The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-03-12
A LONELY PLACE
Romantic Story of tho Telegraphic
, Wires.

way place-a perfect wildernesS-bui
it is all that | have at my command a
present, and if you are brave enough
to go down into the marshy country
and do the combined work of agent
and telegrapher you can have the APP
pointment,'' said Superintendent
Nash, referring to a vacancy on a rail
road line hat traversed the wild,
mountainous section of Virginia soil.
Il cannot say that l am fattered
with the picture you draw, sir, but, as
1 am looking for a situation and beg
CARS shouldn't be choosers, 1 will take
my chance and try my luck until
something better turns up" said Hugh
Gordon, the young man addressed.
Every WELL" replied the superin-
tendent, shortly. IF you attend TO the
business properly we shall not give
ourselves any uneasiness about how
you manage to live helife of a hermit,
for such it will practically be, and
you cannot say hat l failed to warn
you," he added, as he turned away.
Then to himself he soliloquized: That
chap will not be in Benning a fort
night. He's fresh from school and has
been accustomed to civilized society, SO
it is not probable that he'll do a bit bet
ter than his predecessors. He'll be
back at the end of a week, and l shall
not blame him, either, for it is the
most God-forsakcn place l was even
in"
But he was mistaken, for, though
fI,,-1 f,,.rI - III Al.+
it, he was not easily discouraged and
took hold of the work with as much
energy as if the place were in the very
center of life and buslnes. Adhering
to the old adage: Whatever is worth
doing at all is worth doing WELL" he
performed his various duties in the
best manner possible, and, though the
railroad officials said nothing, from the
way they glanced around the waiting
room-as clean and bright as soap and
water could make tit was evident
that they had no fault to find with the
new methods which the college-bred
t~elegrapher had inaugurated.
There was no doubt about its being a
lonely place, and except the people in
the wellflled trains that few past
without stopping and the rough section
hands, who occasionally came in to
light their pipes and chat q few min
utes, he scarcely yer saw a human face.
After he had been there some weeks
through the wires he formed the ac-
q~uaintance of Frank Reynolds, the
operator at Mantua, a small station
fifty miles further on in the wilder
ness. After their first introduction the
spent many pleasant hours con-
versing on congenial subjects.
One day just after Hugh had returned
from his dinner the ticking of his in
strument left this message Tor him:
FRIEND HUGH. I have just received word
hat my fortnight's vacation is TO begin this
My substitute is here already. and
will be of this evening. Will pass through
3enning on No. 8. Be out to wave congratuia-
ions. AS ever, FRANK"
''Eurekai" calculated Hugh. 81 wish
hat train would consent to drop him
If. Wouldn't we have a jolly time to-
Wonder if he could not get an
rider to have it stop. There would be
harm in trying, at any rate and
hen back over the wires he asked:
Cant you get an order to have the train roll
gu of at Benning? I should like to bave the
Of your company during a few Of your
acation days"
No. is a tyrant, with rules and regulations
lat never change; consequently l cannot
'nor myself by accepting your offer Of hospi.
what can't be cured must be en-
lred, muttercd Hugh, d~iscousolutcly,
hen he knew the decision. Wei, ,
lere is one thing sure-rll sec the !
ear fellows face" and having nothing :
Sc to do he fell TO weaving fancies :
'ncerning the appearance of Frank !
cynolds, for up to the present late :
Ie young operator had studiously :
'oided exchanging pictures, and :,
lrther than that he had brown hair :,
I'd eyes Hugh had not the rcmotest !
ca of the looks OF the friend he had :
armed to esteem so highly.
No. S passed through Benning a :
ort time before midnight, and TWEEN =
minutes later the lightning express i
undcred down the steep grade at the !,
OF a mile q minute, fairly shaking :,
c little frame depot on its founda- ;,
ms. At Lyman, two miles above, :,
2 two trains met-the one reaching :,
2 place first side tracking until the :,
passed. :.
Us there was no night operator at
ming, and no important trains !,
pped during the night, Hugh was at =
to close up the Office and go y
me at ten o'clock, but he was quite 81
Iighthawk, and usually remained at u
post until after the hands of the IL
marked the hours of the old day =
and began with its long fingers to ~
mt the minutes of the new. -
On this particular night he was so in
up on account of the treat in 81
re for him that he found it iinpossi- ~
to study or even become much in l..