The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-18

- AAoASCly lll SIlCdSO 1lSCOIA-
Herald.
She was only child Of II years when
she sat down to the telegraphers table
IN the little station at Sussex to send
her first real dispatch. She never for
got that first message or the fright
ened, hesitating manner in which she
slowly pounded out it's dots and dashes
1t was an order from a Sussex dealer
to city firm ordering carload of ice.
She was frightfully ratified, and the
operator at the other end had to break
N three or four times before the short
message was understood.
Where's j. X. 2" asked the city oper-
ator when the girl had finished her
message.
He took night off. I'm just here
to take his place for one night. I'm a
beginner It's my first real work"
Your first real message. I'll bet"
ratified the key.
How did you know?" The fair
haired girl was blushing now was it
so bad?'
The sounder laughed for nearly a
minute, and Helen didn't know wheth-
er to get angry or smile too.
You're all right H. NJ" resumed
the expert, "all right little girl"
How did you know l was a grip"
the new operator pouted, with a puz-
zled frown on her pretty forehead.
oh that's easy. They all send alike
lat first"
.Oh thank you!" pettishly.
Keep cool, little girl, keep COOL
Oh. I'm not angry" The scared girl
was afraid she was offending the
merry fellow at the other end.
That car load of ice'll be along pref
ty soon. You ought to be able to keep
cool then. Ha, ha, hi. hi!'
That's the way the acquaintance be-
gan. She asked j. K. about him-the
fast man. at the main office in Pitts
burg. and every time she got chance
to sub" for the regular operator j. K.
would break In somehow and tease her.
But he showed flashes Of real kindness
too. His flashes Of humor helped her
to improve as no amount OF fry bust
ness" could, and he coached her with
out even limiting that he really wanted
to help her.
One cool evening while she was sit
ting in the ofn,se, the regular operator
now, q curly-headed young fellow with
mischievous eyes came to the window.
Are you II. NJ" he asked, smiling
frankly.
Yes, sir" she blushed, laying down
her sewing.
well, I'm James Kirk, ]. K, from
q
pleasure. May come imp
She unattached the door Of her little
office and gave him such welcome as u
modest young woman may give to the
man who has been kind and respectful
to her, but whom she had till then
never seen.
That was the beginning Of the end
He came often to Sussex after that,
and at Christmas time they were mar
ried and went back to Pittsburg to live.
1t was agreed that she too might work
in the same Office with him for a year
or SO. She was yet beginner" and
the novelty of the fascinating business
had not begun to stale upon her. Then
she liked to be near him. and-they
needed the money for the little home
they hoped soon to make for them
selves So for six months they were
very happy.
Always in the crowded, gathering,
busy main Office she could feast her
eyes on him. They came together and
went home together, and their worka-
day honeymoon seemed like q long hol-
| iday till the summer conventions be-
gan. Then Jim had to go with a
squad OF operators to help out at Phil
adelphia and Helen shed the first tears
of her married life.
One night during the very turmoil OF
rushing press dispatches, political mes
sages and the hurry burly of a great
telegraph office little Mrs. Kirk, tired
4 sleepy and lonesome was sitting al
her key pounding out long rigmarole
ebout planks and platforms and candi-
dates and caucuses. The air fairly
humnled with the buzz of q hundred
sounders. All her attention was CEN
itered upon the business passing In al
\ her attentive ear and turning Into
K good copy at the ends OF her flying
i fingers.
Suddenly out OF the bedlam Of SHARP
L noises she heard volley Of SHARP
clicks that sent the blood cold to hel
heart. II
,,K -i-r-k "a -e- a-d -'' abe heard thai
much, sounding like distant. steel
toned knell. Her hands fell to hel
Isides she clinched her teeth. and
1 without al effort 10 listen, heard above
Il the clickety Click Of the tumult thu
Every sounds that she should never
I;haye heard:
ssF-e-isi o-u-t t-h-i-r-d story win.
i sdoS1 :, - That was enough for thu
LITTLE Mrs.. Kirk Cold and uncon.
aIsacious she slipped down upon the floor
and while kind comrades carried hel
'Iaway ana sent Tor the doctor the FOL.
.flowing message was handed TO the gen.
4 IS FOUR ,csal CHIEF opera tor. Kirk, dead
j:NNelI out third story window OF thu
& hUteis i've minutes ago. Said Poor Hell
en- Please notify family and sent
4 another man on the fast mail tonight
jenkinS.'.
Fcr Dsesncy.s saks.
chicago Tribune: Murdstpne, LEND
me $1s0, VIII YOU =,
hit for. Did fellow ~ lsss
want 10 pay my wife, funeral 81
il penaess
Certain y's sss
r4tas check Tor thu amount an
30fr 10 shsar OF s6sls VIE NJ death
}5 6op. When dii sa,llle 32ss
s. bout Il year nd y hall 500 Th
4 young oman u ~ Sotng To marry %