Mohave County miner., 1889-08-03
MIKE.

ham for a heroine. nor would one sup
pose that little quiet figure DOssessed
nerve enough TO save hmndrsds of lives
by her prompt action. but this was the
way Of IL: Ii was hot summer after
noon. and the most absolute quiet reign
ed over the little railroad station of
Parkerstown. up in Northern New
England, on these sweltering July days.
Not even the customary loafers were
around, and only at train time was
there any show Of life.
The down-train was due at $40. but
until then. as the sensational writer's
saw. "all was quiet ss the grave"
Mike was the station agents daugh-
ter and only chld, She was Is. al
though 80 small she looked three years
younger, and was usually quiet ss
mouse-'not mu b Zip 10 her," as the
country folks said. In spite Of the cur.
rent opinion. however. she had, except
the small portion Of time which the lit
tie country town set apart for the school
season. spent nearly all Of her time in
he ticket-otfice with her father. pick
ing up. letter by letter and word by
word, the sounds Of the Morse instru-
ment; and. finally. one day she aston
isbed her father by taking a telegram,
by sound. giving him a neat copy"
From that day MIKE was installed as
telegraph operator. and the Indulgent
father often said Nick could run that
office JEST as well as he could himself
which, considering that Mr.. Mark
ham was considered by the boys -
plug OPERATOR" might be called doubt
full compliment to Mike.
Well. this parti' ul .r afternoon we are
talking about Ls aforesaid plug"
sauntered into the depot with trouble
enthroned on his majestic brow.
Mick. I'm summoned on jury case
up to the Centre Village this afternoon.
It's too late to get any body here. even
s'posng there was nybody to get.
What are we going TO do about ite
until get back--probably by 6?"
81 guess SO, father" replied Mike.
There won't be much Of anything to
do Likely there won't be many pas
sen gers for the down train this hot day.
and hope know enough TO sell
ticket or two il there are
We'll, see that those boxes 90 by ex-
press. The waybIlls are ready and in
the drawer r-gucss you'll get along all
right'-and of he went, leaving Mike
mistress of the silua,ion-which phase
meant more than you might imagine,
that very particular day.
AT first she felt her newly-acquired
importance somewhat and stepped
briskly around. dusting the nusiy little
Office aud watering the few plants in
the window, but there being absolutely
nothing TO do and no one coming near.
she dropped into inactivity and listened
TO the eli Of the telegraph instrument
which to her was As cOD,paniOnable As
the talk OF near friends wouli he. As
the afternoon passed drowsily along
the heat and stiffness overcame her,
and dropping her haxen head on the
desk before ner. she was soon one
of the good ladies OF Parker.town was
wont to express il--''in the arms OF
Morphine"
Afterwards. the first thing she could
remein Der about II, = voice seeming TO
come from her dreams said: "Taint
likely she is left here alone. and asleep.
too"
NO" responded another evil voice.
1.-The old mans prob'ly round some
where but" in . lower tone. ''come
on, let's 20 long. The down train Ii
be along and wen just lay 'em out"
Nike was wide awake enough now.
but she had presence OF mind in her
small body, AMI realized that safety lay
N keeping still.
"HOw fur is it up there?"
"'Sh! Keep mum. Do you want to
knock the hull thing In the head. and
yourself too?' And then the girls
qui" kened hearing caught the sound OF
heavy fo"tsteps passing BY the window
and on up the track.
N xie waited until she couldn't hear
the footsteps and then cautiousl Y turned
and looked out OF the window. There
they were - two misera ble-fooking
tramps Fastening up the track. She
re- OgniZed them at once as two men
vino had been discharged from = con-
struc,ion-train that had been at work
down the road. What should she dor
o. il she could send for her father! But
there was no one anywhere near, and.
besides. by the time he could get home
it might be too iate-for it was evident
that the desperate wretcbes were bent
upon revenging themselves Of their
fancied wrongs upon the innocent She
looket at the clock. Half-past 4! She
ran ont and looked around the lonely
station. No living being in sight She
called ONE. feebly. but what was the
use. II she sent for her father she had
no tangible explanation to give or real
reason to make him hurry hone-only
she was sure there was harm coming to
the down train-that long crowded ex.
press filed with mountain tourists. But
she must do something.
the men had disappeared around
Sigh, bend in the track. Mike ran in,
locked up The Office. snatched hat from
nail in the corner. and then hurried
up the track until she arrived st slight
curve Then she made haste more
SLOWLY" for there were the men. Step-