The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-12-17
Racing the
Wildcat
~ CLAUDlNE SISS0N


tllape AS Int9rIli1n OIL ihe AuAoh "N''
ArySrne trolley line was Il little more
thu,, d llne days wonder IN Naudoh,
where the Keswicks had lived for half
d century
Great promises lad been made on
kenton Keswiek y behalf when ne de'
ciaesl to take Il portion VI bis father
insurance money and complete ms cot
lege course, and Ii was confidently pre-
,ijrted that lie would make u name Tor
himself III the city beyond when ms
four years should be up. Instead pc
had quietly returned to his old home
ana had applied for and obtained
place as motorman on the new me just
completed to Arverne.
Even Horace Gusts had been some
what surprised at Ren's request 70 oe
nut Oh n car. I'VE could use you here
Ill the office, Rem" he suggested as ne
swung around in his office chair.
.'No. thank you was Rentons quiet
reioinder. II want TO know something
about trolleying before SIT In front OF
roll top desk. and 1 guess the 'front.'
platform of d car IL as good place ~
any from which to study
NJ Gusts had let him 60, and that
evening when Dorothy Gusts remon
stfated with him for not doing better
by the son OF his Old friend he laid
hand on her shoulder.
dot" be said kindly. for your sake
"a well ia for the sake Of poor Tom
kesNiek would have been glad 70 put
tl.e boy to work III the office, but col
leae education has not spoiled him, and
gave him the place for which DC
asked"
Dorothy. blushing to find that her
secret was known to her father heu
to her room, and after that the subject
was dropped SO far as the GUSTS
household was concerned.
Taudon was more Interested, how
ever. and there we're many who freely
remarked that Ii Ren Keswick could
NOT do better than motorman's job
after all that schooling it would have
been better had be lost himself in the
city.
Meanwhile Rem stuck to the motor
mans box, and in short time he was
regarded dis the best operator on the
road He knew every curve and grade
on the eighteen miles Of track, and his
ear was never late, because no matter
what the delay he knew how 70 favor
the work and come up to the Vaudon
station % time
Once Wien here had been break
at tile power house Which shut Off the
power from the line for twenty min
ntes lie had raced the accommodation
from the brook crossing to the station
aud had beaten 1t by three minutes. 1t
was an eight mile run from the cross
ing 10 the station by trolley. but the
railroad took curve to avoid cross
ing Arverne creek twice and had four
miles farther to 60.
Dorothy was a frequent passenger on
the car, and 1t was natural thai she
should avail herself OF her privilege as
daughter OF the president of the road
10 ride on the front seat with the mo-
forman, III she happened to take the
car ON which Rem was the motormnn it
certainly had the appearance OF an ac-
cldent, and not even yaudon talked
about (which was surprising.
Those rides were precious times TO
Renton as he stood at the controller
and narsed the heavy car over the
tracks. Once when he had been late
and was hurrying to make up his time
she had looked up with glowing eyes
as be helped her down the step.
aI'd just love to be with you some
time when you are making real fast
run she smiled, aud he, smiling back
into the eager eyes, had replied:
IF j ever have to make a real fast
run III let you know"
She was talking Of his promise as
they sped toward the town one evening
in August. There had been dance out
at Arverne lake. and Dorothy had left
early to meet her father. y celebration
was being held some thirty miles NJ
the road. and her father was among
the invited guests. They were coming
home on special train, the governor
and his staff aud half a hundred 9th
ers. The train was due AT Yaudon al
about the same time as the special
and Dorothy had left the party early fl
order to he home to meet her father.
Once Or twice Rem had let out The eai
9 on level stretches TO see her eyes tiasl
with excitement and had erept alonl
the harder parts TO keep his schedule
even.
They were taking il easy along tn
stretch by the creek when, as they ap
preached the railroad. they spied
headlight up the track.
There was plenty of time. and rattle
than take chances Iien stopped on III
near side Of the crossing and rested o
the seat a moment as the light dreN
nearer.
As 1t flashed past there was a CT
from Dorothy. In the moonlight sh
saw that there was no one IN the cab.
Ibid you seeT" she demanded excl
edly as she grasped Ren's arm.
Runaway, he assented.
The traius" she gasped. Ren's fac
grew hard.
There vas a construction camp u
she road, and he recognized this as ii
engine Of the work train There ha
been threats made against the goyern'