Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-07-07

There was a blockade of street cars
just ahead. Motormen changed their
gongs and stamped impatiently to en-
phasize their hoarsely shouted conn
mands. Far down the wide street
other cars were numbering heavily
into sight, fastening to add their mite
to the deafening uproar
AS far down the sidewalk as his eve
could command it's vision, Ferguson
caught sight of crimson jacket, a
mere speck in the perspective, but
gradually assuming discernible proper
TONS 1t was Kate
| She was going to her work and
would pass the spot where he was
| standing Would she speak to him!
! Should he speak to her? He fixed his
eyes on the moving speck of red and
waited.
There was a sudden clatter of hoofs
| and magnificent pair of chestnut
horses swept around the corner, drag
| cling in their wake an elegant tounout,
| wherein was seated, in solitary dig
nity an elderly man who chung to thS
| seat nervously with both hands. Fer
| guson glanced at the team and rs
| driver half CONTEMPORARY. His prac-
| ticed eye, a trifie dulled by the prev
! Gus nights experience, but still keen,
| detected at once that the man hand
| ling the reins over the spirited horses
was not an expert Every now and
| then the carriage lurched to the pave
ment's edge, in the vain endeavor of
| the coachman to keep clear of the
| great intermingling Of cars, drays and
| foot passengers.
The horses chafed under the cruel
saving and pulling of the reins, and
| strained to break away from the un
certain hand that guided them.
| Suddenly from somewhere on the
sidewalk piece of paper futtered
| into the street, directly in the path OF
| the irritated beasts. In a second ii
was all over There was a wild leap
into the air, the body of the coacn-
man shot out of the seat and was
| thrown into the midst of a passing
crowd of pedestrians, while the mad
dened horses, taking the bit in their
| teeth, dashed on the sidewalk, directly
in front Of where Ferguson had been
| holding himself up by the white post.
He could never tell afterwards what
he had done nor how he had done II.
| 1t was instantaneous.
/ In a flash the fumes Of liquor that
| had dulle~. his senses seemed to leave
! him and he was again the clear-headed
teamster whose steady hand controlled
! far greater strength than his own.
| When the horses made for the white
| pole to dash away there the trammel
ing carriage and perhaps brain it's oc-
! cupant, Ferguson set his teeth haro
and clenched his fists. Then with one
great bound into the air he reached
| their foaming mouths, and, grasping
the bride firmly, held on though they
swayed and lifted him from his feet
again and again in their frenz1ed
| efforts to be free.
He was man again now and the
/ courage lat sustained him was not
| false nor evanescent. With a grip
! like iron he chung to the struggling
animals until the gradually gathering
crowd of other men had Gained them.
When he finally dropped the reins
from his bleeding hands, some one III
a red jacket stood beside him holding
out tiny handkerchief and, with
shining eyes looking into Ills, said:
Here, take this, Jerry, and wipe
| them. You done fine. I'm proud OF
you"
It was the sweetest music, he hao
ever heard.
But a silvery haired man presseT
/ his way through the crowd ana
grasped his hand.
s'You saved my life" he said. 81
MY coachman is uninjured, but he will
never drive for me again. He has no
courage. If you are out of work, as
suspect, will you take his placer"
Ferguson glanced at Katie.
She nodded and smiled out of heE
trimming eyes.
"Say, yes, Jerry" she whispered III
his ear And he turned back to the
s11very haired man.
%|I11 go to work for you, SIR" he
said; and then in an aside to the girl
as they left the crowd behind. ''Bu.
first Ill go up to Father Kelly and
take the pledge, SOS my courage'n be
the real article
AS they passed out of sight, down
the street, the girl looked up at him
and smiled happily.