Connecticut western news., 1888-08-29
A SOLITARY PASSENGER


 The 10 50 trail from White Peak was late that snowy February night. It never was what one would call pain fully prompt train, but tonight it was fully Atty minutes behlnd its usual time and the telegraph operator had nearly fallen asleep behind tho pano of ground glass over which the worl "Tickets" was inscribed in half circle and tow ard which most inartistically fore shortened hand was depicted as extend Ing gilt finger for the enlightenment of the general ublic.
 Not that the Big Pine telegraph was ordinarily open tt so late an hour as this. Seven o'clock was the usuel period of closing. Nor had Flu ico Barlow any official right to the tall wooden stool behind the semicircuiar gilt legend re- ferring to "Tickets." In manner sho had had greatness thrust upon her. Old Mir. Pettyclove, who represented the majesty of the railway company in this particular spot, had gone home in tho early dusk with raging facial neural. gia, and in common humanity Eunice could not havo refused temporarily to assume his position with its duties.
 'It will be only another hour of work" she told herself, cheerfully, as she put an additional log of frost fringed wood into the little air tight stove. "Whcn the 10 50 has passed can shut up the place and go homo. There are only two night freights, and the conductors on both of them have keys to tho freight house."
 Suddenly the silence was broken by the tiniest sound, like the throbbing of some small silver heart. Eunice jump up, iustiu ctively, obediont to tho call of her autocrat, tho telegraph.
 "A messagew she thought. 'And at this time of tho night. Well, won- ders will never coase."
 A message it was: to P.tcr Petty clove, station agont at Biz Pine sta tion.
 Dedication in Homo Bank. Detain pas senger on train No. 2l. Small, dark, wear ing fur-trimmed coat. Keep in custody un- til further notice. H. V. CARTER,
 Chief of Police at White Peak.
 Almost before sho had deciphcred these words, Eunice Barlow tclegra phed back '.All right;' and once more tho small silver heart left off its tumultuous throbbings. And not until then did tn, telegraph operator roalizo what a very peculiar position she was in. All alonc at Big Pine Station, and ><tficlally au- thorizod, in right of her b;titution, to arrest bank defilcator on tho spot!
 Even while sho ponderei on this un- expected state of things there was a cu- rious thrill and tremble of tho floor beams under her feet; shrill stesm whistle ri ing above tho sustained roar of the tempest. The 10 50, officially known as No. 21, was swinging around the curve.
 Iu an instant Eunice Barlow was out in the deep snow of the rude board plat form with the lighted lantern in her hand. The conductor of tho train was not at all surprised to see her there. He knew that Peter Pettyclovc was old and feeble, and a sl iritcd ycuag female tel. egraph operator is rather at her full value in the Big Pine section. She tried to signal to him that she wanted tc speak to him, lut the binding snow drove its shroudlike sheets betwoon them. He smiled and nodded to her ir the aggravatiug way that mon have when they are particularly obtuse, shouted some incomprehensiblo com. ment on tho weather, helped to loosen the brakes, and was an eighth of a mile up tic track before Euuice's lantern light fell on singlo black fyuro, it. hat pulled ovor its eyes, it's form closely luttoned up ina fur-trimmed over coat.
 'Is this the station7' said Q low, vol modulated voice, which gave Miss Bar. low the idea that the unhappy gentle man of justice was a gentleman borr and bred. "Whcro are the porters Upon my word" Hooking around aftel Q bewildered fashion, 'I'm afraid they've forgotten to put off my luggage Isn't there fire somewhere here abouts7'
 Eunico Barlow looked solemnly a, him as sho opened tho door into th bright, cheerfully lighted little station Yes, the telegraphed description hat been correct. Ho was small and dark and, poor fellow, he looked as if he wa half frozen to death. But now aros the per. .,lexing question, how was sh to "detain him2
 'Y.u are mistaken, sir," she said, il answer to his questions. ''There are n poIters here. There is no hotel noare than the Pino Barrens, four miles away The agent is detained at home by sick ness, and am the telegraph operator on duty In his absence"
 "Csn you tell me, pleaded the .ol ] sss5 passsassp "whsss { saa 1si