Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-06-17

HIN exclueuly. IL was moment OF
peril for the needless crowd, and Officer
Wayne, seeing now that the boy knew
his business, turned back to guard the
sagging wire.
Jim glared with open contempt at
the people who pressed about him.
"Follss are fools about electricity" he
growled. Just because the wire isn't
spluttering, they think it's dead!"
"Can you hold it that way few min
utes?" asked Wayne, looking doubtful
ly at the blockade of vehicles on all
sides.
"Of course cant" said Jim, impa-
tiently. II could hold it all day. Why
don't you move your teams? Have you
sent for Higgins YETI"
"We've telephoned."
BY this time the other policemen had
come to Wayne's assistance, and the
corner was rapidly cleared. On the
farther track cars 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
1
on Main street.
what can be done with these ?" asked
Wayne. "Nothing?"
There's switch on Main street
hundred yards away" answered Jim.
| run back to the switch and take the
| left track!" he shouted to the nearest
conductor.
AS a general rule, switchboy does
| not give orders to conductor; but
Officer Wayne stood beside Jim and
imperatively seconded his commands.
of cars moved back to return on the
other rails.
The first motorman looked to Jim for
further directions.
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 'en NOV
ing, and tell 'em to mind their own
switches. I've got my hands full here"
On the corner near by stood a group
of people who annoyed Jim with idle
questions and comments upon his cour-
age in holding the wire. Courage? He
had not thought of it, though he was
proud that he knew how to handle the
power.
But no one spoke of his particular in
vention until Higgins arrived, clad in
rubber boots and gloves which pro-
tected him from electric shocks.
Have you got the wire, boy?" he
asked. whats that you're holding it
with? By George, you'll dol" he
exclaimed, taking note of the glass in
sulators. "But why didn't you ground
the wire-touch it down to the rails?'
Jim laughed. "And stop the cars!"
was his terse comment.
Higgins cast him q shrewd glance,
and turned to his man. "Here, JONES'"
he said, "catch hold of this contrivance.
Now, boy, We'll manage the rest of it.
Get back to your switches
HE had grit" some one remarked, az
Jim ran off. ''That was risky thing
to do, wasn't it?"
1--WE have to take chances" Higgins
briefly answered. THE lad knew what
he was about"
But though he said little, he was
aware that this young employee of the
road had acted quite beyond his own
line of duty. For this reason he re-
ported the whole affair to the superin-
tendent, and Jim was summoned to APP
pear at the Office after his days work.
Ted heard the message, for since the
episode of the broken wire he had hung
around his friend continually.
'What'H they give you, Jimmy?'' he
asked, in hopeful excitement.
"Oh, maybe hundred shares of
stock and special car"
This reply was designed to tax the
newsboy's credulity, for Jim only
wanted chance to display his inven-
ton. And like many another inventor,
he forgot that it's work could be easily
done in different way.
The superintendent was reading his
evening paper when Jim entered the
office. Common report among the en-
ployes had made him man of strict
rules and penalties; yet he did not seem
as austere as Jim had imagined. Twas
ordered to report here" said Jim, adj
vancing to the desk. ..r
James Commonly SWltcnHndn III IdIis-
ilton corner?" asked the superintend-
ent.
That's my name"
"How old are you?"
Seventeen"
Higgins says you managed thas
break pretty well this afternoon. And
you kept the cars moving. How did you
handle the wire?"
with this" Jim had expected tho
question, and in quiet triumph he
passed his clamp over the desk. The
superintendent smiled queerly as he ex-
| amined it.
| "Crude, but effective-and scientific,'
he commented to himself. Then aloud:
Higgins has another method of pro-
tecting himself which you will perhaps
find more generally convenient"
He detected a look of disappointment
on the boys face, and added: This
is certainly ingenious. How did you
happen to have the thing in your