The Argosy, January 1907 — page 50: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Zo2 The druggist hastened after. turned for a moment. ‘ Here’s where we get a mutual stroke of luck!” he observed, with a slightly excited laugh. ‘“ Two-column story for to-morrow’s Wews and a gallon of ar- nica and court-plaster to be bought here when those chumps get their wits. Come on, Bert!” They were standing in the doorway now, and witnessing a scene of much en- thusiastic action. Almost before the door stood one of the big open trolley-cars—of the line which runs all the way from Crane’s Falls, through Bondville and Worman Center, to Blackfield. The overhead wire was indeed down. Just as the car had stopped, apparently, the thin strand of copper had snapped, and all the tremendous current with which it was charged appeared to be de- Robert voting itself to noise and_ blinding flashes. They were in the car, and be- hind the car, and ahead of the car. They seemed to be at either side of the car, and on top as well, as the long end wriggled and hissed and sputtered about. Passengers were leaping and scream- ing and shouting wildly. A horse some two or three doors below was absorbed in a fruitlgss endeavor to stand upon his head and kick down the stars above, being hampered’ the while by some hun- dreds of pounds of cart and. harness. A yellow dog shot by, tail between legs, howling frantically, to disappear finally in the cellar of the corner fruit- store. Windows were opening and heads appearing. Bondvillites by the hundred were flocking from every direction—to stand at a most respectful distance and discourse on the criminal negligence of using wire that would break. “ Now, I wonder how many have been killed outright?” the editor murmured, with pleasant anticipation. “Don’t - believe there’s one,” his brother - shouted - above the din. “ Chey’re all out of the car, and there doesn’t seem to be’ any superfluity of corpses aout the street, does there?” “No, but somebody must have—ah! ‘Uhere’s the motorman with his rubber gloyes on! Thunder! I don’t envy him the job of capturing th i jig— os on? hed g that thingamajig THE ARGOSY. smiled. Well, “ Hardly!” the druggist “Phew! Yes, he’s got it, too! that’s pluck!” Without a quaver, the railroad man had gathered up the insane bit of wire and was coiling it with some difficulty. As suddenly as it had arisen, the ex- citement died down. People came some- what closer. The late passengers were brushing off the dust of Main Street and saying unkind things about the trolley company. Yet no one seemed to be seriously in- jured. After some five minutes the brothers turned away, and the editor led the way to the enclosed rear counter once more. From the roll he tore off a strip of white wrapping-paper and pro- duced his pencil. “Well, that’s something, anyway!” he observed. ‘Pll write up the heads here, and a few particulars. Then [ll get out there and interview the crew, and so on, and rush it down to the office. Have a seat, Bert, and suggest some- thing startling in the way of a scare- head. J’ll ‘3 Albert glanced out into the store again, and shook his head as he started down the aisle. ‘“Can’t,” he said softly. customers.” CHAPTER ff. CONCERNING ORANGE PHOSPHATE AND ARNICA, “Come back as soon as you can!” Robert called in an undertone. The druggist paid no attention. One of his pet practises lay in attend- ing strictly to business. When a cus- tomer entered the Drug Emporium he was made to feel that for Radford no other earthly concern existed but himself and his immediate needs in the drug line, When he left, it was usually with the opinion that Radford was an excep- tionally bright and capable young per- son, and one who deserved to succeed in business. He neither fawned nor cringed; he simply worked on the theory that when any one dropped in to patronize him, that person was entitled to all possible attention and consideration. It was a good working theory,.and in it the astute “Couple of (€() 0)(0\(6) AAG Ss (©)