West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-03-07
THE C0LONEL'S son.
A srArIoN-AoENr's STORY.

III was n hot afteTnoon--some OF Won
may know how hot IT can be on the prairie
when there is no wind.
was sitting in the little ticket office
oil the railroad station at which I was
agent. From the window | could see
the hot air rising from the sun-burned
buffalo grass, giving TO the lonely ranch
buildings scattered here and there i'm tho
oil tance an unstable. wavering appear
ance' as though they might at any
moment blow away.
PRESENTLY out of the silence there came
the FOOTBALLS OF horses hoofs. stop.
ping at the platform, and followed by a
queer 'pegging' sound over the blanks
and into the waiting room. Hooked up
ana saw boy Of about fourteen stand.
ing in the doorway. His right leo was
amputated above the knee, and he sun.
ported himself on pair of light crutches.
which had sling-straps like an army
carbine.
lie handed me an express order for n
package to Colonel Reed, prominent
cattleman, whose ranch buildings were
about mile south of tho track.
Are you the ColOnel's son2" asked.
as | handed out the package.
Yes, sir, " was the reply. "Charles
Reed is my name"
Then he turned and looked cur.ously
IN at the telegraph instruments. He had
such bright, healthy and wde.awakc
air, that 1 invited him to walk in and
examine them, if he wished.
iseyes frightened Immediately.
I'D like to, If you don't mind. The
other agent was cross, and was afraid
to ask him."
Seeing that he was interested in them
explained br ely the working of the
key aud sounder, and tried to give him
some idea how message was sent and
received. lie listened attentiyely, and
seemed TO comprehend pretty well.
Yes" he said as concluded, 81
know something about it, though only
through what have read. Would yoi,
mind writing out the alphabet for me )
wrote out the characters on a slip Of
paper, which he tucked carefully hway
In his pocket-boOk and then, finding I
was stranger to that part OF the West.
he volunteered some information about
the country, including a remarkably ac.
curate description Of the game birds and
their habits, which, as a sportsman I
found very interesting. Before he left
he told me that he had lost his lcp dur-
ing an Indian raid about four yeaFs ooo
before the railroad was built. lis
fathers ranch had been attacked without
warning. He was only ten years Old at
the time, and being out of doors. he had
slpped away unobseryed and hidden i'm
the corral, and willie there was hit bv n
stray rifle ball in the knee.
accompanied him to the door when
nc was ready to go, and was surprised
TO see how thoroughly at home he was
on bis pony. With his crutches sluno
behind him, he swung nimbly into the
saddle, and started of toward home on
brisk gallop.
One afternoon, about week later. he
dropped in again, having meanwhile
learned the telegraphc alphabet so thai
he could repeat all the characters easily.
and next day the Colonel hims elf stoned
IN on his way to town. lie was brisk
genial man, who had habit Of shaking
hands with every one lie was a tvpi-
cal frontier ranchman
See here, Mr. Agent" nc said, "that
boy Of mine has hankering 10 lean
your business. He's kind oil lonesome.
you seo--he can't play with the other
boys on account OF his leg-and now II
you don't mind havin him around. asd
will teach him what you can--he's pretty
bright. and can learn most anything.
why, Ill make il worth your while.
Whats your charger
why, Colonel, replied. lauohinly
OF his business like manner, 81 shall be-
glad 70 have him around-f am lonesome
here--so We won't draw up any con.
tract"
Charley was an apt pupil In about
month be could send and receive mes.
sage, though OF course not very rapidlv.
His father was so delighted with his pro
gress that he made me present OF
riding pony and shortly after, when
Charley got IL into his head that IL
would be o fine thing to have a private
line from the ranch 20 the station. the
Colonel had mo order two instruments
and q coil of wire from Chicago.
Under my direction the COWBOYS uut
Il up, and though 10 wasn't stretched
very tight, and The poles were only fence
posts splicod toe ether, 10 worked as well
as The main lino The instrument ON
my end Of the line ] did not care TO
have in the Office Tor fear that oaicious
gentleman the lineman. would object
aud so ] set 10 up on one side Of the biv
empty freight room
The autumn was now well advanced
and I found that my duties, instead OF
increasing, grew lighter There were
but few freight trains every other day
and The daily mail and express. Fast
and West, went through between the
hours Of one and folr in the morning
go that ! had % great deal Of time oB
my hands. / spent much Of 10 shooting
chickens with Char'o5 De was ON OK
cellent shot frpm Che saddle though ho