Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-23
NINE.

Nobody would take little Mike Mark
ham for heroine, nor would one sup
pose that the little quiet figure possessed
enough nerve to save hundreds of lives
by her prompt action, but this was the
way of it: It was hot summer after
noon, and the most absolute quiet
reigned over the little railroad station
of Parkertown, up in Northern New
England, on these sweltering July days.
Not even the customary loafers were
around, and only at train-time was there
any show of life.-
The down train was due at $40, but,
until then, as the sensational story
writers say, sail was quiet as the
grave"
Mike was the station agents daughter
and only child. She was Is, although
80 small she looked some three years
younger, and was usually as quiet as a
mouse-"not much zip to her." the
country folks said. In spite of the cur
rent opinion, however, she had, except
the small portion of time which the little
country town set apart for the social
season, spent nearly all the time in the
ticket Office with her father, either read
ing the few books and papers that came
in her way, or "unbeknown to her
father, picking up, letter by letter and
word by word, the sounds of the Morse
instrument; and, finally, one day she
astonished her father by taking tele-
gram by sound, giving him a neat
"copy."
From that day Mike was installed as
telegraph operator, and the indulgent
father often said "Nick could run that
Office. Jest as well as he could himself
which, considering that Mr.. Markham
was considered by the boys ga plug
operator" might be doubtful compli-
ment to Mike.
Well, on this particular afternoon we
are talking about, the aforesaid "plug"
sauntered into the depot with trouble
enthroned on his majestic brow.
"Nick, I'm summoned on jury case
up to the Centre village this afternoon.
It's too late to get anybody here, even
s'posing there was anybody to get. What
are we going to do about it? S'pose
you can tend the concern alone till I get
back-probably by 6?''
81 guess SO, father" replied Mike;
"there won't be much of anything to
do. Likely there won't be many passen-
gers for the down train this hot day, and
hope I know enough to sell ticket or
two, if there are"
swell, see that those boxes go by
express. The way-bills are ready and
In the drawer-guess you'll get along all
right off he went, leaving Mike
mistress of the situation phrase
meant more than you might imagine on
that very particular day.
At first shefelt her newly acquired i'm
pertance somewhat, and stepped around
briskly. busting the musty little Office,
and watering the few plants in the
window, but, there being absolutely
nothing to do, she dropped into inactiv-
ity and listened to the click of the tele-
graph instruments, which to her was as
companionable as the talk of near
friends would be. As the afternoon
passed drowsily along the heat and still
ness overcame her, and, dropping her
haxen head on the desk before her, she
was soon-as one of the good old ladies
OF Parkerstown was wont to express it
Gin the arms of Morphine"
Afterward, the first thug she could
remember about it, voice seeming to
come from her dreams said: ss'Tain't
likely she's left here alone, and asleep;
too"
"No," responded another evil voice.
"the old mans prob1y around some
where-but," in lower tone, "come
on, let's go long. The down train'n be
along. and Wen lay 'em out"
Mike was wide-awake enough now,
but she had presence of mind in her
small body, and realized that safety lay