The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-04
HER FIRST
LOVE MESSAGE
By NOBLE K. WETHERELL
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Johnny Cosgrove was station agent
on the g. T. and W. railway Johnny
had been at school with Mabel Town,
and they were very great friends.
Mabel lived about a mile from the
station, not far from the track, and
Johnny, in order that he might chat
with her during the lonely evenings
/ when he was obliged to stay at the
station with but little TO do. rugged a
private wire from the telegraph line
extending along the railroad to Mabel's
house, introducing it in at her win
dow. Then he put in the rest Of the
apparatus, and the two youngsters
could chatter through the keys like
magpies.
The principal time for these CONVEX
Stations was after Mabel had gone to
her room and ostensibly to bed. but
really to chat with Johnny. Her room
was In an extension where the clicking
of the key was not likely to disturb
any one else in the house. though no
one objected to their dialogues, be-
cause Mabel was supposed to be fitting
herself for a telegraph operator.
One evening Johnny had been talk
ing with Mabel as usual 1t was
stormy night and, being all alone in his
Office and consequently very lonely, he
kept her at the instrument late.
Il In. 81 ~,
hour when she heard in her sleep the
call that Johnny and she used to at
tract each others attention. Some
time was required for her to wake up.
and when she did she heard. the ma
chime clicking. She began to read In
the middle of a sentence:
Hes gone around to the other door.
I've locked y but he can smash a
window easily. Therel He's getting
In and coming for me-"
There was brief lull. during which
Mabel, who by this time was wide
awake, waited, fearing that she would
hear no more. 1t was evident thnt a
robber had broken into the station. 1t
occurred to her that the first thing
he would do would be to order Johnny
AWAY from the instrument that he
might not be able to give the alarm.
She was therefore surprised when the
clicking began again.
"He has ordered me to keep on work
ing the key, covering me with his re-
volver He says the minute stop
working 1t he viii put hole in my
head / see his object. He knows
there is no station near enough for me
to send word and get assistance be-
fore he has finished what he has to
do, and while using the key my right
hand is employed so that I can't at
tack or shoot him. can hear him go
ing toward the safe, which he can do
without risk SO long as he hears the
clicking of my key"
There followed few seconds of
silence, during which Mabel held her
breath, and when the sounds recon-
menced they did not mean anything.
Doubtless the robber had turned and
ordered Johnny to keep on. Mabel ran
to her brothers room, awakened him
and told him what was going on at
the station. Henry Town got out of
bed. dressed himself as quickly as pos
sible, put revolver in his pocket and
rife on his shoulder and started for
the station. Meanwhile Mabel went
back to the telegraph instrument. and
when the clicking ceased for few
moments began to tell Johnny what
she had done and that her brother was
coming. 1t required some time for her |
to get--the message through, for every |