The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-14

sent the message about the man
train. could have sworn to it, for
recognized his click in response to
my signal.
The mail was due at Jones Siding
at about o'clock. 1t made only
about 20 miles an hour. 1t could be
seen approaching the tower for sev-
eral minutes before it passed. Il
was the duty of the operator there
to inform me of the arrival Of each
train, in order that might know
whether the track was clear before
letting the next train west pass Es-
sex.
AS l o'clock arrived and ! had
heard nothing about the mail from
Jones, and had heard from the sta
ton below that the paymaster's car
would soon be due at Essex, l called
up Jones Siding and asked, where
i. is the mail2"
"It is just approaching the tower.
Will be by in a minute" came the
answer, natural enough in substance,
but alarming in that it was in nei-
ther Jim Evans nor Ned Aldrich's
sending.
Twas just on the point Of asking,
1Who are you7" but restrained my
hand a moment, when word came
again from there, "She has just
gone by" This was the same oper-
ator.
The thought flashed through my
mind: 81 know that click. Where
does it belong9 And what is that
operator doing at Joness"
After deal of conjuring with my
wits remembered that the last
messages from Jones Siding were
in the unmistakable style of the
night operator at Martinsville, an
out of the way station in the midst
of the mountains in the blockaded
section of the road.
admit ] felt queer. 1 began to
imagine all sorts of things-that the
wires were playing me false. or that
there was rasCdlity going on at
Jones Siding.
81 must stop it," said to myself,
"or find out the culprit. But first l
must find what the scheme is"
called up Jones Siding and asked,
"How is the weather up there?''
"Snowing," came the reply.
"Where is Chester's car2" was add
ed significantly.
Chester was the paymaster. With
that inquiry it dawned upon me
what the plan was. 1t was to wreck
and rob the paymaster's car.
It was we'll known to all on the
line that the paymaster was due at
Carlton on the morning of the 18th
of each month, to start west over
the next section to pay the hands.
It was also we'll known that Chester
made the run from the central Office
to Carlton the night before the 18th
in his handsomely equipped private
car.
The paymaster's car was due at
my station in about ten minutes. My
plan of action was quickly formed.
set the red signal to hold the car,
though the track ahead was clear.
then grounded my instrument,
breaking connections to the west
and called up the main Office.
could thus make inquiries Of the
central Office without my messages
being heard at Jones Siding. Ordi-
narily, of course, a message sent
over line is heard at all stations.
Every instrument connected with
the line clicks out the same words.
Where is the night operator re-
Gently stationed at Martinsville9" I
was now able to ask the main Office.
II don't know. Why2" was click
ed in return.
81 think he is up to mischief.
Hunt up his recent record, quick.
Particulars later" 1 feverishly an
swered.
80. K.," came back.
Then there was a wait. impa-
tiently looked at my watch. Five
minutes went by, then seven, then
nine minutes. / was listening in
tently for the whistle of the pay
masters car. At the same moment
came my call on the wire and the
shrill whistle was expecting. This
was the message 1 rapidly jotted
down on my pad as the paymaster's
car came rafting up the line and
stopped before the station: James
Houston appointed night operator
at Martinsville Nov. 6. Recon-
mended by commercial college. Dis
charged for neglect Dec. 10"
l returned the usual 30. f." re-
stored connections with the west
and started for the platform to see
the engineer of Mr.. Chester's car,
when was recalled to my instru-
ment by the most emphatic signals
from Jones Siding.
"Where in thunder have you been
for the last ten minutess' was the
irnD11dent message.