The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-11

- " csbh OuCt III UWlC0 Wueu u0
failed to understand a rapidly trans
mltted word he had the pleasure Of
hearing sarcastic message flash
over the wires about 'the plug that
took Tony's place at Long Hollow"
Time rolled away. and Kaye be-
came accustomed to the position in
which he had been placed. At first
he found it lonely to an intense de-
gree in the tower as the night crept
on, and once or twice he was very IN
easy when tramps had begged him
through the open window to permit
them to come up and have a smoke.
The rules forbidding admittance to
the tower were stringent, but apart
from this Kaye would not have al
lowed the nomads to enter. Many
and many a night as he sat in his
glass cased apartment he let his eyes
wander to the farm house which
sheltered Mollie, and his mind follow
ing his sight was filled with thoughts,
boding no peace to himself.
Long after the midnight hour had
passed he used to tilt his chair back
and smoke, his. brain filled with teem-
ing thoughts such as come only in
thequiet ola summer evening. Anon
his call would come from the instru-
ments and Instantly he was alert and
active. Thirty one passed westo
wires the operator in the tower a bove,
and with his hand on the semaphore
signal he awaits the coming of
the train. Soon he hears a
roar in the distance, and q mo-
ment later the headlight of the ex-
press flashes atar up the track. He
pulls the lever "clear," the train rush
es by, and throwing open the KEY he
notifies the Office ahead and the one
in the rear that the train has passed.
So all night long the routine CON
tinlles.
His hours Of work left him free only
IN the afternoons and Of all times thatis
the worst for an infatuated youno,
man thrown constantly in company
with a maiden whose household du-
ties allowed her freedom at tho same
hours. Needless to say that love fol-
lowed. Often as Kaye sat at nieh,tt,
in his eyre he caught a glimpse Of q
light waved to and fro in an unner
window OF the farm house, and know
ing full we'll the good night signal of
his sweetheart, he replied with q
quick movement of the semaphore.
One night about half-past 12. lust
after a heavily laden freight had
passed east and when all the country
was wrapped in slumber, he sat leis-
urely smoking, his eye, as usual.
resting on his beloved's home.
Suddenly something caught his
gaze and Strengthening up he
looked intently at the farm
house. A tiny light was lowering at
one end. Even as he looked it grew
clearer and brighter. In an instant
he realized that the homestead was
on fire. Oh, what struggle follow
ed IN the bosom of the operator. To
leave the tower might mean certain /
death to the scores of passengers in
the express now due, for the freight
had not yet passed off the block; to
stay where he was sure would as
surely cause the inmates of the dwell
ing to perish.
For a moment, but only mo-
ment he was undecided; then, throw
ing open the key, he called the
towers above and below him. s'For
Gods sake, send help" he nery-
ously repeated; "a farm house is on
fire and I am alone" He added his
signature and closed the key.s In an
instant the receiver began to click.
Cannot help you; am all alone, came
rom the westward tower. 4Amoment
alter the clicking began again: Extra
reight took middle siding here to
clear No. 10; engineer and conduc-
jor just left tower; will run back
light on west bound track with full
rev to put out fire.
The news came from the office east.
Sage glanced at the house. The
lame was becoming larger and the
moke was beginning to roll up in
LIQUIDS. NO. 10 passed east comes {
rom the instrument. Kaye auto {
put his hand to the sem q
'phore and peered out along the /
rack. It was five miles to the next i
over and he knew that ten minutes t
1ould be required by the freight en-
inc to cover the distance. The
econds seemed interminab1e. Would a
elief ever come? "A muffled roar, t
lomlentarily increasing, glad dened n
is heart for an instant, but hopes d
lded out, for the sound came from !
I, r / r