stock of the eatables there, but
before she could do either the tramp
knocking humbly at the door.
Oh, but he was IN humble and soft
spoken man! A victim of a cruel and
altogether undeseryed fate, hungry
with the hunger begotten of q three
days fast, just out Of the hospital, and
weak and weary. Trying to make his
way back to Missouri, where his
wealthy relatives would receive him
with open arms.
Just out o jail, you mean" said Mrs.
Leacox. "An' it.won't be long afore
you're back there again, or I miss my
guess. Well, if you want suthin' to
eat, come in"
1t was an u%ngracious invitation, but
the, tramp wondered that it was given
at all. He was still more surprised
when the hostess set herself about the
preparation for his meal. "'Bounti-
full the book says" thought Mrs. Lea
cox, and she had no intention of fail
ing to carry out the instruction liter
ally. Generous slices of ham began
to hiss and splutter in the frying pan,
the coffee pot sent forth a fragrant
ron and a pan of biscuits was slid
into the oven. On the table Mrs. Lea
cox set a large dish of preserved
peaches and a pie and fresh golden
butter and pickles of appetizing ap-
pearance. Here was a feast to tempt
the most jaded palate, and the tramp
really had not eaten for 4hours.
He looked around the kitchen and
listened carefully to know whether
any other creature stirred in the house.
There was nobody else, apparently.
1t was clear that the woman was par
alyzed with fear-that was The only
reasonable explanation of her liberal
ity. He thought that he would make
a trial of it. Haven't you any aigs to
go with that ham?" he asked, roughly.
There was warning enough for him
in the flash of her eye if he had been
quick enough to see it. She had been
washing in the little frame shed adj
joining the kitchen, and she instinc-
lively moved toward the broom handle
with which she lifted the clothes out
of the boiler, but the words of the
gypsy queen REQUIRED to her: "Feed
.bountifully the first beggar," and the
first beggar had not yet been fed.
Fate waited upon the feeding.
81 guess mebbe I've got an egg or two
left" she said, in a choking voice.
Get 'em, them" commanded the
tramp.
She obeyed and broke the eggs into
the pan, and a few minutes later the
tramp was eating ravenously, while the
woman stood behind him, regarding
him balefully with her teeth pressed
tightly on her neither lip. After a little
she moved toward the door, but the
tramp shouted to her to stop where
she was.
Have you got any whisky? he
asked.
"You want whisky, do you" she
said. "You-well, there isn't any in
the house, but you can have some more
ham, if you want"
He swore at her %viciously, and told
her to sit down and stir at her peril.
Then he once more applied himself to
the food, until at last even his 14-hour
appetite was satisfied, and he pushed
back his chair.
"Now," he said, smiling in an ugly
fashion, II want q little financial as
%sistance. You've, got money in the
house. Well, I need money. Bring it
out, or" and he made a furious ges-
ture hat rendered the completion of
the sentence unnecessary.
Mrs. Leacox rose at the same time he
did. Have you had all you want to
eat and drink?" she asked.
"I've had all the grub I need. Now
bring out that money"
"Have you been fed bo%untifully?"
persisted the woman.
81 tell you I've had all the grub I
need" said the tramp. "Now bring"
He did not complete this sentence,
either, because he found himself under
the table, half-stunned, amid a wreck
of crockery that he had pulled down
with the cloth. Before he could re-
cover from his surprise he was grasped
by the coat collar, lifted to his feet,
shaken and thrown violently against
the door casing. He snarled, and.
reaching in his pocket drew forth a
clasp knife, but before he could raise
his hand the woman closed with him
twisted the weapon from his grasp ana
drew her finger nails across his face so
that the blood ran. Then she had him
by the collar again and shook and
buffeted him until he cried for mercy.
upon which she opened the door and
thrust him forth.
He raj down the path to the gate
without a trace of a limp and never
checked his pace until he was a good
quarter of a mile up the road. Mrs.
Leacox stood in the doorway painting
from her recent exertion, but smiling
grimly.
well, I fed him bountifully, any
way" she said.-Chicago Daily Record.
Cost Of the War.
Ten months of war in South Africa
will cost Great Britain $780, 0O, O0U, OF
about $4,000! 900 per month, a. cum far
in excess of the estimate made when
began, and there will still,