The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1912-05-02
Teddys
Tramp
By
GRACE cLMTOCK
GRACE CLN,TO&

| SS~'S "~S " N0$A\N0 ANA
It was her first season in camp, and
her brothers had readily enough
given in to her demand for an abso-
lutely correct atmosphere. They had
camped in tents on the little lake
instead Of in the comfortable wood
en- shack on Lower lake, and they
had cooked in primitive fashion over
IN open fire.
The boys had done the cooking
since they had gone into camp three
weeks before, but it had all seemed
% easy that when they wanted to go
down the lake to the village she had
insisted that it would be no trouble
at all to get her meals.
They had padded away just as the
sun began to tinge the clouds in the
east and would not be back before
night. Twice Teddy had spilled the
bacon into the fire, and as q crown
ing accident she had Get the coffee
pot wrong, and that, TOO, was sliding
into the flames, putting out what lit
tie fire there was left. She had not
tried to rebuild the fire, but con-
tented herself with soda crackers and
spring water while she glanced out
over the lake and wondered why the
time passed so slowly.
After her disastrous experience
che certainly would not try to get q
bot dinner, and already the soda
cracker diet was beginning tc pail.
Lite had seemed 90 easy when the
boys had done the cooking.
A crashing in the underbsush
reused her and she sprang to Aer
feet nevously handling the revolver
the boys had lefhwith her for protec-
ton. She raised the glistening
weapon as q man burst through the
tangie Of brush.and with a'voice.that
abe tried to make stern commanded
him to hold uphis hands.
They went above his head inian
instant and stayed there while he
parleyed. Teddy knew that the next
thing vas to bind her victim, but
how to do that and retain the NO
volver was something that was !, 70,
told in books,t
BE smiledtat her look of helples :
meas and CAME a few steps forwart !
u an. not a tramp or a robber;'
be saidr with q fash Of white teeth
beneath bis mustache. 81 saw 3 fire
. while back and thought that per-
haps l might beg some breakfast I
wandered further from our camp
than l intended. l am on.the otha
dde Of the ridge ON Blue lahe5 !.
"There isn't any breakfast" sh,
aid, forlornly. '1.spilled the bacon,
into the fire, and then the, coffee pot
tell IN. I was eating these" She
waved her revolver toward the box:
Of crachers, and thestamp smiled.
If you viii take.my parole" he
suggested, '1n earns my breakfast
I believe that is'the proper thing for
. tramp to d."
Teddy lowered heryun. !. He prob
ably was : tramp, but heshad nice
eyes and . pleasant smile, and she
felt that she could,trust him.
She narveled at the dexteritytwith,
which be built up the fire. It had
taken her an hour. There were fsh'
in the basket he carried, sadsas soon,
q he had the coffee startedi land. the
biscuit baking, he put Mese,inst the
pan.
IF you viii Get th,, table" he
called IN have things ready in q
|jifJ..
Tor : moment r .ddy psusedt She
did not quite Ike the idea Of enting
1t the came tsbl1 With 8 tramp and
lhe telt that he must be 3 tramp.
None Of the 81 4pers she hew,xore
such outragby, garments. But the
mea Of @d and the frying fish
decided ~. socshe Get two plates.
Skilldly he dished up the fish
and t5t the G oBee fromathe FIRE. He
VI sven more ,e1pert tim the boys.
Aobably that lvss bcsnse he had
70 camp out Il 6e yes1around.