Warren sheaf., 1897-06-17
! 81 MI 9a9R3S
Under nd tie Troll sy iires.'
BY Charles w. Harwood.

. etf. 5G ( Z ~
THE sharp ringing Of bell sounded
clear above the tumult Of Hamilton
Corner, where the busiest thorough
fares Of Winchester meet. Close at hand
came a lake car, and Jim Connolly,
springing forward with his iron rod,
shifted it around the curve into Center
street. 4s8 n 81. ss sS
Jim was switchboy for the Electric
Traction company. His post was the
middle Of the street, where all day long
he lodged teams and turned electric
cars toward their various destinations.
It was late afternoon now; Jim was
tired and rather lonely, and as he
glanced about for some acquaintance
his eyes lighted on Ted Casey standing,
with back to him, on the curbstone
near by. A bundle of afternoon papers
was tucked under Ted arm, but he was
staring idly ata fantastic poster.
The opportunity was asirresistible. Jim
quickly looked four ways, and seeing
that the corner was now free from cars
he darted over behind Ted and seized
him by the collar. ss 81 35s. .Ss3
"Aw, le' me bel" cried Ted, deeply ag-
grieved. Then, twisting around, he
caught sight of his captor, and grinned
at him in a friendly way. ,S s.l: +. 3s
why don't you sell papers ~ de-
manded the older boy, releasing him.
'The last edition will come out before
long, and you'll get stuck"
''Goin' ter" asserted Ted, stoutly.
"Say, Jimmie, what's that in your
pocket?"s With sudden curiosity he
snatched at queer object which pro-
truded from the inside of his friends s
coat. 4 H. Z
lie go!" Jim struck down the ven
turesome hand. That's my life-pre-
server. Want to see it?" And with all
of an inventors pride he drew out a
peculiar sort of clamp which he always
carried about. 55 y.
It was formed of two pine sticks rude
'ly whitfield into shape and hinged to-
gether at one end. On the inner side it's
jaws were faced with strips of heavy
glass, whose use was not at once ap-
parent. @.$ S5= .:,i. 4:
Jim enjoyed the newsboy's mystifi-
cation. Maybe I'll get. it patented
some time,'' he limited, impressively. @ a.
"What's it for?" asked Ted. s $szss22f E5
ITO handle live wires with. The glass
is proof against electricity explained
Jim. ., .y. r.-. f. - .47e1t..5 gsz 2s 5 z#
Ted eyed the strange instrument with
increased respect. Did any live wires
ever get loose round here?'' he asked,
eagerly. Say, Jimmie, le' me try it if
they do?'' ,$ ss*:iS
''They might break any time" Jim
replied, sagaciously. You go and tend
ito your papers; you haven't any bust
ness with the power" He dropped the
clamp into pocket, and, grinning sig
nificantly, raised his switchrod as if to
strike the newsboy's leg. 5. IS ~ y
But Ted glanced cunningly down the
street. cav, there's car!''' he cried,
and forthwith seized the chance to dart
away and yell back derisively at his
friend. Sss# (. .,ss ). ..ss
By this time, indeed, dozen cars were
coming in quick succession. On the
dangerous crossing few yards distant
Officer Wayne was also busy. 4 signal
from his autocratic hand held up all
the teams, and the groups Of women
who had collected upon opposite cor
ners hurried over the crossing.
With them went the newsboy to try
his luck on the other side. jim, atwork
on his switches, caught passing
glimpse of him and laughed as Ted
lodged under the policeman S arm and
1xy 4 4, n
gentleman upon the sidewalk.
Evening Star, one cent! cried Ted,
vigorously. The man looked benevolent,
and Ted made an especially ingratiat-
ing appeal. Buy Star, mister? Aw,
g'won, mister, won't yer ?'' ,
The stranger smiled and drew out
some money. "This is busy place. he
said. .How many cars do you suppose
pass here in an hour?''
Jimmie can tell you,' answered Ted.
snatching a paper from under his arm
and facing about. ''Hey, Jimmie!" he
cried, shrilly, ''how many cars in an
hour 2" s3<. i y 3 Il z
Jim dropped his iron into switch,
gave tia deft turn, and lodging the car,
looked up. Eighty four he shouted
back, besides specials and sprinklers.''''
The next moment he sent alwest side
car into Pleasant street and, leaving the
main track straight, ran of to his
switches on Center street, where cars
come up from the east side and the rail
road station. Then he glanced up at the
spiders web Of wires which hung 3over-
head. IA 5sss. s$
They might break at any time he
repeated, quite seriously. Once he had
yentured to question Officer Wayne:
'1'What would you do if a wire broke?''
Ez Give wire I'd clear the street nnd