The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-02-28
THE C0L0NEL'S son.
A sTATIoN-AGENI's STORY.

y
may know how hot 1t can be on the prairie
when there is no wind.
was sitting in the little ticket office
of the railroad station at which | was
agent. From the window | could see
the hot air rising from the sun-burned
buffalo grass, giving to the lonely ranch
buildings seattle ed here and there in the
di 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
queer ''pegging' sound over the planks
and into tie waiting room. Hooked up
and saw boy of about fourteen stand
ing in the doorway. His ght leg was
amputated above The knge, and he sup
ported himself on pair of light crutches,
which had sling straps like an army
carbne.
lie handed me an express order for q
package to Colonel Reed, a prominent
cattlcman, whose ranch buildings were
about mile south of the track
''Are you the Colonel's SOM" asked,
as handed out the package.
"Yes, SIR" was the reply. 'Charles
Reed is my name.
Then he turned and looked curiously
in at the telegraph instruments. He had
such bright, healthy and wde-awaKe
air, that / invited him to walk in and
examine them, if he wished.
His eyes frightened Immediately.
'Id like to, if you don't mind The
other agent was cross, and l was afraid
to ask him."
Seeing that he was interested in them,
explained br ely the working of the
key and sounder, and tried to give him
ono idea how message was sent and
cceived. He listened attentively, and
'aemed to comprehend pretty well.
eyes" he said, as l concluded, 81
Know something about it, though only
through what have read. Would you
mind writing out the alphabet for me?
wrote out the characters on a slip of
paper which he tucked carefully away
In his pocket-book and then, finding /
was a 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,
found very interesting. Before he left
he told me that he had lost his leg dur
ing an Indian raid about four years ago,
before the railroad was built His
fathers ranch had been attacked without
warning. He was only ten years old al
the time, and being out of doors, he had
slipped away unobserved and hidden in
the corral, and while there was hit by 6
stray rifle bail in the knee.
l accompanied him 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 clutches slune
behind him, he swung nimbly into the
saddle, and started Off toward home or
brisk galop.
One afternoon, about week later, he
dropped in again, having meanwhile
learned the telegraphic alphabet so thai
he could repeat all the characters 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 typi
cal frontier ranchman.
''See here, Mr.. Agent" he said, "tha
boy of mine has a hankering to learr
your business. He's kind of lonesome
you see-he can't play with the othe
boys on account of his leg-and now i
you don't mind havin' him around, arc
will teach him what you can-he's prett,
bright, and can learn most anything
why, I'll make it worth your while
What's your charger
"Why, Colonel" replied, laughin.
at his business-like manner, 81 shall b
glad to have him around-I am lonesom
here--so we won't draw up any con
tract"
Charley was an apt pupil. In abou
month he could send and receive a mes
sage, though OF course not very rapidly
His father was so delighted with his pre-
gress that he made me a present of
riding pony; and shortly after, whe
Charley got it into his head that
would be fine thing to have a privat
line from the ranch to the station, tn
Colonel had me order two instrumen,
and coil of wire from Chicago.
Under my direction the cowboys pu
it up, and though it wasn't stretche
very tight, and the poles were only fenc,
posts spliced tog ether, it worked as we
as the main line. The instrument @
my end of the line I did not care I
have in the Office, for fear that officior
gentleman, the lineman, would objec
and so ! set it up on one side of the big
empty freight room,
The autumn was now well advanced
and found that my duties, instead
increasing, grew lighter. There we
but few freight trains every other da
and the daily mail and express, Ea
and West, went through between Il
hours of one and four in the mornin
so that l had a great deal of time
my hands. spent much of it shootir
chickens with Charley-he was an e.
cellent shot from the saddle, though
told me he had time of it training h
pony to stand fire-and the rest of Il
time either read or rode out over Il
trails in the delicious Indian SUNNI
weather.
One night, about the middle of Q
tober. We had a terrific thunder al
wind storm, with binding fall of ra
and hail. 1t came up after the the we:
bound train had left, and about an no
before the eastern train was due. w
awakened by the noise and got up
look out. The rain was falling in to
rents, and the wind shook the buildin
while the lighting flashed inressantly.
/ was still looking out. watching t
furious storm. when an unusually brig
fash revealed for an instant the figur
of a group of borsemen lopi
across the prairie toward the station.
stood still to catch another glimpse
them, if possible, but without succe'
they had probably turned off to t
left
Shortly afterward heard Them at t
other end of the building, where tn
stopped, 1 supposed, to seek shell
from the storm; or possibly they We
going to take the train. 1t was not U
usual for passengers to come around
hour before train-time, so l thong
little of it at the time.
However, before left the window
heard them tramping around the pl
form tn the door and drawing hack