The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-23
THE EVENING STORY
Two Traraus.
(By Belle Maniates.)

Let's play tramp, Aunt Lou.
All right, Bob Wait until change
my slippers for Shoes and find my
Oldest skirt
Bob waited impatiently, shouting
hurry up! at intervals Presently
his blfthe young aunt came forth.
equipped for the jaunt.
Tramps never change their
despot.
I wouldn't if I were really a tramp
see where one is compelled to lead a
JekyH and Hyde escistencesI have to
dress for my part=my two parts.
Where do you suggest an expedition to
this time %
Through the woods by the river.
he replied promptly.
Tramps generally favor river
roads Shall we catch fish for our
No., he objected strenuouslv
''tramps never work I found a dime
last time, you know, and bought bread
ana money at the grocery. Now. it's
your turn to provide the eats
You had such luck." she replied in
an envious tone. ''I1l have to beg or
steal never find anything. Wen
not go hungry. Let me see, have you
any matches ?"
.'of course; tramps always have
DO they? Well. let's take this road
up past the Hill farm
:'Oh, bet I know what you are
going to do! You are going through
HilPs' cornfield and swipe some ears
Of corn, and then you are going to
build a fire in the woods and roast
corni"
"A veritable Sherlock Holmes!" she
quoth admirably. But am not going
to swipe it. When one goes into a
field like that it is only foraging.',
I wish we had some salt and some
butter, said Bob longingly.
You're above your station" she re-
torted. The idea of tramp want
ing Iuxuries!"
In the cornfieId they secured half
a dozen ears of ripe corn, and then
sought the woods.
TITS my turn to cook. Bob" asserted
his young aunt, beginning to collect
twlgs, brush and dried leaves.
All right You build the fire, and
I'm going down to the river
Leave me the matches, and don't
stay long
There was a method in Rob's de-
parture. He still had longings for salt
and butter and he knew there were
apt to be picnic parties on the river
bank. When he returned, a fire was
burning cheerily, and the corn was in
the ''oven."
Look here. Aunt Loul" he cried
gleefully, displaying salt a little pat of
butter, two chicken sandwiches two
pickles and quarter section of ba-
"Oh, Bobl A regular feast we will
have. You're mascot always. Did
you beg of some of the picnickers %
No, he replied Il found lunch
baskets on the shore and no one near
at least I didn't see any one. lust
helped myself. If I had been a real
tramp I would have swiped the whole
layout
"Oh, Bob!'' she said ruefulIy. You
shouldn't have gone into their baskets.
That wasn't right
''Welli I like thati Will you please
tell me who stole this corn p
That's quite different We know
Farmer Hill
Worse yet-to steal from your
Nonsense. Bob! You know we
can tell him. and he has corn
ITO burnt laughed Bob. carefully
spreading out his spoils on the ground.
But these strangers-''
Well, they've got plenty and
He stopped short listened, and then
seized the hand of his companion.
running her to a pile of wood corded
up by some chopper.
Duck, now, and keep still"
What was it?" she whispered
breathlessly.
Il heard some one coming through
the woods Maybe they're after their
stuff
After a long interval Of silence
Bob took observations. Seeing no one.
the precincts of their camping ground.
A whistle assured his aunt in wait
ing that all was well, and she emerged
from the woodpile and rejoined her
nephew.
Everything is herei" he exclaimed
joyfuly- 'Halloa! What's this?"
He took down a note which was
pinned to the trunk of the tree be
meath which he had stored his booty
A fair exchange" he read, ''is no
robbery. I recognize our subsistence,
and therefore take four ears of your
roast corn. judge there are but two
in your party, and two ears will be
plenty for you-in fact, all you should
eat
The clear, ringing laugh of Bob's
Aunt Lou echoed through the woods
and caught the attention of a young
man, who was Serenely concentrating
a despoiled corncob. He smiled an
preciatively and turned as if he would
fain trace the origin OF mfrth, but the
people who were boarding the little
launch on the river called warnfnglv
to him. and he desisted.
The next evening, Aunt Lou was put
ing the finishing touches to an elab-
orate toilette, and Bob was surveying
her with admiration and discomfort
You're going to have a bang-up
dinner, and won't be in it," he said
dejectedly.
II shall not enjoy it half as much
as did our stolen feast she said
earnestly Il have never tasted any
thing SO good as our picnic supper"
IF I am awake when you come
home, Aunt Lou, will you tell me an
about it?''
Bob, you little fraudl As If YOU
didn't always stay awake until I re-
turn! I'll bring you my souvenir
if we have them
Aunt Lou tiptoed down the hall when
she returned late that night, passing
the door Of her little nephew's room
Aunt Lou!' he called imperiously.
She opened the door. turned on the
electric light and swept across the
room to the little white bed
''Oh, Bobl" she said exultantly. 1--WE
got so much to tell youi"
Bob sat bolt upright.
Did !g1 have souvenirs?" he ask
ed excitedly.
=hesitatingly@''bu Bob, dear.
I want to keen II. Ixooki,, and she