The record-union., 1899-08-20

Kansas lad and started to keep his en-
gagement with the local townsman. IT
was not long engagement, and at
o'clock they We're back in the car, and
the capitalist signalled the motorman
to go ahead on the return trip.
I'VE should be able to run the thirty
two miles back to Cleveland nicely in
two hours" he said to Jim. Il must
be there at o'clock and we have a
clear track all the way. We've had
litigation over this road and it isn't
doing regular business yet, but We'll
be running on schedule in a day or
two
They We're out of earshot of the
others, and Jim leaned toward the cap
italist. s.
Mr.. Norcross,' he said, 'shave you
noticed that the motorman has been
drinking heavily?''
mol" cried the capitalist. HAS the
idiot started one of his periodical
sprees? Best man in my employ when
he's sober. When he's drunk he's a
stupid log. Keep your eye on him,
Jim'
The young man nodded and started
oONi Lie dlSl0 10 the 1IlOlOIIildn fOo
thule.
1t might have been ten minutes later
when he noticed that the speed was in
creasing to really dangerous rate.
Looking ahead he saw-a mile or SO
aWay-a sharp curve. He knew that 1t
was highly hazardous to attempt to
strike it at that high rate of speed. He
reached forward and caught the mo-
torman by the arm. The latter turned
with an oath, and, unsteadily rising to
his feet. struck at him blindly. Jim
flung him aside, shut of the power and
put on the air brake. The car slack
ened speed reluctantly, but finally came
to standstill half way round the
curve
Then Jim turned. The motorman had
fallen and struck his head against the
ironwork at the end of a seat He
was lying on the car floor unconscious.
Ethel was unaware that anything un-
usual had taken place. She sat in the
last seat at the rear, with her back to
thefront of the car her companion, Miss
Mayer, beside her. Presently her father
came down the aisle and stopped.
Il was beginning to wonder where
all the men were,'' said Ethel, as she
laid her hand affectionately on her
fathers arm. 81 felt quite neglected.
Are we waiting on a switch?"
There has been a little accident,
my DEAR" said her father. Were not
on a switch"
Accident, papai Who is hurt?"
The motorman. But not seriously
Jim says it is a scalp wound and a
broken collar bone. He's got him all
bandaged up nicely, and as soon as he
gets over the effects of the-the shock
he'll be in very fair shape"
rs Jinl-Mr Protheroe-a surgeon,
too?'
He's something of a surgeon" re-
piled her father with a laugh. ITS
another one of those things he learned
at that remarkable college. 1t seems
half a dozen of his college mates had
planned a hazardous trip to the Bad
Lands, and they knew they ought to
have surgeon along, so Jim volun-
teered and took a six months course
in the yrudimentsob anH III
Ethel looked opt of the window.
Where are we. papa?"
About ten miles from nowhere, .
snarled the capitalist. And I'm need
ed in Cleveland at 3 o'clock for most
important conference"
well, why don't you go ahead?'
without a motorman? Besides,
we've busted something in the running
gear. 1t happened in slackening up
suddenly. Do you hear that pound
ing?'
Now I hear it, papa
That's Jim under the. car trying to
tinker up the. break
''Is he a mechanic, too?"
Despite his anxiety, the capitalist
laughed again. rfr
1T seems so,'' he said. Its another
thing he learned out there in Kansas.
1 suppose we are, just beginning to find
him out. You were right about it. He
isn't much like the other youngsters of
his age"
Still laughing, Ethel's father left the
car and joined the two Eastern college
men, who were standing not far away.
Ethel raised the window and looked
out AS she did SO she caught sight of
Jim. Hatless. coatless and vestless, his
thick hair wildly tumbled and his face
smudged with dirt, he was facing her
smiling father
waiting for orders, SIR he said,
with comical pull at his hair.
"Can you run a motor, too?" asked
the capitalist.
1--WE had some experience at it, re-
piled Jim. Father built the Alfalfa
and Stoney Ledge electric road and.
ran the first motor over it. If you'll
sit with me and keep me posted on the
points I'll promise to haul you through
on time.
"All right, my boy, run her through
on schedule time and I'll give you, a
permanent job
The capitalist looked up and caught
his daughters eye and laughed again.
AS Jim turned away Ethel called
softly to her father:
Daddy" she murmured, don't you
forget to ask Jim Up to dinner to-
night"
Her gratified parent looked up at her
with a quizzical smile that called a
swift blush to her cheek.
''All aboard,'' shouted Jim.-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer.
Ornamental Native Plants.
a well known horticultural writer