The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-09-13

what the price VI pOlAAoS0 """'N
next day. had to depend on other re-
sources. Miss Nelly Hampton. daugh
ter of a widow whom everybody IN
the village knew and respected. was
one of the two operators employed
One week she would be on day duty,
and the next week at night
The telephone Office was opposite
the post Office. on the main street OF
the village After ten O'Clock very
few persons were astir. and there
were so few calls that the night girl
could put In most OF her time with
book or her fancy work.
On this particular night, the month
was June the weather balmy, and the
moon made the street almost as hgnt
as day. 1t flooded into the ONCE until
there was no need OF lamp MISS
Nelly turned out the light and sat by
| the window. After half past ten
O'Clock the village grew SO quiet that
she became drowsy and might have
INDUCED in a cat-nap had not her half
closed eyes suddenly lighted on man
walking in the middle OF the street
He had rubbers over his shoes. and
| moved as noiselessly as ghost
Leaning out Of the open window,
the girl saw the stranger pass along
for a block, and after halt OF three
or four minutes turn and retrace MS
steps. She drew in her head and
moved back little and presently she
saw him at the front door of the post
office. 1t was the village post office
and grocery combined, with its win
dows defended by wooden shutters
The man left the shutters alone and
gave all his attention to the door II
. was certain that he was a robber. and
, the girl found herself trembling as
| she watched. There was no watch
man in the village. and the constable
. had no telephone In his house The
;, county sheriff was at Medina. eight
q miles away. and even If the girl called
him up he would be too late
4 The fellow had the door open In nve
or six minutes and had disappeared In
side. The night was SO still that the
ring of a telephone call would reach
s, his ears, in which case he nigh
@ come running out and take revenge
He had only to come up an outside
D. stairway to be In the ONCE. On
10 table in the room sat a glass bottle II
" which the other girl had brought coll
a tea for her lunch.
Miss Nelly promptly picked IT u
o.. and hurled it through the open vii
dow half way across the street
I'D fell on the gravel and made a gret
smashing noise The sounds reache
no the robbers ear, and he came out
ne the run and was soon out OF sight
had had no time to steal anything.
ny an examination next morning shove
Int the sheriff came over to see abo
j., 1t.
-. Dick Strothers was not yet thirt
u.s. He had started in law. but the reforl
ers had nominated and elected hi
sheriff almost against his will 1t "
necessary for him to interview MI
:. - Nelly and when he found her so pref
he secretly congratulated himself
having this opportunity. 1t took on
80 fifteen minutes to obtain all necessa
information. but still he fingered. II
,,rI girl had described the robbers neig
,ra his prying open the door-his pa
~ icky departure and her own feeling
hut the sheriff looked as wise as
owl as he said:
.x VERY clear-very clear. but
md must not neglect the slightest ecl'
are you know. Did you notice the color
nks the mans eyes?"
oil He was too far away"
ord lust So Did he have limp"
Il can't say that he did"
you And you are sure that he was
our strangers"
rdy. 81 didn't recognize him. but 1t n
can have been some resident OF the villa
tied In disguise"
per- Just so. Miss Hampton-Just
con- You have been very lucid In your
'ow. scfiptions. but may have to see
ave again"
lie l When he had departed, Miss NJ
vely wondered why he would have to
her again and the thought was rat
pleasant than otherwise In a cou
of DAYS he brought lame old ira
over for her to identify. The We
arts. couldnt have run a rod to save
J. OF neck. No: he was not the man,
he was turned iooSe anu eoio "
iven west and found town, This was
bout oil however
lauc Would you say that the robber
Iorh- had the idea in mind for some tim
re- blandly asked the sheriff.
peeo Miss Nelly couldn't be sure
,ting ..n,, =. h.vo On sorgles or Z
~ plain spectacles!"
mus. She couldn't positively say
~ did he have finger or thu
missing from either hand?'
He might have had.
Ills eyebrows9 Did Miss Nelly
tice them particularly? If the r
unds mar. with the right eyebrows.
from brought before her could she ideI
Men him and them?"
(. un- She was doubtful
ased" Very we'll. Miss Hampton
at to have given me many valuable G
over hut it is possible that | may hav
cause call again. | must compliment yo
find your GOODNESS and bravery"
: are WHY should the sheriff wan