Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-03-27

tlOn ~, ne nau Teuu III MS llbIie boOh
with the thumbed blue cover, and he
had expected to see grizzle-bearded
man with n rough, red face, and
stubby black pipe. For Cragie was
known to be one of the worst sections
on the line. Its keeper was required
20 walk mile from the end of the
long bridge and through the cut twice
every day, winter and summer, and it
often required n cool head and vig-
orous body to dodge the tramp freights
that thundered back and forth with
seeming disregard 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
a spike gone, and he felt after
the manner of new inspectors, like
complimenting the vigilance of the
keeper.
''Is L. C. Dolby imp" he asked, when
he reached the keepers house on the
hill.
"Yes, sir; will you walk in?" asked
the rosy:cheelied 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 good-humorcd greeting.
"My name is Baxter, the new in
spector, and l wish to see L. c. Dolby,
the keeper of 81" he said.
The girl flushed slightly. He cb-
served that her hair was cut short like
n boys, and that her chin was firm and
sharp.
II 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 u man
she is, tool" came q gruff voice from
the inner room.
"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
shock of 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 man in a rocking-chair.
His face was of the challly whiteness
that comes from being always indoors,
and his lap was spread with plaid
comforter. He look ID prematurely old
and worn.
''How are you?" he asked. "I'd get
up, only" and he notioned 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 27,
and make her report as promptly and
very much more clearly than any of
the keepers he had met. She spoke in Il
frank, almost boyish way, and she un-
derstood her work as we'll as Baxter
himself did. Her father sat watching
her quietly, adding a word here and
there. Presently the clock in the fur
ther room struck three, and Lettie
started to her feet.
IT'S time for me to make the rounds
of the section," she said, and a moment
later Baxter saw her 1.-THE form, wrapped
in stout, dark cloak, disappear over
the brow of the hills toward the tracks.
AS he looked back he found Dolby
watching him intently. When he
caught his eye, the cripple leaned for
ward and touched BaXter's knee.
''There isn't piuckier girl between
ST. Paul and the Montana buttes," he
said, ''even if 1 do say it who shouldn't"
Il don't see how she can manage the
section" replied Baxter.
"That's what I say" exclaimed
Dolby; cts wonderful" and his
pinched face lighted up with a smile that
was beautiful to see. at would go
lard with us all if it wasn't for Lettie."
''How did the girl happen to be ap-
pointed to such place, anyway?"
'She deserved it," Dolby answered en-
eIgetically; "she deserved it. There
amt many people that knows all the
facts excep' the superintendent. He
knows, and he says Lettie can be keeper
as long as she wants to.
Course you remember the big bliz-
zard that we had last winter-the one
that showed in Evansburg and Brock
ton and Collinville, and killed all the
cattle on the Puddin' Bottom ranch.
Well, it struck the CGagie country, too.
Came up over the hill from back of the
house early in the morning, and long
before ten o'clock there wasn't fence
to be seen in the county. Lettie's moth
er said better not go down TO the cut
She was afraid | might get lost. But
I'd been at Cragie's off an on for more'n
eight years, and thought I'd seen the
worst weather could do. So | went
down the hill, and before was ten rods
from the house the snow had wiped II
out, and all could see were the whirl.
ing drifts and the path for dozen feet
ahead of me. And when reached the
cut there wasn't any cut there. 1t was
filled to the top with snow. Wondered
what the limited bound down for Cragie
would do. 1t was pretty sharp and cold
when l reached the track this side oi
the bridge, and l had 10 get down on
4, lie l., 4 - -