Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-06
DAILY SHORT STORY
How Got Rich.
[Original.1

1t was a desolate looking place, that
station on the Northern Pacific rail-
road. 1 can't now understand how 1,
a girl of twenty, could have filled the
position of night operator there. But
did, and my being there resulted in
an important change in my life. 1t
freed me from the necessity of earn
ing my own living.
The place being so exposed, l kept
revolver under lounge in my Of
fee, on which often rested when not
busy. 1 confess that 1 never thought
1 should use it even If an unarmed
man were coming to murder me. 1
always handled it as 1 would a viper
that would sting me. l often thought
what would do If some villain should
come along to interfere with me, but
as 1 could not screw up my courage
even in fancy to shoot him l didn't
see how would be likely to do it in re-
ality.
One night trouble came, sure enough.
Two men stepped into the station, and
without a word one of them came to
me and ordered me away from the tel
egraph instrument, while the other
took up red lantern from the floor
and went out. 1t was plain that the
man who had approached me intended
that 1 should not sound q warning
whileAthe other was to stop the train
that was due at the station in about
half an hour. Knowing as 1 did that
the train carried an express safe, l
surmised that these men were but two
OF a gang intending to stop the train
and rob the safe.
For a few minutes 1 was frightened
nearly to death. 1t was only when the
man with the lantern went out and
the other quietly took seat where he
could watch me that it occurred to me
they would not likely hurt a woman
unless she interfered with their plans.
From that moment 1 began to regain
my composure. Then 1 began to think
of some trick by which 1 might send u
message. To do so openly was impos-
sible. The man would not let me get
near enough to the instrument l be-
gan to talk to him.
AZ know" l said, chat it wouldn't
do for you to have me touch that key
and my life would pay for doing so;
consequently you needn't trouble your
self to watch me-"
"Tn keep an eye on you, all the
same" he replied.
ITO show you that 1 have no inten-
nf hn 90 n1
sit on that lounge if you will permit
me-"
Go ahead" He seemed rather TAX
en- with an idea that would remove me
further from the instrument. / got up
and, going to the lounge. sat down on
it. My revolver was directly beneath
me. If l were a man and quick to
move and shoot. the robber would be
at my mercy. But a woman! Great
heaven, what was thinking Of?
heard the key clicking message to
me from the dispatcher asking if the
track was clear The man listened,
looked at the key and. doubtless fam
cying that it would be better to cut off
communication, went to it and placed
q paperweight on ii. While doing so
his back was toward me.
can never think of the impulse that
seized me and my action at that mo-
ment without wonder. 1t seemed that
n cyclone of mingled rage and resolu-
ton swept over my brain and hurled
me into that of which / was incapa-
BILE. In a second 1 had bent down,
seized the revolver, cooked it, pointed
it at the man standing at the table and
cried fiercely:
Hands up!'
He turned like flash, started to
grasp one of his revolvers, saw by my
eye that l was about to fire and put
his hands above his head. Keeping my
eye riveted TO his. ordered him away
from the table, went there myself, felt
for the key and sent a warning.
Now that the message had been sent,
what was to do? Stand there cover
ing the man till the train came along?
l had been able to save the train; l
was not equal to saving myself. l felt
buzzing in my ears and that was all
l knew for an interval. Then, coming
to myself, what was my relief to find
the station empty.
Rising, tOttered to the instrument
and called the station below. The dis
patcher, angry that had made no re-
ply to his message. began to berate me
for being away from the station. AS
soon as 1 could stop him 1 told him
what had occurred. Since the man
who had left me knew that had dis
patched a warning it was decided that
the danger had passed. Then the train
came on slowly, but with all hands
armed, reaching the station without in
corruption. 1t was lucky, however,
for the story l had told that they
found material gathered for u barrier.
which had either not been made or
taken down when it was learned that
the plan to rob the express safe was
failure. When the train pulled up at
the station every man aboard rushed
intn NV nffica to see the girl who had