The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08
TRAMP TALKS.
Avoids Corn HuskIng and Tells Thrill
ling Story.


1T was corn-husking time and I was
looking for work to get me a new pair
of Shoes" said the Dflapidated Gentle
man, as he received a quarter and
transferred it to his pocket, when 1
struck a New Jersey farmer along
ABOUT O'Clock in the afternoon He
said he would give me supper and
lodgings If I would husk three bushels
OF ears, and might then make a fur
tner bargain went to the barn with
MIN TO begin, but l hadn't got fairly
started when he turned to me and
said:
Young man, it's none of my bust
ness who you are, and if you have any
thing to tell me you Will find me safe
q Just what do you mean?' asked.
Well, was reading in the papers
the other day that the murderer of the
Williams family in Missouri had been
seen IN this state. You fit the deScrip-
ton purity well. but I'm not the man
to give any one away. If you did the
murder you probably had good rea-
sons
Let me tell you right here smiled
the d. G., that ninety-nine farmers
out of every hundred love a murder
story above anything else. They just
get fat on it. Their wives want love
and romance but those sentime nrs are
not solid enough for the farmer him
self When / knew what this one was
beating around to 1 prepared myself
and replied:
I must throw myself upon your
mercy If you knew what L had suf-
fered you would pity me-
Go right ahead and tell me every
thing, and l promise not to say a word
to any human being. I've known three
murderers in my time and never gave
any of them away Never mind about
husking any more corn, but give me
the story, and don't leave out a thing.
If there was lots of bloodshed don't
skip that
us?'
Dead sure. There is no one around
but the old woman, and she's half deaf.
thing It's funny how a murderer
should come along just as I was want
ing to talk to one.'
" To begin with I said. after maxi
ing myself comfortable among the
stalks and husks, I was a Professor
Of Natural History in the st. Louis
Museum. In pursuance of my duties
used to make trips out into the coun-
try, That's how became acquainted
with the Williams family
Were you looking for bugs and
skunks and things of that sort?' he
asked.
yes. I called at the williams
house for a glass of buttermilk and it
was handed me by Edith, the daugh-
ter. She handed it to me so gracefully
and with such a winning smile that I
fell in love with her at once Yes, sir
had lost my heart before the last
Of the huttermilk went down..
" I didn't know that buttermilk ever
acted that way on a Teller
= Well. that's the way it acted on
me. | was invited into the house and
introduced to Edith's parents. The
mother took to me at once. but the
father did not seem to like me. I soon
discovered the reason why. He want
ed to marry Edith to an old man who
expected to sell it for a hundred thou
sand dollars. The trough was so ar
ranged that a hog could get only so
much swiu at a time. and it was use
less for him to squeal and hunt and
shoulder the other hogs away
Good thinsR said the farmer, as
he nodded his head but get along to
the murder as-fast as you can
." I will. Haying fallen in love with
Edith I made It my business to call
often. After the third time it was
plain that my love was reciprocated.
1t was also plain that the father did
not want me there. He gave me Moth
ing but savage looks and muttered
hog-trough took occasion one day to
tell me to take skate or he would see
that I did I did not let them bluff me
however. On my fifth call | declared
my love and Edith accepted me. For
about half an hour 1 was the happiest
man in the world.
e Then somethin' happened. Ell p
queried the farmer as he licked his
chops. Don't stop We must be git
tin close to the murder
Yes, something happened. Mr..
Williams invited me out to the barn to
look at colt. and when we got there
he told me in so many words that Ed
18th was not for me- and that If I saw
her again he would be the death of
me. I sought to reason and argue with