Half a century ago, an adventurous youth was brutally attacked by the brakeman on a freight train. He realized that the trainman was attempting to kill him and, despite a sudden realization that he was stronger than the brakeman and a consuming rage to retaliate, he jumped off the train at the first opportunity to do so. He made his way to a hobo jungle where a tough-looking man asked, "Who slugged you, kid?" They talked until the man fell asleep. Someone whispered in the youth’s ear, "Careful, fella ... That guy’s got a gun. He’s dangerous." But he ignored the advice, traveled with the older man for awhile, shared food, and, temporarily, became friends. The older hobo became his protector and advisor, telling him bits of wisdom that served him well.

In his autobiography with the intrigui…