The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-12
THE BARRICADE.
The Trouble It Caused tho opera
tor at Louvlllo.

tor at LouvIllo.
Tho station agent at Lnuville sat
| with his feet on the window sill. hands
plunged into his pockets and q scowl
upon his face. His eyebrows were
straight, and the scowi brought them
down into long line across his Fore
head; this, with his heavy mustachc,
nade him look quite fierce.
! Ever and anon he would glance at an
inoffensive little yellow paper lying on
his desk Each time he did SO the
scowl grow fierecr Finally he let his
chair down with hang, snatchcd at
the telegram, and, for the tlfticth time,
1 read:
| SAMUEL w, TuTTLEs
s'Thc l. q n manager has appointed Miss
Laura Walcott as assistant tclegraphcr at your
station WIN be there on Wednesday.
4 I'D W., Secretary y
Thon he crumpied II up and tossed Il
into the waste basket.
II won't stand it, lie growlcd.
s.Thcy have 10 right 10 treat mo so.
| Why did ask for IA assistant at all?
Idioti''
With this consoling remark he paced
up and down the large, bare room. A
man in the lonely position 81 station
agent is apt TO contract the habit Of
talking to himself
"a womnnl'' he said, pansing In the
midst OF the room and running his
fingers through his hair with inartistic
results. Here NIL the time, and no
respite for mel I'D have to keep on
company manners etcrnnlly chairs
on four legs. no smoking couldn't
even whistle. I suppose. ! have an
idea that women always have head
achesi''
He paused and contemplated the sit
nation again 1t was too much.
sI'il resign firstr' no cried; and inn
mcdiately licked of a message to that
effect.
In an hour back came the answer:
"Nonscnsel Can't let you on. What
has struck your
Samuel futile said something, but
he said 1t very low. He sat bolt up
right for quite while, and then y
wicked smile crept into his face.
II believe I'll be ready for Miss VOL
colt when she arrives. I'll not be dis
turbed BY her presence, either"
This rather enigmatical remark was
explained the next morning, when, In
obedience to orders from Mr. Tuttle,
two carpenters put in appearance at
the Louville station, and before noon
had constructed across the middle Of
the large room, where he had held
sway so long, high board fence of
aggressivcly yellow pine.
After their departure Mr.. futile
walked among the shavings with sat-
isfied air. He moved all his belongings
to 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 off the express and came
towards him with good will shining
from her brown eyes She was d hap
py little thing, who, in her brief strng-
gle for existence, had learned % make
the best Of conditions; so it was with
a most CHEEKY smile that she unsus-
pectingly extended her hand to her
sworn enemy.
To tell the truth, Samuel futile was
rather taken abacls. and felt slightly
ashamed; he had somehow expected
she would know Of his antagonistic
feeling, and met him Ia suitably dis
tant manner. There was no backing
ont, however; SO he led her around to
the door opening into her half Of the
room, and said:
.sThis is Your Offices you will find
everything in place Then, with a
stiff bow. he rctreatcd 70 his own do
minion, without daring TO glance at
her.
She stood still as he retreated, with
q puzzled expression in her eyes; then
she heard him on the other side, max
ing good deal Of racket getting sct1
tied. Finally faint blucA curl Of
smoke rose over the fence.
AT this, Miss Wolcott sat down with
a look Of tlawning Intelligence, mixed
with a hurt expression, upon her pink
| and-white face, as she saw the fence
was y new one The smile grew > she
grasped the situation, until there was
| q network 81 dimples around her
mouth; she nodded her head sagely ~
the direction Of the fence. and set 70
work quietly.
Mr.. Tuttle, for his part, wondered
what she was doing to keepso still; the
novelty Of the situation perplexed him
SO that he could not enjoy his solitude.
Along in the afternoon his curiosity
made It imperative that he should
consult her about q message, 50 he
sauntered around to her door She
greeted him with the same. CHEEKY
smile, appearing utterly oblivious 70
any strnngcncss in the situation, and
innocently gazed straight up into his
eyes. When there was no longer the
slightest rrctext for his staying, he
went back Somehow his side looked
forlorrf and dlsorderly. and he awk-
warsliv tried TO put II to rights