The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-05

had charged me with theft and we had
him badly scared within twenty -four
hours. Then We went for the consta-
bic for arrestfng me without warrant.
We followed this with charges against
the justice, who had refused me coun-
sci, and move No. 4 was against tho
sheriff Cor not supplying his prisoners
with provisions demanded by law One
OF the turkeys Of the Jail had slammed
me around because had refused to
saw wood, and we gave him suit for
assault and battery. A writ Of habeas
corpus took me out Of Jail, and the ex-
element in that county beat all the
circuses for twenty years. II the law
yer hadn't been taken with typhoid fe-
yer and died, we might have eventually
upset the whole state government, and
would have been sure OF Z place in 4
dime museum for life. But his death
called halt. After the funeral was
waited upon BY committee, and the
result was that took night train out
of town and never stopped for 200
miles. took with me $3.50 in cash
and the best wishes Of a thriving CONF
munity. and suppose those suits have
been dropped from the docket ere this.
As said, am no kicker, but it's well
to let people know that even . tramp
has rights in law"
And did you use your money to
make a new start in life?" was asked
as the story seemed to be ended.
I'm a way did" smiled the G. o. D.
| man, ''but it only brought me fresh
trouble. struck a town 1 rather fan
cied, and l bought me some clothes, en-
gagged a front room at the inn and set.
tied down to take a few baths at the
mineral springs for my rheumatism. l
hadn't put in over three days when the
story got around that I was a multi
millionaire taking quiet lay of, and
individuals and committees began to
call. The subscriptions / was asked to
put down for churches, mill dams, rail-
roads, schoolhouses, asylump and so
on footed up tens Of thousands. could
have stood these of, but the band came
to serenade me every night, social par
ties were given in my honor, and a
widow with good deal of push to her
recognized me as her long looked Tor
affinity at first sight. She was firm
believer in the theory that matches are
made in heaven, and she figured 1t out
| to q dot that the angels had killed off
her husband and brought me around
| through the swamps and underbrush
that might take his place. l never
| was any good at arguing against
widow, and 20 solved the matter by
taking a skip. 1t was mysterious
disappearance on n.' part, and heard
afterward that they dragged the river
and hunted through the swAmps for
my body and that the widow put on
rubber boots and was foremost In the
| search.
IT had few dollars OF the money
left, and was not happy. Raw tur
nips don't taste good to a man who ie
financially able to buy roast beef and
fried chicken, and It didn't seem to be
quite the fair thing By other dilapi-
dated gentlemen. While in this state
of mind I struck q village which had
six mudheles ON its half mile Of main
street. There were wagons stuck In
three Of these holes az I logged into
| town, and the others were occupied By
stray hogs. I asked for the president
Of the village, who was grocer, and
Wnen reached AIS store aSkeOs
How long have you lived in this
town.
"'Forty-five years. he replied.
"'How old are those six mudholes out
thereY
swell, I used to paddle around II
| 'em forty years ago.
"sAnd hasn't the town ever made any
| move to ill 'em upY
IT never has. No, Them ak mud
holes have grown up with NJ ant
shared our joys and our sorrows, and !