REMINISCENT TALES 



Instead of continuing the tramp, the 

 younger man began to gather grass and leaves 

 out of which he constructed a rude couch. 

 As he finished, turning towards his compan- 

 ion, he remarked: 



"Stranger, it will be far wiser for you to 

 know the truth. This grand old tree that 

 shelters us for to-night at least is our home. 

 It's like this: A short time ago I killed a man. 

 The act was in self-defense. 



"It happened far away from here. As I 

 had no proof of my innocence, I thought it 

 wiser to disappear for a time. The people in 

 the neighborhood knew a feud existed be- 

 tween the dead man and myself. 



"Suspicion will fall on me. Had I not 

 fatally winged him at the first shot, he would 

 have killed me. Now you know the facts. 

 Suppose a posse has started hunting for my 

 scalp, it's not likely they can find me. 



"Wiser though not to be caught napping, 

 so I'm careful. You lie down and try to get 

 a wink of sleep. If you hear shots, just keep 

 quiet, for even if they did find you no harm 

 would come of it and I should have made a 

 get-away all right. Tell 'em you got lost, met 

 a chap who brought you here, and then lit 

 out. Good-night. ' ' 



58 



