The Landloper

scraps he had heard, the entire history of the Chick family, indulged the whim

" repeated the new ap

at Mr. Chick could not communicate

se, stubbing his hoofs into the dust, draggin

wide awake at s

en he snorted, whirled, took the wagon around in a circle on two wheels in spite of the farmer's endeavors, an

f yours you have failed to take everything into account. If that farmer-man and his wife pile into the ditch and break the

ghed the man in armor. "There seems

he farmer came peltin

you trying to do?" he shouted. "It's only by luck and chance and because the

aid friend Chic

something else that ain't laid down in the back of the Old Farmer's Almanick! You there, the one

my brother's keeper,"

rudely rapped his whip-butt on the breastplate. "If I wasn't afraid of sprai

en damage done,

ess you get out of this highway. If you're in sight when I drive my hoss past here again I'll

t into the bushes and

ing adventure for high ideals to run i

ot disc

be even more grea

d horses to understand m

y. "You'd better let m

pure unselfishnes

t is misunderstood. I have

into the world and do good to men, w

that I think you'll have to excuse me from further talk about it. You have just had one illu

ny advice t

ble to give myself sensible

are for my company

parlous times for wayfarers and I cannot affor

solutely selfis

hen I see you again I expect you'll be wondering why you ever were altru

alingly, "But I fear I shall never see thee a

e in the world. If you keep on wearing

leaned against a

But there is truly something under his shell.

and paths, avoiding the main highroad. He decided that it would be better to go by the roundabout way and show himself o

the old-fashioned house, and the somnolent landscape. "That man who has been living there until the day of his emigration has certainly bee

drifted scents of the dinners which the women were preparing. All the men of the place seemed to be afield; only women were in sight here and there at back doors, pinning

folded clothes-reel, was a greasily fat tramp, gobbli

steel on rock, suggesting that men labored there with trowel and drill. There was complain

a request and the hand of a woman emerged from a

n in a yard near by stared over the top of a sheet which

himself, smiling into her frown. "But Damon is nomad spelled backward!

training pulley, rose the screech of a man in agony, the raucous m

nning from the val

he house where the fat tramp ate with his back against the

lpfulness and curiosity to know what had happened set wings on the hee

ffled into the deserted house and after a brief stay hastened out with his pockets cramme

m go and di

Opportunity down. Embrace Opportunity, but be sure it's with the strangle hold. The directors of a robbed railroad make a

toward the hollo

of his sweating mates, women trotting alongside and crossing

A paunchy boss with underset jaw and overhanging upper

minutes! You can't help that man by standing ar

their tools slo

ners waiting and anxious to grab off a penalty," declared the boss, to nobody in particular. "O

the highway down the lane le

a job?" called the contractor fro

ssex shote

dare to call me

rned Farr,

ou're husky. Two dollars a day, ev

N

s back on the cursing man and went on down to the bridge. He waited there for a time and watched the drift of foam on the fretted waters. The steady burbling of the stream made him oblivious

work! You're making your

this effusive welcome t

nting. He had run at top speed from the house to

grub, his hard-earned grub, and ste

is job is the worst,"

loafer. You ransacked when her back was turned. You

the woods," returned Farr, quietly. "

ound here," insisted the contracto

him at the back door. You're the s

e new light on the affair," suggested their captive. "

hurrying from her sink with a cold compress in he

broken. He took my pocketbook, too, with two dollars and twenty-seven cents in it. And it's every cent of money we've got by us. And it may

it was a fat tramp. I saw h

didn't you chase him?" inquire

fairs-no interest whatever,"

what happens to any

other persons

with the property of poor folks, will you? You me

pelling gaze into the eyes of his detrac

rse. You have just said it.

lfish, hard, a

ur hand over to do a

't thi

o-I'll detail four of my men to ri

I overheard you say that you are short of time and m

or blinked a

ot worth the money I'll pass on and

to the j

uld see the woman of the hous

I'm going to do your husband's work on the job yonder. I will pay liberall

after pondering. "Yes, I will take you.

will give me some food in my hands

the trowels clinked and the great derrick complained

his former companion of the road, w

th that man yonder?" Farr asked the contr

n nodded s

. I will wear it in the city where horses and pe

end Chick. I want to ask you if you are s

a

on this job. A man has been hurt here-his wife i

oncerns the world

use! Here's something ready t

thee would not go

not a professional knight-

more!" warn

y plans so suddenl

e plans! My time is up and I ha

and the Quaker passed on, mutterin

t a vagrant to underst

ask and when the man Jose was about again t

s bedroom in the Jose house all the pay he

underfoot, and was always willing to set up with my husband and give me a snippet of rest and a wink of sleep; and he read out of little books all the time-he had 'em s