| OCR Text |
Show 16 the third one came knocking on the door. I fed him also. By this time I was too frightened to stay in the house. I wrapped my baby warmly and sat out in the corral yard all day where I could watch the railroad track. I saw the three tramps sitting there talking when I first went out, then one went north and the other two went south. "I stayed out until nearly dark and my babies cried to go into the house. I decided there would be no more tramps that night so I made a fire in the heater and warmed my baby. I was very lonely and frightened. Then I looked out the window and saw a young man coming down the road west of the house. I thought it was Wallace Jackman, who might be going to his father's field adjoining our place on the north. I was so happy I went out to the gate to speak to him. Perhaps he would come in and visit with me until my husband would come. Lo and behold! It was another tramp! He asked me for a meal and shelter for the night. I fed him, but sent him on down the track for shelter, as there was an empty house down there. He offered to cut wood for me, but I told him my husband was using the ax up in the field, so he left. "When he had gone I saw the axe in plain sight. By this time I was too frightened to make a light or eat any supper. My baby cried for a light and I tried to pacify him with the firelight from the stove. I decided to draw the shades at the windows, and in doing so caught sight of my own reflection in the window and almost fainted, thinking someone was peeping in at me. About eight o'clock John and Joe came and the hectic day was over." |
