Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-09-09
FOR DAVID.


railroad tracks, converging mysteriously
until distance blended them into one.
Back of it tlared tine wide main street,
with stores and cottages Unfortunately
mingled, which marks the disconsolate
prairie town. Beyond, inclosed by a
white picket fence, struggled the DESC
late graveyard.
The only thing in plenty which nature
supplied was room. There was an
abundance of space, 1t was quite
walk to cross the street. Neighbors'
houses stood aloof. Nobody was crowd
ed, even in the graveyard.
The telegraph operator, satiated with
landscape, leaned back, stretched him
self prodigiously, yawned audibly and
collapsed in his chair, which creaked in
vexed remonstrance. He tossed re-
mark over his shoulder, $50 this is what
you are yearnin for, Dave?"
Dave took his cane, and limping to
the door viewed the inertness in silence.
Then he reused himself and said cheer
fully:
"a telegraph operator is all I'm good
fur since / got hurt"
Seems like the com'ny might have
done more for you when you got
smashed up in their own accident.
'Twouldn't have hurt 'em none to keep
You as a conductor" grumbled his
friend.
Suddenly the afternoon stiffness was
broken by excited voices and the sharp
barking and yapping of dogs. Joe
brought his feet 10 the floor in hurry.
Il can't leave the machine, Dave. Go
and see what the rumpus is about.
bet Brier Rose is up to somethin. 1t
takes that there girl to stir up the boys.
No, Foxy" he said to his terrier, who
was whirling around in an ecstasy of an
ticipation, "you stay here. If Brier
Rose is at the bottom Of it, little Teller
like you might get lost in the shuttle"
Dave obediently limped up the street,
where, in the midst of a crowd Of rough
men, stood girl holding some little ami
NAL high above her head, while the dogs
leaped and snapped around her
The girl, with scarlet cheeks, begged
and scolded and threatened them all to
their infinite amusement.
"Call off your dawg, JIM" she said
fercely to the owner Of the largest,
whose leaps sometimes almost reached
the quivering little object in her hands.
Throw down the beast an will, F." he
answered.
IF that there dawg gives another
jump I'll pizen him before sun up" she
said slowly.
Jim made lunge for the dog and
sat on him to keep him down, while
the crowd hooted in derision of his ODE
dience.
What's all thisY" cried Dave, coming
up and pushing his way through their
midst.
"Brier Rose is being held up" cried a
voice.
The crowd yelled with delight. The
girls whole face became white with
rage as she singled out the speaker.
You'll pay for that, Ben Miles, as
you've paid before" she said.
Call off those brutes," cried Dave,
rapping the nearest dog with his cane.
"For shame, to tease woman
Look a-hyer, stranger" said young
giant menacingly. He lowered above
Dave, who stood his ground.
"Pm lame and no account in a fight, -
said Dave; "but half man amt goin to
see a woman tormented."
"Who in thunder" began his threat
ener; but Ben Miles laid hand on his
arm.
Hold on, Jim" he said; "that there's
Dave Comstock, conductor of the
smashed up No. T."
mot the Teller that got hurt savin the
babyy'
"The same"
"Sho, stranger!" said the Modified
Jim. You're welcome to interfere. Give
us yer hand. We wouldn't hurt her fur
nothin. Bless my starsl Brier Rose
can take care Of herself better'n most
men,"
The dogs were all held now, and the
girl put her tired arms down. She
looked curiously at the man, whose
brave story she knew by heart, as she
heard him defend her.
To be sure, she had been defended be-
fore; there was hardly man who would
not have risked his life to save hers, but
they teased her numerically when they
got the chance. Dawes interference
was on new line. She did not quite
understand it, but it appealed to her al
once.
When Dave went back to the station
to tell Joe the latter roared with de
light.
"Just like herl Exactly like herr" he
cried, Shaping his leg SO inhumanly
that his lame friend WINGED for him.
"Who is Brier Rose?" he repeated il
answer to Dawes question. "You dom
know much if you don't know old Bry
ans daughter. She's the best known
girl from Horseshoe Gap to Powder
erik. Old Bryan's been engineer on tn,
road ever since the track was laid. AL
eyes she was then as she is now. What
wasn't eyes was temper. Same now