The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1893-04-22

clock IN tn
~~ courthous S,
~~ d a
>~ bright and vel
2 (: s: Is: !: !: !: !: !: i: !: !; !:
W Robe r I, o 1
his way to the electric station, noticed
this with much satisfaction. because h,
had wired" the clock, and it was hi:
first piece of independent wiring.
A short thick.sct young man hurried
after him, and overlook him.
"Halloo, Rob, is that you?" he called
out Hold on a minute"
what is it?' asked Robert, stopping
do you want a job thatll bring yor
q five or ten extra?"
"Yes. | guess SO; what is it?' qucs
toned Robert
I'm to ride Longshanks at the APP
plcton races. and I'm bound to come il
winner. if it takes a 'lectric battery tC
do it"
"a whatr" exclaimed Robert
"Hu.sh." cried the young man, in
low voice; Jim Flanders used one a
the Stanford derby. and it brought
him in o X every time"
IL don't understand" said Robert
"Well, you see these. don'tyou?' ant
the young a held up q bright new
pair of spurs, ''and this" and he drew
o small battery from his pocket, these
ARE to be connected up together, So:
the battery will send the Electricity
down into the spurs, then when the
spurs hits against the horse he's put
right on to his best speed in a hurry
'Oh, yes" said Robert, but that
kind of work isn't in my line
"Why not?" asked the young man:
~"'tain't no harm, not a bit. IL there
was thcre'd be a rule 'gainst it, bu,
there amt"
Are you sure?" said Robert
The young man nodded cmphati.
ca,ly.
And it doesn't harm the horse?'
Robert persisted.
NO more than it does to get a little
wink of Electricity through YOU"
"Hum!" Robert re flccted. with his
eye upon the gold piece, which the
young man displayed between his
thumb and finger. 1t was ten dollars,
and put with the ten he had saved
would buy him the silver watch he had
looked at in IIarper's secondhand jew.
elry shop.
"AIl right" he said at last, "Tll fix
up your spurs; come round to the sta
ton, Johnson"
you alius was the fellow for me"
said johnson, following Robert at no
slow pace.
They turned into . narrow back
street to the electric station, and hur-
ried up the stairs to the workshops,
hung with a fine assortment Of tools,
and coils Of insulated wire.
This is my WIRE" Robert explained.
drawing out a few yards from a waste
heap in the orner The manager said
l could have it for an experiment |
was making yesterday; now let me get
the measure from your pocket to your
heel"
The measure taken there was a snip,
snip, a quick twisting of the wire with
the PiuceIs. and the spurs and the bat
terry were connected.
"Well, that is q neat job" sail John
son. ''Iicre's your money; pat it out
of the way, the boss is coming"
But you said it wasn't sny HARM"
demurred Robert, ''if it's that sort of
work keep your money. don't want
it."
st is a good bit to pay for ten min
utes' work like this; believe | will
keep it" and dropping it back into his
pocket johnson hurried away without
attracting the boss attention.
That night Robert did not rest well.
The spurs kept c~lanking in his dreams,
Johuson's gold piece seemed staring at
him with a face the size of the electric
clocks, and he awakened re~pes.sdlv
with a shock as acute as il from John
sons battery.
Dressing carly tie next morning he
went round Is the livery stable. where
he askedtor johnson.
Re went last night to the Appleton
faces. He's to ride L~ongshanks, yer
know"
Robert ''knew." He clutched a ten
dollar gold piece in his pocket, ard hur-
ried to the electric station.
1t as only half.past six. The man.
ager seldom reached there before eight.
Robert busted the chairs and desk
four times apiece, carboned the big in
caudescent lamp at the main entrance.
and put e plugs into three lamps
that were blown. He had forgotten
his breakfast and his little brother
came I o tell him it was waiting for
him.
Tell mother to never mind. I'll be
home after awhile. JOSIE" and he be-
gan sorting out a DO K of fresh electric
supplies just in.
At last the manager came. Robert
fastened to meet him.
"Mr. Tinker" he said, "may ] have
the morning off? want to 20 t. APP
pleton."
ITO Appleton" repeated the man
ugcr.
"Yes, SIR" answered Robert
at isn't the races?"
oh, no sir; they're in the afternoon.
| want TO sec some one before the
races"
The manager looked at his favorite
wirer sharply. Roberts honest eyes
were troubled and his checks flushed.
"All right my lad. You ha-- - -ver
asked for a holiday before. Y Xe the
whole day." and the manage, turned
to his desk.
"A half day is plenty, sir. I'll be
back by one o'clock. Thank you," and
Robert, hat in hand, was already on
his way to the railroad station
1t was but fifteen minutes ride to
Appleton. Robert was just in time to
catch the first train, filled with q mer-
ry~-golucky crowd already on their
way to the raceA