The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-03-18

edge OF ITS telegrapa.c secrets. IL you be
N operator. Kenneth was acquainted
with the significance OF the various nuF
neral signals which the dispatehers
used so as to economiZe on time-''33S'
was the warning to make ready to re
eeiYe train order, IL" meant for the
operator 10 repeat what he had reeeiy-
ed, and SO on. And so when the anx'
ious dispatcher called upon the boy al
HOgarth and said. '-36 No. co.," the
shabby man of the Morse was aware
that what was wanted was the display
Of the red signal and the consequent
Lolding of No. 602 for revised orders
But. to his surprise. the boy did not
make the customary response, '3T NO |
COZ" which would b. the short way OF
saying, II have hung out my red signal
and will hold No. CO., for orders" In
stead, h. scratched his head in puz.
Zled way, and after a moment tele-
graphed back to the man who was di
recting Elm, 'Hows that? What dc
you mea7r
1t Is very likely that the disaptcheI
had an attack Of vertigo at that moment
when he realized that fast freight
train and heavy passenger train were
approaching one another on curving
twisting track. each going at highest
speed and each seeking to make a diff
| ferent station for passing, and when he
realized at the same time that lout OF
a student did not understand what was
was wanted of him. Painstakingly and
slowly the dispatcher licked back, y
mean to put out your RED
lantern for No. co.," Slowly 4
came, indeed, but If the ticking wal
Glow the beating of the heart of the dis
catcher must have been rapid enough.
The boys face lighted up. In tangl
of enthusiasm he ratified off this an
swer, jumbling his words together In
way uniptelligible to any but a waiting
ear: alright, Iwillpuut out"
With a smile at the change of event
which had arranged II so that No. 60
would stop after all and give him
chance to mount an end sill or climb IN
der q cal, Kenneth rose and walke'
I'D the platform. 1t was not long plat
form, for the town was small, but b.
the time he had reached the end he say
the light of No. Coz swinging into tn
only five miles of straight track on tn
road, and he realized that In few mir
utes, obeying the command Of the re
lantern on the target, she would sto
and give him chance to get on boar(
He turned to look back at the signs
light and his face took on stony mas
Of dismay. He was to be disappointe
again. The light was not shining
Doubtless the order had again bee
changed. The language he used wa
inelegaut and outspoken. The trai
> drew nearer. He could hear the rapi
sound OF the locomotives exhaust an
there was no hope OF her stopping.
!. Suddenly a fearful thought came
| him. He remembered that he had n
seen the boy put OFT the lamp at a
What If
He rushed back to the window like
;. fury. where's your red signal for tn
q train?" he shrleked. stop this trai
> Stop her! The dispatcher has orders f
her."
Very likely the bog would have to
:. the ragged and dirty tramp to mind
,. own business but for that allusion
- the dispatcher. Heaven permitted I
II fool to have thought at the right tin
70 and in an expostulating, mumbling W
l he said: mo, he amt. He told me
. put the light out and I've been Fl
9 minutes tIyin' to puf 1t out. Had to ia
10 IL apart before l could blow 1t out, a
l now 1t smokes like ali the ="
d There was no time for him to co
~ plete his smile, fol Kenneth "
through the window now and had
~ red office flag In his hand. He seized
AZ hall lamp from the telegraph table, a
y with the flag folded about the chimI
nc to give the crimsor hue of danger
no rushed to the platform, the improvii
NC rec signal sending It's dim message
oi warning weakly down the track tow'
on the laundering engine of No. COZ, II
nv scarcely fifty yards away.
al Weakly but 1t answered its purpC
y. for, although the trains moment
GU carried it far past the office, she ca
back In response to that well-kno
ne signal. The kids red light blew
III and had to help him fake one |
'u said Kenneth to the conductor,
W then he sat down TO take the orr
40 pushing the boy aside as though
an were no. to be considered.-Chic
Record.