| Show A HOBO REUNION IM this to van raymond lies been playing in high luck but hes struck a snag and ive asked him to go with us well you we dont want any greenhorns greenhorne green horns along you are had bad enough wed look well traveling with a duds dude wo we would oh he be has some cash and can get a different outfit cant you raymond certainly how do you wish me to dress oh interposed jim it if you have tho the stuff youre welcome well fix you out in no time what do you want ill have to leave that to you I 1 have never been a tramp before see sea here my christian friend for the good of your health let me tell you not to say tramp to one of our fraternity tern ity A tramp la is a man who never works and who walks from town to town we are hoboes hobles we beat our way on trains passengers when we can freight when we cant do better A hobo works when he can but when out ot of work uses his wit alta to get him elsewhere see yes but I 1 never heard the distinction made before are ara we going to beat the railroad and how are we going to do it you are green theres a bj hundred indred schemes for working them ly it everything lalla falls steal the ride van went to the place of appointment where he found his two strange companions waiting for him everything lovely was jims greeting A train leaves about an hour after dark say lets eat ill hit the cottage you idiots can buy suppers but ill save my cash five minutes later he returned with a tirade of abuse against inhospitable people and frequent allusions to the tomahawk van at last said what do you mean did the woman hit you with a hatchet no you gump short tor for stating that her royal highness desired the extreme pleasure of my society at the woodpile while I 1 got up an appetite for my supper soon a freight train slowly passed heres an empty shouted original jim as he started on the run the others closely following van was so BO excited that he could not vault in after the others but they dragged him in and closed the door now you boys be quiet until she gets under headway jim ordered as he lighted a match and proceeded to sweep the floor with a bunch ol of weeds be had previously gathered never travel without matches raymond paymond and never forget to gather a broom so you can brush up a place to sleep quietly remarked wilkin allkins Wl lkins S whom jim dubbed the silent soon wilkins and jim were so sound und asleep while van sat indian fashion I 1 against the car wondering whether it was not about to jolt off the track and 6 11 1 7 1 1 T 71 0 TELLING THEIR experiences bow they could sleep amid such a racket slowly the hours which seemed interminable to van passed at the third stop the door was wag suddenly jerked open a lantern flashed and a brakeman jumped in holding the lantern aloft he looked down counting one two three say where are you fellows goiner going wilkins was now awake but neither he be nor van responded A car of mutes I 1 guess muttered the brakeman as he proceeded to kick original jim into wakefulness here you fellow get up out of this where in thunder did you got in the con just came over the train and heard you snoring this train la is moving again get a hustle on you tor for the con told me to see that you got off he added as mounting the ladder and swinging hla his lantern he started on a run toward the engine jim caught up a plank and hurriedly calling to his bis comrades to follow again jumped into the car they did so but wilkins remarked the brakeman told us to get off yes but he meant to got in again when he said remember I 1 saw you get oft now ill wedge this door shut and well have peace till morning you bet morning found them sidetracked side tracked in the quaker city jim took hla his party to the outskirts of the town where stood a deserted house in which a number be of if men were evidently having a jollification drawing near they saw a gentlemanly six tooter footer advancing toward them ile he had on one red shoo shoe and one black one both lefts the sleeves ot of his coat did not como come ninth huoh below his bis elbows and the tails only reached cached his waistband waist band the flying sword exclaimed jim is the man unbuttoned his coat put one hand into the upper part ot of tho the left sleeve and drew out a tin trowel over aver three feet long remarking 1 I still carry the tomahawk where did lie ho have that trowel van managed to whisper to jim oh the handle was up his bis sleeve and the tip la in his pocket it la Is not a a trowel you know only a guy come in and meet the boys this well dressed chap chal Is diamond kit hit that short one is billy the bat yet ysidor ader c ome come duty and missouri kid oh were all here for reunion but its the first weve had north ot of lexington our pet place after a general handshaking the party broke up into groups wilkins and kit reclining on the floor sm smoking elting cigarettes As he could not then talk with wilkins van proceeded to satisfy his curiosity by questioning the one known as Misso missouri url kid the flying sword oh he ha got the name by carrying that tin trowel he A go and ask for work telling the boss that he lays brick not by the hundred a lay day but by the aero acre it if you doubt me look at my trowel the ridiculousness of his ways usually gets him a job too lie he is a very fair air bricklayer but of course not so BO good as diamond kit who is considered the best in the united states how about our hobo stew now chimed in wilkins Wl lkins voice how much can we raise was kits practical supplementary remark the sum ot of two dollars was collected with which kit and wilkins departed to do the marketing soon after they returned with various bundles a fave gallon tin sausage can and an empty tobacco ran can tor for each person present van was interested and pressed forward to see what was going on while kit made the stew he sent some of the boys out tor for empty cans ile he ordered the solder removed from them and that they be flattened out and washed each man had a tomato can and a small portion ot of ground coffee with which he made his own drink army style and this was drunk with condensed milk slices of steak were tried fried on the pieces of 0 tin which they had flattened and soon the first course was eaten amid much jesting and laughter lor for all hoboes hobles are apt to be jovial when certain of one full meal in a day after the coffee was drunk the cans calls were filled up with the rich savory stew As dusk came on the men reclined about the floor telling their experiences van determined to try to influence wilkins into telling the truth as he was interested in the man who seemed above his fellows so sat by his side and watched him stealthily while jim told of his life how he had started out from necessity and so fallen in love with the wild freedom that he could rot cot bear to give it up scarcely had bad he be ceased when all were surprised to hear wilkins the silent saying 1 I was born and raised in new york city while yet a young man I 1 learned locomotive engineering and tor for years had a freight that paid me ma about one hundred and forty dollars a month and I 1 saved my money when I 1 was twenty eight I 1 married my wife hal had been one of a large family and I 1 meant her never to be lonesome nor unhappy I 1 bought a nice house and furnished it cosily deeding it to her that used up all I 1 had saved but I 1 had a good run was considered one of the best beat men on tho the road and everything went smoothly tor for a year I 1 was home every second night and my wife was contented one day I 1 had a sudden order to trade engines when I 1 met a certain train as that engineers wire wife was sick and he wished to return home I 1 never tired of my wife and loved to be with her so was glad to go to her sooner than I 1 had expected here he paused and here all looked at him in surprise particularly jim who muttered by god he Is telling the truth about his bis past and I 1 have not heard him mention it tor for years thought he had forgotten it to this kit responded it if there is anything you dont want him to tell go over to him that man raymond has him sort of mesmerized I 1 believe jim halt half started from his seat but missouri kid drew him back as wilkins continued it was nearly ten when I 1 reached home what a sound of drunken revelry met my ears could it be there was no mistake was that house mine 1 I asked a passerby passer by who lived there 11 the bl indest tool fool in the world was his reply ile he runs an engine on the new york central and his wife raises the root roof when he Is away one minute later I 1 entered the crowd composed of my cifes bro brothers t hers sisters and cousins quickly dispersed I 1 was too much hurt to remonstrate with her but she being guilty could rot keep quiet you had no business marrying me when you could not support me tho the way I 1 want to live slid she began 1 I have mortgaged the house and the furniture and ive not paid a bill in two months you may as well know it all now and not have to find it out later ive spent the money for suppers and good times im tired ot of this life im going on the stage that Is why im a hobo |
