The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-08-18
IheHOBO'SRETURN
BY G. B. Lewis.

specimen Of the railroad tramp.
What's the row?" queried the Of
hcer.
Beating my train. He was put of
at Round Top, at OwOssO and at Del
hi, but he somehow managed to get
on again each time Give him at least
a night in the coop"
Gentlemen, let me tell you how it
is T" said the hobo as he removed his
old cap and bowed to both You
see
Come on. Willie" interrupted the
officer, as he reached for the mans
collar.
It was only two blocks over to the
police station, and when the officer
had arrived with his prisoner he turn
ed him over to the sergeant with the
brief remark:
Here's another OF them feIIers.''
The sergeant was alone, and he
made no move to lock the hobo up.
On the contrary, he looked him over
as he smoked his pipe, and at the
end Of five minutes he asked:
Why don't you quit it?''
Coin to-"
When?"
AS soon as I'm under ground.
which will probably be within two
weeks"
Come up here to the desk. Say,
you do seem to be played out What's
the matter?"
Its this, sergeant replied the
hobo as he was seized with a mt Of
coughing that left blood on his lips
Consumption
you'll find a bit Of lunch there in
my basket Help yourself and then
tell me all about il
The hobo had little appetite. He
appeared to eat more to show his ap-
probation Of the sergeant's kindness
than because he crayed the food
When he had finished he turned to
the officer.
You've heard the story often en-
ough, true and false" he began, but
il happens to be true in my case Got
into a row with the old man years
ago and went drifting. It's easy to
drop from drifting into tramping. I
cut loose from the world four years
ago, and I've been on the tramp ever
since. Hadn't looked into a newspa-
per for two years until the other day.
Our profession dOn't banker after
news and politics.
And whatdid you find in the paper
the other day?"
That the governor was dead and
mother a widow. The article also
had something to say about son who
disappeared several years ago and
was supposed to be dead"
"Yes?"
That was me, OF course. Yes, I've
been dead to the world. There's been
weeks and weeks when haven't
given a thought to what used to be,
nor to those left behind But for
the newspaper I'd have lived my few
days out and been buried like a dog"
And now?" slowly asked the ser
geant-
We'll, old man, I ought to be
ashamed to own it, but that article
struck me all in a heap-toOk the
grit out OF me, as it were. felt q
longing to go back home to see moth
er again-tO be buried alongside my
kindred. I fought the feeling for a
week, but it was no go. cursed my
self for a namby PANTY, but got up
and headed for Syracuse. The boys
gave me the grand guy, but I couldn't
turn back I knew my days were
numbered, and there was a feeling
about being chucked into a pOttsr's
field that gave me the shivers."
And you were beating your way
hOme7''
Yes It's a misdemeanor under
the law TO steal a ride on a train, pas
chances. Doesn't seem such an awful
thing to stow away on the roof Of an
empty freight car when you don't
weigh over a hundred pounds, but the
majesty OF the law must be respected,
you know. If I'd go through to Syra-
cuse it might have busted up the rail-
road At least you'd have thought 50
to hear the conductor 90 on"
Did he slam yOU?''
"a On
the road. and OF course he wanted to
show how jealous ne was Yes, he
stood me up and gave me the boot
and then handed me over to the cop.
How many days will I get?''
Not one! I'd like to kick that con-
ductor for the rest OF the week
You don't mean, sergeant-yOu
don't mean that you sympathize with
an old hobo, do you ?" asked the man
as a lump rose up nhis throat
4 amt saying that do, but fair is
fair II you were q we'll man I'd lock
you up and get you q sentence Of
thirty days but I'm not jumping on
dying men, You stretch out on the
seat and sleep for a couple OF hours,
When No. 4 freight comes along III
90 over with you and see about get
ting you on to Syracuse"
Sergeant, il yOuu do that for me
If youth
Cut ft-offi''
The hobo was asleep in I've min
utes. Police business was slack. and
after awhile the sergeant arose and
paced back and forth. When mis- steps
carried him near the man on the
bench he noticed how hollow eyed he
vas. the high cheek bones. the hectic
flush and the gasplng Tor breath, and
he turned away and grcwled-
Only an old hobo, bat I'll be
hanged II 7 don't send him home 70
die Gecently-"
When the two hours were up he
called to the nan
I'm here" vas the answer 4 va
having my FIRST dream Tor months.
aEG 81 Vas 60 peaceful that wish e