The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-02
In a Signal Tower.

tSVP}tbh1 t'Vo, W AiHetttah AfVnh A17o-
ciationl
Ten years ago l was employed In
a signal block tower on a railroad.
These towers are used TO operate the
levers controlling the semaphores which
direct the engineers Of passing trains,
They are raised high above the tracks,
and those located out In sparsely set.
tied country are lonely places. At that
time some Of the towers were worked
by women, and l was one OF these
women. Indeed, was girl Of twenty.
My duties were not onerous. / had
time for sewing or fancy work or mu-
sic. the latter OF which | was very
fond. had the night watch, and |
and my colleague OF the day watch
kept our quarters in sDlck 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 OF
afraid. for at the approach Of danger
could lock myself in. and with arms
and ammunition the place had great
advantages for defense. But I never
thought Of defending myself, for
could see no reason why / should be
attacked.
One evening shortly before dark I
was singing, accompanying myself on
my guitar. did not hear a footstep
ascending, and suddenly, looking back
of me, saw n man standing in the
room. He was quite respectfully dress
ed but there was something in bis
face / did not like. Bowling to me
deferentialIy. he said:
Pardon me for this intrusion. I
heard the music and was surprised
that II should come from a railroad
watch tower. am very fond OF
music, and your voice Is delicious.
Would You mind my sitting here" tax.
Ing a seat, while you sing?"
| was net deceived by his smooth
tongue. but what could dot / must
meet deception by deception. APP
peared battered by bis approya! and
continued my singing. though with
trembling voice. The song was 'Tn
the Cleaning" II was very appro-
pirate, but was not thinking OF the
cleaning. l was thinking how might
outwit some nefarious scheme was
sure the man had in view. It occurred
to me to play Miss Simplicity. AS soon
rs l had finished The song I began 20
talk about music, how | dotted on 1t
and how felt an immediate liking for
any one who loved IL. But the man
soon turned the subject to my work.
asking me all manner of questions
with regard to 1.-THE levers. the soma
phores and how | threw the trains
on to the right track.
| judged from this that be was there
rather with some object in view con-
nccted with the railroad than myself
personally. / made II appear that
was pleased to tell him what be wished !
to know and talked necessarily in or
der that might keep him on that sub
iect, hoping TO stave of any intentions
be might have with regard to me.
Now, suppose" be said, "a train
should come along. What's the next
train2"
1.-THE Bentford express"
"Well, you wish to put 1t on the
right track. What do You dor
II pull this lever"
"And IL you wished II TO take the
right hand track Of the Y, short dis
lance up the track, what would you
do?a
Il would pull this lever" putting my
hand on another.
"H'm. It's very interesting, What
simple system when you once know
It."
every"
He looked at the clock, rather nerv-
ously, ! thought and listened. There
was distant rattle Of train.
els that the express?' he asked.
II have no doubt II is"
The expression on his face began to
change. The interested look he had
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 bis weapon was In its proper
place, though I did not see why he
needed 1t for a girl like me. Perhaps
be was going to shoot the engineer.
When the train came within short
distance Of the tower | stepped to the
evers and put my hand on one Of them.
NV visitor stopped, evidently so as not
% be seen from below.
aNot that" be said from behind: mot
hat one; the other Throw the train
in the right hand track Of the Y"
heard a click and, looking back,
law the muzzIe of revolver pointing
It me. l pulled the lever he ordered
ne to pull. and the train went thunder
ng by.
Taking pair Of nippers from his
rocket, the man cut the wires connect
ne my telegraph instrument with the
main line and, taking piece Of the
wire with him, ran out and hurried
Iown the stairs. locked the door and,
to the window, looked out.
lie was running after the train. He
urned and said
"Goodby, sweetheart. You sing like
nightingale"
As soon as he was out OF sight fell
n the floor in a dead faint. Then,
oming to myself, | got up and. weak
$ was, danced. When he had asked
ne how to throw the train on TO the
Frong course had told him the way
0 put it on the right one.
I was called on the wire from an