Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-07-10

HdHuS. fdT uOWn Lne VIDE street
other cars were numbering heavily
into sight, fastening to add their mite
J 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 a magnificent pair of chestnut
horses swept around the corner drag
ging in their wake an elegant tounout,
wherein was seated, in solitary dig
nifty, an elderly man who chung to tn
seat nervously with both hands, Fe"-
guson glanced at the team and tts
driver half contcmptuously. His prac-
ticed eye, a triie dulled by the prev
! Gus nights experience, but stiu 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 he
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 IN
| certain hand that guided them.
Suddenly from somewhere on tire
sidewalk a piece of paper fluttered
into the street, directly in the path of
| the irritated beasts. In a second Il
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 beel
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 THAI
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 whit
pole to dash away there the trammeI-
ing carriage and perhaps brain its Oc-
Cupant Ferguson set his teeth har0
and Clenched his fists. Then with ne
great bound into the air he reached
their fOaming mouths, and. grasDing
the b,idle firmly. held on though they
swayed and lifted him from his feet
again and again in their frenzled
efforts to be free.
He was a 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 relns
from his bleeding hands, some one in
a red jacket stood beside him holding
out a tiny handkerchief and with
shining eyes looking into his, said:
Here, take this, Jerry, and wipe
them You done fine. I'm proud OF
| you"
1t was the sweetest music he hau
ever heard.
But a silvery haired man pressed
his way through the crowd ana
grasped his hand
"You saved my life" he said. I
should like to do something for you,
! My CoaChman is uninjured, but he win
never drive for me again. He has no
courage. If you are out of work, as
suspect will you take his place."
Ferguson glanced at Katie.
She nodded and smiled out of Ter
brimming eyes.
Say, yes, Jerry" she whispered IN
his ear. And he turned back to the
silvery haired man.
"Ill go to work for you, sir" he
said; and then in an aside to the girl
as they left the crowd behind. "Bu,
first II go up to Father Kelly and
take the pledge, SOS my couragell be
the real article"
AS they passed out of sight, down
the street, the girl looked up at MIN
and smiled happily.