The Meeker herald., 1923-01-13
The Two Hungry
Trannps
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Dy JOHN PALMER

c0mplained bis friend ono IeiioW-"oVv'
Larry. "WS'vs bssn good pals this six
mouths, and we've tramped or RIDDEN
cur way half acrost the continent. But
we've had Q tough time, there's 10
denying II.
~Foiks ain't what they used ter Be.
sence prohibition come IN. In the sood
old days most any farmhouse was
good for q hand-out Of bread and
meat but nowadays afhonest tramp
has bis work cut out II he's going TO
earn q decent living.
.Wsvs slept out In the rain. D.
cause Of them hard.heartsd dogs they
keeps chained up against the barn
doora We've been shown the broom
BY nearly all the female housekespers
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 Q good living
before you took this crazy Idea In
your head to become Q hobo. You've
got . grocery business. and you've
turned II over to your wife. And here
you arc, bummins It along the pike
with me.
81 don't say nothing about Jour
queer ways, Bill. IT'S always me that
goes up to the farm. and gets nit
across the head and bit By the dog.
and when ] do git hand-out It's
been share and share alike from the
beginning. I've stood fer that. but
II It reasonable Billf'
swell, ri talk straight to you. Lar
RI" answered his friend. "Iieft home
because my wifs's got the worst
tongue between the Atlantic and the
Rockies, and that's . fact. Gosh. how
that woman can talki I've timed her
four solid hours without stopping to
take breath. Larry. got 20 sick Of
II that I 5sst had to %. No mortal
man could stand fer II.
Larry shook his head. That's
tough. Bill. old pal." he said.
ut surely L. Larry. and that's why
l can't 20 up to the farm.houses and
ask fer q hand-out. Tho very thought
Of q woman's tongue makes me feel
faint. Larry. 1 believe I'd die II
woman svef 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 head and can't get It out.
What you got to d 70 to get ac-
climated By degrees.
"Now No got TO sat, and there's 4
peach Of . nice little woman At that
farmhouse over yonder, and there
amt NO dog neither. Go up like . man
and ask fer = handout. and ri wait
In tho road fer you. You got to play
fair. old man"
Larry. II she speaks harsh 't'll kill
me-" pleaded Bill.
"she won't speak harsh." said Lar
~. '.That sort of woman can't make
eyes at goose. Git alses. old pal.
and good luck to you"
Bln hssitated. but his friend was
insIstent. and. a. he was becoming
conscious Of q snawing sensation in
the eplgastric region. he nerved him.
self at last to approach the farm
house.
It was quite true thst there was NO
dog, and when his di6ident tap was
followed By the opsaing Of the door
he took courage a. he looked At the
sweet.faced. mothesiy woman who
stood In the entraAce.
She had blue eyes and fair hair and
dimpled cheekA and looked little like
his wife. too. 70 that for moment he
felt 4 strange longing for the horne
he had left.
"Beg pardon, nam, but could ynu
give q bite Of bread and meat to two
honest workin9.men what's working
their way wsstr' 10 asked.
"You one Of themr demanded the
lady at the door.
"Yes, man," said Bill e1pectantly.
The little lady drew in long
breath. ''Then I'll tell yeu what ri DO
to you." she said. 1--WE don't feed
hobos here. and II ysu don't beat II
quicker than a spot Of greased light.
ming I'll take the fryingpan to ysN.
you idle, worthless. lazy, loanAg
hound. Oh. l-know Jour kind. pre-
tending TO be On the way to fnd wosk
when you've never done . days honest
work In your life and wouldn't know
II II you saw t. you mean. miserable
skunk. not to speak Of"
But Bill was already flying tn the
road. and the little lady. with pleased
expression. closed the door.
"whasermarrer, Bilir' cried Larry.
catching at his friends arm. "Hey
stop! Where d'you think you're going!
She ain't coming after you. That was
tough luck, but"
"Lemme gol" shouted Bill.
"Goi Where d'you think you're
goingi"
"Home y" yelled Bill. "Home 10 wee-
hawkeni Lemme get there quick!
Gosh. didn't know how much rse
missed my wife all this time til ]