Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-18
Racing the
ildcat
BY CLAUDlNE SISSON
Copyright. 1905. by L. G. PARCELS

That KeSwick. after college course,
should return to Vaudon and take
place as motorman on The Naudon and
Arycrue trolley line was a little more
than nine days wonder in NaudOn,
where the Kcswicks had lived for half
n century.
Great promises had been made on
EcntDn Kcswick's behalf when he de
cidcd to take Il portion of his fathers
insurance money ana complete his col
lcgc course. and it was confidently pre-
dictcd that he would make name for
himself in the city beyond when his
four years should he up Instead he
had quietly returned to his old home
and had applied for and obtained a
place as motorman on the new line just
completed t. ArvCrne
Even Horace Custis had been some
what surprised at Ren's request to be
put on car. I'VE 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 l sit in front of
roll top desk. and | guess the front
platform of Il car is as good place as
any from which to study"
So Custis had let him go, and that
evening when Dorothy Custis remon-
strated with him for not doing better
by the son Of his old friend he laid
hand on her shoulder.
4 Ii, IL .4f. ,Iy,
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
gave him the place for which he
asked"
Dorothy blushng to find that her
secret was known to her father, fed
TO her room, and after that the subject
was dropped so far az the Custis
household was concerned.
Vaudon vas more interested. how
ever. and there were many who freely
remarked that If Rem Kcswick could
not do better than IL motorman's job
after all that schooling it would have
been better had he lost himself in the
city
McanwLi.c Zen stuck to the motor
mans box, and in short time he was
regarded rs the best operator on the
road. He knew every curve and grade
on the eighteen miles of track and his
car was never late, because no matter
what the DELAY he knew how to favor
the work and come up to the Naudon
station Oh time.
Once when there had been Il break
at the power house which shut off the
power from the line for twenty min
| utes he had raced the accommodation
from the brook crossing to the station
and had beaten it by three minutes. 1t
was an eight mile run from the cross
| ing To the station by trolley, but the
railroad took curve to avoid cross
! ing Arverne creek twice and had four
miles farther to go.
| Dorothy was frequent passenger on
the car. and it was natural that she
| should avail herself OF her privilege as
| daughter Of the president OF the road
| to ride on the front seat with the mo
torIan. If she happened to take the
| car on which Ren was the motorman II
certainly had the appearance Of an 40
| cident. and not even Naudon talked
| about it-whch was surprising.
| Those rides were precious times tC
| Renton as he stood at the controller
| and nursed the heavy car over the
/ tracks. once when he had been late
and was hurryiug to make up his time
she had lOo,,ed mp with glowing eyes
! aS he helped her down the step.
I'D just love to be with you some
| time when gou are making IA real fast
run" she smiled. and he, smiling back
into the eager eyes had replied:
IF | ever lave to make "A real fas,
run III let you know"
She was talking OF his promise as
| they sped toward the town one evening