South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-26
Her Tramp
By c. B. Lewis

why. no."
Well. he's a horse thief. anyway
he stole a horse from this farmer
last night and he is good for about
five years in state prison. I am glad
he did not rob your house or scare
you half TO DEATH
81 do not believe he stole q horse. -"
protested the girl. with consider
able spirit If he stole the horse,
where is the horse" asked Miss
May.
THAT is what I am going TO try
and find out after I have landed him
in Jail believe that have got a
straight case against him"
And | don't"
And as the officer walked down TO
the gate, the girl walked with him.
The tramp smiled as he approached
and his smile brOadened as she ask
ed.
Did you steal a horse last night 20
Lord miss you might as well ask
ne if I stole the bridge over the
river back there"
The farmer and the constable
laughed as they drove off and May
returned TO the veranda. There she
passed up and down for an hour
until her father and mother came
home. When they asked The cause
of her perturbation she told them
about the tramp.
Well said the father Its quite
likely the charge is true"
81 don't believe IT," protested the
girl. He didn't look a bit like a
horse thief"
Father see here a moment II
I he stole a horse last night would not
he ride him away TO some distant
point and dispose of him ?"
Very likely he would" the father
replied
But he didn't. He is right here
within two miles Of where the horse
was stolen, and he wasn't in hiding,
/ either. Does that look as if he were
horse thief"
We'll. what is it to us?" asked
the father
/ 1T is this much" replied the girl
with flashing eyes. Constable Clark
/ has sent men to Jail who were limo
\ cent of crime. but he isn't going to
send this one. if / can help it."
"Oh. he isn't, Ell? What are. you
going to do about it,"
You are going with me to learn
all about the case and help me To
show that he didn't steal a horse
or anything else"
May had her way, and 10 min
utes later they drove over to Farmer
Johnson's first to hear his story. II
wasn't a long story.
Last evening. just as il was get
ting dark. I caught sight Of the fell
low sneaking into my barn. AS he
was not smoking / did not hunt hin
out My barn is used as a lodging
house by scores Of tramps and they
seldom commit any damage. l know
for a surety that this was the only
tramp that slept there last night
This morning when I went out Il
feed the horse the tramp was gone
So was the horse Don't that show
that some time i'm the night the
tramp took the horse. and rod,
away on his back ."
81 should hardly say it did" re
piled Mr.. Barry. He would onl!
have stolen the horse to sell 10 som,
one He would have taken the hors,
miles away before he tried to sci
him. Did he do so? The fact tina
he did not is shown that the tram
was only three miles away and OF
foot when arrested You will hav,
to lay the crime TO some one else.
"Mebbe I have been a little to,
fast" said the farmer. as he LITE,
his hat 10 scratch the back of hi
head THE consta bic said I had
/ good case, but IL don't look like j
so much as ii did. Hello. there
the telephone ringing Let's Sc
what it's about"
And a minute later he turnet
from the instrument and said to hi
callers:
by George, But they have foun,
my horse two miles up the roa,
wandering about. He must hav
slipped his halter in the barn an,
either ] or the tramp left the stabl
door open behind us Whew,
guess L have come near making
fool of myself"