The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-02-06

WdIInlH at tue OLHeT euu VI the MiIc.
I was young man of but 20, very
susceptible to female charms. and as
was then denied even a look at
pretty face, aside from fleeting glimps-
es OF female passengers on passing
trains, l came TO regard Miss Rankin
as my best girl" and her personal
telegraphic signal, "Cr," became the
sweetest sound nay instrument clicked
into my ears.
Modesty. coupled with fear of be-
ing "guyed," had prevented me from
questioning the train men regarding
the personal appearance of my manor
alta. but one day when ! had orders
TO hold a north-bound freight until a
belated south bound passenger had ar
rived, and the freight conductor, Tom
Armstrong, came into my office and sat
down for chat, / determined to sound
him and learn little something of the
idol of my dreams.
What sort of looking girl is that
now holding down Edmond staticn?" !
asked.
He looked at me moment in a
half-quizzical, half-mischieyous man
ner, and replied;
Say. Fred. I've heard some of the
boys on the line say you was dead gone
on that piece, and have an idea she
is on your trail, too, for she made me
tell her all about you while my train
was lying there this morning waiting
for No. Z. Did you never see herr"
"No, / never had the pleasure OF
meeting Miss Rankin"
Miss Rankin? You mean Mrs. Ran
kim"
Mean wha-a-a-at?"
Mrs. Rankin. l thought you knew
she was a widow with two kids at her
mothers, up in Arkansas City. | guess
she's square enough sort of woman,
out when you see her, old man, I've
an idea you won't want second look.
She's no spring chicken! Forty il
she's a day, and she doesn't need
better protector than that face of hers.
And temper, Gee-whiz! My hind
brakeman asked her the other day II
that face didn't pain her, and she
grabbed up coupling-pin and let it go
at him. He'd have been dead brakey
If he hadn't been good dodger He
never sticks his head out of the ca
boose window now while we are at that
station. for she's got it in for him."
The passenger whistled, and he hast
ened to his train to pull out as soon
as the track was clear.
How cruelty my idol was shattered.
After the trains had gone, sat as if
dazed; in fact, / was so absorbed in
digesting the startling information i
had CLEANED from Armstrong that
neglected to report their departure, and
the 'jacking-up" l received from the
in-dispatcher for my inattention TO
dHty served to still further increase the
III temper into which the conductors
story had thrown me. The snappy
clicks of the instruments had scarcely
| ceased to convey to my ears the mer-
ted reproof, concluding with the ster-
aotyped chestnut which dispatchers al
ways crack in such cases, Don't let it
occur again." ere l heard a call from
Edmond. Heretofore / had fairly
,prung to the table to respond to that
all, but now / felt no desire to enter
4 conversation with the ogre who pre-
sided at the key at that distant station.
II was with no gentle touch that / an
iwered her CALL
Say. Sd" (my personal signaD, tits
100 bad, but u shld tend to biz. Ha!
IA! ha. Was sleep or reading letr
m ur girl?"
Thus came her consolatory message
the abbreviated conversational style
Of the telegrapher, and it served to
an the flames of my anger into a fierce
leat. Had it been the nice little mai
len of my dreams who had slung such
,haff at me over the wires / would
AVE smiled and thought it real cute,
tut that fright! Bah!
Il DIT no as it interests VT I was
loing. I'm 2 busy to talk NV"
/ snapped the words off with spite
ul sharpness and closed my key with
/ thump that almost sprung the cir
,uit breaker.
well needn't bite my nose off coz
Or (the dispateher) turned you over.
all me up when u get in cd humor.
we something to sa to ~
My gentlemanly instincts sharply re-
,roved me for treating her in such an
lngentlemanly manner. Had she ever
ed me to believe she was young and
handsome? Was she to be blamed be-
ause she was widow, wore carica-
mo in lion NJ a faro and was thp
mother of two children, no doubt as