The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-08
HOEe, >S6e GOT
A Position.


lOriginail
/ Edward Thatcher was station agent
on the Union Pacific railroad at a
place far out on what thirty years ago
were called the plains" The only
houses at this stopping point for trains |
We're the station and Thatcher's dwell
Ing, few hundred yards away.
Thatcher's daughter. Molly, sixteen !
years old. was anxious to learn teleg-
raphy. Her father encouraged her, |
and as soon as she knew her tele- /
graphic letters he ran a wire under
ground from the station to the house
aud put in key for her 10 practice on.
At first he used the regular key at the
station. but Molly's line was an indie
pendent one, and she was liable to call
him at any time. In summer. having
little TO do, he would sit at the station
door trying TO keep cool That he
could chat with his we'll beloved
daughter without Inconvenience he i'm
proyiSed an extra key in the floor
where he was accustomed TO lounge
1t wasn't much of n key, and its click
was not easily heard. but it sutticed
Thatcher would sit in his chair and
by slight pressure of his foot give
Molly lessons in telegraphy till she be-
came sufficiently expert To take a po-
sitlon and earn her own living. Then.
not being satisfied with her desolate
abode, SO far from companions of her
own age. she prepared TO go TO Omaha
with a view to becoming an operator.
One night Thatcher went from his
: house to the station to attend the pass
ing of two trains, the one going east
l due at 900, the other going west due
} at 11:15 After the latter hour there
would be no trains till morning, and
he could pass the night at home. The
first train passed on time. Then
Thatcher settled himself for doze
while waiting for the next one, having
nearly two hours to wait and not car
= ing to disturb his family. who went to
a bed early. by going back to the house.
He had scarcely settled himself on a
y bunk he had in the freight house adj
Joining and opening into the station
!, when he heard a distant gallop Of
horses hoofS-not one horse, but sew
eral.
Passengers did not usually come that
5 way. The agent scented danger
/ Jumping up, he went to the telegraph
3 apparatus and called Molly.
l. Are you up?" he asked.
p There were a few moments delay
II when the answer came, Had gone
e to bed, but hadn't got to sleep"
r, "Stand by the key. Don't call"
L Molly asked for an explanation, bu
Is received none for at that moment the
% thud of horses hoofs was directly
without the station, and one In ad
vance gave rap at the door. Thatcher
opened it. and a man with a drawn
= revolver, the muzzle pointing IN the
agents face, stood in the opening
Others were dismounting and coming
up on to the platform. There wa
d nothing for Thatcher to. do but to d.
It nothing.
e where's yer telegraph outfitT' ask
"A ed the man.
II ''In there in the ticket Office
= "All right. You go in there" AND
. covered by this time with three re
volvers, Thatcher passed into tn
- freight house, where he was searche
= for arms and bound hand and foo
with a lariat The men after thi
/, made themselves comfortable and wal
ed.
- ''Is the westbound 11:15 train o
- time% asked one who appeared to
the leader.
q q Don't know. I can find out fo
-; - you"
=, "How"
III "By asking over the wire"
- 81 don't think you will. Where
- your red hghtT'
g It's somewhere around herein
corner there, I think"
The man found the light, an
- Thatcher knew that they would sign;
40 the train to stop with a view to hol'
ing up the passengers or robbing Ii
= express car Of a shipment of money.
~ There are some things about tbs
- train" he said. you'd ought TO know
"a We'll. what are they"
- eff you'll let me come in there wit
= = you. I'll tell you"
- The men loosened the lariat abou
- his legs, and he walked into the othe
- room. One of his captors sat IN th
- chair III which he was accustomed
- talk to Molly, and they stood him Q
- the floor q few feet from the telegrap
- key. He began to tell q plausib
- story, giving them just the informatio
- they wanted-that the conductor OF II
train was timid and they would hay
no trouble with him, but the EXPIRE:
messenger was a fighter, well arme
- and with an assistant Of the same kin
- Then he gave them the informatic
-, ~ (made up that $40 1000 was being shi
a' ned on that very train BY minglir