The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-14
Carrie
|, The Telegraph Girl
x & *
Z ROMANCE OF the CHEROKEE STRIP.
* IS =
; By Captain Jack Crawford
J THE POET SCOUT
THE POET SCOUT"

THE POET SCOUT
(Continued.)
h was going away, that was q
blessed consolation; going to a busy
Office where she would have no time
to wire chats. l could endure her for
a few hours; and although l would
have resented from n one the impu-
tation that ! was a liar, / assured her
would be delighted to have her come,
n would endeavor to make her brief
visit a pleasant one.
When the freight from the south
whistled that afternoon, / had nerved
myself for a few hours Of torture. The
caboose stopped away down in the
YARD, and as stood on the platform re-
necting on what a martyr / was going
10 make OF myself, / saw the conductor
assist my visitor to the ground, and
START with her along the side of the
TRAIN towards the depot. A call from
tie instrument drew me inside, and
when came out again they were near
Inc p'at.A.. I stood and stared in
~.ilcment A neat, stylish lit
tie flgure clad in grey, q jaunty hat
from beneath which the prettiest il
aginable brown curls fell In clusteril
beauty above the prettiest face i
thought | had wei seen. She was
Iaughing merrily at some remark from
'ier escort. and the air seemed filed
with ripping music. A he ascended
the platform steps to where stood
transnxed and dumb with amaxement.
q gave me but one glance of her
merry blue eyes, and was about to pass
on Into the Office when the conductor
said:
"A moment. Miss Rankin. Let me
INTRODUCES Mr.. Saunders, the agent here
Srred. this IL Miss Carrie Rankin. late
Of Edmond"
She started at me with : look az
unuttsrable surprise, and had q mirror
thrust IN front Of me I would no
doubt hate seen reelected an expres-
slon q equal amazement. For ! mo-
msnt she stood glancing drst at my
seif m then at the conductor and
then . peal Of merry laughter rang out
from her pouting lips, and extending
hsf hand she said:
oh. that monstrous fibber. Tom
Armstrong! II I sver get within reach
81 him again I'll pull every hair cut Of
nfs head! Why, he told me Won vere
m old man, Mr.. Saunders, and-and-
that you were humpbacked. and had
1ost one Of your limbs in q railway ac-
cidcnt some years ago. He pictured
you such : fright that / hesitated long
Ss8ore deciding to come here. / was
actually afraid Of you'll"
! 'Iu kill him on sight!" / cried. re-
tanning the pretty hand which rested
- mine. He led me to believe you
m aged widow with two children. and
= facs that would Get my teeth on
sdge when Q should present It before
-. and that you Had . temper which
: bs1 saw could not scratch. How
ever. = the glad awakening from that
hldeous dream I almost feel that I can
mrgivs him, and - the frightful old
widow no longer confronts me, permit
~ e bid you = hearty welcome to
your old home. ! trust you may en-
~ the few hours you are to remain
here. You have the freedom Of the
edico: and Of the great city"
Thank you. It Is very good Of you.
md since my humpbacked ogre has
timpsd away On his ono leg, / will en-
- his den with no fear. How drear-
Nv nAtural the old place looks" (taking
a her hat and throwing it on the ia
bel. How many lonely days and
nights I spent here, fearing each rattle
q the window BY the wind might be
= tramp Of . prowling Indian, and ev-
sry sound from the outside ct night
might come from tho dreaded Dalton
rang, lying n wait to rob ! train. MAY
4 look In my old room?"
Certainly"
Same cheerless place. Yes. more
chserlesa, for really, Mr.. Saunders. YOU
- not keep It % neat as I did. when
did you sweep 1t last?"
She glanced into my face with a
arch look and smilingly awaited ~
Esply.
! S0Iuk ~ W. Que Gay last week.. DH
was It wssk beforsf II was the day
the superintendent came over the read
! special. The sprucing up OF de-
pots ~ agents-mals agents, that is
= always regulated BY Official visits.
you know"
We passed on int the freigbt-room. |
such only in anne for no goads save
mems supplies had sver been
stored therein. From the frsight-room
ladder led up to the lott between
the ceilings q the ONCE and sleeping |
room and the root. and. pointing up
q the d~ust-covsrsd rafters. ny iair |
said:
~ had i dreadful time up there one
~. Tho insulated copper wires from
the instruments run up through the OF
Ac6 ceiling. you know. and connect
With tho line out under the caves Of
the depot. / cut out my instruments
Tor : heavy thundsrstorm. and when l
cnt II again after the storm had pass
n. I found the wire opsn on both sides
N1kAA EI NAa~S-. 49, A~~r,h1~ -~- a. - l