The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-05
"OYGr the Wires."

rF Fs. ,
First, must tell you who I am, and
how | came to be in the Baysyille Bank
III the wee snia' hours" one dreary De.
cembcr night, some three years ago. .@
My name was then Olive Hudson, and
was II years old that same December
night, and so small that Mrs. Knights
Dolly, who was not IL years old, was
half head taller than myself. ..
We were rich folks once, but father died
along in weary 'hand-to-hand fight with
poverty till was 16, and then died. She
had rented two rooms Of Mrs. Knight.
widow, also, with two stalwart SOUS, an
aged father, and two daughters After
mother died was adopted by the knights,
and, although l was earning support as
music teacher III the Baysvillc Academy,
l was like one of the family when was
in my good landlady's home. =. ..}''N
They were all in good positions, but by
no me ans all aristocratlc family. John,
tho eldest son, was in New York in a
Wholesale sugar house, Tom was the night
watchman of the Baysville Bank building,
and grandpa-wc all call him grandpa
was telegraph operator Of the town, while
Mary was a milliner, and Dolly STAYED at
the tilicc sending and receiving messages
Baysville Bank building was large
granite structure, containing the post office
and bank on the first floor, the telegraph
Office and n number of private law offices
On the second floor, and other private
offices Oh the third floor. In tic basement
were post. office rooms for sorting the
mail, and also the large bank vault.
| knew tho huil6Inp yycl1 for WOO fo,t
Of tclcgraphing, and spent half my leisure
time perch up beside grandpa while he
slept peacefully or read the newspapers.
And that was tho beginning of my
amusement at Dryden, the next station.
The operator at Dryden was a wit, and
flashed nonsense to our office when busi-
ness was dull. 1t fell fiat when grandpa
was in the office, but if / were there
sent back jest for jest, :, and sometimes an
hour slipped by like minute as we talked
over the wires of every topic under the
sun. He called hiE,self ''Lion," and |,
for nonsense. signed myself elephant"
laughing as did 80 at the reflection of my
tiny figure in the office mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only fvo miles
from Baysville, was c., large com.
mcrcial town, the nearest railway station,
and where an office was always open for
the accommodation of travellers.
AS have said Tom Knight was tho
night watchman of Baysville Bank build
ing, and Il lonely time he had of it. The
last mail came by stage at 4 o'clock in tho
afternoon, and the post Office was vacated
at six. The bank closed at thee, and by
six o'clock every Office was deserted for
the night.
At seven Tom was on duty, and grand
pa, who was restless at night, was in tho
habit of taking down some coffee and lun.
chcon, rs tho building was only stones s
throw from the house.
On the December night I have already
mentioned, 1t had stormcd heavily all day,
and had taken anew class at the Aca-
deny, coming home later. in the dap than
usual, and excited over. my, increase in
salary. S
Everybody else had gone to bed, and
was lingering over the kitchen fire with
Mrs. Knight, drcading the plunge into my
cold room, where had allowed the fire to
60 out.
Tho 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 III have
TOMS basket ready by the time grandpa
has his hat and coat on. I hato to call him,
Tor he was complaining of rheumatism all
day, and the ground is very wet, although
the storm is over"
"Lct him Sleep" said; "Pll run over
with the basket. 1t is but STEP" ..
but 1T Is SO dark; are you not afraid z"
MOT bit; III slip on my waterproof
and rubbcrs, and draw the hood of my
cloak over my head"
"Well, If you will, though am afraid
Tom will scold at my letting you co."
"Pll put down tho basket and run, and
he will never know who left it,"
$50 into the rear basement doors; he
leaves that open for grandpa"
81 know"
lgrasped the handle Of tho basket, and
hurried across the space between the build
ing and the house, and stole softly in at
the basement door, in pursuance of my
plan to drop the basket aud run.
iii my rubber shoes my steps were
noiscless, and I had scarcely passed the
threshold when stood rooted to the floor
IN terrible amazement.
Somebody was talking. 81. .'"....
l crcpt forward and listened There
was a man IN tho vault, and light shono
under the door. j, -, ..,
While listened, some Qne said:
There is a confounded draft here; did
you shut the door, Smith?"
it opcn."' ''N''>
had just time to dart under tho STAIR.
case and crouch down, whom the door of
The vault opened and man camc out. 7
lie crossed the entry, drew two heavy,
noisy bolts, fastened the door by, which /
had entered, and returned without closing
the vault door. g e"
l could look in by the dim light and sec