The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-05-30
The Message
From Bleaker'S
BY Alice Crittenden Derby
Copyright, lo5. h, Ruby Douglas


had been crying job DAILY, the tacl-
turn old track walker saw that with
hair an eye which was all he ever di-
rrcted toward the sex when he came
IN for the coal seuttle that evening.
Taxing hls imagination for n cause,
job surmiscd that Khoda wept because
her father WAS laid up again With his
crippled back memeut1 of the last
landslide. which he had defied In order
10 tick Off II warning to others. As
matter OF fact the girls tears We're not
tilial ones. but pertalned to the discov-
cry that the young engineer OF No. 7
was no ordinary sweat OF the brow run
ming man. hut chap OF very different
ealibcr-in short, Il son OF the first vice
president, with penchant for practl-
cal knowledge concerning his fathers
road.
True. Dave maintained that ii man
IL not accountable for his father and
had clustered reassuringly when Rhoda
wormed out of him the admission that
his sire had shown tendency 90
hot box when told Of their matrimonial
plans
Dad needn't be SO doggoned crit,
Teal, erumhled Dave. blissfully deposit.
ing cinder smudge near Rhoda's pink
mouth. Hes SELF made. every inch OF
him; began ut rock bottom forty years
ago. lie isn't snobblsh either In some
ways. He's often told me that I'm
named for an old buddy OF his; some
one he thought the world OF and would
give II lot TO lind"
Notwithstanding the vice presidents
magnanlmity toward the memory OF
whilom buddy" Rhoda felt that her
humble self rs IL daughter ln-law
should not be wantonly thrust upon
him particularly since Dave confessed
light heartedly that the act might bind
him 10 mn engineers life In dead ear
nest. She WIS II girl with n conscience.
and that unfeellng mentor represented
that She ought not TO wreck her low
er's career. Therefore Rhoda WIS dig
Cling little heart grave that night ut
Bleakers Lift aud trying 10 shovel big
Dave into IT,
old job In his wordleSs sympathy
had filled up her coal stove 81 solicit.
0usly ut 10 o'clock aud again at l that
Rhoda was driven 10 the open door for
breath Of the keen mountain air of
late November The black night show
ed only a few slckly stars above the
tail pines aud Job DAYS lantern
swinging along the winding path to.
ward his own shanty. Suddenly this
one friendly twinkle amid the darkness
lufched sideways and went out.
job" called Rhoda eoncernedly
job. did you faIl?"
There was no answer and the girl
turned res0iutely within the office. She
had lighted another lantern and was
reuchug for wrap when unusual
sounds made her wheel quickly. Five
burly eyl looking men blocked the
doorway.
Khoda stepped across To the table.
her eyes seeking the old fashioned pho
tograph hanging above II as one might
appeal to cruclhx. II was the like
hess Of her father. whom she idollzed,
and she was taking counsel OF him
now aud also thanking God that II
was she on duty that night instead OF
him Then she coolly faced the In
truders. her baek To the tube aud one
hand creeping out stealthily behind her,
Drop that. curse YOU snarled one
VI the men. you'll finger that ticker
when | tell you 10 and not before.
See"
II was the ugliest villaintof them all
who spoke, ana Hhoda's armrell at her
side.
.'Now you'll wire the old man at
Humrord," the fellow commanded. lev.
eling II shining barrel ut her head,
that there's rock or attree make II
II tree on the track, andttie express III
hive IN take the siding Tell 'em the
old guy IS hurt and they'll have 10
throw the switch themselves" He low.
cred hls voice. speaking to the others.
'"fhat'll give us time 10 tix,the engineer
aud get aboard"
His aeCompltees nodded
Now hump yourself. girl This man.
Telegraph BILL is next toJthe dot and
dash lingo 80 YOU cant fool us, and
you'll do the job up proper or It'll be
uil day with you" \ metallic click
emphasized the threat
Rhoda glanced slowly1about the cir
clr Of dark, sinister faces. Coming
last to Telegraph Btil she saw, that the
man was listening dnteligeiply TO Il
message passing override Ndro. and she
knew the leader h@l spoken truly.
They were not 10 be fooled
An ashen palnr oyors pread her face.
She reached hcsl2ttinGly for the key.
Her fingers siiffcned on 1t unwillingly,
and Jcrlily the instrument began TO
tick Al the first sound Telegraph BIZ
looked up and heir eyes held each 9th
er rpr an Instant. theutthe mans brow
contracted doggcdly, and be looked
down. Even II train trobber nmy not
relish seeing It loyal heurttsl woman
compelled 10 betray her post.
Tick, tick. tick, sped the message,
while lihGda gaHed fascRnatedly at tho
one man who understood it. When sho
had finished their eyes metfagain. but
his spoke only a bold admiration before
which RhoGu's mshes sank.
After cutting the wires thee men nled
out. engaged IN muttered3 colloquy.
Rhoda flung herself dOwn.J her head
upon her arms Then. ut the'thought OF
all that ml@ht yet be. she drew Il bright
little revolver from the drawer aud
held It tremblmgly a unified step and
Telegraph Bill stood before her. glanc-
Ing back arprehensiVely. as II TO see II
lie were v stched
The girls weapon flashed aiiniessly.
win a hoarse implecatloy the man
lunged to the door. Ills temHe striking
i broken drawhead. which fate, in the
person Of Job DaiM had cast into
corner that afternoon, Blood gushed
FROM two wounds and heilay. white and
motionless where he hadIfalAen.
In khOda's ears Nals running re-
yerberation, She tholightl 1t was her
own heart till the deck lights OF n
freight whfzzed past and then she knew
why the report OF her sliot had not
brought the other men back She