Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-10-06
OVER THE WIRES.

First, must tell you who l am, and
how / came to be in the Baysvillc bank in
the "wcc sma' hours" one drcary Dccem-
Der night, some three years ago.
My name was then Olive Hudson, anu l
was seventeen years old that same Decem-
Der night, and so small that Mrs. knights
Dolly, who was not twelve years old, was
half 4 head taller than myself.
We were rich folks once, but father
died and left lis very poor. Mother strug-
glcd along in weary hand-to-hand fight
with poverty until was sixteen, and then
died. She had rented two rooms of Mrs.
Knight, widow also, with two stalwart
SONS, an aged father, and two daughters.
After mother died | was adopted by the
knights, and, although 1 was earning
support rs music teacher IN the Baysyillc
Academy, | was like one OF the family
when was in my good landlady'S home.
They were all in good positions, but by
no means an aristocratic family. John,
the eldest son, was in New York in L
wholesale sugar house; Tom was the
night Hatchman at the Baysville bank
building, and grandpa-wc called him
grandpa-was telegraph operator of the
town, while Mary was millincr and
Dolly stayed ut the Office, sending and re-
ceiving messages.
The Baysville bank building was 4
large granite structure, containing the
post-otlicc and bank OH the first floor, the
telegraph Office and 4 number OF private
law Offices on the second floor. In the base
ment were post-office rooms for sorting
the mail, and also the large bank vault.
knew the building well, for was fond
of tclcgraphing, and spent half my leisure
time perchcd up beside grandpa while he
slept peacefully or read the newspapers.
and that was the beginning of my
amusement ut Dryden, the next station.
The operator ut Dryden was wit, and
flashed nonsense to our Office, hut if were
there | sent back jest for jest, and some
times IN hour slipped by like Il minute as
we talked over the wires of every topic
under the sun. lie called himself "Lion,"
aud I, for nonsense, signed myself "Ele-
phant," laughing as | did so at the refec-
ton of my tiny figure in the office mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only five miles
from Baysvillc, was C, large COM
mcrcial town, the nearest railway station,
and where IN office was always open for
the accommodation of travellers.
As | have said, Tom Knight was the
night watchman of Baysville bank build
ing, and lonely time he had of it. The
last mail came by stage at O'Clock i'll the
afternoon, and the poSt-oflicc was vacated
at six. The bank closed ut three, aud by
six o'clock every office was vacated for
the night.
At seven Tom was on duty, and grand
pa, who was resting ut night, was in the
habit OF taking down some coffee and
luncheon, rs the building was only
stones throw from the house.
On the December night | have already
mentioned, it had stormed heavily all
day, and | had taken new GLASS at the
academy, coming home later in the day
than usual, and excited over my increase
in salary.
Everybody else had gone to bed, and l
was lingering over the kitchen fire with
Mrs. Knight, dreaGing the plunge into ny
cold room, where 1 had allowed the fire
to go out.
The clock struck twelve, aud 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 have
Toms basket ready by the time grandpa
has his hat and coat on. | hate to call
him, for he was complaining of rhcuma-
tism all day, and the ground is very wet
although the storm is over"
''Lct him Sleep" said; 'I'll run over
with the basket. 1t is but q step"
''But it is 50 dark are you not afraid?"
"Not bit; I'll slip on my waterproof
and rubbers, and draw the hood of my
cloak over my head"
"well, if you will, though 1 am afraid
Tom will scold ut my letting you go"
.'I'll put down the basket and run, and
he will never know who left it,"
$50 into the rear basement door; he
leaves that open for grandpa"
81 know"
| grasped the handle OF the basket, and
hurried across the space between the
building and the house, and stole softly
in at the basement door, in pursuance Of
my plan to drop the basket aud run.
In my rubber shoes my steps were
nOiseiesS, and I had scarcely passed the
threshold when stood rooted TO the floor
in terrible .amazement.
Somebody Was talking.
| crcpt forward and listened. There
was a man in the vault, and light shone
under the door.
While listened somebody said:
''There is a confouEded draft here; did
YOU shut the door, Smith 90
eyes, but the wind might have blown
it OPEN"
had just time to dart under the stair
case and crouch down when the door Of
the vault opened a man came out.
lie crossed the entry, drew two heavy
noisy bolts, fastened the door 5y which