The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-10-07
SEVEN-SIXTY-FOUR,
RING THREE.

Rockville village nestles close among
the Green mountains, hemmed in by
hills pleasant to look upon in summer
but on whose bare sides the wind howls
dismally in winter. It's only claim to
distinction is the fact that it is rail
road junction. A few low rambling
houses. railroad station and telephone
office are the only dwellings which pre-
sent any signs of life.
Twenty miles distant is the city of
Barton. There is a good deal of inter
course between Rockville and Barton for
the reason that the village is small
center of railroad traffic. The place even
boasts of two telephone operators who
reign supreme. one by night ,and one by
day, in the little box-like structure not
much larger than switch house.
About II o'clock on cold windy
night in March, Miss Fletcher, the night
telephone operator, was sitting dis
consolately by the window, which ratified
noisily as the wind howled around the
office. She was thinking over the past
and the changes which Fate had wrought
in her career How different was her lot
from what it might have been, had she
only needed her fathers wise advice. And
vet at the time when she made her mis-
take, she felt that she was doing what
was right. Surely she could not be
blamed for trusting the man whom she
had loved and concerning whom the only
bad words she had ever heard had been
spoken by her father. She mad trusted
that man so completely and in the face
of her fathers refusal of her marriage
she had run away with him. At first
how happy she had been! But later!-
slight shudder shook the girls frame
| Ali later! Then all was different How
she had suspected-how she had finally
found out, that he was not the man she
had thought him to be.
As these thoughts ran riot through
her mind, tear tricked down her cheek
and fell unheeded. Truly she had loved
that man and the discovery of his char
acter had stunned her for a time. Yet,
too proud to return to her father and
acknowledge her mistake, she had strug-
gled along to the best of her ability
oftentimes in actual need.
At last she had secured this position
as night telephone girl, only twenty
miles from where her father lived
Her father! How kind he had always
been to herl Managing editor of the
Barton Gazette, he had been able to sat-
isfy her every request. How could she
have doubted his judgment? And yet
at the time, he had seemed harsh and
almost cruel to her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the
entrance of the superintendent of the
railroad.
BEG pardon, Miss Fletcher, but wish
to use the telephone he exclaimed
| ''There has been wreck about mile up
the track and [ want to send to Barton
for the 'wrecking train" After telephon.
ing to the main office in Barton, he
picked up his hat to leave.
"High water-bridge washed away
train ran Off" the superintendent jerked
out laconically, and went out, slammine
the door behind him.
About an hour and half later, the
telephone rang several times in success
sion. Upon taking up the receiver these
rather startling words greeted her:
Hello! This is the city editor of Bar
ton Gazette. Do you know Mr.
Fletcher from this paper?" The girl
smiled slightly to herself as she an
swered. eyes, sir" "Well, have you
seen him there at Rockville tonight
News of big wreck reached the office
some time ago. All the reporters were
out and Mr.. Fletcher went to the wreck
himself on the wrecking train. Nothing
has been heard from him since. The
story must 60 to press in short time
We're getting worried because he has not
sent us any word
"Fm sorry, SIR the girl answered
che hasn't been here and l have heard
nothing about him."
As the girl hung up the receiver hel
thoughts flew again to her father. How
like him to go himself out into the cold
He had always had the interest of the
paper so much at heart She remem-
bered the many, many times when he
had not returned home until long past
his usual hour, having waited until Ger.
tain task was done or a certain article
finished to his liking. Dear father! How
she longed to see him!
Again her thoughts were interrupted
by the ring of the telephone and she
heard the voice of the city editor say.
ing: Haven't seen Fletcher yet, have
you? The story must 90 to press in an
hour. Can't you help us in any way?''
The girls mind travelled quickly to
the scene of the wreck and she saw in
imagination her father lying injured OF
even dead. Something must have hap
pened or he would have sent in the story
With only a moments hesitation, she
replied: 'T will do the best I can. I will
60 myself to the wreck and get the story
for you if possible"
At the thought of any harm coming
to her father, all the girls love for him
and his interests was aroused It seemed
as though she never could get ready, but
when once started, fear lent wings to hel
feet and she almost flew up the track
The wind beat against her numerically
and she had to stop several times to get
her breath. At times, she stumbled ano
almost fell, but at length she knew she
was nearly there for she could see the
torches twinkling like myriad of stars;
lanterns darting here and there, and heal
the shouts of the men as they ran tc
and fro. She could see the rails for some
distance cleaning clear and bright as the
moon, freed from nearly weeks i'm.
prisonment behind the storm clouds
sailed boldly and joyously into bit OF
open sky-and then a dark space, a
seemingly fathomless gap. AS she drew
near the wreck, she met the superintend
ent.
'Have you seen Mr.. Fletcher?" she
asked anxiously.
"Why, yes. He was around here only
a short time ago gathering the details
of the wreck for that paper of his.