The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

Is was that soiied sunburued exterior
common to the genus tramp, but the
visible wells Of his spirit held matter
& - 4 tonishing enough. As amateur geolo-
lEyEg5z gist. have often noted that the most
xE*SS6Ss surprising crystals and interesting de-
kSlElf posits usually lie under the least alIuring
surfaces. Indeed. had not fallen heir
to the matter OF this chronicle FOR this hobby Of
nine Tor otherwise. should have doubt remained
az my desk pumping grumblingy the dry fountains
Of legal inspiration instead Of leaving the preparation
OF Kalvigs case 10 Gimlet, my partner and playing
truant with nature beyond the limits Of the town
slAs IL was, I found my hobo as pecking at the
rocks with hammer and pick I loitered through
oinge among the hills He lay stretched out by 1T
lie scrap Of FIRE IN vertable tranps' nest" dreary
watching a black coffee pot simmering on the Goals
Scattered about rusty tin cans old pans bat
tered wash boiler and CASTOR clothing overhead spread
green roof Of crabtree boughs while brook slipping
down through the eump OF crabs its waaderngs
among the joints Of the hills OF pleasant war
BILE
UnObserved. I stood still little watching the
vagaoond Frankly TO ruin OF any Is always
interesting; It means history. tragedy performance
played out 10 the final end completed thing ready at
Iast for analysis and the verdict tramp is
thing like that-alWays respecting the warfare and
mystery Of life promising bit Of pay dirt"
This presently sat up. poked at the FIRE With
his dapidated shoe and looked around the black
ened cooking utensils, at the ground worn hard and
smooth by the bodies Of many sleeper and
up az piece Of board nailed against the trunk Of
era6tree- Following his eyes with my own. I read.
seraWled upon the board with charcoal the ironicaI
legend: God Bless Our Home"
The sarcasm and humor Of the thing smote me
hard. and I burst out laughing
The man turned pair Of big startled eyes to ny
race Tor an instant, smile wrnkIing through
stubble Of beard about his mouth and Good morning.
he said, E1th gentiHty nice enough for prince He
got 10 his feet returned the saIutation pulled his
ragged coat straight dOed his battered hat bowed
like Chesterfield
VIII you come in, sir?" he said, with a sngslarly
mellow and agreeable voice With a respectful obei-
sance and stately Thank you" walked in among the
crabtrees one might through the OF mansion
Honor me BY being seated" he suavely said wav-
ing his hand toward the ground and sat down on the
dirt floor Of the nest and or ny hat We locked
al each other moment, grinned broadly,
quaInted.
Craving my pardon he stepped to the brook. washed
two tomato cans clean, and back and filed them
with coffee from the pot. Opening bundle which lay
al the root OF tree, ne drew out several packages
from Of which he poured some sugar into the cans
Of coffee and proffered me one with great courtesy
We drank. and as he recned upon his elbow drawing
down the steaning beverage with slight grateful sghs
scanned him narrowly. He a long man. Eaunt
tanned rusty with strong features and large eyes and
large head while OF the whole was spoken
an inexpeable story OF tragedy. Of sin or sorrow
disappointment. subtle knavery, could not deter
mine which He probably over thirty years Of
age; at casual glance he looked forty
Frankly" I said. you interest me- wouid give
pretty penny TO know your history"
Would you, indeed? a tramps history ought 10
be entertaining, eh2 Well, need OF the
penny assure you In the present juncture Of my
affairs could well appreciate that more than I
But the story you solicit isn't pretty one and you
wouldn't believe it should I tel it TO you"
He had a glib facility Of words that surprised me-
The coffee he drank the better he talked Fixing
nv Wit
ming with kind Of fire. but in the main looking away
as it might be, at scenic transaction IN air. he
went on might prove it to you, 7 think; besides
have held the story long enough in silence You
shall have it for what 1t is You viii under
stand why at the end You are a lawyer are you
not Yes? thought Welly was a lawyer once
or maybe doctor. artist or an actor or-it
matters nothing anything you may care to
guess but this that seem now"
He fell silent for moment, staring al the ground
with smodering glimmer Of something fun or fear.
in his eyes You viii doubtless think me troubled
with bad Imagination, he said but true rerneun-
brsnce Of facts is sufficient without calling in
The wizard Fancy. l was thinking where I should
commence if at the natural beginning OF the story or
az the unnatural end the prosaic middle Anyway,
the tale need not be long It shall be sufficient to say
preliminary. that found myself in Florida
partly from purpose, partly fish might instinct
lively follow warming easy feedinggrOund
It low down IN the state south even OF Punta
gulf, that began haunting certain hotel It was
huge airy structure with pIIlared front and broad
double galleries and think had been plantation
house AT any II was. delightful not being mod
ern. structural creations so execrable from
artistic standpoint the resort hotel you
know"
I nodded assent, wondering more and more at
this phenomenal vagTant % Were YOU IA tramp al
that tin1eT' I ventured
:" In the most extreme aeeeptstion OF that term"
he replied with dry kind Of smile i didn't dare
be else You see, I murderer-at least certain
people in certain town IN certain state thought
was. which effected much the thing. BY the way
have you smoking tobacco with you2" He drew pipe
out from somewhere among his rags.
7 usually stick some cigars in my pocket when I
start out on a ramble," I said. Yes. here are
couple. Have one"
He thanked urbanely, and presently began to
smoke It's nieeg he said, quietly; then, after
ment's silence Yes il interesting building
sax It from many quarters CT the compass for
spent days in its vicinity. You mulatto kitchen
enploye OF the hotel developed odd compassion for
ne through her found food plentiful The build
ing stood waist deep in tropic gresnery soft knoll
looking out a broad, forest covered country From
the upper gallery fancy could the gulf wEank