The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-07-27
Carrie
The I elegraph Girl
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4 ROMANCE or The CHEROKEE STRIP.
S *
BY Captain Jack Crawford
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.(Continued.)
4 ROMANCE OF The CHEROKEE STRIP.
BY Captain Jack Crawford
THE POET SCOUT.

'DI9bSeU tConSolaLlOns gong TO a puSy
'0mee where she would have no time
70 wire chats. I could endure her for
: few hours; and although would
aave resented from any one the impu-
Eation that was liar, assured her
would be delighted to have her come,
Wait a pleasant one, "
When the freight from the south
whistled that afternoon, I had nerved
2Dyself for a few hours Of torture. The
Saboose stopped away down in the
yard, and as l stood on the platform re-
aeet1ng on what a martyr I was going
20 make Of myself I saw the conductor
assist my visitor to the ground, and
start with her along the side Of the
sraln 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
plank csS-sazement. A neat, stylish lit
Tie ugure clad in grey, jaunty hat,
Grom beneath which the prettiest i'm
ag1nable brown curls fell in clustering
beauty above the prettiest face
Shought l had ever seen. She was
laughing merrily at some remark from
nar escort, and the air seemed filled
WAN ripping music. AS he assembled
sac platform steps to where I stood
Wansfxed and dumb. with amazement,
She gave me but one glance of her
merry blue eyes, and was about to pass
On into the office when the conductor
eaid: -- '@1 -,
"A moment, Miss Rankin. Let me
introduce Mr.. Saunders, the agent here,
Erred, this is Miss Carrie Rankin, late
of Edmond"
She started at me with a look of
sanutterable surprise, and had mirror
osen thrust in front of me, would no
&ouer have seen reflected an express
'@1on or equal amazement. For a mo-
meat she stood glancing first at my
seaF ana then at the conductor. and
'ehen peal Of merry laughter rang out
from her pouting lips, and extending
her hand she said:
Oh, that monstrous fibber, Tom
Armstrong! If ever get within reach
OK him again I'll pull every hair out of
AIS head! Why, he told me you were
an old man, Mr.. Saunders, and-and-
'eaat you were humpbacked, and had
lost one Of your limbs in railway &C.
's1dent some years ago. He pictured
you such fright that hesitated long
essore deciding to come here. I was
actually, afraid of you!"
It'll kill him on s1ght!" I cried re-
tanning the pretty hand which rested
IN mine. "He led me to believe you
an aged widow with two children, and
race that would set my teeth on
edge when You should present it before
me, and that you had temper which
q euzz saw could not scratch. How
ever, in the glad awakening from that
'o1aeous dream I almost feel that I can
1org1ve him, and as the frightful old
widow no longer confronts me, permit
me to bid you q hearty welcome flo
your old home. I trust you may en-
JOY 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,
and since my humpbacked ogre has
Nmped away on his one leg, I will en-
ter his den with no fear How drear-
Ally natural the old place looks" (taking
on her hat and throwing it on the ia
ote). How many lonely DAYS and
nights I spent here, fearing each rattle
OF the window by the wind might be
a tramp or prowling Indian, and ey-
~ry sound from the outside at night
might come from the dreaded Dalton
gang, lying in wait to rob train, Nav
/ look in my old room?"
Certainly" g..
Same cheerless place Yes mora
cheerless, for really, Mr.. Saunders Won
do not keep it so neat as did. When
did you sweep it last?" st@2
She glanced into my face with an
arch look and smilingly awaited nv
reply. >.. .-... < *. ~
81 think it was one day last week. o,
was 1t week before? 1t was the day
che superintendent came over the roac
ON a special. The sprucing up of de.
pots by agents-male agents, that is
Is always regulated by official visits
you know" @.. @$.q. III ~ +.
We passed on into the freight-room
such only in name, for no goods save
section mems supplies had ever beer
stored therein. From the freight-roon
- ladder led up to the loft between
the ceilings Of the office and sleepin1
room and the roof, and, pointing III
mt the dust-covered rafters, my fail
visitor said: 3. & .4s5
II had dreadful time up there on,
. day. The insulated copper wires from
Che instruments run up through the Of
Gice ceiling, you know, and connec
with the line out under the caves o
the depot. I cut out my instrument
for a heavy thunderstor and when
cut it again after the storm had pass
4ad, I found the wire open on both side
of me. Fearing the trouble was in M
office began a close search for 1t, and
finding the wires below ali. right,
climbed up the ladder to the loft u
ian that dark, black, dusty, sooty plac
j found both wires burned off by light
ming; and what a time had repairin
them! 1t was very hot and close u
49, - r - ~ .A.