The Prescott daily news., 1908-12-03

 ceived by kindly old lady, who gave me a glass of wine instead of water and added some biscuits. During my refreshment a handsome vehicle stop ped at the house, and a gentleman 1t contained asked me the road to Inter- laken. Seeing me regaling myself, he alighted, joined me on the trellised porch and asked for a glass of wine. The old lady brought him one, with more biscuits, and we slipped, munched and chatted. The gentleman proved to be a fellow countryman of mine and asked me to proceed in his carriage, an invitation 1 accepted. At leaving he was surprised at not being permitted to pay the reckoning. He insisted, but the good lady was resolute. Before getting into his carriage he took a piece of red chalk from his pocket and made certain marks on window shut ter
 "Those are tramp marks you have made, are they not?' I said, surprised
 Light up," was his reply, handing me a cigar, "and as we roll along I'll tell you a story.
 "A citizen of St. Louis determined for the benefit of his health to drive with his wife and daughter to Denver. While crossing the plains his vehicle, which was not fitted for such rough usage, broke down, and the party was stranded in the middle of the Great American desert The traveller scanned the horizon for help and fortunately far to the eastward saw a white speck which he took for a prairie schooner It was from twelve to fifteen miles distant, and he expected that fully three hours would be required for it to come up.
 But the white speck grew much more rapidly than could be accounted for by a schooner As it came nearer those watching it were filled with as- tonishment. It was schooner indeed, schooner on wheels. The body was boat shaped, and masts extended up- right from the front and rear axles, each mast supporting a sail. X man sat in rear of the front axle holding a tiller. AS he drew near the party he
 
 said:
 Can l assist you?
 Considering the roughness of the mans dress and his unkempt appear ance, the party were surprised at his respectable bearing.
 My dear sir said the gentleman, the first favor 1 would ask of you is of@ ance of a wheeled boat on this ole ocean bed. Is it the ghost of some prehistoric vessel wrecked ages ago many fathoms above us?
 "'No, sir, When an ocean surged here there were no boats
 "'Well, who are you and what are you doing in this strange craftY
 "'Tm tramp, born tramp, and must always be moving just as a born soldier must always be campaigning My father sent me to school. to college and gave me a profession. I wanted to travel and he sent me abroad When he wished me to stop travelling and go to work I became a tramp Finally l got tired of making my legs go or riding under cars and wished for some method of propulsion wherein the cost was only in the vehicle. I did little work for wagon maker and while at his shop constructed this ship of the desert. What can do for you?'
 "There was nothing for the fellow to do but take the party aboard, which he did. The gentleman demurred at the tramp going out of his way to favor a wrecked party. but the land sailor said every way was his way. The gentleman and his family got aboard, the two older ones on a back seat the girl forward with the tramp driver As they sailed along before q ten knot breeze, meeting people by the way who gaZed at them in astonish- ment, the old lady looked sour, the old gentleman winced, while the young girl glggled evidently enjoying the trip immensely Tn this fashion they rode All the way to Denver, and when they reached the city were followed to a botel where the travellers proposed toIstop by a shouting mob.
 fWhat it was about this degenerate sdn of worthy sire to attract young girl nobody could ever find out, but the travellers daughter had to fall in love with the sailor. Seeing her heart was ttt on having him, her father con 2lted on condition that he would stop