Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-08-14
A SOLITARY PASSENGER.

1t never was what one would call q
painfully prompt train; but tonight
it was fully so minutes behind its
usual time. and the telegraph opera
tor had nearly fallen asleep behind
the pane of ground glass over which
the word Tickets was inscribed in
a half circle, and toward which Il
most Enthusiastically foreshortened
hand was depicted as extending a
gilt finger for the enlightment of the
general public
Not that the Big Pine telegraph
was ordinarily open at so late an
houras this. Seven O'Clock was the
usual period of closing. Nor had
Eunice Barlow any official right to
the tall wooden stool behind the
semi-circulargilt lettered legend re-
ferring to Tickets. In manner
she had had greatness thrust upon
her. Old Mr.. Pettyclove, who repre-
sented the majesty of the railway
company in the particular spot, had
gone home in the early dusk with n
raging facial neuralgia, and in COM
mon humanity Eunice could not have
refused temporarily to assume his
position with its duties.
cit will he only another hour of
work." she told herself cheerfully, rs
she put an additional log of FROST
fringed wood into the little alright
stove. "When the 1850 had passed
I can shut up the place and go home.
There are only two night freights,
and the conductors on both of them
have keys to the freight house"
Suddenly the silence was broken by
the tiniest sound, like the throbbing
of some small silver heart. Eunice
jumped up, instinctively, obedient to
the call other autocrat, the telegraph.
"A messnge!" she thought. and
at this time of the night. Well,
wonders will never cease"
A message it was; to Peter Petty
Glove, station agent at Big Pine
station.
Defalcation in Home bank. Detain passen
ger on train No. 81. Small, dark, wearing
iur-trimmed coat. Keep 10 custody until
further notice.
. H.V. CARTER
Chief of Police ut White PEAK.
Almost before she had deciphcred
these words, Eunice Barlow tele
graphed back "All right" and once
. more the small silver heart left off its
tumultuous throbbings. And not un
til then did the telegraph operator
realize what very peculiar position
and officially authorized, iE right o
| her substitution, to arrest banl
, defalcator ON the spot!
! Even while she pondered on this ur
= expected state Of things there was ,
, curious thrill and tremble of the foo
beams under her feet; shrill steam
whistle rising above the sustaine'
, roar of the tempest. The 1880, off
= ,ially known as No 21. was swingin;
. around the curve.
In an instant Eunice Barlow wa
q out in the deep snow of the rud
q board platform with the lighted lar
tern in her hand. The conductor {
the train was not at all surprised t
!, see her there. He knew that Pete
0 Pettyclove was old and feeble, and
I spirited young female telegraph ope
Q ator is rather at her full value in tt
9 Big Pine section. She tried to sign,
q to him that she wanted to speak t
% him, but the binding snow drove il
2 shroud-like sheets between them. II
IL smiled and nodded to her in that al
o gravating way that men have vile
they are particularly obtuse, shonte
I, some incomprehensible comment 9
a the weather, helped to loosen tt
brakes, and was an eight ola mile I
"a the track before Eunice's lanter
Q. light fell on q single black figure. j
hat pulled over its eyes, it's for
closely buttoned up in fur-trimm'
,g overcOat.
els this the station?" said q To-
" well-modulated voice, which ga
ny Miss Barlow the idea that the unha
in py gentleman of justice was a gent
to man born and bred. "Where are t
%, porters? Upon my word" (lookil
around after a bewildered fashion
ne 'I'm afraid they've forgotten to Q
- off my luggage. Isn't there q +
az somewhere hereabouts!
Eunice Barlow looked solemnly
lte him as she opened the door into I
ID. bright, cheerfully lighted little 81
~ ton. Yes, the telegraphed descr
or ton had been correct. He was SIN
nS and dark, and. poor fellow, he lool
ns as if he was half frozen to death. I
I'VE now arose the perplexing questi'
DE how was she to ''detain him?"
en-. "You are mistaken. sir" she Ga
10 in answer to his questions. 9TH
ny are no porters here. There is
hotel nearer than the Pine Barre