Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1910-09-23
THAT MONKEY
WRENCH
By ELSIE B. MATTESON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Ing OF telegraph keys. Her father was
an agent at a station on the o. 3. and
G. railroad, and from the time Molly
was five years old nothing delighted
her so much as to sit In his lap and
with her little hand under his on the
key send messages. Then when she
knew they were real messages that
were being sent she would be delight
ed
Nov. dear" be would say after
sending an order for a train to come
on. you've ordered up H. 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 a message all
by herself her pleasure knew no
bounds. She continued to practice and
to learn. and by the time she was four
teen she was Of great assistance to
her father.
A year later Thyme fell III and died.
Molly was by this time so well versed
In telegraphy that the managers of the
railroad continued temporarily her IA
TIERS salary to her mother. Molly SELL
Ing tickets. operating the wires and
acting as dispatcher. OF course she
could not so to school. but, being am
hlffnl1o m Loo chn -, II
which meant in the ticket and tele-
graph Office. One night she had her
books before her studying when, hear
Ing rap on the window. she looked
up and saw the ugly face Of q man.
What do you wantT' 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 I'll kill you!"
Molly sat looking at him. She may
have been paralyzed by fear. Any
way. she made no move to throw I'D
the sash.
The man smashed a pane OF glass |
with his fist and put his arm through |
the opening to unloosen the catch, but |
not finding it or because he didn't
know how 1t 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 it. Then she
ran back to her clicker and called for
help.
In a few moments she had caught a
station where freight train had lust
pulled In and told the operator there
that man was trying to 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
Ike true heroine. On her desk was
little nickel plated monkey wrench.
ghStening for all the world like the
polished barrel of a 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 to find another entrance.
Meanwhile she clicked an inquiry as
TO what had been done for her relief
and was told thar the engine Of the |
train that had come in had been de-
tached and was coming TO her as
'istance az fast as steam would drive
t with several armed men aboard II
had left several minutes before. and !
since it could got over - mile. in n min
lte IL should he there in six OF seven
minutes
Presently Molly heard It's rattle. and {
he rObbPr probably heard it. too. {
houGh not * quick rs Molly. who was 2
eagerly expecting il. Besides. be was
On the wrong side Of the station to
near IT, Consequently when the To-
'OmOtive pulled up he had barely n I
start. Leaping from the cab. I
me Of the men sought Molly. while
he rest sought the rObbpr They [
'aught sight Of him running in COM '
'any with two other men and. calling {
m them to halt. fired 4 shot after I
hem TO enforce the order. Every one
4 the fugitives was captured. Then
hose who had come to save the lit
lie operator assembled to hear her n
tory. When she came TO the monkey
wrench that had served for a pistol n
hey were lost in wonder Taking the
ObberS back to the station the rail- e
Dad men had come from. the story n
7aS told and was telegraphed all along Il
be line. The next day trainmen and
assengprs. when they passed the sta
Ion. II they stopped. must see the
title girl who had stood or a robber n
nd II they did not stop crowded the d
widows and platforms. waving con. n
8
But a more substantial honor. or. =
ather. reward. came from the presi
ent OF the company. He sent an or
er that Molly report at the main Of
ce. She Obeyed the order. and when A
be tmid looking slip of a girl was 7
araded through the various depart r.
leEts all the employees arose and "a
raned their necks to get sight Of her.
men she was taken into the presi-
ent's room
He told her that her mother would