The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-07-05
Carrie
The Telegraph Girl
= ROMANCE OF THE CHEROKEE STRIP.
By Captain Jack Crawford
THE POET SCOUT"
The POET SCOUT.

BY Captain Jack Crawford Z
THE POET SCOUT"
(Continued.)
She was going away. that was a
01pssed consolation; going to a busy
A0ce where she would have no time
% wire chats. could endure her for
. few hours; and although l would
aavs resented from any one the impu-
fat1on that was liar, assured her
would be delighted to have her come,
and would endeavor to make her brief
Wait . pleasant one.
Whez the freight from the south
W1istled that afternoon. had nerved
0gseH for few hours Of torture. The
saSeose stopped away down in the
11xd. and as stood on the platform re-
aseting on what a martyr I was going
70 make OF myself, saw the conductor
assist my visitor to the ground, and
aeart with her along the side of the
szaan towards the depot. A call from
tho instrument drew me inside, and
when came out again they were near
the platform. I stood and stared in
plank S":azement. A neat, stylish lit
ue nxure clad in grey, jaunty hat,
arom beneath which the prettiest i'm
eetnable brown curls fell in clustering
oeAuty above the prettiest face I
thought / bad ever seen. She was
laughing merrily at some remark from
NJ
With ripping music. AS he assembled
tns Platform steps to whore I stood
teansdxed and dumb with amazement,
e1e gave me but one glance Of her
merry blue eyes, and was about to pass
On Into the Office when the conductor
aid:
A moment. Miss Rankin. Let me
Introduce Mr.. Saunders, the agent here
1red. this is Miss Carrie Rankin, late
II Edmond"
She started at me with q look of
eaoetsrable surprise, and had a mirror
eeen thrust in front Of me, would no
eouoe have seen reflected an express
esso OF equal amazement. For a mo-
m4nt she stood glancing first at my
se0 and then at the conductor. and
eaea peal Of merry laughter rang out
1rom her pouting lips, and extending
her hand she said:
oh. that monstrous fibber. Tom
Armstrong! II ever get within reach
q him again I'll pull every hair out of
Ms head! Why. he told me you were
IN old man. Mr.. Saunders, and-and-
aat you were humpbacked, and had
sees ono Of your limbs in railway &C.
oaaent some years ago. He pictured
3oQ such fright that I hesitated long
osaore deciding to come here. was
ec4ually afraid of yeu!"
LII Kill him on sight" I cried. re-
Gaining tho pretty hand which rested
N mine. "He led me to believe YOU
al aged widow with two children, and
q Aee that would set my teeth on
'Sdse when you should present it before
ma. and that you had a temper which
u oaxz saw could not scratch. How
'evss. IN the glad awakening from that
Ht4sous dream I almost feel that I can
nex1vs him, and as the frightful old
widow no longer confronts me, permit
me to bid you a hearty welcome to
>yoor old home. trust you may en-
Joy the few hours you are to remain
here. You have the freedom of the
odce; and of the great CITY,"
Thank you. 1t is very good of you,
and since my humpbacked ogre has
imped away on his one leg, l will en-
aee his den with no fear. How drear-
sly natural the old place looks" (taktng
on her hat and throwing it on the ia
1te1. How many lonely days and
ofghts I spent here, fearing each rattle
ct the window by the wind might be
. tramp or prowling Indian, and ev-
-ry sound from the outside ut night
xafzat come from the dreaded Dalton
gang, lying in wait to rob train. May
lock In my old room?"
Certainty"
6ame cherries place. Yes, more
ehnnhess, for really, Mr.. Saunders, YOU
do not keep 1t so neat as did. When
did you sweep 1t last?"
She glanced into my face with an
Arch look and smilingly awaited nv
Esply.
Il think it was one day last week, OF
was 1t week before? 1t was the day
<as superintendent came over the roa6
On 4 special. The sprucing up of de-
POTS by agents-male agents, that is
fs always regulated by official visits
you know"
We passed on into the freight-room
2ach only in name, for no goods save
section mems supplies had ever beer
stored therein. From the freight-roon
q ladder led up to the loft between
che ceilings Of the Office and sleepin,
room and the roof, and, pointing u,
ut the Undiscovered rafters, my fail
visitor said:
Il had a dreadful time up there on,
DAY. The insulated copper wires from
che instruments run up through the Of
11ce ceiling, you know, and connec
with the line out under the caves o
nEo depot. cut out my instrument
For a heavy thunderstorm, and when
cut it again after the storm had pass
ID, I found the wire open on both side