Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1906-06-07
The Message
From Bleaker'S
Copyright, 1906. by Ruby Douglas
" NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY Alice Crittenden Derby

| rected toward the seX-when he came
! in for the coal scuttle that evening.
Taxing his imagination for cause,
/ Job surmised that Rhoda wept because
her father was laid up again with his
! crippled back, memento of the last
landslide, which he had defied in order
| to tick off Il warning to others. As Il
matter of fact the girls tears were not
/ iilial ones, but pertained to the discov-
cry that the young engineer of No. Z
was no ordinary sweat-of-the-brow run
ming man, but chap Of very different
caliber-in short, a son of the first vice
president, with a penchant for practi-
cal knowledge concerning his fathers
road.
True, Dave maintained that n man
is not accountable for his father and
had clustered reassuringly when Rhoda
wormed out of him the admission that
his sire had shown tendency to a
hot box when told of their matrimonial
plans.
Dad needn't be so doggoned crit
ical," grumbled Dave, bllssfully deposit
ing cinder smudge near Rhoda's pink
mouth. He's self made, every inch of
him. began at rock bottom forty years
ago. He isn't snobbish either in some
/ ways. Hes often told me that I'm
named for an old buddy of his; some
give lot to find"
Notwithstanding the vice presidents
magnanimity toward the memory of
whilom buddy" Rhoda felt that her
humble self as a daughter -in-law
should not be wantonly thrust upon
him, particularly since Dave confessed
light heartedly that the act might bind
him 70 an engineers life in dead ear
nest. She was a girl with conscience,
and that unfeeling mentor represented
that she ought not to wreck her low
er's career. Therefore Rhoda was dig
sing little heart grave that night at
Bleaker's Lift and trying TO shovel big
Dave into 1t.
Old job in his wordless sympathy
had filed UP her coal stove so solicit
ously at 10 o'clock and again at that
Rhoda was driven to the open door for
breath of the keen mountain air of
late November. The black night show
ed only a few sckly stars above the
tall pines and Job Daly's. lantern
swinging along the winding path to-
ward his own shanty. Suddenly this
one friendly twinkle amid the darkness
Iurched sideways and went out.
JOB" called Rhoda concernedly.
"Job, did you fallT
There was no answer, and the girl
turned resolutely within the Office She
had lighted another lantern and was
reaching for a wrap when unusual
sounds made her wheel quickly. Five
burly, cvTT IDUETEg men blocked the
doorway.
Rhoda stepped across to the table,
her eyes seeking the old fashioned pho ,
tograph hanging above 1t as one might
appeal TO crucifix. 1t was the like
ness OF her father, whom she idollzed,
and she was taking counsel of him
now and also thanking God that IL
was she on duty that night instead Of
him. Then she coolly faced the in
truders. her back to the table and one
hand creeping out stealthlly behind her.
Drop that, curse your snarled one
VI lue 1Ou IL luul tl1hCl
when / tell you to and not before.
See?'
1t was the ugliest villain OF them all
who spoke, and Rhoda's arm fell at her
side.
Now you'll wire the old man at
Rumford," the fellow commanded, lev
elling shining barrel at her head,
chat there's n rock or tree-make IL
a tree-on the track, and the express III
have to take the siding Tell 'cm the
old guy is hurt and they'll have to
throw the switch themselves" He low
cred his voice, speaking to the others,
"That'll give us time to fix the engineer
and get aboard"
His accomplices nodded.
"Now hump yourself, girl This man.
Telegraph Bill, Is next to the dot and
dash lingo, so you can't fool us, and
you'll do the job up proper or it'll be
all day with you" a metallic click
emphasized the threat
Rhoda glanced slowly about the cir
Gle of dark, sinister faces. Coming
last to Telegraph Bill. she saw that the
man was listening intellgently TO a
message passing over the wire. and she |
knew the leader had spoken truly. |
They were not TO be fooled.
An ashen pallor overspread her face. |
She reached hesitatingly for the key. |
Her fingers stlffened on it unwillingly,
and jerkily the instrument began to |
tick At the first sound Telegraph Biz |
looked up, and their eyes held each 9TH |
er for an instant, then the mans brow |
contracted doggedly, and he looked |
down. Even a train robber may not |
relish seeing Il loyal hearted woman |
compelled TO betray her post.
Tick, tick, tick. sped the message, |
while Rhoda gazed fascInatedly at the |
one man who understood It. When she
had finished their eyes met again, but |
his spoke only bold admiration before
which Rhoda's lashes sank.
After cutting the wires the men filed
out, engaged IN muttercd colloquy. |
Rhoda flung herself down, her head !
upon her arms. Then, at the thought OF 4
all that might yet be, she drew bright
little revolver from the drawer and
held il trcmblingly. A muflled step and
Telegraph Bill stood before her, glanc-
Ing back npprehensively, as II to see If
he were watched.
Tho Rirl'S woman nashed aImlosslv |
With n hoarse Imprecation the man
lunged TO the floor, his temple striking \
II broken drawhcad. which fate, In the
person of job DAILY. had cast into u
corner that afternoon. Blood gushed
from two wounds and he lay white and
where he had fallen.
In Bhodas ears was n running re-
verberation. She thought IL was her
own heart till the deck lights of n
freight whizzcd past and then she knew
why the report of her shot had not
brought the other men back. She
crouched In her chair. hiding her eyes
from that rigid. white faced object With
its ooZing blood The wonted compan-
iorship OF the sounder was gone and
the mournful signing OF the pine trees
without seemed ghostly requiem for
slain hope
After many hours, she thought, there
came n locomotives sharp cry. waking |
the mountain echoes; then the nearer |
rolling thunder OF train. She heard
the brake shoes grind upon the wheels
and then oblivion EMBODIED her, uupcne- |