The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-21

silver Innings" Again she read:
4" Crowds patronize it daily" and in
her mind she added, "The crowds all
leave the cars before they reach this
part of the road, for l don't see one
new face day."
Dissy evidently had a 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 Nightin-
gale, and even by girls like Grace OAR
ling and Joan of Arc. Dissy won
dered 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, a
total stranger
"The operator is away?" he asked,
in tone which implied that he only
sought for confirmation of something
he already knew.
Yes, sir" said Dissy, for once
rather sorry to see fresh face at
Cranberry Creek.
" How long before No. passes
here?" inquired the man. Dissy looked
at the clock on the wall and saw that it
was Just six O'Clock.
d" 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 made up entirely of express
this strange man. She hoped, yes, and
silently prayed, that Joe might return
quickly. lie had been gone more than
an hour already.
But the man, who was, indeed, bad
fellow, knew very well that the operator
would not be back yet awhile, for the
man who enticed Joe into the woods
on the preteXt of visiting the stave
works was one of his confederates.
g want you to stop No. O." said the
stranger, with sharp scowl that very
much frightened the girl.
But can not do that, sir,' she re-
piled, " without orders from the train
dispatcher"
You never mind the train dis
patcher or his ORDERS" gruffly answered
the man. "Just do as l tell you, and
I'll explain to the train people. I'll
give them mighty good excuse" he
said grimly enough. As he 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-click " went the
little hammer
What are they sayipg?" asked the
desperate.
"They are asking if it is all right to
let No. 8 start from Newberry.
Yes; and all you have to answer is
o. K.-isn't that SOP"
No, sir; before they consider the
road clear must tell them what time
the last train passed here going east"
swell, hurry up and cut it as short
as possible. For, look you, my girl
you mustn't tamper with me. | have
lots of friends and if anything happens
to me it will go hard with you. Fire
away, now!"
But just then, and all in moment
Dissy thought of Joe Denman's kind.
ness to her and remembered how he
had intrusted the cabin to her. She
recollected, too, that if anything seri,
Gus happened Joe might be punished
and discharged for leaving the cabin
without permission. And somehow
she thought of Grace Darling and Joan
of Arc, and it struck Dissy that if she
was but a twelve-year-old girl she
might be brave and true to her trust.
So with the skill and speed of an ex
pert she touched the little telegraph key
"Click-cick- clicketty- click click
click " was all it said to the train rob
Der. But to the operator at Renberry
it said: "Send the sheriff and othe
help on No. 9. Robbers here"
In few minutes loud rumblins
noise was heard in the distance.
was No. 8 approaching and it was al
most dark.
Now, them said the man, " 20,
wave the red light, right here, anC
when the engine is at the mile post yon
ueT wave the WHlle lgnl lOr ner TO on
Understand, now; my boys and | viii
be near the post and if you don't do al
/ have told you the balls from half I
dozen pistols will fly clean through you
That's all"
The men walked slowly up the tract
and Dssy waved the red lantern as hi
had directed.
The heavy train tumbled up slower
and slower, until the engine was op
posite the post that Joe Denman wa'
so fond Of. Then five or six desperate
and heavily armed men boarded No. 8
but instead of finding the express mel
busy at their work they were received
very warmly by sheriff posse.
Dissy did not wave the white ligh
either, for she told her story to the en-
gineer and conductor, who left a coupl,
,, of men to keep the child company unit
Joe should return.
Well, Dissy is now at one of the best
seminaries in Ohio, and is no expens,
whatever to Joe Denman; for she i
generously cared for by the director