Warren sheaf., 1897-06-17

ssss
Iutes later the long g-exp xpected accident
occurred
west came out of Is
KPleasant street and started mort Az III
swung around the curve its trolley
slipped ott and caught betwee lie cop
per wires, napping one of 8th hem near
their junction. fs
Theswire dropped sintto the street, and
i for q moment there was indescriba BILE
confusion aAssit bound led and writhed
among fright tened Horses and scatt ttering
people. The corner was quic ly cleared,
and at q safe distance q ring Of spec
tators formed to watch the wire spit
ting out blue and green flames on the
Epavement 8aS8s III
Down on his Center street switches
Jim had been startled BY quick, Jar
ring ring OF the wires. He did not need
the cries and commo ion, the rush Of
people and the stopping Of cars to tell
him what had happened. Instantly he
saw that his chance had come, and run
ming up he broke through the ring Just
sat Officer. Wayne 8 elbow. n N 81 81
Live wire!'' he gasped. plunging q
hand into his coat pocket. Il can fix
it! 3.5 S#S 81 81 fSss 81 It. s..
He had started forward mpetuously.
/ but Wayne caught him by the arm and
/ pulled him back, understanding only
that the boy meant to run into danger.
..Stand back! |" said the officer, sharp
ly: Don't you know a live wire. when
you see it? II you touch that, you'll
never know what hurt you! !"
| .It#won't hurt mel" cried the strug--
Cling boy, in a hot rage at this oppo-
sition. tive got something to handle
| it with" 5ssI <s. sSa 4
But Wayne would not, argue. s n ~ gu
stay here!" he gruff1y NJ commanded.
.'Be quiet now! If you make any more
trouble I'll arrest you! = - .#s5 s..
Indignant as Jim was, he had too
11nuch sense to contend 4 longer with
the policeman. But he felt that he rep
resented the road" and he was not
vet defeated. Slipping back in the
crowd, he ran around its outer edge
and worked through at another point,
whence he made a sudden dash for the
wire. ::s5 L 1&# 95sa;ss ..ks sSS
A sharp, warning cry arose, for the
lbystanders looked to see him instantly
killed. Wayne and others sprang for
ward, but before they could reach jim
he had seized the scintillating wire with
his clamp. He raised it from the pave
ment, and 10! the live thing became
tame and apparently harmless. He
bore it to the corner Of Pleasant street,
the ring Of people broke and followed
him sexcitedly. It was a moment Of
| peril for the needless crowd. and Officer
Wayne, seeing now that the boy knew
his business, turned back to guard the
Esagging wire. =zs J
E Jim glared with open contempt at
the people who pressed about him.
Folks are ools about electricity he.
1growled. q lust because the wire ism i
spluttering, they think it's dead! sz 5
"Can you hold it that way a few min
utes? p asked Wayne, looking doubt
" at the blockade Of vehicles on all
sides. 4s "a. "a u,
'sOf course cant = said Jim, impa-
tiently. Il could hold it all day. Why.
don't you move your teams? Have you
sent for Higgins yet ?'' Oh: T !. /.
We've telephoned. = 4 s.. 4
BY this time the other policemen had
come to Wayne assistance, and the
corner was rapidly cleared. On the
farther trackcars began to move north;
the motormen started them slowly and
passed cautiously under the hanging
wire, which Jim had Strengthened as
much as possible, and only the south
bound cars lay helpless in a long line
on Main street. .a3< .f..ys
''What can be done with these r. asked
Wayne. ''N othing ?'' s.z @ :1 I. 55.:;s5.= 5s
There's q switch on Main street a
hundred yards away answered Jim.
run back to the switch and take the.
left track" he shouted to the nearest
conductor. IS 81 zs
AS general rule, switchboy does
not give orders to conductor; but
Officer Wayne stood beside Jim and
inpera lively seconded his commands.
Word was passed along, and the line
of cars moved back to return on the,
other rails. s.5ss 9
The first mot torman looked to Jim for
| further directions. @ ann Is
Run to the switch in trout Of the
city hall, and shift. back to the right
track" Jim turned to Officer Wayne
That's ALL" he said. keep 'efn NOV