The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-03
ALONG THE
HIGHWAYS
It's the Tramp That Can Tale Unfold.
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1918, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
Can a Tale Unfold.
By M. QUAD

could have maintained it minute.
where I'm going to sleep tonight
the devil only knows-right here, meb-
be, If this old lamppost don't get tuck,
| cred out.
Say, this touring the country hain't
| half bad. | wouldn't so so far as to
recommended the heir to q million dol
lar estate to turn tramp, but at the
same time wish to say that enjoyable
events are constantly happening in
this profession Perhaps the leading
one Is being suspected of murder. 1t
has happened to me some five or six
times, and / now look forward TO it as
part and parcel of the seasons pro-
gram.
NThere has been a murder commit
ted in city, village or out in the
country, and the murderer has got
away. The first thing the police do,
falling to find the guilty party within
few hours. is to lay the crime to
tramps. Their own records would
show them that the tramp class is
more clear of capital crimes than al
most any other, and yet the first in
stinct is to go for it. The call goes
forth in city and village to round it
up. and country constables for fifty
miles around are warned to be on the
lookout
Il am blowing along a country high
way or taking nap under a tree be-
side the road when the heavy hand of
the law is laid upon me. The constable
may have five or six men at his back,
all armed and all regarding me as a
most desperate character. am bound
hand and foot. There is much rejoic-
ing.
1.-THE procession heads fer the coun-
ty jail and makes triumphal entry
into the town.
IF | have been captured for MUIR
derer outside the county ! am taken
away after three or four days. IL 1t
is in the county am kept in jail until
the examination comes off
'In the course of week one of two
things is sure to happen. The officers
either get the right clew and am set
free or ! am arraigned for examina-
ton. In the former case the sheriff
comes to my cell and calls out:
Here. you miserable old tramp, get
out of thisr
what for:'
Because / say so. You are dis
charged from custody why in the
devil didn't you say you weren't
guilty.
But did
Don't lie TO me. Get out of this
jail. People are calling me the biggest
ass in the state Get a hump on your
selfr
LET me tell you that the dilapidated
gentleman reasoned things out long
ago. He Is no more criminal by in
stinct than any other man. He doesn't
want to lose his life or liberty. He is
too greedy for gain. Not tramp in
ten would quit the road il he got a
legacy OF $1,000 Give him sufficient
for today and the morrow may go
hang. He may. hit back If you hit him.
but he has no cause to want TO murder
any one. He may steal to assuage hun
ger. but not for profit. Now and then
you hear of some tramp robhing
farmhouse. He is either drunk or
fool. No pawnbroker will take any
thing from him because he Is tramp.
No person will buy any of his plumber
for fear of being compromised. The
tramp with sense in his head knows
this. and If dozen farmhouses were
open to him there would be no tempta-
ton.
Suppose that tramp stole SIS in |
cash from house. If he struck a
town and went to buy suit of clothes |
he'd be suspected. If he even bought |
a new hat or new pair of shoes it |
might be made the grounds for his ar
rest. How would it profit him, then,
to take the money?
Il have worked for farmer for six
weeks on stretch and taken the road
with $50 in my pocket. ! have been
arrested a day later and had TO send
for him to prove that / wasn't thief. /
IL / had ten dollar bill in my pocket
| might walk 200 miles and not find
to change it for me. i once
found twenty dollar bill on. the
streets of town | carried that bill
With me for four months and then at
asst gave a tin peddler 81 premium to
,hange It, He felt sure that haG
itolen il. but decided to take chances.
Three years ago in Connecticut
armer's barn was robbed of fifty
bushels of oats one night. His own
,ags were used to sack them up. The
cam used to draw them away was
ollowed for six miles. i was within
Ell miles of the site of the robbery
hat night and next day | was arrest
u as the robber. was held in Jail
or week before being examined to
low of the sheriff working up the
ase but when things finally came to
head you ought to have heard the
ustice score him. He was man of
ense. he was. and he made the sheriff
ut born fool within ten minutes,
/ stole the oats | must have stolen
cam to draw them away. Who had
,st team? 1t would have taken two
len to sack and load the oats. Where
yas the other man:
ooh. yes. there are events in the life
Z every dilapidated gentleman on the
nod ord Tho uaoroI locson IN he drawn