The leader., 1905-09-09

you come along with me, if l give you
30 cents and take you to a place where
you can get as much more and to-
baceo and beer?'
THAT lads reply is to cling so close
to us it's hard walking. By afternoon
we have six more hoboes in process
sion, and can't get no more to do busi-
ness on, because we give them so
apiece, and it uses up our capital.
Halt says Shorty. We're in
front of country barber shop, which
is also saloon and a candy store.
and sells cheese. Here Shorty draws
up his procession. A little fat man
darts out to us.
'Hello!' he says TO Shorty. Then
you really gone in the business you
was speaking of last time | saw you?
Seven of them? What you want for
the seven?'
Here's the goods, all delivered to
you. and l want my price, which is a
dollar fifty apiece for them says
Shorty. And the holler that goes up
from the little man is heartrending.
"'There amt no consideration for
others in business matters, says
Shorty. I had to pay them something
to come along, and l must make my
profit, mustn't 1? Then here's my part
ner to share the proceeds. Then. if
you won't pay me my price, we goes
to Batsey's. Attention. boys!'
"'Oh, don't think Of going to nobody
else! imp1ores the little fellow. Tll
take the goods at your price. He
hands Shorty dollar and a half for
each tramp. and the seven tramps, not
knowing much of what is going on. is
lined up, trying for all they're worth
to make a fine impression on who
ever's going to be good to them
Well, boys, says Shorty, you are
now arrested. so make yourselves COM
Portable. This is Constable Blathers!9
The little constable bows cringing
to them. You'll be tried ard SEN
fenced in just a little while now
Well, them seven breaks ranks and
sets up a holler. What are they ar
rested for? They want to know And
Shorty has betrayed them! Then just
let them get at Shorty!
Now, now, boys pleads the con-
stable, don't carry on so. please! I'd
rather lose the price / paid for you
than have any hard feelings against
me in Leland county | always tries
to treat the boys right. If you do
have to go TO jail, it'll only be for a
few days. Here!' and ne runs amongst
them, passing out a 50-cent piece to
each. There's tobacco for you, and,
if you'll step inside and be arrested
like gentlemen. there's cool. refresh
ing glass of beer. So, now, do be gem
tlemen.'
And, as the goods we just sold and
delivered is assured they won't get
more than three days on the charge Of
vagrancy. they go inside with the con-
stable. who rubs mis- hands saying
they mustn't be mad at him. and re-
member they're gentlemen and will
they have light or dark?
You see,' explains Shorty, Leland
county pays bounty of seven dollars
head for every tramp caught and
lodged in the Jail The judge and
Inc tOuSLdDlS SOSS l.ldISS OA tl-O. 1ouA7
ty. These oonstablas is most kind to
the tramps as you see. because they
want them to come hack and be ar
rested maybe a dozen times during the
summer. While was meditating
over the cup of s3rrers which had
drunk TO the dregs, it struck me that
here was a good chance to make E
honest living
sIt's then along comes the judge.
He's nice, fatherly old feller, and
greets us cordial, especially Shorty,
who's been up before him before.