Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-08-31
over THE WIRES"

First / must tell you who / am, and
how / came to be i'll the Baysvllle
bank in the ''wcc sma hours" ono
dreary December night, some three
years ago.
Nv name was then Olive Hudson,
and | was seventeen years old that
same December 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
hand fight with poverty until ] was
sixteen, and then died She had rent
ed two rooms of Mrs Knight, wild
0w, also, with two stalwart sons, an
aged father, and two daughters. After
mother died | was adopted by the
Knights, and, although ] was earn
ing support rs music teaching III the
BaysviIle academy. ! was like one OF
the family when was in my good
landladys home.
They were all IN good positions, but
by no means an ariStOCratIc family.
John. the oldest son was III New York
in wholesale sugar house; Tom was
the night Waterman ut the Baysvillc
bank building, and grandpa we all
call him grandpa-was telegraph
operator of the town, while Mary was
millincr and Dolly stopped at the
office, sending and receiving mes
sagcs.
The Baysvillc bank building was Il
- L., ,,r
the post office and bank on the first
floor, the telegraph office and II mum
Der of private law offices on the third
floor. In the basement were post of
flee rooms for sorting the mail, and
also the large bank vault.
knew the building well, for was
fond of telcgraphIng, and spent half
my leisure time pcrclied up beside
grandpa while he slept peacefully or
read the newspapers.
And that was the beginning of my
amusement at Dryden, the next sta
ton. The operator ut Dryden was Il
wit, and flashing nonsense to our of
lice, but if were there | sent back
Jest for Jest, and sometimes an hour
slipped by like Il minute as we talked
over the wires of every topic under
the sun. He called himself Lion,
and |, for nonsense, signed myself
elephant, laughing as | did SO at
the reflection of my Tiny IingurS in the
Office mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only five
miles from Raysville, was G, Il
large commercial town, the nearest
Il N,sl,A ,,lf
was always open for the accommoda-
ton Of travellers.
As have said, Tom Knight was the
night Waterman of BaySville bank
building, and Il lonely time he had of
it, The last mail came by stage at 4
O'Clock in the afternoon, aud the post
office was vacated ut six. The bank
closed ut three, and by SiN o'clock
every office was deserted for the
night
At seven Tom was ON duty, and
grandpa, who was resting ut night,
was in the habit of taking down some
coffee and luncheon, as the building
was only stones throw from the
house.
On the December night have al
ready mentioned, il had stormed
heavily all day, and | had taken Il
new class at the academy, coming
home later in the day than usual,
and excited over my increase in sal
AIRY.
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 go out
The clock struck twelve, and Mrs,
Knight, lifting her face from over the
fire, said
"Do call grandpa, Olive, hc'Saslecp
on the sofa Ill the sitting room. I'll
have Toms basket ready by the time
grandpa has his hat and coat on,
hate to call him, for he was complain
ing of rheumatism all day, and the
ground is very wet although the
storm is over.
LET him sleep" said; "I'll run
over with the basket 1t is but a
step"
but ii is SO dark; are You not
afraid"
Not bit; III slip on my water
proof and rubherS, and draw the hood
of my cloak over my head.
We'll. if you will, though | am
afraid Tom will scold ut my letting
you go
"'Tll put down the basket and run,
and he will never know who left it. v
Go into the rear basement door
he leaves that open for grandpa.
II know.
| graSped the handle of the basket,
and hurried across the space between
the building and the house, ana
stole softly in al the basement door
in pursuance of my plan TO drop the
basket and run.
In my rubber shoes my steps wcr,
noiSclesS. and ] had scarcely paSSeC
the threshold when ! stood rooted (,
the floor in terrible amazcmcut.
Somebody was talking.
| crept forward and listened. Their,
was man i'll the vault, and ligh
Shone under the door
While | listened somebody said
There is COMPOUNDED draft here
did YOU shut the door Smith2"
Yes, but the wind might hav,
blpN u II ppCu'
| had just time to dart under tn,
staircase and crouch down, when tn,
door of the vault opened and a man
came out.
He crossed the entry drew two
heavy, noisey bolts, fastened the doc
by which had entered, and returned
without closing the vault door.
could look in by the dim light anC
see two meu working at the safe lock
by the stream of light thrown from
dark lantern.
There was the outline of a MAJ
bound and gagged upon the floor ant
| could only conjecture that it wa
Tom, for l could not see distinctly.
There i was nearly Gagged. for j
would be impossible for me to draw
those heavy bolts without attracting
notice. And the bank was being rob
bed, that was evident. How could
prevent it9 l could not reach Tom
Suddenly l remembered the telegraph
Office on the second floor. If / coul