The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-06

Iorlrlnall

nlacc far out on what thirty years neo
were called "thc plains" The only
houses a, this stopping point for trains
were the station and Thatcher's dwell
Ing, few hundred yards away
Tha,chcr's daughter Molly, sixteen
years old, was anxious 10 learn tclcg'
mphy. Her father encouraged her,
aud aa soon as she knew her tele'
graphic lcttcrs he run wire uudcr'
ground from the station to the house
aud put IN key Tor her 70 practice on,
AZ first he used the regular key az tho
aiutlou. bnt Motly'S lue was an indie
pendcnt one. aud she was liable 10 call
him at any time. In summer, having
little 10 do, he would slt nt the station
door trying TO keep cool. That no
could chut with his well beloved
daughter without Inconvenience he I'M
proylsed an extra key IN the honr
where ho was accustomed 10 lounge.
II wasn't much OF a key, and iis click
was not easily heard, but II suiiiced.
Thatcher would sit In his chair and
by u slight pressure OF hls foot give
Molly lessons IN telcgmphy I'LL she be-
came sufficiently expert TO take a po'
sitiou and earn her own living. Then.
not being satisfied with her desolate
abode, 40 fur from companions OF her
own age. she prepared 10 80 10 Omaha
with a view 10 becoming an operator.
One night Thatcher went from his
house to the station 10 attend the pass.
Ing OF two trains. the one going east
due a; p,05. the other going west duo
at HIS After the latter hour there
would be no trains I'll morning. and
he could pass the night at home. The
frst train passed on time. Then
Thatcher settled himself for a doxe
while waiting for the next one. having
nearly two hours 90 walt aud not car.
ing 10 disturb his family. who went to
bed early. by going back TO the house,
He had scarcely settled himself on d
bunk no had In the freight house nd.
Joining and opening into the station
when he heard a distant gallop OF
horses hoofs-not one horse. but sew.
erai.
Passengers did not usually come that
way. The agent scented danger,
Jumping up. hc went u the telegraph
apparatus and called Molly,
Are you up?" he asked.
There were few moments delay.
when the answer came, "Had gone
to bed, but hadn't got to sleep"
"Stand by the key. Don't calf"
Molly asked for an explanation. but
received none. for at that moment the
thud Of horses hoofs was directly
without tho station, and one In nd
vance gave rap at tho door. Thatcher
opened II, aud man with a drawn
revolver, the muzzle pointing IN the
agents face. stood In the opening
Others wee dlsmounting and coming
up on to the platform. There was
nothing for Thatcher to do but to do
nothing.
where's yer telegraph outAtT ask
ed the man
I'm there In the ticket Office"
"All right You go In there" And
covered by this time with three no,
voivers. Thatcher passed into the
freight house. where he was searched
for arms aud bound hand and foot
with a lariat. The men after this
made themselves comfortable and wait
cd.
rs the westbound 1i:i5 train on
timer asked ono who appeared to be
the leader.
Don't know. I can fnd out for
you"
"Howf'
"By asking over the WIRE"
II don't think you will, Where's
your red llsht?"
ITS somewhere around herein q
corner there, think"
The man found the light, and
Thatcher knew that they would signal
the train 10 stop with q view TO hold
Ing up the passengers or robbing the
express car OF shipment OF money.
There are some things about that
train" he said, you'd ought to know"
well. what are they?"
III you'll let me come In there with
you, I'll tell you"
The men loosened the larlat 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 few feet from the telegraph
key. He began to tell plausible
story. giving them Just the information
they wanted.-that the conductor Of the
train was tlmld 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 mingllng
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 flx their attention he
called Molly and told her of the sItlIa.