Oxford Democrat., 1889-06-04

been hcroincs II they had been banished
Ia such dull and out-of.the-way corner
as Cranberry Greek. Ohio.
Even NJ she spcculated thus the door
was opened and sheavy football sounded
ON the threshold. Dissy looked around
to behold tall and powerful man, a total
stranger.
"The operator l. awayr' he asked. In q
tone which implied that he only sought
for confirmation Of something he al
rcady knew.
"Ycs, SIR said Dissy. for once rather
sorry 20 seo fresh face at Cranberry
Greek.
"iIow long before No. 9passcs here
inquired tho man. Dis-y looked at the
clock on the wall and saw that IL was
just o o'clock.
In thirty.thrce minutes" she ssid.
and added. "that i. II u j. on time.
Sometimes No. y l. late.
Dis.y hopcd IL would lc late this even.
ing. for she knew that No. o was the
train made up entirely ~ express carr
and she did not like the looks % this
strange man. She hoped. y--. and ~.
lcntly prayed. that Joc might return
quickly. lie had bccn gone more than
an hour already.
hut the man. who was. indeed. lad
fellow, knew very well that the operator
would not L. lack yet awhile, for the
man who hal cnticcd joe into the woo.ls
on the prctcNt of visiting the stave
works was ono 81 his oonfcdcrates.
Il want YOU to stop No. p." said the
stranger. with sharp scowl that very
much frightened the girl
"But I cannot DO that. sir. shc re-
piled. without orders FROM the train
dispatcher"
"You never mind the train dispatcher
or his oriers.- grufiiy answered the man.
"Jusi do NJ tell you. and I'll explain 10
The train people. I'll give them a
mighty good excuse" be said grimly
enough. A. be spoke he lcisurcly trans.
fcrcd from one coat pocket to the other
/. horrible looking pistol lie did this to
frighisn Dissy. and 90 some extent be
succeeded
"Clickctty-click-click click" went the
little hammer.
What are they ayingY- asked the
dcsIsrado
They aro asking II II sail right 20 let
so. start from Ncwbcrry."
"Yc.. and all you have to answer Is
O. K.-isnt that soy
NO. air. b,for they consider the road
clear must tell them what time the last
train pas-.-d herc going east"
well. hurry up and cut Il a. short n
possible. For. look you. my girl. yOu
mustn't tampcr with me. have lots ~
friends anil II anything happens 10 me IL
will go hard with you. firc away. nowf
But Just then. AMI all In moment,
Dlssy thought - joe Dcnmans Kind
nee. to her AMI remembered how he h..al
intrustcd the cabin o. her. She rccol-
loctcd. too. that II anything SERIOUS hap
Iencd Joe might L. punished and dis
charged for leaving the cabin without
permission. And somehow sho thought
Of Grace Darling and Joan ~ Arc. and
IL struck Dissy that II she was but ~.
ycar..ld girl she might 10 brave and
true to her trust.
- with the skill and speed ~ an en-.
pert she touched the little telegraph key.
"Click click clicketty click click
click" was all u aid % the train robbcr.
hut 10 the operator az Renberry Il said'
'Scnd the sheriff and other help on No.
y. Robbcr. here"
In a few minutes n loud uimbling
noisa was heard In the distance. IL was
No. approaching and It was almost
dark.
"Now. then said the man. ''you wave
the red light. right here. and when the
engine l. NJ that mile post yondcr wave
the white light Tor her 90 go on. Under
stand. nov; my boys and will L. near
the post and II YOU don't do NJ have
told YOU the halls from half dozen pis-
.ols viii ny clean through YOU. That's
all"
Tho man walked slowly up the track
and Dissy waved the rel lantern ~ hc
had directed.
The heavy train rumblcd up slower
AMI slower. until the engine was opposite
the post that joe Dcnman was ~ fond 81.
Then five or six desperate and heavily
armed men boarded No. .. but instead
of finding the cNpscss men busy at their
work they were received very warmly
by a sherfrs pose.
Dissy did not wave the white light
either. for she told her story 20 the en-
ginecr and conductor. who left a couple
Of men 10 keep the child company until
Joe should return.
Well. Dissy u now at one Of the best
summaries In Ohio. and u no expense
whatever 10 Joe Dcnman; for shc IL
generously cared for by the directors of
the Atlantic and Pacific Express com
pany. And II Dissy does not shine be-
fore the world as Grace Darling or a
Mollie Stark she has the satisfaction OF
knowing that under very trying circum-
stances she did her duty. And what girl.
or boy either, could do morel-William
II. \. Atkinson in Philadelphia Times.