Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-07-05

iii then did the telegraph operator re-
allie what a very peculiar position she
was in. All alone AZ Big Pine station.
and officially authorized. in right of
her substitution. 10 arrest a bank de-
falcator ON the spot
Even while She ponderrd ON this I'M
expected state Of things there wa a
curious thrill and tr-mhle Of the floor
heam- under her feet: u ~hrill steam
whistle rising above the Sustained roar
Of 10" tempest. The 1870. officially
known AS No. p. was swinging around
the curve.
In an instant Eunic,, Barlow was out
In the deep snow 81 the rude board
platform with the lighted lantern in
her hand. The conductor Of the train
was not NJ all surprised to -rc hor
there. He know that Peter Pettyrlove
was old and feeble. and a spirited
young female telegraph operat-
or il rated at her fulI
value in the Big Pine section.
SHe tried 10 signal him that she wanted
Ia speak To- him. but the binding snow
drove it- -hrouslike sheets between
them. lie smiled and nodded ~ her
in AN ~aggravating way that men have
when they are particularly obtu-e.
shouted some incomprrhensihlc COM
meut ON The weather. hclpcd to loosen
the brakes, and was an eighth Of a
mile up the track before Eunics's Ian
tern light fell on "a single black figure.
It's hat pulled over its eyes. its form
closely buttoned mp in "A fur-trimmcd
overroat,
is this the sta,ion'" said a low.
well-modulated voice, which gave Miss
Barlow the idea that the unhappy
victim Of justice was n gentleman born
and bred Whore are the p~ortcrS9
Upon my word" Cooking around after
a bcwiidercd fashion,. I'm afraid
They've forgotten To put OF my lug
gage. Isn't there "A fire somewhere
he~rrtbout~2'
Eunice Barlow looked solemnly NJ
him A. she opened the door into tho
bright. Observation-Disclosures little station.
Yes. the photographed description had
been correct. H. wu- small and dark,
and. poor fellow, he looked ~ IN he
was half frozen 10 death. But now
arose the perplcxiug question. how
was she 10 .dctaiu him9"
Il can lock him into the ticket
Office she thought { o herself. He
will be safe enough until Mr.. Petty
Glove comes in the morning. But.
poor fellow lido feel sorry for him"
The solitary Passenger fell headlong
into the trap laid for him by the telc-
graph operator. He walked directly
into the ticket Office, and sat down.
with a weary sigh. on the tall wooden
stool which had lately served Miss
Barlow as a throne of Office.
Only about a. old ~ our Victor
would have been had he lived
Thought EuHice. ~Oh. I wonder what
sinister influence he'd him into thi. ter
rible mistake. | wonder You ara
mistaken, sir. she said. aloud. in an
swer 10 his reiterated questions.
'tIhere are no portcrs here. There Is
no hotel ue1rjr than the Pine B~arreas,
four miles away. The agent 4, de-
tanned ~ home by sickness. and I am
the telegraph operator. on duty in his
absence
The stranger uttered "A long. low
whistle. Il think, said he. Il must
have managed to alight nj the Jump
ing-of place Of all the world. What's
70 be done. | wondcra-
IL looked so cold. 50 youthful. so
utterly desolate. that Eunice Barlow's
heart BLEED for him in his solitude and
peril.
Even If he has gone wrong she
~pondered. with all a young girls
optimism. 'he may do better if he can
only get "a chance. After all. am not
the station agent. How can they ex-
peel me. "a woman, To usurp the place
Of the officers Of the law2 | coaia de-
tain him perfectly Well, but
Can You tell me. pleaded the soli-
tary passenger. where | can ret n
nights lodging and something to eat2
II Is six hours since we left the supper
station. and | am just recovering from
a siege Of malarial fever. surely there
must be SOME one around here who
could act as my guide
There is no one here but me. said
Miss Barlow. locking the cash drawer.
aud preparing to eXtingui-h the one
reiector-lamp that glowed above the
new arrivals head. But il Won
choose To 20 home with me I dare saw
my mother will give you some supper
and "a bed. Our house i the neares
10 this place. And tomorrow with
IA somewhat significant pause-.you
can begin a new career"
I'm awfully obliged 10 YOU" said
h gentleman, jumping up with alac-
rity. But how many careers Der
week do these Westeruers count upona
I've no objection, for my part. to the
old one continued
Miss Barlow face remained ~inexor-
ably grave. She considered il no part
ot herduty To c-ountenanee lippancylike
this. She locked the station. and hung
the key on its hooked nail close within
he latticed easement outside. where
winds could not hurt il AWAY nor
Storm disturb IL. before she said.
quietly; fhi, way. please. The
EHt y"u 5 Z
you are a little careful. otherwise YOU
viii lind the way rather steep and mar
row down the hill You are. perhaps.
unaware that "a telegram describing