Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-21
The Conversion of Slow Foot Robinson By HARLE OREN CUMMINS
Copyright, 1908, by Daily Story Pub. CoS

and wooden ties for the track layers i on the new spur at Big Bend.
 Orders had come from the general managers office that the proposed line of track on the mountain division, connecting Big Bend and the Pass, must be completed before July 1, and the superintendent of the division was working his men over time to have those orders obeyed.
 Indeed, in making up No. $40, two box cars had been pressed into service. Now, box cars are hardly what one would select from choice to transport railroad ties on account of the time lost in loading and unloading through the doors. However, the last order from the dispatcher from the Pass had read: "Send up nine cars. of rails and ten cars of ties. Rush" and, there be- ing only r flats in the yard, it had simply been case of Hobson's choice for the other two cars.
 I have said that No. $40 was supposed to be carrying only construction ma teriak This supposition was incor- rect, for snugly tucked away in the rear of the box car next to the engine,
 
 specimen of humanity.
 He must undoubtedly have had a christian name at some time, but that had long ago been forgotten, and he was known by the very appropriate sobriquet given him by his hobo fra ternity-Slow-Foot Robinson.
 He had waited around the yard while the cars were being loaded, for he knew that the train was bound for the spur. This being in the direction he himself proposed travelling. he had accordingly decided ts beat his way as far as Big Bend. As it was begin ming to rain, the box cars at once att tracted Slow-Foot's attention, and, finding that the door of the first one was only part way closed, he waited in the shelter of a. pile of lumber until the train was ready to start.
 A few minutes later Foley, the freight conductor, came tramping along through the rain on final tour of inspection. Everything apparently being in order, he waved the starting signal to the engineer, who was Dean- ing out of the cab.
 There was vicious Little toot from No. $40 in reply, and, amidst a great amount of wheezing and coughing, the construction train slowly pulled out of the yard.
 At the same time a ragged figure shot out from behind the lumber pile, ran along beside the train for little way, then, catching hold of the iron rail just below the door, swung up Sr+o ha Tn the ties there had been a space left in front of the doors about two feet wide, and here SDow-Foot soon found him self. As this was too conspicuous place to suit his purpose, he scrambled up on top of the ties, and, crawling along to the rear, found an opening between the last row of ties and the end of the car, just large enough to hold him, but with very little room to spare. /
 Here's what I calls conf ort,' he chuckled to himself, as he pulled off his wet boots, wrapped his coat about them for pillow, and then laid down at full length on the bottom of the car. "Here I be in my side-door Pullman, comfortable and happy as the presi- dent of the road, and the best part of 1t is that it don't cost nobody a cent" With which observation he turned over on his side and was soon asleep.
 Slow-Foot Robinson may have worked at some time during his event. fuD career, but if so, no one was pres ent on that eventfnl occasion to re- cord it. He had begun life as "prushun," or tramp boy, and been taught to beg by an old member of the profession who undertook his educa- ton, the same as other boys at his age are taught to work.
 For the past ten years he had been drifting about from one city to an- other sometimes in the west, some times in the east or south, covering in all distance of over 5O,00O miles. And he boasted that for not one mile of this extensive travelling had he ever paid any railroad company a cent. { Strange as it may seem, during all this time there, had never been. any criminal charges against him. Unlike the majority of his fellow tramps, he did not steal; he had never been pick pocket or passed counterfeit money. The trouble with Slow-Foot was that he was born "tired," as he expressed it. He was one of the laziest men living.
 It would have been a very simple maGter to have secured work, fo>. owing to the heavy spring rains, the roadbed on the Bad River, division was in terrible condition, and the section bosses were taking on new help every day. They were not particular, either, as to whom they hired, for it doesn't require skilled labor to wield a pick or shovel But the habits and associations of the old life had been too strong for slow-Foot to resist, and he kept postponing the day when he would settle down towork. All thaa 2