The Meeker herald., 1923-01-06
The Two Hungry
Tramps
By John PALMER

COtupb8IQeO III IIIeoo 3oo AehS"~0Ss
Larry. We've been good pals this SIX
months. and we've tramped or ridden
cur way half scross The continent. But
we've had . tough time, thsss's -
denying u.
Folks amt what tAsy ussd tss -.
ssnce prohibition CONE IN tn tie good
old days most aAy faD-houso vas
good for q hand-out Of bread and
meat. but novadays honsst tramp
has bis work cut ost II hss goinS 70
earn . decent living.
We've slept ont u the rain. ~
cause Of them hard-hearted dogs they
keeps chained up against the barn
doom. We've been shown the broom
BY nearly al the female bousekeeps1
this side Of the Pacific. It's all hight
for me. Bill. but doo't understand
about you.
you tell me you got god home
back East and earned Q good living
before you took this efasy Idea In
your head to become . hobo. You've
got a grocery business. and you've
turned II over 10 your wife. And here
you are. bumminS II alooS the pike
with me.
81 don't say nothing about your
queer wayA Bill. It's always me that
goes up to the farm, and gets BIT
across the head and bit By the dog.
and when do git . hand-out IT'S
been share sd share alike frosn the
beginning. I've stood fer that. but
IL IL reasonable, Bill"
"well, I'll talk straight TO you. Lar.
~" answered his frisnd. y left home
because my wife'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 Jest had 70 20. No mortal
man could stand fer II.
Larry shook his head. "Thaes
tough. Bill. old pal" he sald.
ut surely IL, Larry. and that's Why
I can't 20 up to the farm-housss asd
ask fer . hand-out. Ths very thought
Of a woman's tongue makss me feel
faint. Larry. l believe I'd die n
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 ny belief It's all
Imagination. You te6 got that ldea
into your head and can't get 1t oct.
What you got to do 10 to get &C.
elimated by degrees.
"Now we got to eat, and there's
peach Of q nice little woman st that
farmhouse over yondsr. snd theee
amt no dog neither. Go up like . man
and ash, fer . han4out, and ri walt
In the road fer you. Yeu sot 10 play
fair, old man"
Larry. II she speaks harsh It'll kli
me-" pleaded Bill.
"She won't speak harsh" said Lar
r.. THAT sort Of woman can't make
eyes at q goose. Git aloag. old pal.
and good luck to you"
Bill hesitated. but his friend was
insistent, and. as he was becoming
conscious Of 4 gnawins sensation In
the episastric region, he ner~ed him.
self at last to approach the farm
house.
1t was quite true that there was NO
dog, and when his dinident tap was
followed BY the opening Of the door
he took courage a. he looked At 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 q moment he
felt q strange longing for the horse
he had left.
BEG pardon. main, but could ynu
give a bite OF bread and meat TO two
honest working-men what's working
their way west?' he asked.
You one of themr' demanded the
lady at the door.
Eyes, man," said Bill expectantIy.
The little lady drew In 4 Ioag
breath. 'Then I'll tell ysu what III DO
to you." she said. 1--WE don't feed
hobos here. and II you don't beat II
| quicker than 4 spot Of creased light
ming I'll take the fryingpan to ytu.
you idle, worthless. lazy, loaaAE
hound. Oh. I know your kind pre-
tending to be On the way, to hnd wo.k
when you've never done days honest
work In your life and wouldn't know
1t II you saw It, you mean. miserable
skunk. not to speak Of"
But Bill was already flying t" the
road. and the little lady, with pleased
expression. closed the door.
"Whasermarrer. Biiir' cried Larry,
catching at his friends arm. Hey
stop! Where d'you think you're soing:
She aln't coming after you. That Was
tough luck. but"
"Lemme 60 shouted Bill.
"Go7 Where d'you think you'Ss
golng7"
"Home!" yelled Bly,. Home to wer-
hawkeni Lemme get there quick!
Gosh, didn't know how much I've
missed my wife all this time till 4