The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-30
THE BARRICADE.
The Trouble It Caused tho Opera
tor at Louville.

tor at Louville.
The station agent at Louville sat
with hts feet on the window sill. hands
plunged into his pockets and n scowl
upon his face. His eyebrows were
straight, and the scowl brought them
down into long line across his fore
head, this, with his heavy ninstache,
made him look quite fierce.
Ever and anon he would glance az m
inoffensivc little yellow paper lying on
his desk Each time he did So the
scowl grew fierccr Finally he let his
chair down with bang. snatched at
the telegram. and, for The fftieth time.
read:
SAMUEL W.. TuTrLEs
The r q n manager has appointed Miss
Laura WAloott "a assistant teiegrnpher at your
station WIN BE- there on Wednesday
ID. w, Secretary
Then he crumplcd II up and tossed Ii
into Tho waste basket
II won't stand It, be growled.
They have no right to treat mo 50.
Why did ask for Al assistant AZ ali2
Idioti''
With this consolin9 remark he paced
up and down the large. bare room a
man In the lonely position OF station
agent Is apt 70 contract the habit Of
talking 70 himself
"A woman he said. pausing In the
midst Of the room and running his
fingers through his hair with inartistic
results Here all the time, and no
respite for mel ia have 70 keep on
company manners eternally chairs
on four legs, no smoking, couldn't
oven whistle, suppose. have an,
idea that women always have head
achesl''
He paused and contemplated the sit
uAtion again. TWAS too much
IN resign firsti', he cried; and i'm
medlately licked on message 70 that
eject.
In an hour back came the answer:
'Nonscnsei Can't let you on. What
has struck your"
Samuel Tuttle said something. but
he said Il very low. He sat bolt mp
right for quite o while. and then q
wicked smile crept into his face.
n believe I'll be ready for Miss VOL
colt when she arrives I'll not be dis
turbed ~ her presence. either. \
This rather enigmatical remark was
explained the next morning, when, In
obedience to orders from Mr.. futile,
two carpenters put in appearance at
the L4ouyille station. and before noon
had constrncted across the middle Of
tho large room. where he had held
sway 50 long. high board fence OF
aggressively yellow pine
After their departure Mr.. futile
walked among the shavings with sat
istied air He moved all his belongings
70 one side Of the novel division line,
and for the next two days worked
away. again happy man.
On Thursday morning Laura VOL
colt stepped of the express and came
towards him with good will shining
from her brown eyes She was hap
py little thing, who In her brief strug-
gle for existence, had learned TO make
the best OF conditions; so It was with
most CHEEKY smile that she nnsus-
pcctingly extended her hand 70 her
sworn enemy.
rather taken aback. and felt slightly
ashamed; he had somehow expected
she would know Of his autagonistic
feeling, and met him In o suitably dis
tant manner. There was no backing
out. however; 50 he led her around tc
tho door opening into her half Of the
room, and said:
This IL yoT Officer you will flnd
everything In place" Then, with 4
stin bow. he retreated to his own do.
minion, without daring 10 glance al
her.
She stood still as he retreated, with
puzzled expression in her eyes, then
she heard him on the other side, max.
ing good deal Of racket getting set
tied Finally, faint blue curl Of
smoke rose over the fence
At this. Miss Wolcott sat down with
look Of dawning intelligence, mixet
with hurt expression, upon her pink
and white face as she saw the fence
was . new one. The smile grew rs she
grasped the situation, until there wa.
network Of dimples around hel
mouth; she nodded her head sagely ii
the direction Of the fence, and set K
work quietly.
Mr.. Tuttle, for his part, wondered
what she was doing TO keepso still; The
novelty OF tho situation perplexed hin
30 that he could not enjoy his solitude.
Along In the afternoon his curiosity
made II imperative that be shoult
consult her about message. SO b
sauntered around to her door She
greeted BIN with the same CHEEKY
smile, appearing utterly obliyions Z
any strangeness in the situation, and
tnnoccntly gaEed straight up into hi.
eyes When there was no longer the
slightest pretcxt for his staying, b
went back. Somehow his side looket
forlorn and disorderly, and he awk
wardly tried 70 put It 70 rights