Marshall County Republican., 1878-01-17
OVER THE WIRES.
BY 9. ANNIE FRosr.


First / must tell you who / am, and
how came to be in the Baysville bank
In the "wee sma' hours" one dreary
December night, some three years ago.
My name, then, is Olive Hudson, and
/ was seventeen years old ON that same
December night, and so very small,
that Mrs. Knights Dolly, who was not
twelve, was half head taller than my
self.
We were rich folks once, but father
died and left US very poor. Mother
struggled along in weary hand to
hand fight with poverty till 1 was six
teen, and died. She had rented two
rooms Of Mrs. Knight, widow also,
with two stalwart sons, an aged father,
and two daughters. After mother died
Twas adopted by the Knights, and al
though was earning a support as mu-
sic teacher In the Baysville Academy,
I was like one of the family when was
IN my good landladys home.
They were all in good positions,
although by no means ar aristocratic
family. John, the oldest son, was in
New York in a wholesale sugar house;
Tom was the night watchman OF the
Baysville Bank Building, and grandpa
we all called him grandpa-was telo-
graph operator of the town; Mary was
milliner, and Dolly still at school.
Baysville Bank Building was a large
granite structure containing the post
Office and 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
vaults.
! knew the building well, for 1 was
fond Of telegraphing, and spent half my
leisure time perched up beside grandpa
In his Office sending and receiving mes
sages 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 wit, and
flashed nonsense to our Office when bus
mess was dull. 1t fell fat when grand
pa was In the office, but If was there,
/ sent back jest for jest, and sometimes
an hour slipped by like minute as 1
talked over the wires of every topic
under the sun. He calleu himself Lion,
and /. for nonsense, signed myself Ele-
phant, laughing as 1 did so at the re-
Aection of my tiny figure in the Office
mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only five miles
from Baysville, was c., a large COM
mercial town, the nearest railway sta
ton, and where an office was always
open for the accommodation of travel
ers.
AS have said, Tom Knight was the
night watchman OF Baysville Bank
Building, and lonely time he had of
1t. The last mail came by stage at four
O'Clock in the afternoon, and the post
Office was vacated at six. The bank
closed at three, and by six every Office
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
q stones throw from our house.
On the December night 1 have al
ready mentioned, 1t had stormed heav-
lily all day, and had taken new class
at the Academy, coming home later in
the day than usual, and excited over
my increase Of salary.
Everybody else had gone to bed, and
| was lingering over the kitchen fire
with Mrs. Knight, dreading the plunge
into my cold room where had allowed
the fire to go out.
The clock struck twelve, and Mrs.
Knight, lifting her face from over the
fire, said:
do call grandpa, Olive; he's asleep
on the sofa in the sitting-room. I'll
nave rom . basket ready by the time
grandpa has his hat and coaton. Ihate
to call him. for he was complaining of
rheumatism to-day, and the ground is
very wet, although the storm is over"
LET him sleep, said, 'I'llrun over
with the basket. 1t Is not a STEP"
"But it is SD dark. Aren't you
mot bit, I'll slip on my water
proof and rubbers. and draw the hood
Of my cloak over my head"
"Well, il you will. Though l am
afraid Tom will scold at my letting you
co."
I'm put the basket on the table, and
run. and he will never know who left