Arizona republican., 1910-05-09
THE coURT1Y'
 TRAMP

"Ah. you don't know Babe" and he stroked the dog, who looked very happy and very proud Now for some tricks Babel Show the young folks what you can dol" A moment later the dog was balanced deiicately on his hindlegs and walking forward or backward al signals from his master. Another signal and he jumped through the hoop made by his matters arms. then fmped sor- rovfuily on three legs. and at final siRnal dropped hmp and as If dead a, his masters feet and lay there till snap of the fingers told him his task vas over, when he irisked about the road barking gleefully.
 T guess Babe and can get enough milk for all of us on that, at the nearest farmhouse" he said. Tt always fetches them"
 T don't wonder" I replied. Then. my mind on the theatre, l added. T don't see why you don't show him on the stags. He's 6net'
 That's an idea, said the man. But what theatre d take me in these clothes."
 They'd take you with 'Baber" H- laughed when I said tha,-it mad. the dog seem of SO much more account than the man-and then. with Babe follow ing, he went toward farmhouse httle of the road.
 The milk vas good. but we didn't set it till late in the afternoon. for. while Babe" and his master were gone. our fatigue got the better of us and wc fel fast asleep on the bank by the roadside. That evening we came to little hamlet called Mountain View. only about ten mile from San Jose (And we had .x pected to reach San FranciscoD The man took us to the little hotel there and after some conversation with ,h. landlady which we didn't hear. shook hands with us Babe jumped up c, us and said good bye with a quick hr-le lick on our faces Then master and dog went their way.
 Things happened very quiekly ss-.- that At the supper table San Frz,- cisco drummer looked up from his paper, gave a start when he ssv us. and vhi. pefed to the lsndlady as he looked from us to the paper. while she nodded her head in assent Next morning we v.r. awakened by. sobs of joy at our bed side-our dear mothers weeping as each held her respective offspring III hey arms. our fathers trying to look severe hur unable to keep back their own tears That noon we reached home, no. famous as we had expected. but chastened in spirit exies from the theatres for long. long time and separated from each other for nearly as long
 Of course. our parents were immense ly interested when they heard about the man. the tramp who had given us his protection. They advertised for him. and the papers printed the story with sensational headlines, but he never s., peared to claim a reward.
 Ten years later I was on the stage and acting with Augustin Daly's company in New York One afternoon on my way from rehearsal. l stopped in at one of the continuous houses. A dog act was just going on. The man was on the stage. There was something oddiy familiar about him seemed to have rheard his voice before. Yet I could uot place him. But when. looking into the wings. he called. Now for some tricks, 'Baber Show the young folks whs, you can dor and an Irish terricr deli cately balanced on his hindlegs came out from the wings-probably. alas. uo' the original Babe" but his successor- how the scene came back to me Y don't see why you don't show him ca the stage I had said: and That's m idea had been his comment. My first impulse was to ask a, the stage door if I could see the trainer. and recall myself to my old friend of the Santa Clara highway But on re lection I thought better of r- Hs looked prosperous. was dressed n sn immaculate Tuxedo suit. and was billed as one of the chief attractions of th- house would he care to be reminded of the days when he was tramp Probably not But when reached home, I dropped him a note. srsisrrd. telling him that the two girls whom he had safely guided to Mountain View ten years before never would forge, his kindness I think my not signing the letter was guarantee tc him tnat I never would disclose his identity l owe that 10 his chiyairv