The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-26
LOVE IN A SIGNAL BOX.


to the little knot of acquaintance he
had made in the country during the two
years he had been night operator in the
''tower." 1t was with no small degree
Of pleasure he had received advice from
the division operator that he would be
transferred to yard Office, and that his
successor would be sent on at once to re-
lieve him. That same day the new man
arrived. Smith met him at the station.
| The newcomer was a quiet, well built
young fellow, rather handsome, Tony
| thought. He took him up to the tower,
introduced him to the day men and in
general way explained the Beeuliarities
of the blocks controlled by them. how
the third track Was used jointly by east
bound and west bsund trains, how, as
| the next tower east was a number Of
miles distant, the rule Of allowing but
one train IN q block at time was modi-
fed and so on, to all Of which the
stranger listened attentively:
Tony then offered to take him up to
the farm where he had been boarding,
saying that no doubt he could arrange
to stay there if he liked, and IS the neigh
bors had prejudice against the night
operators on account Of their untimely
hours it would be the best plan to go
with him. It was but short distance
down the track and up the lane to the
house. As the pair drew near young
woman who had been sitting on the
porch rose, and with heightened color
as she saw the stranger would have re
treated had not Tony called her famil-
iarly as Molie and babe her await their
coming. He introduced his companion,
VIII Kaye, as his successor, and after a
few words had been spoken the maiden
went in search of her father. while the
two operators seated themselves on the
edge Of the porch.
Smith was one of that class of men
who make confdants Of every one,
Judging all from their own free hearted,
generous standpoint. Kaye listened to
! his talk with a quiet smile, which grew
more pronounced ana kindly as his
companion proceeded. The twain were
the best of friends ere the farmer
came up from the potato patch, hoe in
hand, to welcome his new guest. BIOllie
accompanied him, and now, when Kaye
got a good look at her, he was more than
anxious to take the place of Smith at
the farmers table.
That night Tony and Kaye went to-
gether to the tower, and the day men
leaving at o'clock gave them undis-
puted possession for Ghe next twelve
hours. There was little time for con-
versation that night What between
the usual number Of extra frsights in
both directions causing many train
orders, and the necessary explanations
of the working Of the blocks, Tony was
kept busy. He noticed, however, that
the new man was a good operator. and
although he said that he had never work
ed on train wires, quickly gTasped the
details, and before morning wes work
ing the semaphores and notifying the
tower ahead of passing trains with tbs
regularity of q veteran. Promptly at Z
o'clock the next morning they were re-
lieved by the day men, there being two
| operators on duty III daylight, the work
being heavier. Tired AID sleepy the
night men were soon IN bed at the farm.
! During the afternoon Smith left for
| the east in high spiriGG Whom supper
time came the gap made by his absence
brought MoIlis ne16 to Kaye. Her fresh
beauty and light spirits pleased the
stranger, and as he started to work carry
ing the pail containing the lunch pre-
pared BY her plump hands ne felt highly
gratifed at his good luck. Once in the
tower, however, this citation vanished,
for his new surroundings made him ex-
ceedingly nervous, and being compelled
to break" once or twice when he failed
to understand a rapidly transmitted
word he had the pleasure of hearing a
sarcastic message flash ever the wires
about the plug that took ro4y's place
at Long Hollow"
Time rolled away, and Kaye became
accustomed TO the POSITION. in which he
had been placed. At first ne found it
lonely to an intense decEee in the tower
as the night orept On, and once or twice
he was very uneasy when tranps had
begged him through the open window to
permit them to come up and have a
smoke. The rules foybidmng adruittance
to the tower were stringent, but apart
from this Kaye would, rot have allowed
the nomads TO enter. Many and many
night as he sat in his gisss csSed apart
mert he had let his eyes wander TO the
farm house which She tered Alollie, and
his mind following his sight was filed
with thoughts boding no peace to him
self
Long afber the midnight hour had
passed he used to tilt his chair back and
smoke, his brHin Sled with taa1ning
thoughts such IS come only IN the Qn5cU
of summer evening. Anon his call
would come from the Instruments and
instantly ne was alert and sCSive.
''Thirtv-one passed west wires the ope-
rator in the tower above. and with his
hand on the semaphore signal be awaits
the coming Of the train. Soon he hears
q rear in the distance, and 4 moment
later the headlight Of TIE express
flashes afar up the t-dck. lie pulls the
lever to clear" the train rusheS by, and
throwing open the key ne no1heS the
office ahead and the one IL the rear that