The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-03-15

An Incident in the Lifo OF q Tele-
graph Operator.


While in "A small town in Wyoming
Territory / learned that a lady living
there had been the heroine OF a thrill
ing adventure with train robbers. and
curiosity and love for the brave in
duccd me "a call on her to tell me the
story. says writer in the Hartford
Times. When ! went 70 her house !
was welcomed by handsome lady Of
about thirty, and in response to my
earnest request for this one chapter
OF her life she related the following:
s.In 1873. when but a girl Of eight
con. left my home in Omaha and
came out here TO fill the lonesome
position Of a night operator at a small
station on the Pacific railway in this
Territory. II was drcary. desolate
spot IN the midst OF desert The
only buildings al the station. apart
from the depot. were section house.
occupied by track foreman and a
few Chinese labOrers. a water tank
and coal she'd The day operator
and agent. mere boy. slept at the
section house. about two hundred
yards distant. so that during the long.
dreary night / was alone in the depot
mo. 4 express train. bound East.
was due at 2:lj in the morning. but IL
never stopped unless signalcd. and as
this was the only train during the
latter portion OF the night you can
imagine my lonely situation upon the
desert wild. had my books and guitar
FOR companions and passed much Of
the time reading. and when the dole
full howlings Of the wolves were borne
70 my ears from the distant sand hills
! would pick up my guitar and en-
deavor 20 drown their cries with
music and song.
1.-The superintendent OF the division.
buoyant. high-spirited young gentle
man. came over the road at frequent
intervals and cheered me up with
promises Of a better position when
vacancy should occur. He
often found me on the very brink
OF despair. almost on the point
OF resigning my position and
returning to my humble home and
the mother who depended on my
salary for the ncce'sarics Of life;
but his promises. his genial con-
verzation and words OF encouragement
drove away the gloom. and came to
look for his visits with sense Of the
keencst pleasure began to regard
him with sisterly affection. he was
90 kind and tender. and so solicitous
for my welfare and comfort
Zone night shortly after midnight.
a. l sat at my table reading late
novel. thought ! heard shutting
foots;ep on the depot platform; but as
il was not repeated concluded 1t was
but wolf more daring than his cow
ardiy fellows. and resumed my book.
A few moments later heard low
knocking at the door. which | always
Kept locked. and a strange feeling
came over me During my several
weeks stay at the station had never
had a visitor. and the sudden knock.
80 low, yet 50 startlingly clear in the
stiffness Of the night, caused my form
to trcmble and my cneek to blanch.
MY first thought was OF Indians,
and then I reasoned that it might BE-
some tramps desiring shelter. While
snt there in alright tho knock was
repeated louder than before. and mus.
tering all my courage ! approached
the door and asked:
..Who's thcre?
"A grutT voice replied:
49, traveller who desires to take the
EaSt-bound train
1T was my plain and unmistakabls
duty 70 admit him. and. with trembling
fingers. drew the bolt
'.Instantly the door was pushed vio'
!cntly open. and | sprang back 70 the
table and sank into my chair in terror,
<xhen seven burly men. wearing cloth
masks on their faces and armed 70 the
teeth. entered the Office. One Of them,
evidently the leader. walked up 70 me
and. pointing . large revolver TO my
head. said In low. firm voice:
zeal. we don't want to hurt yon,
but II you make a -uspici~us move. q
scrcam. or give anv ALAN 50 thai