The Van Buren press., 1898-11-26
THE MOT0RMAN.
There Are Days When the Word
Seems to Be Against Him.
M. QUAD. Copyright iss

ways as pleasant as the poets. In
fact, there are days when he would be
an angel and soar away to where cleo
trio roads are not"
While he waited for the bell boy
came off the sidewalk to ask him If he
could spare a pailful of electricity to
run his mothers sewing machine for
an hour or two. He was small boy
and an innocent-looking boy, and the
motorman gave him a cent and told
him To go to a law office and get a
quart of compressed wind for the
money Then he got the signal and
started up and said:
"I hadn't got three blocks from the
barn this morning as l started out
when the conductor pulled my door
open and wanted to know If l imag-
ined that | ran the car. He had his
hat OH his ear and grease on his hair,
and he felt like bossing somebody
around. You bet I laid the rules and
regula tions down to him In plain Eng
lish, and as he started for his plat
form | gave the car a lift that brought
him upon the gratings. He'll try to get
even with me before the day is over,
but | shall look out for his tricks.
Hear him try to pull that bell out by
the roots to show me he has tenn
per-
The car stopped to let a woman off
and two men on, and as he made an
easy start the motorman continued:
"The next thing was three women
on the track. They wanted a car, but
they got to gossiping and forgot all
about it. Stood right there between
the rails, with their heads together
and their hands going, and l had to
come to dead stop and yell at them
to move off. Then it turned out that
they wanted a car going uptown in
stead of down, and because I wouldn't
run backwards l got a rakin' over.
The conductor chuckled over II and
thought it was one on me, but | got
eve. by running past two men who
will report him at the office. Now
look at that mani"
1t was man who wanted the car.
Being fearful that it would pass with
out seeing him, although he weighed
200 pounds, he held up his hands and
danced around and grew red in the
face When the car stopped he made
rush for the platform, crowded his
way on and in, and opening the front
door he demanded:
"What did you make me go to all
that trouble for? Your business, sir,
is to look out for passengers, I have
only ten minutes in which to get to the
depot, or"
The motorman closed the door on
him and whispered:
"You may talk about it's bein' divine
to forgive, but all human nature aches
to get even with all its fellow men.
That old coon blamed me for nothing,
as you are witness, and now comes
the revenge. He's mile away from
the depot, and adding to the distance
every minute. l was telling you about
this morning. After my jaw with the
ing to make up time, one O. them BIZ
cycle fellers come rattlin' down out Of
a side street and bumped himself TO
beat my gait, | ride bike myself,
when l amt picldn' myself up after a
fall or lynn on the counter of drug
store with broken back, and so I
give riders big show. In this case,
however, l couldn't stop and he
wouldn't, and the result was carried
him and his machine on the cow
catcher for block or more. He laid
1t ali to me, of course, and of course
I'll be called up to the office and run
through the machine. Now, then,
there's Sammy on the track ahead
and I've got tired of his monkey
shines. rather think I'll give the lad
surprise party"
Sammy was a boy about IA years
old who was driving a grocery wagon.
He was driving at slow pace and
looking over his shoulder at the mo-
torman. He had evidently been there
before. When he got the warning gong
he leaned forward, looked straight
ahead, and so far as could be judged
from his arched back and general in
difference he had never even heard OF
an electric car. The motorman
whistied and shouted and slowed
down, but Sammy had his plans and
was encouraged in them by the boys
on The street.
TITS got to be DONE" said the motor.
man. as he turned to me and drew a
full breath. IF that kid is not
brought up with sudden turn he may
end his life on the gallows. shan.
hurt him, but there will be a shock to
his feelings Got hold of the railing
Well. now, this car is goin' to git away
from me-"
1t cid. 1t suddenly started forward
In way to tumble the passengers
about, and, picking up the wagon, il
flung it to the left and tipped it over
and The boy was yelling "Police!" and
the horse kicking in the dashboard
wher the car went by.
Hes bothered me that way for three
months" explained the motorman,
"and such things get TO be tiresome aft
awhile. AS long as I've got to go
up to the Office on the bicycle business,
| might as well kill two birds with one
stone. The boy will blame me and the
grocer will blame me, but Sammy will
aave to hunt for another job. DO you
see that woman in black on the next
aorner2 Well, she's feature on this
road She's as rich as mud, and her son
in-law is a director, and II won't do to
give her the marble heart Whoa
Sukeyl"
"Is this car goin' downtown" asked
| Abe woman as we came 10 a gtoD