In spite of John’s efforts to draw the man into conversation the tramp was strangely silent most of the time. At last, however, his mood changed and turning to John he said, “Your friends ought to be back here by this time.”
“They may have had trouble in getting a car right away to bring them back.”
“Well, they will be here pretty soon,” said the tramp. “I think I’ll go up to that orchard up yonder,” he added as he pointed to a hillside covered with apple trees about one hundred yards distant.
“Are there any apples there ripe?” inquired John quickly.
“Plenty of them. Plenty of them. The owner doesn’t seem to care anything about them. He hasn’t sprayed his trees or pruned them for years, but there are some juicy red apples in the corner of the orchard and they are mighty good. I know for I have tried them already.”
“Wait a minute and I’ll go up with you,” said John.
Together they made their way up the side of the hill and John speedily discovered that the statement of his companion was correct. The ground beneath the trees was carpeted with a layer of red apples tempting in their size and appearance.
“I think I’ll take back a few for the other fellows,” said John, as he filled his cap. “I would like to pay for them, but I don’t see anybody around here.”
“Nobody pays for these apples,” explained the tramp. “The owner of the farm spent a lot of money on his place and then got tired of it and went back to the city. He left everything here to go to pieces.”
“That’s a pity,” said John as he climbed over the fence and started back toward the place where they had left the automobile.