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


Is EHsbIct! "A2,petitc DiII.'t After His
Term In Jail Was Done. to Unerr-
ingIS Follow Iiis Partner From
Cincinnati 40 f5ouston.
Eve have Il coed many tr;inps up in
our part Of the country. said Il sugar
planter, land Eve made something Of Il
study Of their peculiarities. The Ole
idea that they carve marks and signs
on fences that can be read by all other
members Of the fraternity is pure non
sense, of course bu, | nave known sev
eral instances in which one tramp
would leave Il trail. so to speak. for the
guidance OF a partner who might not
put in an appearance for months.
''The first case OF that kind ever
encountered was rather amusing. I
was riding. one spring day. down a
road that passes through my place.
when I noticed Il typical hobo indus
triously carving a sort of hieroglyphic
on big pest standing near the fence.
The mark consisted Of a square and
triangle side by side, and he was just
putting on the finishing touches as l
arrived.
"Afy curiosity was at once aroused,
and determined to find out if possible
exactly what the thing meant, so | pro-
ceeded to collar the fellow. and after
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 tie point cf the TRAN
gle.
His partner. according to the story
which I dragged out Of him piecemcal.
was doing Il six months jail sentence
for slugsinS a policeman in Cincinnati
and when he got out on Sept. i would
strike south. following a trail of cary
ings on water tanks. depots. barns and
fcnceposts. When the first tramp
struck a good place 10 leaf, he proposed
to stop and wait for the other to catch
up.
..sNha;.s your partners name? !
asked.
Its by rights William Sparks. said
the hobo. but everybody calls him
appetite Bill OH account OF his al
ways being hungry lIe carries 4 sack
to pack grub in and has red whiskers
and a funny looking wart on one side
of his nose
u was satisfied from my prisoners
manner that he was telling me the
truth. so I took him up to the house.
gave him a good dinner and sent him
on his way rejoicing.
''Now, for the sequel" continued the
planter. "One afternoon in the fall
was driving home from the station
when passed Il very dilapidated hobo
with red stubblc on his chin and 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. ana when Ee reached the big
post saw him stop, scrutiniZe the
carving and then start off with new
and confident step. That settled it,
and drove ahead and intercepted him
at the house, half a mile farther on.
..sIiello. Bill I said. How's your
appetite this evening"
appetite? he stammered and gave
such a violent start that he dropped
his cunny sack.
".Why. yes, said l. Perhaps they
didn't feed YOU very we'll at Cincin-
natl
".4t the word Cincinnati he turned
livid and glared around with such evi-
dent intention Of boiling that made
haste to explain.
Don't be alarmed said. I met
your side partner {; few months ago,
and he told me to look out for you. 1t
took nle some time TO dissipate Bills
suspicious, but Wen finally succeed
ed ir convincing him that it was al!
right lie told me 4 most interesting
story OF his journey across the coun-
try.
~ professional hobo Will follow the
track Of another. hobo with an accura-
cv that is curiollsly suggestive Of wood
craft. .lll the way down from Cincin-
natl Piil had never once lost the trail
and before he left | gave him an ad-
dressed postal card and got him to
promise ms be would put it in the mail
at whatever point he caught up With
his partner Less than month later
received the card. bearing Houston
(Tey.l date mark: 50 presume it was
there they met.
Both Of these tramDs could read and
write. and asked Sparks particularly
why his friend didn't use some brief
message in place of the hierosiyph
He replied that it would attract too
much attention. and other hoboes
would be likely to add misleading
words, while the little sqilaTe and trl-
angle passed unCoticcd-
"Sincc then have encountered two
other nearly similar cases, in each OF
which IL tramp WAS leaving cipher