Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-17

sp;ssv evidentlv had a fit of s.tbe blues,

"Dissy evidently had fit of 'the blues"
and yet she did not intend in the least to
be ungrateful to her good and kind friend
Joe She was a smart, clever girl and
ambitious. She had read many stories
and biographies of good and noble girls
who had become great and grand women:
Many time the warm blood had coursed
quickly through her veins as she read OF
the thrilling deeds done by such women as
Elizabeth Fry and Florence Nightingale,
and even by girls like Grace Darling and
Joan of Arc. Dissy wondered If any OF
them would have been heroines if they had
been banished to such dull and out-of-the-
way corner as Cranberry Creek, Ohio.
Even as she speculated thus the door was
opened and heavy football sounded on the
threshold. Dissy looked around to behold
tall and powerful man, total stranger.
''The operator is away?" he asked, in
tone which implied that he only sought for
confirmation of something he already knew.
"Yes, sr," said Dissy, for once rather
sorry to see fresh face at Cranberry Creek.
Chow long before No. passes heres'' IN
quired the man. Dissy looked at the CLOCK
on the wall and saw that it was just SIX
o'clock.
"In thirty-three minutes" she said, and
added, "that is, if it is on time. Sometimes
No. 9 is late"
Dissy hoped it would be late this evening.
| for she knew that No. 8 was the train mace
up entirely of express cars and she DID not
| like the looks of this strange man. She
hoped, yes, and silently prayed, that Joe
might return quickly. He had been gone
more than an hour already.
But the man, who was, indeed, bad fell
low, knew very well that the operator
would not be back yet awhile, for the man
who had enticed Joe into the woods on the
pretext of visiting the stave works was one
of his confederates.
81 want you to stop No. g." said the
stranger, with sharp scowl that very much
frightened the girl.
HBut cannot do that, SIR" she replied,
"without orders from the train dispatch.
er."
"You never mind the train dispatcher OF
his ORDERS" gruffiy answered the man.
"Just do as l tell you, and I'll explain tc
the train people. III give them mighty
good excuse" he said grimly enough. AS
be spoke he leisurely transferred from one
coat pocket to the other horrible looking
pistol. He did this TO brighten Dissy, and
to some extent he succeeded.
"Clicketty-click-c click. click" went the lit.
! tie hammer.
I "What are they saying ?" asked the des.
perado.
sThey are asking if it is all right to lei
No. 8 start from Newberry."
Eyes; and all you have to answer is OK
isn't that so?"
ono. sir; before they consider the road
clear must tell them what time the last
train passed here going east
"Well, hurry up and cue it as short as
possible. For, look you, my girl, you
mustn't tamper with me. I have lots OF
friends and if anything happens to me it
will 90 hard with you. Fire away, now!'
But Just then, and all in a moment,
Dissy thought of Joe Denman's kindness to
her and remembered how he had instructed
the cabin to her. She recollected, too, that
| if anything serious happened Joe might be
punished and discharged for leaving the
cabin without permission. And somehow
she thought of Grace Darling aud Joan OF
Arc. and it struck Dissy that if she YVES but
II year. old girl she might be brave and
true to her trust.
So with the skill and speed Of au expert
she touched the little telegraph key.
| .'Cick- click clicketty. click click click
was all it said to the train robber. But to
the operator at Renberry it said: Send the
sheriff and other help on No. 8. Robbers
here"
In few minutes loud rumblipg noise
was heard in the distance. 1t was No.
approaching and it was almost dark.
NOW, then," said the man, ''you wave
the red light, right here, and when the en-
CINE is at that mile post yonder wave the
white light for her to go on. Understand
now; my boys and will be near the post
and if you don't do as l have told you the
balls from half dozen pistols will fly clean
through you. That's all"
The man walked slowly up the track and
Dissy waved the red lantern as he had di.
rected.
The heavy train rumbled up slower au6
slower, until the engine was opposite the
post that Joe Denman was SO fond of. Their
five or six desperate and heavily armed
men boarded No 8, but instead of finding
the express men busy at their work they
were received very warmly by a sheriff 4
posse
Dissy did not wave the white light either
for she told her story to the engineer an(
conductor, who left couple of men to keel
the child company until Joe should return
Well, Dissy is now at one of the bes
seminaries in Ohio, and is no expense what
ever to Joe Denman; for she is generousl,
cared fer by the directors Of the Atlanti
and Pacific Express company. And i
Dissy does not shine before the world as
Grace Darling or Mollie Stark she ha
the satisfaction of knowing that under YER,
trying circumstances she did her duty. An,
what girl, or boy either, could do more?-
William II. s. Atkinson an Philddelphi
Times.