The Hickman courier., 1878-07-26
F." OVER THE WIRES. 4"

First, l must tell you who am, and
how | came to be in the Baysville bank
in the "wee sms' hours" one dreary De-
cember night, some three years ago.
My name was then Olive Hudson, and
l was seventeen years old that same De-
cember night, and so small that Mrs.
Knights Dolly, who was not twelve
years old, was half head taller than
myself
We were rich folks once, but father
died and left us very poor. Mother
struggled along in weary hand-to-hsnd
fight with poverty till I was sixteen,
and then died. She had rented two
rooms of Mrs. Knight, widow, also, with
two stalwart sons, one aged father, and
two daughters. After mother died was
adopted by the Knights, and, although
was earning support as music teacher
in the Baysville academy, ] was like one
of the family when l was in my good
landlady's home.
They were all in good positions, but by
I 90 --.->---7- arIsLocratfc family. John,
the eldest son, was in New York in
wholesale sugar house Tom was the
night watchmsn of the Baysville bank
building, aud grandpa-we all call him
grandpa-was telegraph operator of the
town, while Mary was milliner, and
Dolly stayed at the Office, sending and
receiving messages.
Baysville bank building was a large
granite structure, containing the post
Office and the bank on the first floor, the
telegraph Office and number of private
law offices on the second floor, and other
private offices on the third floor. In
the basement were post-office rooms, for
sorting the mail, and also the large bank
vault.
1 knew the building well, for l was
lond of telegraphing, and spent balf my
leisure time perched up beside grandpa,
while he slept peacefully or read the
newspapers.
And that was the beginning of my
amusement at Dryden, the next station.
The operator at Dryden was a wit, and
flashed nonsense at our Office when bust
ness was dull. It fell fiat when grandpa
was in the Office, but if 1 were there 1
sent back jest for jest, and sometimes an
hour slipped by like a minute as we
talked over the wires of every topic
under the sun. He called himself "Lien,"
and l, for nonsense, signed myself " Ele-
phant," laughing as 1 did 80 at the
reflection of my tiny fingers in the Office
mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only five miles
from Baysville, was C, large COM
mercial town, the nearest railway station,
and where an Office was always open for
the accommodation of travellers.
As have said, Tom Knight was the
night watchman OF the Baysville bank
building, and lonely time he hal of it.
The last mail came by stage at four
o'clock in the afternoon, and the post
Ioffice was vacated at six. The bank
1 closed at three, and by six o'clock every
! -6ddiice was deserted for the night.
| At seven Tom was on duty, and grand
pa. who was restless at night, was in the
habit of taking down some coffee and
luncheon, as the building was only a
stones throw from the house.
On the December night have already
mentioned, it had stormed heavily all
day. and had taken new class at the
scademy. coming home later in the day
than usual, and excited over my increase
in salary.
Everybody else had gone to bed, and
III was lingering over the kitchen fire
with Mrs. Knight, dreading the plunge
inte NV cold room, where / had allowed
the fire to go cut.
The clock struck twelve, and Mrs.
Knight. lifting her face from over the
fire, said l.
.sDo call grandpa, Olive; he's asleep
on the sofa in the sitting-room. I'll have
Toms basket ready by the time grandpa
has bis hat and coat on. l hate to call
him for he was complaining of rheuma
tism all day, and the ground is very wet,
although the storm is over"
aIet him sleep" said; s1'll run over
With the basket. 1t is but STEP"
"But it is so dark; are you not afraid
"Net bit; Pll slip on my waterproof
.nd rubbers and draw the hood of my
cloak over my head"
ssWell, if you will, though am afraid
Tom will scold at my letting you CO."
"pn put down the basket and run,
and be will never know who left 1T.
"Go to the rear basement door; he
leaves that open for grandpa"
s1know."
1 grasped the handle of the basket, and