The Landloper

ker Farr plodded down the dust

When he came under arching elms he plucked his worn cap from his head and stuffed it into a coat pocket which already bulged bulkily against his flank.

and stalwart

ehind him and then swept past and on its way,

e walked on, he was conscious that out of the blur of

ted against the sun at the face of the passer-by. Then the farmer shifted his gaze to the stranger's clothing and

!" called

himself Walker Farr, smiling and put

u want

, s

ou got

s,

t is

s that have been turned

r and passed on. The farmer blinked and then he scowled more

! There ain't n

have a well turned wrong

re a

aunter

what we are doing to tramp

and hacking with mattocks. The men wore blue drilling o

He pointed to guards who were marching to and fro with rifles in the hook of t

vokingly compassionate as he stared down a

t the law, do yo

d

gged food, nor committed crime in your little kingdom, my good and great three-tailed bashaw. Here is a coin to clear th

of pick and shovel, treading t

ramp?" asked on

at he is," confe

automobile which had overtaken and passed him, contemptuously kicking i

cursing the lumps of a jail-bird-built road and the guilty negligence of a garage-man who had forgotten to p

ancient drama, 'The Tortoise and the

noted the young man

rop up this axle," co

ested Farr. "You need somebo

oung man, up and down, c

saucy talk from a hobo,"

d the third mem

younger-from the bleached hair and rouged lips to a fresh

ase' yet," the girl informed him,

oadside and picked up a bit of plan

n, with shoulder thrusting up; and arms straining, he heaved the car high enough so that the flabby gentleman could set the prop under the axle. And when the ge

ortunity and found her eyes studying him. She was entirely frank in her gaze. There was

as done the own

with curt d

drink?" invi

ot use

to his hand and offered the cigars to

ot smok

road contained a hint that anybody who drank or smoked was no bet

g over on me," advised the man in gray, s

ichard," declared the girl,

nk you' as he forgot 'please.' M

debt," said the rover.

nd gave him a long look. He waved his han

amazed!" said the elder woman, o

ull of surprises," ag

es told you that

, is there, if you used your

it-and let the matter drop," said t

brown eyes and the

wayside bush and carrie

imsical fashion. "I don't suppose you and I will ever catch up