Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-07-22
Carrie
The Telegraph Girl
- & e
EoMANcE or HE CHEROKEE STRIP.
- * X
BY Captain Jack Crawford
The POET SCOTT"
(Continued.)
The POET SCOUT

DleSSeO cOnSOlallOn, gong 10 DuSy
Office where she would have no time
to wire chats. / could endure her for
few hours; and although l would
have resented from any one the impu-
tatlOn that | was liar, assured her
i would be delighted to have her come,
and would endeavor TO make her brief
visit pleasant che.
When the freight from the south
whlstled that afternoon, | had nerved
myself for few hours of torture. The
caboose stopped away down in the
yard, and as l stood on the platform re-
fiecting on what a martyr l was going
to make of myself, l saw the conductor
assist my visitor to the ground. and
start with her along the side of the
train towards the depot. A call from
the Instrument drew me inside. and
when / came out again they were near
the platform. i stood and stared in
Blank amazement. A neat, stylish lit
Tie figure clad in grey, a jaunty hat.
from beneath which the prettiest i'm
aginable brown curls fell in clustering
beauty above the prettiest face |
thought | had ever seen. She was
laughing merrily at some remark from
1er escort. and the air seemed filled
rNth ripping music. AS he assembled
ne platform steps to where | stood
&ansfxed and dumb with amazement.
ehe gave me but one glance of her
merry blue eyes, and was about to pass
On into the Office when the conductor
1aid:
:. "A moment, Miss Rankin. Let me
3Atroduce Mr.. Saunders, the agent here.
Sred, this is Miss Carrie Rankin. late
p Edmond"
She started at me with look OF
ehutterable surprise, and had a mirror
seen thrust in front Of me. l would no
loubt have seen reflected an express
fon OF equal amazement For a mo-
pent she stood glancing nrst al N.Y.
aSif and then at the conductor, and
feen a peal OF n cry laughter rang out
Hom her poutiag lips, and extending
Her hand she said:
'Oh, that monstrous fbber. Tom
armstrong, If 1 ever get within reach
81 him again I'll pull every hair out of
Us head. Why. he told me you were
ar old man, Mr.. Saunders. snd-and-
Pat you were humpbacked, and had
99st one of yo;r limbs in a railway ac-
Ndent some years ago He pictured
You such fright that 1 hesitated long
pefore deciding to come here. / was
actually afraid of you,"
7 'Y'll kill him on sight" I cried. re-
sSining the pretty hand which rested
"a mine led me to believe you
N aged widow with two children. and
face that would set my teeth on
4dge when you should present it before
ne, and that you had a temper which
q buzz saw could not scratch. How
fer, Ia the glad awakening from that
udeoss dream | almost feel that 1 car
Rrgivs him, and as the frightful old
widow no longer confronts me. permit
me to-" bid you q hearty welcome TO
your cid home. trust you may en-
10Y the few hours you are to remain
mere. You have the freedom of the
Office; and Of the great city"
Thank you. 1t is very good of you.
aimped way on his one leg, l will en-
lsr his den with no fear. How dresr-
DH natural the old place looks" (taking
on her hat and throwing it on the ia
ble). How many lonely DAYS and
nights i spent here, fearing each rattle
OF the window by the wind might be
tramp or prowling Indian. and ey-
cry SOUND from the outside at night
might come from the dreaded Dalton
gang, lying in wait to rob train. May
look in my old room?"
Certainly"
Same cherries place Yes. more
cheerless, for really, Mr.. Saunders, YOU
do not keep it so neat as 1 did. When
did you sweep it last?"
She glanced into my face with AN
arch look and smilingly awaited INV
reply.
- think it was one day last week. or
was it week before? 1t was the day
the superintendent came over the road
on a special. The sprucing up OF de-
pots by agents-male agents. that Is
is always regulated by official visits
you know"
We passed on into the freight-room
such only in name, for no goods save
section mems supplies had ever been
stored therein. From the freight room
ladder led up to the loft between
the ceilings of the Office and sleeping
room and the roof, and, pointing UT
ct the Undiscovered rafters, my fail
visitor said:
81 had a dreadful time up there one
day. The insulated copper wires from
fhe instruments run up through the of
fee ceiling, you know, and connect
with the line out under the caves OF
the depot. / cut out my instruments
for heavy thunderstorm. and when
cut it again after the storm had pass
Cd. found the wire open on both side:
of me- Fearing the trouble was in my
Office | began close search for 1t, and
finding the wires below all right,
climbed up the ladder to the loft. vi
An that dark black dusty soOty plac,