The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-02-23
THAT MONKEY
WRENCH
By ELSIE B. MATTESON
Copyright, 1910, by American PresJ
Association.

occurrence.
Molly Tryne was born to the click
ing of telegraph keys. Her father was
an agent at a station on the O. B. aud
c. railroad and from the time Molly
was five years old nothing delighted
her 50 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.
Now. dear" he would say after
sending an order for train to 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 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 i'll and died.
Molly was by this time 50 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 go to school, but, being am
bilious to learn, she studied at home,
which meant in the ticket and tele-
graph office. one night she had her
books before her studying when, hear
ing 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 I'll 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 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 it 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 just
pulled in and told the operator there
that a 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
like a true heroine. On her desk was
little nickel plated monkey wrench,
glistcning for all the world like the
polished barrel of a pistol. Selling it
and aiming it at the robber, she called
out:
Of you don't go away I'll shoot
youw
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 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
it with several armed men aboard. 1t
had left several minutes before, and
since it could get over a mile in min
ute it should be there in six or seven
minutes.
Presently Molly heard its rattle, and
the robber probably heard it. too.
though not rs quick as Molly. who was
eagerly expecting it. Besides, he was
on the wrong side of the station to
hear it. Consequently when the To-
connective pulled up he had barely a
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 to halt, fired shot after
them to enforce the order. Every one
Of the fugitives was captured. Then
those who had come to save the lit
tie operator assembled to hear her
story. When she came to the monkey
wrench that had served for a pistol
they We're lost in wonder. Taking the
robbers back to the station the rail
road men had come from, the story
was told and was telegraphed all along
the line The next day trainmen and
passengers, when they passed the sta
ton. if they stopped, must see the
little girl who had stood of a robber,
and if they did not stop crowded the
windows and platforms, waving con.
gratulatiOnS
But a more substantial honor, or,
rather. a reward. came from the presi-
dent of the company. He sent an or
der that Molly report at the main Of
fee. She obeyed the order, and when
the timid looking slip Of girl was
paraded through the various depart
ments all the employees arose and
craned their necks to get sight Of her
Then she was taken into the presi
dents room.
He told her that her mother would