Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-03
DAILY. STORY
HOW SHE GOT A POSITION.


place far out on what thirty years ago |
were called the plains" The only |
houses at this stopping point for trains |
were the station and Thatchers 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
and put in a key for her to 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 ut 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 well beloved
daughter without Inconvenience he i'm
provised an extra key in the floor
where he was accustomed to lounge.
1t wasn't much of key, and its click
was not easily heard. but it sufficed.
Thatcher would sit in his chair and
by Il slight pressure of his foot give
Molly lessons in telegraphy till she Lc-
came sufficiently expert to take :. pO-
sition 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
due at 900, the other going west due
ut 11:1o. 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 a doZe
while waiting for the next one, having
nearly two hours to wait and not car
ing to disturb his family, who went to
bed early. by going back to the house.
He had scarcely settled himself on
bunk lie 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
way uC dStul SCtllcu udHScL
jumping up, he went to the telegraph
apparatus and called Molly.
Are you up?" he asked.
There We're a few moments delay,
| when the answer came, Had gone
to bed, but hadn't got to sleep
STAND by the key. Don't call"
Molly asked for an explanation. but
| received none, for at that moment the
thud of horses hOofs was directly
without the station. and one in ad-
| vance gave a rap at the door. Thatcher
| opened it, and man with drawn
| revolver, the muZZle pointing in the
| agents face. stood III the opening
| Others We're dismounting and coming
up on to the platform. There was
nothing for Thatcher to do but to do
nothing.
where's yer telegraph OUTFIT" ask
ed the man.
| ''In there in the ticket office"
"All right. You go in there" And
| covered by this time with three re-
yOlvers, Thatcher passed into the
| freight house, where he was searched
| for arms and bound hand and foot
| with q lariat. The men after this
made themselves comfortable and wait
| ed
| as the weStbound Ills train on
time?' asked one who appeared to be
the leader.
Don't know. 1 can find out for
you"
How"
"By asking over the wire"
81 don't think you will. Where's
| your red light?''
Its somewhere around herein a
corner there. l think"
The man found the light. and
Thatcher knew that they would signal
| ing up the passengers or robbing the
express car of a shipment of money.
There are some things about that
train,' he said, you'd ought to know"
We'll. what are they?'
''If you'll let me come in there with
you, I'll tell YOU
The men loosened the lariat about
his legs, and he walked into the other
room. One of his captors sat in the
| III " ne w tiSCuSlOiACu W
talk to Molly. and they stood him on
the floor a few feet from the telegraph
key. He began to tell a plausible
story, giving them Just the information
they wanted-that the conductor Of the
train was timid and they would have
no trouble with him, but the express
messenger was a fighter, we'll armed
and with an assistant of the same kind.
Then he gave them the information
(made up) that $4,000 was being ship
ped on that very train. By mingline
truth with falsehood he won enough
of their confidence to interest them
and while talking sided along till he
got foot on the telegraph key. Then,
warming up with his subject to the
train robbers to fix their attention. he
called Molly and told her Of the situa
ton.
| "WhafsS that clicl,ino IN the ticket of.