Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-02-19
10 not see one new face a day"

to be ungrateful to her good and kind
friend, Joe. Che was smart, clever
girl, and ambitious. She had read
many stories and biographies Of good
and noble girls who had become great
and grand women. Many time the
warm blood had toursed quickly
through her veins as she read Of the
thrilling deeds done by snch women as
Elizabeth Fry and Florence Nightin-
gale, and even by girls like Grace Dar-
ling and Joan Of Arc. Dissy wondered
if any of them would have been hero
ines if they had been banished to such
a dull and out of the way corner as
Cranberry Creek, Ohio.
Even as she speculated thus, The door
was opened and heavy football sound.
ed on the threshold. Dissy looked
around to behold il tall, powerful man.
II total stranger.
"The operator is away p he asked,
in a tone which implied that he only
sought for confirmation of something he
already knew.
eyes, sir" said Dissv, for once rather
sorry to see fresh face at Cranberry
Creek.
"How long before No. 9passes here q
inquired the man.
Dissy looked at the clock on the wall
and saw that it was just sly o'clock.
"In thirty three minutes" she said,
and added, that is, If it is OH time.-
Sometimes No. 0 is l;ttc.'
Dissy hoped it would be late this
evening, lor she knew that No. 9 was
the train made up entirely Of express
oars, anu she did not like the looks Of
this strange man. She hoped, yes, and
silently prayed, that Joe might return
quickly. He had been gone more than
an hour already.
But the man, who was indeed bad
fellow, knew very we'll that the opera
tor would not be back yet while i; for
the NAH who entlced Joe INTO the woods
on pretext of visiting the stave works,
was one of his contederates.
II want you to stop No. o. said the
stranger, with a sharp scowl that very
much frightened the girl.
"But | cannot do that, SIR she re-
piled, without orders from the train
despatcher.'
You meyer mind the train despatch
er or his orders,' grutiiy answered the
man. just do as tell you, ana I'll
explain to the tram people. II give
them mighty good excuse he said
grimly. AS he spoke he leislrely trans
terred from one pocket to the other Il
horrible looking pistol. He did this to
lrighten Dlssy, and to some extent be
succeeded.
Clckctty- click click-click- click, :"
went the Ilttle hammer.
"Wnat are they saylng?' asked the
desperate.
They are asking if it is all right to
let No. y start from Newbury'
Yes and all you have to answer is
0. K.-lsn that So:
No, sir. Before they consider the
road clear, must tell them what time
the last train passed here going east.
well, hurry up and cut 1t as short
as possible. For, look you, my girl,
you mustn tamper with me. have
lots of friends; and, if anything hap
pens to me, 1t will 60 hard with you.
Fire away now
But lust then, and all in Il moment,
Dissy thought Of Joe Denman's kind
ness to her, and remembered how he
had lntrusted the cabin to her. She
recollected. too, that If anything serious
happeued, Joe might be punished and
discharged for leaving the cabin with
out permission. And, somehow she
thought o. Grace Darling and Joan Of
Arc; and 1t struck Dlssy that, if she
was but Il twelve year old girl, she
might be true to her trust. So with
the skill and speed Of all expert she
touched the little telegraph key.
Click click clicketty-click .clicketty-
click click was all it said to the train
robber. But to the operator at New
bury it SAID, Send the sheriff and
other help on No. 9. Robbers here.
Now then,' SAID the man, "you
wave the red light here, and when the
engine is at the mile-post yonder wave
the white light for her to stop. Under.
stand, now. My boys and will be
near the post, and, if you don't do as |
told you, the balls from half dozen
pistols will fly clean through you.-
That's ALL
The men walked slowly up the track,