The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-03-27
TOMMY BROWNS BEST GIRL

Tommy Brown was not to be enyied. |
For a young fellow with his gifts III
the way of conversation and good
looks, to be stuck away in place like
Sutton's Corners, was, to say the least
of it, hard luck. Sutton's Corners was
a way station on the LIZ. & q. branch,
not even on the main line itself. There
were only two passenger trains ia!
each way, and now and then long.
struggling freight Sutton's Corners
consisted mostly of a big frame depot
painted a dirty red, with a number OF
more or less dilapidated frame build
ings inhabited chiefly by railway men,
and those who worked in the nelgnDor-
ing saw MILL The only two-storied
building in the place had once been
painted white, but ii sadly needed an
other coat; there still could be read on
its sides the words. in faded black let
tiers, Compton House." and this indi-
Gated that the place had been intended
for hotel, but the hotel business IN
Sutton's Corners did not pay, and now
the building was occupied by the sta
ton master, to whom Tommy paid four
dollars week for board and lodging.
A young man without money or lnnu-
ence has to work his way up in TINS
world, and Tommy had been glad to get
the job of telesrapher at Sutton's Cor
ners when the place was offered to nm.
He had been there three months, ana
was just beginning to realize, i'll It's
deadly truth, what n God-forsaken hole
Sutton's Corners was. If he had been
on the main line there was chance
that some news might have come over
the wire, but being branch that led
to nowhere in particular. nothing came
along the telegraph line but tram
orders, and such like embarrassing
matter. There was not a soul in SUIT
tons Corners that Tommy cared TO
sneak TO, and as he was young man
of reasonably good habits, not drinking
or chewing tobacco, he didn't know
what on earth to do with himself after
4 o'clock. He had to stick to his Office
until 4 o'clock i'm the afternoon when
the so-called eastward express went
by, which was the last train that day
After it cleared the station there was
nothing more for Tommy to do except
now and again. When he had an order
from headquarters that a special OF
some kind would happen along, but II
that message from headquarters did
TO come before 4 O'Clock Tommy was
free to do what he pleased with him
self for the rest of the day.
Tommy was an expert telegrapher
knowing his business down to the
ground, or, as he himself said, down tt
the ground wire. Most of the opera
tors on the branch were not as exper
as they might be, and Tommy some
times amused himself when there wer'
unimportant messages to go by sendin:
them on so fast that the other opera
tors had to break in upon him and bei
him to go slow. The only operator VIII
could take message as fast as he sen
IL was tire fellow at HObbsville, twent.
miles further on from Sutton Corner
and the next station to it, for station
were not close together on the branch
Tommy at once made up his mind tina
the young man at Hobbsville kney
something, because he was so exper
mt the key; thus the two struck up a
acquaintance which Tommy declare
kept him from going melancholy mac
1t must not be supposed that the az
guaintance of telegraphers is the sam
as that of ordinary people. Tommy ha
never seen his friend at Hobbsville, b.
cause each of them had to stick to bus
ness until the last train had gone, an
after that there was no way of goin
up or down the line, for there was N,
even a hand car ut either OF the tw
stations. However. they became veT
firm friends through chatting along IL
wire.
The other fellow did not know Ton
{, my as Tommy Brown, but
Is. ~, which was the signal for Su
toms Corners, whereas Tommy alwa.
called his friend H. B., the signal Il
Hobbsville. Tommy, over the wir
told II. b. all his good stories, and
g., who had packet Of his own, r
turned the favor, and, as / have sal
the two became the best Of frlent
through the twenty miles Of telegraI
wire that stretched between them.
One day when Tommy was cussil
over the wire about the dullness Of h
situation he SUDDENLY asked II. b.
question.
"Say, II. b." he clicked out, "a
there any girls over at Hobbsville?'
Nary a girl" responded ii. b. disco
solately. and 1t seemed as IL the We
instrument ratified in sympathy. "Ht
are you off for girls at Sutton's O.
ners!'
Why said Tommy, I'm in
same box as you are. There isn't
soul to speak to in the place. but
n women"
Il must confess" said H. B.. I'll
is one of the drawbacks of this pla
i would give anything to have a
to speak to, but there isn't any. | 81
pose, though that you have girl we
ing for you down East"
NO. said Tommy, ITO tell the tru
haven't. If had, and she wrote
stack of letters, it wouldn't be
lonely here
Il don't know about that said II.
philosophically. II haven't a girl I
self, but 1t seems TO me IL had