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

sent the message about the mau
train. could have sworn to it, for
recognized his click in response to
my signal.
The mail was due at Jones Siding
ac about l O'Clock. 1t made only
about 20 miles an hour. It could be
seen approaching tho tower for sew
eral minutes before it passed. It
was the duty of the operator there
u inform me of tho arrival of each
train, in order that l might know
whether the track was clear befo1 @
letting the next train west pass Es-
sex.
AS o'clock arrived and l had
heard nothing about the mail from
Jones, and had heard from the sta
oon below that the paymaster's car
would soon be due at Essex. called
up Jones Siding and asked, Where
is the mail9"
1t is just approaching the tower.
Will be by in minute" came the
answer, natural enough in substance,
but alarming in that it was in nei-
ther Jim Evans nor Ned Aldrich's g
sending.
I was just ON the point Of asking,
"Who are your" but restrained my
hand moment, when word came
again from there, "She has just
gone by" This was the same oper-
ator.
TIE thought flashed through my
mind: II know that click. Where
does it belong7 And what is that
operator doing at Jones9"
After a 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 tho midst
of the mountains in tho blOckaded
section of the road
admit l felt queer began to
imagine all sorts of things-t that tho
wires were playing me false, or that
there was rasCdlity going on at
Jones Siding
II must stop it, said to myself.
"or find out the culprit. But first
must find what the scheme isl
called up Jones Siding and asked,
"How is the weather up there?'
Showing" calno the reply.
"Whcre is Chester's carr" 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.
1t was we'll known to all on the
line that the pnymaster was due at
Carlton on the morning of the 18th
of each month, to start west over
the next section to pay the hands.
1t 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 duo at
my station in about ten minutes. NV
plan Of action was quickly formed.
set the red signal to hold the car,
though the track ahead was clear.
l 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 a line is heard at ell stations.
Every instrument. connected with
the line clicks out the Same words.
where is the night operator re-
Gently stationed at Martinsvillea"
was now able to ask the main Office.
II don't know. Why9" was click
ed in return.
II think he is mp to mischief.
Hunt up his recent record, quick.
Particulars later" feverishly an
swered.
20. K.," came back.
Then there was await. impa-
tiently looked at my watch. Five
minutes went by, then seven, thoa
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 i was expecting. This
was the message rapidly jotted
down on my pad as the paymaster's g
car came rattling up the line and
stopped before the station: James
Houston appointed night operator
at Marfinsville Nov. 6. Recon-
mended by commercial college. Dis
charged for neglect Dec. TO-"
I returned the usual 20. K.," re-
| stored connections with the west
and started for the platform to see
the engineer Of Mr. Chester's car,
when I was recalled to my instru-
ment ny the most emphatic signals
from Jones Siding.
Where in thunder have you been
for the last ten minutcss" was the
impudent message.