Bridgeton pioneer., 1912-12-12

AT the end of half an hour a smile
came to her face and she heaved a
sigh of relief The Widow Sample had
found the idea she had long been
seeking.
/ Uncle Abner Gates was at the grind
stone in the barn putting an edge on
a scythe when a tramp came along
and asked for food and work. He was
filled up and sent to field, and half
an hour later he was hoofing the
highway again. The fellow had
squint eye and a twisted nose and
could have been picked out from
among a thousand Weary Willies
herded into a ten-acre lot.
by heck, but I've been fooled agin!"
exclaimed Uncle Abner, as he found
the tramp gone. "If ever 1 come
across him" But there wasn't one
chance in a thousand.
The Widow Sample had kind
heart for tramps. She always i'm
agined them victims of misfortune.
and they were handed out food
whether they offered to pay for 1t in
work or not. In due time the tramp
with the squint eye and the twisted
nose reached her hospitable farm
house. The time meant the day after
he had buncoed Uncle Abner Gates.
The fellow had just been chased
away from the farm below by
bulldog, and was out of breath and
n14 D1F@ h4
mark that he hadn't had anything to
eat for three days, the widow took
one good look at him and threw up
her hands with the exclamation:
why, man, you are sick and orter
be under the doctors care"
Willie got his cue like streak of
creased lightning. and replied in pa.
thetic tones:
"But who cares II am sick and
likely to die?"
'T do. I haven't turned into a
stone yet"
'But will stagger on till I per.
ish! The world will be glad to hear
Of my DEATH"
You'll stagger right into the house
and be cared for like q human be-
ing'"
Willie took a sharp look at her.
Never in all his tramp life had he
come across such q snap. He couldn't
believe her in earnest: but she hus-
tied him in and made him sage tea
and chicken broth and put horse rad.
dish draughts at his feet. In an hour
he claimed to have been drawn back
from death, and announced his readi
ness to eat his full share of the boiled
dinner cooking on the stove. He was
held in bed. however. The Widow
Sample had hunch that Uncle Abb
ner would be along next day and that
II he found patient there something
would happen.
At II o'clock next morning, after a
breakfast of tea and tost, and after
more draughts, and after a dose of
horse medicine, administered by the
hired man, the tramp was planning
to leave the house by way of the
window when the widower appeared.
He was at once informed that a poor
man, who had evidently seen better
days, and who was most grateful for
what had been done for him, and
who might turn out the incest kind of
a man. was a patient in the parlor
bedroom.
"Oh, I see-I see," replied Uncle
Abner. as strange feeling suddenly
gripped him and was reflected in his
face.
These little romances sometimes
turn out very queer" observed the
widow.
eyes"
"The stranger In distress some
times turns out to be a rich mans
son."
'Yes, he does"
"And there is happy marriage
and plenty of money"
Gust So"
"Of course, there may be nothing
in it, but"
"Oh. yes, there isl"
And Uncle Abner looked into the
bedroom just as the tramp with the
squint and the twisted nose sat up in
bed. There was an exclamation OF
satisfaction, followed by a yell of
alarm and excited queries, and when
the dust kicked up by the patients
feet flying up the highway had set.
tied down, Uncle Agner mopped his
brow and explained:
Il was just gittin' ready to say
that we'd be married tomorrow and
start on bridal tour next day!"
Copyright. 1912, by Associated Literary
Press.)