Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-01-08
In a Signal Tower.

lCopyright 1908, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Ten years ago ] 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 n sparsely set
tied country are lonely places. At that
time some Of the towers we're worked
by women, and was one of these
women. Indeed, / was a girl of twenty.
My duties were not onerous. l had
time for sewing or fancy work or mu-
sic, the latter of which l was very
fond. l had the night watch, and l
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 l was never lonely or
afraid, for at the approach of danger
could lock myself in, and with arms
and ammunition the place had great
thought Of defending myself, for I
could see no reason why / should be
attacked.
One evening shortly before dark l
was singing, accompanying myself on
my guitar. l did not hear n footstep
ascending, and suddenly looking back
Of me, 1 saw a man standing in the
room. He was quite respectfully dress
ed, but there was something in his
face 1 did not like. Bowling to me
deferentially, he said:
pardon me for this intrusion. |
heard the music and was surprised
that it 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 q seat, "while you sing"
l was not deceived by his smooth
tongue, but what could do? 1 must
meet deception by deception. l ap-
peared fattered by his approva! and
continued my singing. though with a
trembling voice. The song was "In
the Cleaning" 1t was very appro-
pirate, but 1 was not thinking of the
cleaning. l was thinking how might
outwit some nefarious scheme l was
sure the man had in view. 1t occurred
to me to play Miss Simplicity. AS soon
as I had finished the song 1 began to
tail: about music. how I dotted on 1t
and how felt an immediate liking for
any one who loved it. But the man
soon turned the subject to my work,
asking me all manner of questions
With regard to 1.-THE levers, the sema-
phores and how 1 threw the trains
on to the right track.
l Judged from this that he was there
rather with some object in view con-
nected with the 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 1 might keep him on that sub
ject, hoping to stave off any intentions
he might have with regard to me.
"Ncw, suppose" he said, "a train
should come along. What's the next
traip?"
"The Bertford express"
well. you wish to put it on the
right track. What do you do?"
81 pull this lever"
"Aud if you wished it to take the
right hand track of the Y, short dis
lance up the track, what would YOU
do?"
81 would pull this lever" putting my
hand on another.
HIN. It's very interesting. What a
simple system when you once know
it."
every"
He looked at the clock, rather nerv-
ously, thought, and listened. There
was q distant rattle of train.
rs that the EXPRESS" he asked.
81 have no doubt it is"
The expression on his face began to
change. The interested look he haG
thus far worn gave place to one of res
olutiou. He walked back and forth.
and saw him put his hand to his hip
I was satisfied that this was to make
sure his weapon was in it's proper
place. though / did not see why he
needed it for girl like me. Perhaps
he was going to shoot the engineer.
When the train came within a short
distance of the tower / stepped to the
levers and put my hand on one of them.
My visitor stopped. evidently so as not
to be seen from below.
"Not that" he said from behind; mot
that one; the other. Throw the train
on the right hand track of the Y"
I heard a click and, looking back.
say the r1uzzle Of q revolver pointing