Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1882 — NOT QUITE A TRAMP. [ARTICLE]

NOT QUITE A TRAMP.

r - “No tramp wanted here, young chap; so you may jog along.” The speaker was a fine looking and apparently an easy-going gentleman of middle age, who was standing leaning over the gate, looking out on the road. The gate opened on a gravel walk which led up to a two story cottage house. In front of the house, and at the sides, the. grounds were overloaded with trees, shrubs and, flower Slants, which, to say the least of it, id notshow careful attendance. Altogether it was a bright, cheerful fcnd attractive place. 80 thought, no douot, the stranger, whose halt near the gate had provqked Mr. Horton’s utterance. He was nfbt an ill-looking young man—or boy, for he could not be twenty-one—but his clothes were ragged and dirty, his shoes worn and muddy, and his gen-f----eral appearance unkempt and disreputable. He had stopped'in the road, and had directed ar the man, or at the house, or at the giounds, or at all three, a wistful rook, which might intimate a wish or an entreaty. It was this look which Mr. Horton had answered, when he addressed the young fellow as a tramp, and advised himto'Mog along.” “I am no tramp, sir,” replied the stranger. “You are not? Then your looks belle your nature. You can’t deny that you have all the symptoms.” “That is true, sir. I know that I am poor and ragged, but I don’t consider myself a tramp. I am looking for work.” “That’s what they all say. They are all looking for work. To say that Is to advertise that you are a tramp.” “l suppose I must be a tramp then, but I wish I wasn’t.” “You do? That’s one good symptom, any way. Are you sure you wouldn’t run away from work, If you should fil’d it,- or lie down and go to sleep bv the side of it,” “1 am sure that I am willing to earn my living, and anxious ta get a chance to do so.” “What tort of work can you do?” asked Mr. Hor'on. “Everything in general and nothing in particular?' “I know that I could put that yard of yours in much better trim than it shows now.” “Humph! That don’t offer any opening. The flowers are my wife’s pets, and she is like a dog in the manEer about them—won|jt touch them erself, or suffer anybody else to touch them.” “I can draw your portrait, sir,” suggested the boy. “Youcan? Are you a wandering artist in disguise?” “You asked me what I can do, and I know that I can do all that.” “Any of the tools of that trade?” The boy produced from the pocket of his vest some crayons and the stump of a lead pencil. “All right,” said Mr. Horton. “I will try you at the job. Come in.” He opened the gate and led the way to the house. On the veranda were some chairs, one of which he offered to the boy. “Want any more tools?” he asked. “A sheet of drawing paper if you have it ” Mr. Horton broughtout the required article, clamped upon a drawing board; also some crayon holders ana a sharp knife. “I am a sort of architect,” he said, “and keep these things on hand. But hadn’ you better eat some lunch before you begin business? You have a hungry look.” “lam not so hungry, sir, but that I am willing to earn a meal before I eat It. Will you have the kindness to sit down?” <? “Side face or front?” “Side face, if you please. I can do that best.” Mr. Horton seated himself, presented his profile to the ragged artist, who went to work without more ado. His strokes were quick, vigorous and artistic, and in a surprising short time a capital sketch of Mr. Horton’s head and shoulders apKared on the paper That gentleman >ked at it, puckered his lips so as to produce a low and long drawn whistle. “I am not ready to pronounce you an angel, young fellow,” hesald, “but I may truly say that I have entertained a pretty fair artist unawares—though the entertainment is yet to 4Bine. Emily 1 Belli oome out here

w > y >f and wItBSM a new sensation!” Mrs. Horton httrrlsd out on the piazza, with her young sister Bella, and her little girl IJulu. For answer Mr. Horton handed his wife the crayon sketch, which was hastily scanned with starts of surprise and ejaculations of delight. “What a nice likeness!” exclaimed Mr. Horton. “Where did it come from?” “This young person did*it just now,” answered Mr. Horton. “Goodness gracious me! is it possible? I wonder if he would make one' for Lulu.” “Of oourse he would, and of Bella -and the whole tribe, if you wan 1 But he is tired and hungry, and you had better give him something to eat before you ask anymore of him.” “I will gladly do that. I am sure that this kindness of yours, is worth dozen dinners.” “Give him one anyhow, and we will talk about the rest. It won’t do (o be tod liberal at the start. Please to follow my wife, fellow—and I have no doubt that you-will feel better when she gets through with you.” When the young stranger was washed and combed, and he had been fed, his personal appearance was improved, and he had gained to ease ana grace of manner. He was anxious Co make a picture of baby Lulu, and Was permitted to do so, producing a likeness whtyh sent the fond mother into eostacies. This production having been sufficiently admired, Mr. Horton dismissed the “female rabble,” as he chose to call them, corraled his artistic tramp for a conversation, asking him who he was and all about himself. His name was Abel Kentridge, and he was the son of a miller at Queensfiort. Md., who had died suddenly, eaving an estate so encumbered as to be worth less than nothing. Abel had gone to Philadelphia to seek his fortune and had r found nothing but disappointment* and poverty. He knew something about milling and gardening, but could find no employment in the city, and went into the country to look for Work, but his tramplike appearance told against him and, he was <?n the verge .of despair when he encountered Mr. Hor-' ton. “There is no milling to do here,” said that gentleman, “but,T have ho 'doubt that my wife, since, you made that sketch of Lulu, will allow you to straighten up those grounds. If you turn out as well as I think you.wilh I. may -find something else sot yett tedo”

So it was settled the Abel Kentridge was to remain at Mr. Horton’s. A room was prepared for tyim, and some of his employers partly worn garments wete fitted to him, ahd he was set to work on the shrubs and flowers and grass plants. His work was done quite satisfactorily* and he acquainted himself generally, so as to gain the confidence and respect of all the house. Besides the work on the grounds, other odds and ends of employment were found .for him about the place, but nothing was said about his compensation. Thus ne was kept busy for a week, at the end of which time Mr. Horton gave him a written order, and direct-" him to go to the village and select lor himself suitable clothing to the dmoupt named in' the order. “But I have not earned so much as this,” he suggested. “If you haven’t you will earn , it 1 ” replied Mr. Horton. When Abel returned from the village he carried his head somewhat higher than when he set out, and appeared to be, what nature and education had made him, a young gentleman of attractive person and manners. He was ushered into the room where the family was seated, and Mr. Horton corraled him for what he called a business talk. *‘What do you know about milling?” he asked. “I was never regularly employed by my father ” answered Abel, “but I picked up many points of the business while I was about his place—shortly before he died, I invented, or believed I had invented, an improvement on the turbine water wheel, by which greater speed could be got with less water, and my father said it was a good thing. After his death I gave my model to a patent agent, for the Surpose of applying for a patent. But ae agent finally told me that he had been unable to procure a patent, because the examiners decided that there was nothing new in the invention. That discouraged me more than any of the rest of my disappointments.” “ What was the agent’s name?” “Silas Northwick.” “ And your name is Abel Kentridge?” “Yes, sir.” “ That agent lied to you, Abel,” said Mr. Horton. “He procured the patent, w'hich is very valuable, and meant to swindle you out of it. He would probably have succeeded in doing so if you had not come to my house.” “ How do you know this?” eagerly asked Abel. “I am a sort of a speculator and occasionally dabble in such matters. Northwick offered the patent for sale to me before I perceived that it was the name of Abel Kentridge. He assured me that he could procure all the assignments from the patentee, who desired to sell, and I told him if he could do so I would negotiate with him He is to meet me to-mrorow and bring the assignment, und of course you can’t have signed your name in Philadelphia when you were at my house. “I should think not,” indignantly exclaimed Abel. “Therefore Northwick’s assignment will be a forgery, and 1 will bring him here and oonfront him with you.” Mr. Horton was as good as his word, and met the rascally agentiat the time

and place «p pointed. There he was confronted, 'greatly to his astonishmeat and dismay, by Abel Kentridge, and it wm made evident to him tnai; his swindling scheme was discovered. The upshot of the interview was that Abel gained possession of his precious patent, and Northwick was glad to go clear of criminal proceedings. “Ndw, my boy,” said Mr. Horton, “ifyop will take me as a partner in this business, I will furnish the needed capital and push it, and I have no doubt that both of us will grind out a grist of money with your turbine wheel.” Abel gladly accepted this arrangement and the result soon became so satisfactory to both parties that Mr. Horton heartily congratulated himself upon the met that his supposed tramp had not takeri his advice to “jog along.” It should be added that his pretty sister-in-law, Bella Grattan, found in the same fact cause for self congratulation r ’