Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-07-10

ing sands.
/ There was a blockade Of street cars
| just ahead. Motormen changed their
gongs and stamped impstiently 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 eye
could command its 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. Fer
| guson glanced at the team and :ts
| driver half contenlptuously. His prdc-
ticed eye, a trifie dulied by the Prev
GUS nights experience, but stiil 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 IN
| certain hand that guided them.
Suddenly from somewhere on the
sidewalk piece of paper fiuttered
into the street, directly in the path of
the irrltated beasts. In second fl
into the air, the body of the coach.
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 bee
holding himself up by the white post.
He could never tell afterwards what ,
he had done nor how he had done H.
1t was instantaneous.
In 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 white |
pole to dash away there the trammel.
ing carriage and perhaps brain its oe-
cupant, Ferguson set his teeth haro
and clenched his fists. Then with one
great bound into the air he reached
their foaming mouths, and, grasplng
the bride firmly, held on though they
swayed and lifted him from his feet
again and again in their frenzied
efforts to be free.
He was 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 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 pressed
his way through the crowd ana
grasped his hand.
you saved my life." he said. 81 !
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 hes
brimming eyes.
Say, yes, Jerry" she whispered I'm |
his ear And he turned back to the
silvery haired man.
'pll go to work for you. sir he |
said; and then in an aside to the girl |
as they left the crowd behind Blu, |
first Ill go up to Father Kelly and |
take the pledge, SOS my couragen be |
the real article"
AS they passed out of sight. down
the street, the girl looked up at him |
and smiled happily.