The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-23
In a Signal lower.


Ten years ago ] was employed In
signal block tower on 4 riiilroad.
These towers are used to operate the
levers controlling the semaphorcs which
direct the engineers Of passing trains
They are raised high above the tracks
and those located ont in sparsely set
tied country are lonely places. At that
time some of the towers were worked
by women, and was Que OF these
women. Indeed, ] wns a girl of twenty.
My duties were not onerous. had
time for sewing or fancy work or Inu-
sic, the Inter OF which was very
fond. / had the night watch. and I
and my colleague Of the day watch
kept our quarters in splck and span
condition, with plants In the windows
--indeed, everything to make the place
homelike.
Our tower was some distance from
any house. but / was never lonely or
afraid, for at the approach of danger
could lock myself In, and with arms
and ammunition the place had great
advantages for defense But l never
thought Of defending myself, for
could see no reason why l should be
attacked
One evening shortly before dark
was singing, accompanying myself on
my guitar. ] did not hear a footstep
ascending. and suddenly, looking back
Of me, I saw q man standing In the
room. He was quite respectfully dress
ed, but there was something In his
face / did not like. Bowing to me
deferentially he said:
Pardon me for this intrusion. I
heard the music ard was surprised
that It should come from railroad
witch tower. ! am very fold of
music, and your voice is delicious.
Would you mind my sitting here" TAX
ing a seat. "whlle you sing?"
! wRs not deceived by his smooth
tongue, but what could l do2 must
meet deception by deception. l APP
peared hattered by his approya! and
continued my singing, though with a
trembling voice. The song was 'In
the Cleaning" It was very appro-
pirate. but was not thinking OF the
cleaning. was thinking how ! might
outwit some nefarious scheme was
sure the man had in view. 1t occurred
to me to play Miss Simplicity. AS soon
lis had finished the song / began to
talk about music, how dotted on It
ana how l felt an immediate liking for
any one who loved 1t. But the man
soon turned the subject to my work.
asking me all manner OF questions
with regard to it-the levers, the soma
phores and how threw the trains
on To tho right track
judged from this that he was there
rather with some object in view con
nected with the railroad than myself
personally | made it appear that |
was pleased to tell him what he wished
10 know and talked incessantly in or
der that might keep him on that sub
ject, hoping to stave OFF any Intentions
ne might have with regard to me.
"Now, suppose" he said, "a train
should come along What's the next
traln?"
"The Bentford express"
'Wel, you wish TO put 1t on the
right track. What do you dor
Il pull this lever"
"And II you wished 1t to take the
right hand track of the Y, short dis
tance up the track, what would you
dor
II would pull this lever" putting my
hand on another.
"H'm. It's very interesting. What a
simple system when you once know
it."
"very"
He looked at the clock, rather nery
ously, / thought, and listened. There
was distant rattle of train.
lis that the expressT he asked.
II have no doubt 1t Is"
The expression on his face began t6
change. The interested look he hnc
thus far worn gave place to one of res
olution. He walked back and forth
and saw him put his hand to his hip
was satisfied that this was to make
sure his weapon was In Its prope
place. though / did not see why h'
needed it for a girl like me. Perhaps
he was going TO shoot the engineer.
When the train came within shor
distance Of the tower l stepped TO tn
levers and put my hand on one Of them
NV visitor stopped. evidently so as no
to be seen from below.
s'Not that" he said from behind; mo
that one; the other. Throw the trail
on the right hand track Of the Y"
/ heard a click and, looking back
saw the muzzle of a revolver pointing
at me. I pulled the lever he ordere'
me to pull, and the train went thunder
ing by.
Taking a pair Of nippers from hi
pocket, the man cut the wires connect
ing my telegraph instrument with th
main line and. taking piece OF tn
wire with him. ran out and hurrie
down the stairs. locked the door ant
staggering 10 the window. looked on
He was running after the train. II
turned and said
"Goodby. sweetheart. You sing iik
q Nightingale
AS soon as he was ont Of sight re
on the floor IN II dead faint. fhei
coming to myself. ] got up and. wea
~.-oe lonnoI YVhan ha had nekp