The Red Cloud chief., 1898-08-05
Carrie
The Telegraph Girl
y - *
RonANcs or the CHEROKEE STRIP.
- - -
BY Captain Jack Crawford
THE POET scout"
THE POET SCOUT
(Continued.)

ONCE where she would have no time
to wire chats. | could endure her for
a few hours; and although l would
have resented from any one the impu-
tation that ] was a liar, / assured her
j would be delighted to have her come,
and would endeavor to make her brief
visit a pleasant one.
When the freight from the south
whistled that afternoon. | had nerved
myself for a few hours Of torture. The
caboose stopped away down in the
yard, and as | stood on the platform re-
Meeting on what a martyr ! 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
h platform. | 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 l had ever seen. She was
laughing merrily at some remark from
her escort, and the air seemed filled
with ripping music. Az he assembled
the platform steps to where | stood
transfixed and dumb with amazement,
she w me but one glance Of her
merry blue. eyes, and was about to pass
on into the office when the conductor
said:
"a moment, Miss Rankin. Let me
Introduce Mr.. Saunders. the agent here.
Fred, this is Miss Carrie Rankin. late
of Edmond"
She started at me with a look Of
unutterable surprise, and had a mirror
been thrust in front of me. | would no
doubt have seen reflected an express
sion of equal Amusement. For q mo-
ment she stood glancing first at my
self and then at the conductor. and
then a peal Of merry laughter rang out
from her poutlng lips, n extending
her hand she said:
"Oh, that monstrous fibber, Tom
Armstrong! II I ever get within reach
of him again I'll pull every hair out OF
his head! Why, he told me you were
an old man, Mr.. Saunders. %and-and-
that you were h~umpbacked. and had
lost one Of your limbs in a railway &C.
cident some years ago. He pictured
you such a fright that l hesitated lons
before deciding to come here. | was
actually afraid Of you!"
"Ill kill him on sight" I cried, re
raining the pretty hand which restel
in mine. He led me to believe 20,
an aged widow with two children, ant
q face that would set my teeth OF
edge when you should present 1t befor,
me. and that you had a temper which
a buzz saw could mo- scratch. How
ever, in the glad awakening from tina
thideous dream l almost feel that l cal
forgive him, and as the frightful oil,
widow no longer confronts me, permi
me to bid you a hearty welcome Il
your old home. I trust you may en-
10Y the few hours you are to remain
here. You have the freedom Of tn
ONCE; and Of the great city"
Thank you. 1t ia very good of you
and since my h~umpbacked ogre ha
limped away on his one leg, l will EN-
Ter his den with no fear. How drear
aly natural the old place looks" (takin
OF her hat and throwing II on the ia
ble). How many lonely days an
nights I spent here, fearing each rattl
Iof the window by the wind might b
. tramp or a prowling Indian. and e,
cry sound from the outside at Nigh
might come from the dreaded Dalto
gang. lying in wait 20 rob a train. Ma
q look in my old room?"
Certainly"
Same cheerless place. Yes, moi
cherries, for really, Mr.. Saunders. yo
do not keep 1t 80 neat as l did. Whe
did you sweep it last?"
She glanced into my face with a
arch look and smilingly awaited m
reply.
II think 1t was one day last week,
was 1t week before? 1t was the da
the superintendent came over the roo
on a special. The sprucing up Of d
Dots by agents-male agents, that is
is always regulated by official visit
SOU know"
We passed on into the freight-roor
such only in name. for no goods sa'
section mems supplies had ever be,
stored therein. From the f~reight-roo
A ladder led up to the loft betwe,
the ceilings of the ONCE and sleepiI
room and the roof, and. pointing
at the du~st-covered r%afters, my ia
visitor said:
II had a dreadful time up there o.
day. The insulated copper wires fro
the instruments run up through the {
nee ceiling. you know, and come
G with the line out under the caves
the depot. ! cut out my instrumer
for a heavy thunderstorm. and wher
cut 1t again after the storm had PAL
ed. I found the wire open on both sid
of me. Fearing the trouble was In I
once | began a close search for IL, al
binding the wires below all right,
climbed IN the ladder to the loft.
Nm that dark, black, dusty, sooty pls