The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-04-21
Racing the
Wildcat
cogyIIEA... ID, 8 :. :. FaresIl.
By cLAuDINE sIssoN


place as motormaIi on the yaudon and
Aryerne trolley line was a little more
than nine days wonder In Vsndon.
where the Keswielzs had lived for half
a century
Great promises had been made 9.
Renton Keswfck's behalf when he De
clded to take a portion OF his fathers
insurance money and conslete his COS.
lege course. and It was confidently pre-
iicted that he would make a name for
himself in the city beyond when his
four years shonld be up. Instead he
nad quietly returned TO his old home
and had applied for and obtained a
place as motorman on the new line just
completed to Arverne
Even Horace Custis had been some
what surprised at Ren's request to be
put on a chr. 1--WE could use you here
In the Office, Rem he suggested as he
swung around in his Office chair.
NO, thank you" was Renton's quiet
rejoinder. Il want to know something
about trolleying before sit in front OF
a roll top desk. and guess the front
platform of a car Is as good place as
any from which to study"
SO Gusts had let him go. and that
eNenlng when Dorothy Gusts remon.
strated with him for not doing better
by the son of his old friend he laid a
hand on her shoulder.
Dot" he said kindly, "for your sake
as well as for the sake Of poor Tom
Keswick would have been glad to put
the boy to work in the Office, but a col.
lege education has not spoiled him, and
I gave him the place for which he
asked"
Dorothy, blushing to find that her
secret was known TO her father, fed
to her room, and after that the subject
WAS dropped so far as the Gusts
household was concerned.
|. yaodon was more interested, how
ever, and there were many who freely
remarked that IL Rem Keswick could
not do better than a motorman's job
after all that schooling it would have
been better had lie lost himself in the
city.
Meanwhile Rem stuck to the motor
mans box, and in short time he was
regarded as the best operator on tile
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 lie knew how to favor
the work and come up to the yaudo1
station on time.
Once when there had been break
at the power house which shut or the
power from the line for twenty min
ntes he had raced tire accommodation
from the brook crossing to the station
and had beaten 1t by three minutes. Il
J was an eight mile run from the cross,
ing to the station by trolley, but thu
railroad took curve TO avoid cross
ing Arverne creek twice and had four
miles farther to go.
Dorothy wis a frequent passenger on
the car, and II was natural that she
should avail herself of her privilege as
daughter OF the president OF the rca6
to ride on the front seat with the mo.
torman. II she happened TO take the
car on which Rem was the motorman II
certainly had the appearance. of an nc.
cident, ana NOT even yaudon talked
about (which was surprising.
Those rides were precious times to
Renton as he stood at the controller
and nursei the heavy car over the
tracks. oLce when he had been late
and was hurrying to make up his time
she had looked up with glowing eyes
as he helped ller down the step.
I'D just love TO be with you some
time when sou are making a reaf fast
run" she smiled. aud lie, smiling bacl
into the cager eyes. had replied:
III ever have to make n real fast
run I'll let you knew
She was talking Of his promise az
they sped toward the town one evening
In August. There had been dance oui
at Arverne lake. and Dorothy had left
early TO meet her father. A celebration
was being held some thirty miles ul
the road, and her father was among
the invited guests. They were coming
home on a special train. the governor
and his staff and half hundred 9th
ers. The train was due at vaudon nj
about the same time as the special
and Dorothy had left the party early ii
order 10 be nome 10 meet her father.
Once or twice Ren had let out the cal
on level stretches 10 see her eyes flasl
with excitement and had crept along
the harder parts to keep his schedulI
even.
They were taking it easy along III,
stretch by the creek when, as they up
preached the railroad, they spied d
headlight up the track.
There was plenty of time, and rather
than take chances Rem stopped on th,
near side Of the crossing and rested o.
the seat a moment as the light drew
nearer.
As 1t flashed past there was CT,
from Dorothy. In the moonlight -shI
saw that there was no one III the cab.
4 Did you see:' she demanded excit
edly as she grasped Ren's arm.
Runaway" he assented.
The train she gasped Ren's fac,
grew hard
There was construction camp uE
the road, aud he recognized this as thu