Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1915-04-30
COULDN'T FOOL HOBO
KNIGHT OF THE ROAD WAS WISE
OLD BIRD.
Billy Sunday Tells Good Story Of How
Farmer Stopped Visits Of
Tramps-Were Suspicious
of ELUSIVE Welcome.

Billy Sunday, the evangelist. said at
a fashionable reception in his hone
in Philadelphia:
"a good many people are mistrust.
FL of religion. l don't know why 1t
is, but there's a lot OF people as mis-
t~rustful of religion INC the religious
as the ramp was mistrustful OF the
farmer.
81 don't know what to do about
this tramp evil, a farmer once said to
me. I've put up signs about bewar-
ing of the man trap and look out for
the savage dog and take care Of the
spring gun, but it dom seem to do
any good at all. Mr.. Sunday. The
tramps modest me something ter
rible.'
"'Well, Brother. Brown said I, you
just put up a big sign reading, All
tramps welcomed at Browns II
then, later on let me know the result
Brown thought l val joking at first,
but When he saw I was in earnest he
went straight Off home and put up a
big sign over his gate-'All tramps
welcome here, John Brown'-that you
could read half a mile away.
Il met him again the following
year. He said the sign had worked
like a miracle. Ever since he put 1t
up he had only set yes on n tramp
and that had beer by accident. He
came Oh the tramp accidentally as
the fellow stood under the sign, look.
ing up at it and reading it owe and
over with a kind of quizzical. sarcas-
tic smile playing about his mouth.
"Hello!' says Farmer Brown, grim
ming over the fence at the tramp
very friendly.
The tramp sneered. Then he burst
into a bitter laugh and said:
"'Hello, mister. How many cops
have you got hidden in there?'
"'Why, Monochrome at all" says
Farmer Brown, in a hurt, surprised
voice.
"The tramp gave another bitter
laugh. How many bulldogs have you
got, then, mister?'
"'There amt a dog about the place.
say the farmer. He opened the gate
q little ways, but the tramp jumped
back, so scared like, the farmer closed
it again out Of pity. You can come
in and see for yourself if you don't
believe me about the dogs he says.
"'Oh, yes, 1 know said the tramp.
He was pale and shaking all over
from the start he got when the gate
opened. I know all about that he
said; but tell me how many bear
traps you've got set in there that
would bite a poor fellows leg off,
mary a bear trap said the farnl-
er. Nary a bear trap
HAS a mar got to do a hard days
work to get a measly meal of scraps"
burst out the tramp.
"'Nothing of the kind said the
farmer. You come right in, young fel.
low, and I'll give you a t~hrpe-course
hot supper for nothing, and if you
want to stay all night we'll fix you up
a warm bed on the floor by the kitch-
en- fire.
1.-The tramp stared hard at the farm.
er a minute and hen he smiled a kind
of plying, p%atronizing smile and
said:
"'You can't work that little game
on me. This Is my eleventh year on
the road
""What game?' said Farmer
Brown. What game are you talkin'
about?'
"'Puttin' rough on rats in the COT.
fee and sellin' our remains to the
medical college for a dollar apiece
said the tramp, winking at the farm.
er. oh, no, Brownie. old boy! Oh,
my, no! Not on your life! Ha, ha,
ha! Aber! This is my eleventh year
on the road, I'm tellin' you.
And the tramp took a cigar butt
from the pocket Of his ragged coat.
lit it with a sulphur match, and
strutted jauntily away, his head near
ly hidden in big smoke Clouds"