The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-01-08
! In a Signal Tower.

levers controlling the semaphores which
direct the engineers Of passing trains.
They are raised high above the tracks,
ahdtthose located out in sparsely set
tied country are lonely places. At that
time some Of the towers were worked
by women, and ! was one Of these
women. INDIE d, 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. l had the night watch, and |
and my colleague of the day watch
kept our quarters in spick 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 ammunit ion the place had great
advantages for defense. But | 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. l did not hear footstep
ascending. ar suddenly. looking back
OF me, l saw man standing In the
room. He We 3 quite respectfully dress
ed, but there was something in his
face did not like. Bowling to me
deferentially. he said:
Pardon me for this intrusion. l
hnn I'D hA <-reta =
that 1t should come from a railroad
watch tower. am very fond Of
music, and your voice is delicious.
Would you mind ny sitting here" TAX
Ing seat. while you sing?'
was not deceived by his smooth
ton~ue, but what could I do? I must
meet deception by deception. 1 ap-
peared flattered by his approval. and
continued my singing. though with a
trembling voi,e. The song was an
the Cleaning" 1t was very appro-
pirate, but l was not thinking of the
cleaning. I was thinking how might
outwlt some nefarious scheme l was
sure the man had In view. 1t occurred
to me to play Miss Simplicity. as soon
ms had finished the song I began to
talk about music. how l dotted on It
ard how ! 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 1.-THE levers, the soma
phores and how / threw the trains
on to the right track.
Judged fro.l this that he was there
rather with Sc me object in view CON
ncctcd with TIE railroad than myself
personally. made 1t appear that /
was pleased to tell him what he wished
to know and talked necessarily in or
der that ! might keep him on that sub
jcct, hoping to stave off any intentions
he might have with regard to me.
Now. supp, se." he said "a train
should come along. What's the next
train?"
"The Bentford express"
well. you wish to put 1t on the
RIGHT track. What do you do?"
II pull this lever"
"And If you wished 1t to take the
right hand track of the Y, a short dis
lance up the track, what would you
dor"
II would pull this lever" putting my
hand on another.
Him. It's very interesting. What
simple system when you once know
It,"
very"
He looked at tie clock, rather nerv-
ously, l thought, and listened. There
was distant rattle Of train.
rs that the express?' he asked.
II have no doubt 1t 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 his weapon was in its proper
place. though did not see why he
needed 1t for a girl like me. Perhaps
he was going to shoot the engineer.
When the train came within short
distance Of the tower I stepped to the
evers and put mr. hand on one OF them.
My visitor stopped. evidently so as not
o be seen from below.
NOT tnat, he said from behind; mot
hat one: the other Throw the train
IN the right hand track OF the Y"
| heard click and. looking back.
saw the muzzle of n revolver pointing
It me. ! pulled the lever he ordered
ne to pull and the train went thunder
ng by.
Taking pair of nippers from his
'ocket. the man cut the,wire connect
ng my telegraph instrument with the
main line and. taking piece of the
wire with him. ran out and hurried
own the stairs. ] locked the door and.
to tile window, looked out.
lie was running. after the train He
urned and said:
"Goodby. sweetheart. You sing like
nightingale"
AS soon as IN, was out Of sight | fell
n the floor In dead faint. Then,
oining to my SET, got up and. weak
S was, danced When he had asked
&c how to threw the train on to the
rrong course had told him the way
0 put 1t on the right one. |