Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-10
THAT MONKEY
WRENCH
BY ELSIE B. MATTESON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

an agent at StdtlOn OH tne " ID. anu
G. railroad. aud from the time Molly
was ave years old nothing delighted
hen SO much as TO sit 10 his lap and
, with her little hand under bis on the
key send messages. Then when she
knew they were real messages that
were being sent she would be delight
ed.
Now. dear" he would say after
! sending an order for trAn 10 come
on. you've ordered up IL and she'll
be here in ten minutes. or when the
hand of the clock stands there"
Sure enough. when the hand pointed
TO the designated figure the train
would steam up TO the station.
As Molly grew older her father
taught her the Morse alphabet. and
when one day she sent message all
by herself her pleasure knew no
bounds. She continued TO practice and
to learn. apd by the time she was four
teen she was Of great assistance to
her father.
A year later Thyme fell Ill and died.
Molly was by this time so well versed
In Aelegraphy that the managers Of the
railroad continued temporarily her IA
theirs salary TO her mother Solly sell
ing tickets. operating the wires and
acting as dispatcher OF course she
could not go to school. INT. being am
bilious to learn. she studied nj home.
which meant In the ticket and tele-
graph office. One night she had her
books before her studying when. hear
fng a rap on the window. she looked
up and saw the ugly face OF man.
What do you want?" she asked. her
heart leaping up into her throat.
''Open the window"
Molly sat STILL not knowing what TO
do. AS to opening the window. she
had no thought of that.
"Open the window or III kill you"
Molly sat looking at him. She may
have been paralyzed by fear. Any
way. she made no move to throw up
the SASH
The man smashed n pane of glass
with his fist and put his arm through
the opening 10 unloosen the catch. but
not finding II or because he didn't
know how II worked he concluded TO
try TO effect an entrance in another
way. Molly heard his steps as he went
around to the door which opened on
the other side of the station. Running
from the Office. she was at the door
before him and locked IL. Then she
ran back to her clicker and called for
help.
In few moments she had caught a
station where a freight train had Just
pulled in and told the operator there
that man was trying 10 break into
her office. She had hardly got her
message through and received word
that help would be sent at once when
the man appeared again at the win
dow.
And now Molly rose to the occasion
like n true heroine. On her desk was
n little nickel plated monkey wrench.
glistening for all the world like the
polished barrel of pistol. Selling it
and aiming it at the robber. she called
out:
IF you don't so away I'll shoot
you
The man didn't go away. but he
drew back. and from his walking
around the station Molly knew that he
was trying 10 find another entrance
Meanwhile she clicked an inquiry as
to what had been done for her relief
and was told that the engine Of the
train that had come IN had been de
tached and was coming to her as
sistance as fast as steam would drive
II with several armed men aboard. II
had left several minutes before. and
since Il could get over mile IN min
ute I; should be there in six or seven
minutes.
Presently Molly heard its rattle. and
the robbeT probably heard II. too.
though not ms quick as Molly. who was
eagcrly expecting IL. Besides. he was
on the wrong side Of tbe station to
hear IT, Consequently when the 10
comotire pulled up he had barely
minutes start. LeapinG from the cab.
one OF the men sought Molly. while
the rest sought the robber They
caught sight OF him running in com
pany with two other men and. calling
on them 20 malt. fired n shot after
them 20 enforce the order. E-cry ono
Of the frsitives was captured. Then
those who had come TO save the liz
tie operator assembled 10 hear her
story. when she came 90 the monkey
wrench that had served for n pistol
they were lost in wonder. Taking the
robbers back TO the station the ran
road men had come from. the story
was told and pTas teleSraphcf all along
the line. The next day frainmcn and
passengers. when they passed the STA
ton. II they stopped. must see the
little girl who had stood or a ~bbcr.
and n they did not sfor crowded the
windows and platforms. waving con