Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-05-24

The Night
Oper ator's Tale

keep awake through the silent
watches of the night
"A year or so ago was night op
orator at Yankee Corners. After 81
Stebbins from the post ONCE came
over TO get the seven o'clock mail bag
l wouldn't see soul all night. l am
not naturally timld, but / was always
fearful lest some OF the wandering
hoboes might get n yearning to see
Wat was in the safe and give me
rap over the coco when l wasn't look /
ing.
ITO give things more cheerful |
aspect, the safe we had in the ticket |
office had three or four holes In II |
made by drills of burglars in pre-
vious unsuccessful attempt to get
through the interference of the safe
That was before night operator was
installed at the Corners.
Now, 1t would take a gentleman OF
a wonderful buoyancy of spirits 10 sit
in the Office night after night glancing
at those drill holes in the safe with
out getting pessimistic and falling to
specializing as to whether the burg
lars were strong men with scars on
their faces. etc. and how long Il
would be before they would think II
necessary to cali again.
Yankee Corners was a flag stop for
the midnight express. II wasn't often
that anyone travelling in the direction
of that village was out so late at
night; therefore l was surprised &c
see her slow up one night and. stop
ping, observe the brakeman carrying
of an inanimate object. They raped
on the station room door.
"'Here's a dark man with pack
age for you. Bill. said one OF them az
opened the door, 1 suppose it's
against your rules, but II you leave
this one outside he'll be ehawed W
into stew beef by morning.
II unlocked the waiting room door
and they laid the man with thirty
snake jag on one of the benches. He
just lay there and snored while
traipsed back TO the ticket ONCE tc
renew my vigil by the drill holed safe
Say, IL you ever want real hard
job just try I'd keep awake while lis
, tening to some one else snore. Iii
: the surest cure for insomnia you evei
tried. just sat there and winked anC
blinked.
J "All of a sudden the snoring ceased
|. the ticket Office door swung open will
3 a crash and before ! could wink al
eyelash ! was looking down the bar
! rel of 40 horse power pistol and be
Q hind it was the man with the soust
! He was sober enough now.
t "'Come across with the combins
e ton O. that cake box. son, he said, %
Y I'll make you look like the Hoosic tur
8 mel with the pip. Be good, Chester
, and won't harm you
II HE played the game well, got ii
side the station on phony jag an
now was going after the safe. di
: some rapid fire thinking and decide
t to simulate fright didn't have
l, do much Stimulating at that-and CIV
: the wrong gig on the safe.
He might play with It for a Will
and maybe some freight would happe
along and come to my rescue. Tn
T. signals were set al danger and the
r would have to stop. managed
gasp out some figures and turns.
: Now, Chester. remarked my NIL
a night caller, I'll just tether you heI
{ in the corner where can look at yO
{ while | go south aften the money
with that he stood me up in co
ner with my wrists and ankles bour
so tightly that twinges OF pain ra
all through my system. He fused ar
{ fumed around that safe, but of couri
! couldn't get It open, while ] hopt
and prayed Tor the freight that didn
come Finally he gave up with
! curse.
Now, papa's little man. he said
me. you've not been playing fair. W
tried to buffalo me, but It won't wor
I've wasted no much time that I've x
{ to work fast now and blow the sa
open. I'm going to leave you tied
that corner. You'll resemble Hobok'
after premature explosion In d
) { tunnel when it's all over
Then he numbered his Kit OF Toe
! and began working at the drili hol
where his predecessors left on.
q didn't take him long to finish drillil
/ and then be set the charge.
e ! Farewell, Chester was his pa
ing remark You're about to go
vour reward. There will be a vacan
= on the night force at Yankee CornS
: tomorrow.
- After he had lighted the fuse
. cracksman sidestepped to q 81
Mace. / wtiggled and squirmed q
twisted while the fuse burned near
and nearer. but the cords on M ~
only seemed to get tighter and tig
or The fuse was at the end
aB-a-n-gt bang! bang
Say there, yon dope, IL you do
null back your signals and let me
III report you at the super's once.
- Won know you're holding No. g.. sho
ed some one.
And I recognized the genial Vo
- .xa4 Fuller the enhlnaeP of Fagts