The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-01-20

week or so later, land here I am. !
told you 1 wouldn't quit" laughing
triumphantly.
"But Danny, won't the car men make
you?" querried Ditto, with a deep
knowledge gathered from his source of
information on all topics.
go, they'll try to right enough, you
can bet, but that amt doing it," conf
IDENTIFY answered the man, squaring his
fine broad shoulders for the fray.
Next day Danny's face was grave as
Ditto climbed on the car during the
first wait. "Ditto, Danny's got to leave
you for WHILE" he said. There now,
brace up; only for little while. It's
big thing for us, little man; we're
the only line running, and though con-
siderably short of passengers, we're
going, which is something. They've
asked me to try to run on another line;
one that more people can use, if they're
not afraid to ride on the cars. So you see,
it's big promotion for us, Ditto, and
when the fights over, you'll be SO
proud, and rides! Just think of the
grand rides, on nice, new carr
talking rapidly, as he saw the brown
eyes well up in tears.
So the rickety little gate swung no
more with the waiting figure, for the
child now spent his time, fiat on his
back, in the grass, gazing up at the
big trees overhead, dreaming of DAN
ny and his grand new car.
Down town, the strikers had things
pretty much their own way. The older
heads warned Danny against the risk
he was taking in trying to run on the
new line, but he only smiled, and shook
his head resolutely.
"Of course, Danny, as long as you're
on the car, it's safe, no one amt going
to touch you on it then, but just you
leave it, and it's done for sure" his
friends told him.
No one would harm Danny, they felt
sure of that; they all loved him. But
then
Still the car went on, doing no bust
ness it is true, for the people feared to
ride in the cars after few had beei
rocked in dark parts of the city. Still,
ttths company fei Il as II ts4vy
a flag of defiance in the face of the
strikers, so long as that shining new
blue and red car went spinning, clang-
ing down the street, empty. And there
was big money in it for Danny, too. OF
course he could not run the car con-
stantly, but he made several trips day,
and guarded the car in between times.
Finally the strikers became amused at
his logged determination, and almost
let him alone, especially, as he did not
hinder the strike in the least.
Xxx
Meanwhile, Ditto was bordering in
the high, deep grass that was never cut,
on account of the professors aversion
to the noise of the machine. Old Nancy
came and dug him out periodically, af-
ter calling herself hoarse, to get his
meals, and to go to bed. Once in bed,
the dreams went on, till kind sleep
gently drove the fancies away. He
thought of the strike, only the vaguest
rumors of which had reached them, of
the excitement Danny was having, of
the fun he would have in the midst of it
all: only there were rocks, so Danny had
said, and smashed up cars, and some
times people hurt, then his little mind
wandered off to his mother, and he
wondered when he would be big enough
and good enough to visit her. Surely
he had been very good, and just as
quiet, he even tip-toed on the porch
and in the halls, and never dropped his
little shoes at night, as he used to.
So the next day, he slipped timidly
into his fathers study, and stood still as
mouse, till the professor looked up
and saw him.
Papa, may go to see mama now?"
asked the child breathlessly.
eyes, yes, run along now Danny" an
swered his father, intent on arranging
beautiful and recently acquired speci-
men.
"When, papa?" excitedly.
Tomorrow, my child, and will give
you the fare," answered the professor,
still intent on the work in hand, and
fancying the child had asked to take a
car ride, as he had way of doing.
But Danny's heart was full to over
flowing. He slipped away to make his
preparations. Dragging out his one nice
dress, he wondered gravely if he had
better wear it on the train, for of course
he would have to ride on the train, or
whether he should save it to wear later.
A moments thought decided him in
favor of the first, as mamma was sure
to have lots more waiting for him.
''She always makes me dresses and
things" he thought happily, carefully