Daily camera., 1901-10-10

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THE section boss, with . brown Jug
In his hand. was coming slowly
down the track. stepping heavily from
tie to tie, and pausing often TO exam
Inc some fancied defect In rail or
sleeper. Finally he arrived At the sta
ton. and. seating himself on the bag
gage truck beside the Nan, drew his
brown. corded arm across his face.
"'Ixs . warm day we're havin." he
said.
The operator took his pipe from his
mouth and spat contsmptuously on
the ground. "Warm!" he exclaimed.
"You don't call this warm. do your"
1T may not be warm sittin' here In
the shade wid nothin' to do" answsred
the boss. "but just come out an try
yer hand At liftin' ties In the sun.
Well. muss b filing me Jug"
He AROSE and went slowly across
the track end up the sandy road
toward his house. The operator
watched him until he disappeared
within the door. Closing his eyes.
the operator tried In vain to express
to himself his utter contempt OF Hob
sons Crossing and Of the $50 month
which he received for enduring its
heat and the deadly Loneliness of the
long. silent days. Unconsciously he
formed his thoughts into the words Of
. letter: Dear Sir: I wish. II you
can and nothing better for me than
this situation. TO tender you my res
ignation from the position OF opera
tor at Hobson's Crossing. ! will re-
main here until you can send . man
to relieve me-"
On the bench inside the Office. .
sounder, ancient and dirt-encrusted.
sputtersd At periodical intervals. A.
the Man listened idly TO its mutter-
ings. he became aware Of . convsrsa-
tion which was being carried on over
the wire.
"Do you love me. Daisy. dearf"
asked the soundsr.
"Yes. George. you know I do. What
makes you ask?
II just wanted to know. Daisy. dear"
1t was the smart Western Union op-
orator In Chicago who was making
the crippled old sounder at Hobson's
Crossing scratch and squeak with his
elean-cut. rapid Morse. The Man 1t
Hobson's became suddenly interested.
NJ uAtrD mt fhA lttlR
Office. skillfully adjusted the screws
and drew up the spring Of the ma
chine. 30 that the letters came In .
clear and steady hum. This WAS the
kind Of stu6 the Nan loved to hear. for
he himself WAS An adept with the
key. and in his happier days had mas
tered the mysteries OF the Associate
Press code. Love passed In streaks
and flashes over the wire. The Chi
cago operators style WAS clear. sharp
and beautiful. The girl up in Roches-
ter strovs to initiate it, but with In
different success. Her style lacked
the hniah Of the master hand. A.
the Man at Hobson's listened his
fingers itched to take the key and
once more make the sounder purr ~
in his happier days, Suddenly An In
spirauon came to him. He looked at
the clock. 1t Wa 3:45. and the CHI
caKo operator would 60 OF duty st
four o'clock
"I'n do H." exclaimed the Man.
bringing down his hst on the bench.
The next quarter Of an hour he spent
In adjusting the screws OF the heavy
old brass key. He took out the lever.
rubbed the dust OF il with his hand
kerchief. and polished The platinum
points till they shons. Then he put
back the lever and carefully turned
the screws until be could just see the
light between the, points OF contact.
At i've minutes past four he opened
the key and sale. softly: Hello. Daisy
dear"
Eyes. George"
do you lsvs ne sti!lr whisssd the
old brass key.
-Graeious. 0eorss!" sAid The girl.
'Don't send % fast: ysu frtgAten
me-"
"rm not sending fast" hummed the
Nan Il couldn't send slower than this
II 1 tried. Just wanted TO tell you.
Daisy. that think you're Just about
the incest girl that ever"
"why don't you ever come up to see
me. them flashed the girl "You'vs
been saying such things ~ that for
the last six months; you've agreed to
come half . dozen times. but you
never come. Now. George. you lis
ten 70 me. II you don't come up next
Sunday. ~ you agreed. I'll never
speak another word 10 you on this
wire. 30. thsre!"
Leaning back In his chair, the Man
looked at the pile of ties On the other
side Of the track and wondered IL the
operator in Chicago intended to 20 up
to Rochester next Sunday. Probably
not. Those city operators were i'm
pecunious chaps. and TO the best Of
them four or Ave dollars car fare would
b . good deal of an obstacle, even in
the path of love. The Man At Hob
sons Crossing thought hard. Here
was q situation which required all his
powers Of diplomacy. This invitation
must be accepted, or he would lose his
chance of keeping In practice for the
Associated Press Job be had in view.
Il did not take the Man long to make
up his mind.
"rn come up next Sunday on the
nine o'clock train" he told the girl,
'but don't say any thing about It on the
wire. The boys here in the ofRes would
guy me II they knew"
Then he wired the superintendent:
"Plsase send me . pass to Roches-
ter and return"
The church bells were ringing and
the people were going to church -
the Man stepped OF the train at
Rochester on the following Sunday
morning. He had never been there be-
fore. The place was small. he noted,
Ahvnrfifn in TIM +