Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-24
Hote, She Got
"A Position.
(Original.]


on the Union Pacific railroad at
place far out on what thirty years ago
were called 1.-The plains" The only
houses at this stopping point for trains
were the station and Thatcher's dwell
ing, a 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 key Cor 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 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 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 it's click
was not easily heard, but it sufficed.
Thatcher would sit in his chair and
by q slight pressure of his foot give
Molly lessons in telegraphy till she be-
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 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 9:05, 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 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 he had in the freight house adj
joining and opening into the station
when he heard distant gallop of
horses hoofs--not one horse, but sew
eral.
Passengers did not usually come that
way. The agent scented danger.
Jumping up he went to the telegraph
apparatus and called Molly.
Are you up?" he asked.
There were 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 adj
vance gave rap at the door. Thatcher
opened 1t, and man with drawn
revolver, the muzzle pointing in the
agents face, stood in the opening.
Others were 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.
there III Tie TICKET
"All right. You go in there" And,
covered by this time with three re-
volvers, Thatcher passed into the
freight house, where he was searched
for arms and bound hand and foot
with a lariat. The men after this
made themselves comfortable and wait
ed
s'Is the westbound 11:15 train on
time" asked one who appeared to be
the leader.
Don't know. 1 can find out for
you"
Howl
"By asking over the WIRE"
81 don't think you will. Where's
your red light?"
Its somewhere around herein
corner there, think"
The man found the light, and
Thatcher knew that they would signal
the train to stop with view to hold
ing up the passengers or rObbing the
express car Of shipment of money.
There are some things about that
well. 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
chair In which he was accustomed to
talk to Molly. and they stood him on
the floor a few feet from the telegraph
key. He began 10 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 fighter, well 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 mingling
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.
whats that clicking in the ticket Of
ficeT asked the leader suddenly, prick
ing up his ears.
"Oh, my key clicks with every dis
patch that goes through" said Thatch-