Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-08-03
A COURAGEOUS Little Operator.

| dIIO Ill SdI tdhS JOul PioSS iOi tho'
time, am not worth muchI' and Lucy
Page gave her father an impetuouS en-
brace.
eyes, Lucy, suppose something should
go wrong on the line, then should lose
my position for good and ALL"
"But nothing shall 90 wrong. You
have often said that | could take and
send message as well as any dispatch
er you know. Besides, if anything Sc
rious does comes up can phone to the
house TO ask you about it. Just as if |
couldn't manage two passenger trains
and four or five freights! Headquarters
shall not be the wiser either. | have
written so many Of your reports lately
that they are used to my handwriting
by this time. Come, father, say may
try"
1t was true that ever since Lucy was
able to spell she bad spent all her spare
time at her father's side learning the Ian
guage of the black keys. And, now, at
the age OF fifteen, she was really an ex-
pert operator with the purpose of max
ing telegraphy her profession.
"Yes, will try the experiment." final
ly agreed Mr.. Page, "but am going to
bring cot down here and sleep as
could not think OF your being alone all
night"
"Just as you like about that, but Max
would take care of me, wouldn't you,
| MAXI" and Lucy patted her collie'S head,
who swore loyalty to her with his big
brown eyes.
Everything passed off uneventfully
during the first two weeks. The men at
the station understood the situation; but
since they had come to think the daugh-
ter quite as competent as the father, they
felt full of confidence in the young sub
stitute.
II was during the third week, when
Mr.. Page developed severe bronchial
cold, that Lucy had the entire response
bility of the station, for, of course, it was
out of the question for her father to VEN
ture out of doors.
"Why, don't mind the least bit stay
ing alone, father" declared Lucy. mo
train stops here after the nine-twenty, so
Max and will not be disturbed"
"Well, ask old Martin to sleep at the
station until am better, will you?"
"All right, father, WILL" promised
Lucy, in order to ease her fathers mind,
although she knew that Martin had sick
wife at home whom it would be impos-
sible to leave.
She had Nd thought of tear, however,
in spite OF the fact that the station was
nearly d mile from the town. She was
quite used to staying alone at the house,
since her father had been night operator,
and with Max for protection, she felt
very safe indeed. With her books, sew
ing, and faithful companion the first few
nights were spent quietly enough.
One night, however, there came a
most unpleasant interruption. 1t was
shortly after eleven when, in the midst OF
an absorbing story Lucy heard some one
walking down the concrete platform.
Max growled and lifted his head, but Lu-
cy took no particular notice until she was
startled by sharp rap on the window.
Looking up, she saw the scowling face OF
a man peering in at her.
"Who are you, and what do you
want?" she pluckily demanded.
His only reply was to try the window,
and when he found that it was locked he
turned away and walked down the plat
form. Like flash, Lucy tore into the
waiting room, bolted the door, and leaped
back into the office again, boiling her
own door as we'll. She could hear the an
cry man wrenching at the door handle as
she threw open her key and called up the
dispatcher of the section. She was an
swered by Gardner, whereupon she
clicked out to him:
"a man is trying to break into the sta
ton; | am all alone and have the months
payroll here. Are there any trains COM
ing north or south that can help me?"
"Have you gun?" came over the
wire.
"No, only dog" snapped back Lu-
cY.
Then came the sound OF crashing glass
from the waiting room. The girl left her
key for moment and ran over to her
fathers desk, where she found little
nickel-plated monkey wrench. As she
graspedit, the ticket window was smash
ed, and an arm came through it. Max
angrily leaped for it and it was hartily
withdrawn, while the scowling face ap-
peared in its place. Atthe face Lucy lev
eled her wonkey-wrench gun.
"Keep outl" she threatened, "or I'll
drill you full Of holes!"
The ruse succeeded, and the face
dropped back. Meanwhile Lucy could
hear the orders being sent over her line
to Monroe, ten miles beyond her.
"Catch extra 1867" shattered the key,
"and rush it to Dwight where a man is
breaking into the station"
Fortunately, the fast freight 1867 was
taking water when the Monroe dispatch
er received the message. He ran with it
to the conductor of the train, who, throw
ing it to the engineer, ordered the engine
to be uncoupled, and then with the others