Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-07-14


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 eye
could command its vision, Ferguson
caught sight of crimson jacket, a
mere speck in the perspective, but
gradually assuming discernible propor-
tions. 1t was Kate.
She was going to her work and
would pass the spot where he was
standing. Would she speak to himy
Should he speak to her? He fixed his
eyes on the moving speck of red and
waited.
There was 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 thS
seat nervously with both hands Fer
gusoa glanced at the team and SIS
driver half contemptuously. His prac-
ticed eye, a trifie dulleda by the Prev
JUS OApCAACAOO, OuI OJ411 hCSAs
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 tie
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 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 IL.
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 whTts
pole to dash away there the trammel-
ing carriage and perhaps brain its oc-
cupant, Ferguson set his teeth haro
and clenched his fists. Then with me
great bound into the air he reached
their foaming mouths, and, grasping
the bEidle 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 .nat sustained him was not
false nor evanescent. With 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 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 hao
ever heard.
But a silvery haired man presseH
his way through the crowd ana
grasped his hand.
''You saved my life he said. Il
should like to do something for you.
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 n9r
brimming eyes.
Say, yes, Jerry" she whispered in
his ear. And he turned back to the
silvery haired man.
"I'll go to work for you, SIR" he
said; and then in an aside to the girl
as they left the crowd behind. "Bus
first Ill go UP to Father Kelly and
take the pledge, SOS my courage,ll be
the real article"
AS they passed out of sight, down
the street, the girl looked up at him
and smiled happily.