The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-02
THE BARRIGADE
Tho Trouble 1t Caused tho Opera
tor at Louvillo.

tor at Louvillo.
Tho station agent Ill L9uysile sat
with his feet on tho window Sill hands
plunged into his ppekets ard scowI
npon his face Ills eyebrows were
straight. and the scpwI brought them
down into long line across his fore
head, this. with his heavy ntnstache,
made him look quite flerce.
Ever and anon he would glance az an
inofFensiyc little yellow paper lying on
his desk Each time Nc did So the
scowl grew iicrcer. Finally lie len his
chair down with bang. snatehed a
the telegram. and, for The tiftieth time,
read:
.ssAMrrL ". TuTn.E,
THE 4 Il X manager has appointed Mss
Laura walcott a. assistant teicgraphcf at your
station WIN be there On wednesday
ID vi. Seerotary1's
Then he crumpled Il mp and fosscd II
into the waste basket
II won't stand IT, he growled
.eThey have no right 10 treat me So
Why did ask for an assistant ii alI2
Idiotr'
With this consoling remark hc paced
Ap and down the large. bare room Al
man In the lonely position III station
agent Is apt 70 contract the hmblt Of
talking TO himself
"A womanp' he said, pausing In tho
midst Of the room and running his
fingers through his hair with innrtistia
results. Here ali the time, and no
respite for mel I'd have to keep on
company manners etefnallv chairs
on four legs. no smoking, couldn't
even whistle, ! suppose, | have an
idea that women always have head
achesi'
He paused and contemplated the sit
nation again 1t was too mueh
''I'll resign firstF' he cried, and im-
mediately licked OF message 10 that
effect
In an hour back came the answer
..Nonsensei Can't let yon on What
has struck your
Samuel Tuttle said something. but
he said II very low. lie sat bolt up
right for quite q while, and then a
wicked smile crcpt into his face
II believe I'll be ready Tor Miss Vol
colt when she arrives I'll not bcsdis-
turbed by her presence, either
This rather enigmatical remark WINS
explained the next morning, when, Ia
obedience 10 orders from Nh Tuttic,
two carpenters put in appearances At
the Louviile station, and before noon
had constructed across the middle Of
the large room. where be had held
4. sway so long. high board FENCE Of
aggrcssively yellow pine.
After their departure Mr. futile
walked among the shavings with sat
istied 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 of the express and came
towards him with good viii shining
from her brown eyes She was hap
Ply little thing. who, In her brief string
gle for existence, had learned to make
the best Of conditions; SO It was will
q most CHEEKY smile that she unsts
pectingly extended her hand to be-
sworn enemy.
To tell the truth, Samuel futile wa
rather taken aback. and felt slight,
ashamed; he had somehow expectes
she would know Of his antagonist
feeling. and met him in suitably dis
tant manner. There was no backing
ont. however; so he led her around i
the door opening into her half of, tn
room. and said
This is ye@r office; you will fin,
everything In place Then, with
stir bow. he retrcated 10 his own dc
minion. without daring 70 glance a
her.
She stood still as he reiterated, Wit
puzzled expression 10 her eyes; the
she heard him on the other side, max
ing good deal Of racket getting -
tied Finally, faint blue curl {
/ smoke rose over the fence
At this. Miss Wolcott sat down vii
. look Of dawning Intelligence, mike
with q hurt expression. upon her pinl
and white face. as she saw the fene
was new one. The smile grew rs sh
grasped the situation, until there wa
. network Of dimples around he
mouth; she nodded her head sagely
the direction Of the fence, and set
work quietly.
Mr.. futile, for his part, wonders
what she was doing 70 keepso still Il
novelty Of the situation perplexed hi
SO that he could not enjoy his solitud
Along in the afternoon his curiosi,
made 1t imperative that he shou
consult her about message. SO |
sauntered around 10 her door 81
greeted him with the same cheer
smile, appearing utterly obiiyions
any strangcness In the situation, ar
innocently gazed straight ap intoh
eyes When there was NJ longer 4
slightest pretext for his staying,
went back Somehow lis side lookt
forlorn, and diserderiy, and he aw
wardly tried 70 put II U rights