Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1906-09-06
This Rode Leds from sevenoaks.'


n number of mystic symbols. such as Il
@ross, Il reaping hook, II triangle, a
cross II ci.cle and a square. The trans
lation Of these characters is quite sim
pie to the scientific vagrant. The cross
marks the habitation of the uncharit-
able; the reaping hook the pedlars
paradise. the triangle, the house which
has been surfeited by tramps; the cir
lie and cross, the abode of religious
people who are kind to the deserving,
but severe and uncompromisng toward
lnipostors; the square, symbol with
a meaning borrowed from Freemasoi-
ary--inarkS the residence of people who
can always be relied upon to assist the
tired wayfarer who can tell the tale.
Sell it? Not likely" said the model
tramp AS he clutched eagerly at the
packet and replaced it in his breast
pocket. We've trouble enough TO get
EN-. and they're uscfullcr than You
price, il you so wish They amt a
reg lar market for EN-. A man like
me draws en- out, am then sells the
right to Il tracing.
"Of course. they amt so much use
unless you've got some experience.
There's certain signs as marks the kind
of house that's meant, am in most
cases the crosses squares and what
nots is penciled in chalk upon the
ouses themselves.
Must Be Posted.
But there's Il good deal more a
zeal wagrant must understand. For in
stance, there's the casuals. Why.
workuses is among the most unreliable
Of 'uinan institution Now, the one I'm
goin' to used to lie Al. You'd spend
your night, ave II good feed an off
next morning like u bird. But It's all
changed now" He sighed at the CON
trast between the new and the good
old times. The re'lals as to pound
stone in an iron cage aud get precious
little for il, too. ON. I've eeld lot
lbout it, but as ! aii' been there for
Years, am as the master there don't
Ano" nae, I'm 'opins 20 get off cheap.
Besides, | guess lu Il bit of an in
valid
His face lcngthcned and settled into
ludicrous EXPRESSION Of lusubriosi'y.
His gait changed into an uncertain
groans escaped his lips "Wot do you
think of that, gov'nor, for Il bit of act
lng?" he said, adding, with a twinkle in
mis- eyes, "a tramp woL succeeds has
70 be as clever as any actor ON the
boards You ave to judge character
pretty smartiy, too Sometimes yer'vG
TO be as merry as d fish on hook, and
] sometimes as gloomy Az Nebuchad-
neZZar hisself
"Talllin of casuals Clitheroe used
20 be a champion. AS 4 country 'ouse
/! "a sort Of fresh air retreat it We're
i AL at Lloyd's. The solitary cell bust
ness an starvation diets done for il
/ AT one time so many of US went there,
an made it our recrutn' ONE. that it
was actually proposed az a bill should
be stuck up, 'Tralnps. beware. We
shoot EN-
Same with Yarmouth an Is,nel
Empsted. The Yarmouth big wigs
started granite breakin. That's the
sort of thing to take the cart out of a
Fellow Why, since it was begun
there's not a quarter Of us ASH honor
4 t with our patronage
Pear Work. Not Ghosts.
"They 'ad ghost at 'Einel Emp
sted am they threatened to find one
1T Yarmouth. Now I'd like To know
wot tramp as is worthy of his name
an profession d be scared by spook.
Iranite'll brighten 'em right enough,
| but ghosts-fudge, Who cares for
shosts?" He snapped his fingers. and
Aughed scornfully.
1--WE met all sorts and kinds of wag-
rants" He grew reminiscent Some
IF 'em had fame, many more of en-
deserved it, The greatest of en- all
was chap came across at knuts
ord He carried a couple of note
books, closely written i'll lead pencil.
There was crowded into 'em all sorts
IF out of the way items of informal
ton. He could tell at n look the exact
aeight of giants and dwarfs, the NUM-
Der of letters in the bible and the mum
oer of acres in Yorkshire.
HE was called by outsiders the en-
.yclopaedic' tramp, but we wot was
n the known dubbed him the betting
wagrant.' He would bet on anything,
Sefer to his book, and win.
"a tramps' life. sir? Well, perwidin'
cove knows his business. an is com
plete an perfect in his profession, e
can ave grand time of it. He's free
Is the air, independent as an ancient
Roman, lives like fighting cock. an
aeedn't work. Bah! It's paradise"
| He touched his cap and shambled on
ais way.