Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-18
THE
C0URTIlY
TRAMP

"Ah, you don't know Babe" and h.
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
and walking forward or backward at
signals from his master. Another signal
and he jumped through the hoop made
by his masters arms, then limped sor-
rowfully on three legs, and at final
signal dropped limp and as if dead at
his masters feet and lay there till
snap of the fingers told him his task was
over, when he frisked about the road
barking gleefully. ;.
Il guess Babe and / can get enough
milk for all of us on that, at the nearest
farmhouse" he said. ut always fetches
them"
II don't wonder" | replied. Then,
my mind on the theatre, | added 81
don't see why you don't show him on
the stage He's fine!"
That's an idea said the man. "But
what theatre d take me in these
clothes ?"
They'd take you with Babel" He
laughed when | said that--it made tine
dog seem of so much more account than
the man-and then, with Babe" follow
ing, he went toward farmhouse little
off the road.
The milk was good, but we didn't get
it till late in the afternoon, for, while
Babe" and his master were gone, our
fatigue got the better of us and we fell
fast asleep on the bank by the roadside.
That evening we came to a little hamlet
called Mountain View, only about ten
mile from San Jose (And we had ex-
pected to reach San Francisco The
man took lis to the little hotel there,
and after some conversation with the
landlady which we didn't hear, shook
hands with us. Babe" jumped up on
us and said goodbye with "a quick little
lick on our faces. Then master and
dog went their way.
Things happened very quickly after
that At the supper table a San Fran
cisco drummer looked up from his paper,
gave start when he saw us, and wins
pered to the landlady as he looked from
| us to the paper, while she nodded her
head iii assent. Next morning we were
awakened by sobs of JOY at Our bed
side-our dear mothers weeping as each
held her respective offspring in her arms,
our fathers trying to look severe but
unable to keep back their own tears.
That noon we reached home not famous
as we had expected, but chastened in
spirit; exiles 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
ck~
sensational headlines, but he never ap-
peared to claim reward.
Ten years later was on the stage and
acting with Augustin Days company in
New York One afternoon on my way.
from rehearsal, / stopped in at one Of
| the Continuous" houses. A dog act
was just going on The man was on
| the stage. There was something oddly
| familiar about him. seemed to have
| heard his voice before Yet | could not
place him. But when, looking into tile
| wings, he called, Nov for some tricks,
| Babel Show the young folks what
you can dol" and an Irish terrier deli
| cately balanced on his hindlegs came
out from the wings-probably, alas, not
the original Babe but his successor
how the scene came back to me. Il
| don't see why you don't show him on
the stage" / had said; and That's an
| idea" had been his comment
My first impulse was to ask at the
stage door if could see the trainer,
and recall myself to my old friend Of
the Santa Clara highway But on re-
Election | thought better of it.. He
looked prosperous, was dressed in an
/ immaculate Tuxedo suit, and was billed
| as one of the chief attractions of the
house would he care to be reminded
of the days when he was trampi
Probably not. But when reached
home, | dropped him note, unsigned
telling him that the two girls whom
| he had safely guided to Mountain View
ten years before never would forget
| his kindness. I think my not signing
the letter was a guarantee to him that
\ never would diselose his identity
owe that to his chivalry.