The Russellville Democrat., 1889-02-28
OUR PRIVATE LINE.
The Story Told by Railroad Sta-
 tron Agent.


 tfon Agent.
 Itwas bot afternoon-some of you may know how hot it can be on the prairie when there is no wind.
 was sitting in the little ticketJoffice of the railroad station at which l was agent. From the window could see the hot air rising from the sus-burned buffalo grass, giving to the lonely ranch buildings scattered here and there in the distance an unstable, wavering appearance, as though they might at any moment blow away.
 Presently out of the silence there came the footballs of horses hoofs, stopping at the platform, and followed by queer begging" sound over the blanks and into the waiting-room. looked up and saw boy of about four teen standing in the doorway. His right leg was amputated above the knee, and he supported himself on a pair of light crutches. which had sung-straps like an army carbine.
 He handed me an express order for a package to Colonel Reed, pnpmi- nent cattleman, whose ranch buildings were about a mile south of the track.
 Are you the Colonel's sonPn 1 asked, as handed out the package.
 "Yes, sir" was the reply. Charles Reed is my name.n
 Then he turned and looked curious ly in at the telegraphic instruments. He had such a bright healthy and wide-awakc air, that invited him to walk in and examine.them, if he wished.
 His eyes frightened immediately.
 ''rd 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 briefly the working of the key and sounder, and tried to give him some idea how a message was sent and received. He listened atten- lively, and seemed to comprehend pretty well.
 "Yes,n he said, as I conclud ed, "I know something about it, though only through what 1 have read Would you mind writing out the alphabet for mepn
 l wrote out the characters on slip of paper, which he tucked carefully away in his pocket-boo1; and then. finding l was a stranger to that part of the West. he volunteered some infor- nation about the country, including a remarkably aecur description Of the game birds and their habits, which, as sportsman, found very interesting. Before he left he told me that he had lost his leg during an Indian raid about four years ago, before the railroad was built. His fathers ranch had been at tackled without any warning. He was only ten years old at the time, and be- Ing out of doors he had slipped away unobseryed, and hidden in the corral, and while there was hit by a stray rife ball in the knee.
 accompanied h to the door when he was ready to go, and was surprised to see how thoroughly at home he was on his pony. With his crutches slung behind him, he swung nimbly into the saddle, and started of toward home on brisk gallop.
 One afternoon, about a week later, he dropped in again, having mean while learned the telegraphic alphabet so that he could repeat all the char acters easily. and next day the Colonel himself stopped in on his way to town. He was brisk, genial man, who had habit of shaking hands with every one. He was typical frontier ranch man.
 See here, Mir Agent" be said, that boy of mine has hankeriug to learn your business. He's kind of lonesome, you see-he can't play with the other boys on account of his leg - and now if you don't mind havin' him around, and will teach him what you can-he's pretty bright, and can learn most any thing why I'll make it worth your while. Whats your chargeP"
 Why, Colonel, 1 replied, laughing at his business-like manner, II shall be glad to have him around-I am lonesome here-so we won't draw mp any contract
 Charley was an apt pupil. In about month he could send and receive a message, though, of course not very rapidly His father was so delighted with his progress that he made me a present of a riding pony; and shortly after, when Charley got it into his head that it would be a fine thing to have private line from the ranch to the station, the Colonel had me order two instruments and coil of wire from Chicago
 Under my direction the cowboys put it up, and though it wasn't stretched very tight, and the poles were only fenee-posts splioed together it worked as well as the main line. The iustru. ment on my end Of the line I did not care to have in the office, for fear that officious gentleman, the lineman, would object, and SO l set it up on one side of the big, empty'freight-room
 The autumn was now well advanced,