The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1909-01-27
|sIII. Signal Tower.

q signal block tower on q railroad.
These towers are used to operate the
levers controlling the semaphores which
direct the engineers OF passing tralns.
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 was one of these
women. Indeed, / was a girl of twenty.
Ny duties were not onerous. I 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 spick and span
condlt ion. with plaptslln the windows
Hindeed, everything to make the place
homellSe.
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 never
thought of defending myself, for I
could see no reason why should be
attacked.
One evening shortly before dark !
was singing, accompanying myself on
my guitar. did not hear footstep
ascending, and suddenly, looking back
of me, saw man standing In the
room. he was quite respectfully dress
ed, but there was something In his
face I did not like. Bowling to me
deferentially. he said;
Pardon mo 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 seat, "while you singT
II was not deceived by his smooth
tongue, but whit could do7 ! must
meet deception by deception. ap-
,peared flattered by his approval! and
continued my singing. though with a
trembling voice. The song was I'm
the Gloamlng." 1t was very appro.
PIRATE, but / was not thinking of the
cleaning. was thinking how I might
ontwit some efarious schemeI was
sure the man lad In view. 1t occurred
to me to play Miss Simplicity. AS soon
as had finished the song began to
talk about music, how dotted on II
and 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 sema-
phores and how I threw the trains
on to the right track.
i Judged from this that he was there
rather with some object in view con-
nected with the railroad than myself
personally. Il made It appear that ]
was pleased to tell him what he wished
to know and talked incessant'y In or
der that might keep him on that sub
ject, hoping to stave Off any Intentions
he might have with regard to me-.
i''Now, suppose" 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 doT
III pull this lever"
',And If you wished 1t to take the
right hand track of the Y, short dis
tance up the track, what would you
dor
~ would pull this lever" putting my
hand on another. iUt
''H'm. It's very interesting. What a
simple system when you once know
It." 10
Every" IA
He looked at the clock, rather nery.
ously, I thought, and listened. There
was a distant rattle of train. o
kt,ak hn ~ E0 naknn
II have no doubt 1t Is"
The expression on his face began to
change. Tho 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.
I was satisfied that this was to mako
sure his weapon was In its proper
place, though 1 did not see why he
needed 1t for girl like me. Perhaps
he was going to shoot the engineer. "
When tho train came within short
distance of the tower I stepped to the
levers and put my hand on one OF them.
MY visitor stopped, evidently so as not
to be seen from below.
mot that" he said from behind. mot
that one; the other. Throw the train
on the right hand track of the r" ~
I heard click and, looking back.
saw the muzzle of revolver pointing
at me. Iipulled the lever he ordered
me to pull. and the train went thunder;
ing by.
Taking pair Of nippers from his
poeket, the man cut the wires connect.
ing my telegraph instrument with the
main line and, taking piece of the
wire with him, ran out and hurried
down the stairs. locked the door and.
staggering TO the window. looked out,
He was running after the train. He
turned and said:
"Goodby, sweetheart. You sling like
a nightingale"
As soon as he was ont of sight I fell
on the floor In a dead faint Then.
coming to myself. got up and, weak
as I was, danced When he had asked
me how to throw the train on to the
wrong course / had told him the way
to put It on the right one.
7 T. was. called on the wire from an
other station and not otlreplylng, a mes3
senger was. soon sent to learn the
cause of my silence. Since there was
no damage done, the NH ssiDg wire was
the only coniirmaHon of my story. 1t
was enough, and received a,libeTal
reward.t My visitors intention was
never explained. 1t was doubtless In
tended to wreck the train and rob It.
HEIOISE AMES 4