The Winslow mail., 1897-04-03
THE KEEPER OF
CRAGIE'S CUT.

Il ~ OI
CRAGIE'S CUT.
Baxter the new inspector of the
Evansburg and Sauk Center Railroad,
was not the only person who had been
astonished at the first sight of the keep
er Of Cragie's bridge and the rock cut
beyond "L G. Dolby, Section o." he
had read in his little book with the
thumbed blue cover, and he had ex-
pected to see a griZzle-bearded mal
with rough, red face and a stubby
black pipe. For Cragie's was known
/ to be one of the worst sections on the
/ line. Its keeper was required to walk
the mile from the end of the long bridge
and through the cut twice day, win
ter and summer, and it often required
a cool head and a vigorous body TO
/ dodge the tramp freights that thun-
! dered back and forth with seeming dis
regard for time cards and running
rules.
The new inspector had come down
from Cragie's, walking the whole length
of section 81. He had found everything
In the best of order, not bolt loose nor
spike gone and he felt, after the man
ner of new inspectors, like compliment
ing the vigilance of the keeper.
is l.. C. Dolby in?' he asked when
he reached the keepers house on the
hill.
''Yes, sir, will you walk in?" asked
the rOsy-cheeked girl who came to the
door.
He stepped into the neatest of little
sitting rooms. There were flowers in
the windows and a CHEEKY fire on the
hearth in front of which a lazy tabby
cat yawned a good-humored greeting.
MY name is Baxter the new inspec-
tor, and | wished to see L. G. Dolby, the
keeper of o. he said.
The girl flushed slightly. He OBJ
served that her hair was cut short like
a boys and that her chin was firm and
sharp.
Il am the keeper" she answered;
my name is Lettie C. Dolby, and I've
had the place since father was injured
last winter"
That's right, and as good as a man
she is, tool" came gruff voice from the
other room.
Lettie flushed again.
IT'S father" she whispered; won't
you step in and see him? He's very
glad to have VISITORS
Baxter had not yet recovered from
his surprise at finding that the slim,
blue-eyed girl who stood before him
was really keeper of Cragie's cut, and
he allowed himself to be led into the
other room. There, at a big, bright
window, sat a man in rocking chair
His face was of the chalky whiteness
that comes from being always indoors,
and his lap was spread with a plaid
comforter. He looked prematurely old
and worn.
How are you?' he asked. I'D get
up, only" and be motioned to his
crippled legs with faint smile
That's all right" responded Baxter,
sympathetically keep your seat"
And Baxter sitting there, heard Let
tie explain the condition of section 81.
and make her reports as promptly and
very much more clearly than any of the
keepers he had ever met. She spoke In
frank, almost boyish way, and she
understood her work as we'll as Baxter
himself did. Her father sat watching
her quietly, adding word here and
there. Presently the clock in the fur
ther room struck 5, and Lettie started
to her feet.
ITS time for me to make the rounds
of the section" she said, and a moment
later Baxter saw her 1.-THE form. yran
pei in Il stout, dark cloak, disappear
over the brow of the hill toward the
tracks.
AS he looked back he found Dolby
watching him intensely. When he
caught his eye the cripple leaned for
ward and touched BaXters knee.
There isn't Il pluckier girl between
st. Paul and Montana buttes," he said:
''eyen If do say it, who shouldn't"
Il don't see how she can manage the
section replied Baxter.
That's what l say" exclaimed Dol
by; its wonderful" and his pinched
face lighted up with smile that was
beautiful to see. at would so hard
with all of us if it wasn't for Lettie."
How did Il girl happen to be appoint
ed to such place, anyway"
"She's deserved it." Dolby answered.
energetically; she deserved it, They
amt many people that know all the
facts eXcep' the superintendent
knows and he says Lettie can be keep
er as long as she wants to.
Course you remember the big bliz-
zard we had last winter-the one that
showed in Eyensburg, and Brockton,
and COllinylle and killed all the cattle
on the Puddin' Bottom ranch. Well it
struck the Cragie country, too. Came
up over the hill from back of the house
early in the morning, and long before
10 o'clock there wasn't a fence to be
seen in the country. Lettie's mother
said | better not go down to the cut.
She was afraid I might get lost. But
I'd been at Cragie's off an on for
more'n eight years. and | thought I'd
snno tho worst the weather could do.