The Meeker herald., 1922-09-30
The Two Hungry
Tramps
>>~NNN~~~SNN~NS'
By JOHN PALMER

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
II dunno as | understand you. BILL"
complained his friend and fellow-hObo,
Larry. "We've been good pals this SIX
months. and we've tramped or ridden
cur way half acrost the continent. but
we've had tough time. there's no
denying 1t.
Folks amt what they used ter be.
sence prohibition come In. In the good
old days most any farmhouse was
good for hnnd-out Of breud and
meat. but nowadays . honest tramp
has his work cut out II he's going TO
earn a decent living.
"We've slept out In the rain. be-
cause Of them hard-hearted dogs they
keeps chained up against the barn
doors. We've been shown the broom
by nearly all the female housckeepers
this side Of the Pacific. It's all right
for me. Bill but don't understand
about you.
"You tell me you got good home
back East and earned a good living
before you took this crazy Idea In
your head to become hobo. You've
got a grocery business. and you've
turned II over to your wife. And here
you are cumming 1t along the pike
with me.
II don't say nothing about your
queer ways. Bill. It's always me TINT
goes up to the farm. and gets hit
across the head and bit by the dog.
and when ! do git hand-out It's
been SHIRE and share alike from the
beginning. I've stood fer thnt. but
Is It reasonable. Bili?"
swell, III tnlk straight to You. Lar
~" answered his friend. III left home
because nv wife's got the worst
tongue between the Atlantic and the
Rockies. and that's a fact. Gosh, how
that woman can talki I've timed her
four solid hours without stopping to
take breath. Larry. I got so sick of
II that Jest had to go. No mortal
man could stand fer II.
Larry shook his head. THAT'S
tough. Bill. old pal" he said.
ut surely is. Larry, and that's why
I can't 60 up to the farm-houses and
ask fer hand-Out. The very thought
Of a woman's tongue makes me feel
faint. Larry. I believe I'd die II a
woman ever spoke cross to me again"
That's all right. BILL" said Larry.
"but you got to take your share Of
what's coming. It's my belief It's all
Imagination. You Jest got that Idea
into your hend and can't get II out.
What you got to do Is to get ac-
clImated by degrees.
"Now we got to eat. and there's n
peach of a nice little woman at that
farmhouse over yonder. and there
ain't NO dog neither. Go up like a man
and ASK handout. and Ill walt
In the road fer you. You got to play
fair, old man."
Larry, II she speaks harsh It'll kill
me-" pleaded Bill.
"She won't speak harsh" said Lar
~. THAT sort Of woman can't make
eyes at q goose. Git along. old pal.
and good luck to you"
Bill hesitated, but his friend was
insistent. and. as he was becoming
conscious of gnawing sensation In
the epIgastric region, he nerved him
self at last to approach the farm
house.
1t was quite trYe that there was no
dog, and when his difiident tap was
followed by the opening of the door
he took courage as he looked ut the
sweet faced, motherly woman who
stood In the entrance.
She had blue eyes and fair hair and
dImpled cheeks, and looked q little like
his wife. too. so that for moment he
felt a strange longing for the horne
he had left.
"Bcg pardon. MAIN, but could you
give a bite Of bread and meat to two
honest workIng-men what's working
their way West?" he asked.
YOU one of them?" demanded the
lady at the door.
"Yes, man," said Bill expectant.y.
The little lady drew in n long
breath. "Then I'll tell you what I'll do
to you" she said. 1--WE don't feed
hobos here. and II you don't beat 1t
quicker than spot Of creased light.
ming I'll take the fryingpan to you.
you Idle, worthless. lazy, lonfiAg
hound. Oh, ! know your kind. pre-
tending to he on the way to find wO'k
when you've never done a days honest
work in your life and wouldn't know
It II you saw It, you mean, miserable
skunk, not to speak Of
But Bill was already flying I" the
road. and the little lady. with pleased
expression, closed the door.
"Whasermarrer. Bill?" cried Larry.
catching at his friends arm. Hey
stop! Where d'you think you're going?