The Cairo bulletin., 1911-05-05

! 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 Mabers
/ house. introducing it in at her win
dow. Then be put In the rest of the
| apparatus, and the two youngsters
could chatter through the keys like
magpies
The principal time for these CONVEX
sations 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. ne
kept her at the instrument late
Mabel had been In bed perhaps an
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.
chine clicking. She began TO read in
the middle of a sentence:
He's gone around TO the other door
I've locked it, but be can smash a
window easily. There! He's getting
In and coming for me-"
There was brief iull during which
Mabel. who by this time was wide
awake. waited. fearing that she would
hear no more. 1t was evident that
robber had broken into the station. II
occurred to her that the first thing
be would do would be to order Johnny
away from the instrument that be
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 il 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 can't at
tack or shoot him can hear him go
ing toward the safe which he eau do
without risk so long as he bears 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 al
the station. Henry Town got out of
bed, dressed himself as quickly as pos
sible. put revolver in his pocket aud
rifle on his shoulder and started for
the station. Meanwhile Mabel went
back to the telegraph instrument and
when the clicking ceased for a 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
time Johnny stopped the robber. who
was working at the safe lock. turned
and ordered him to proceed. But
Johnny managed to hear few words.
such as coming" and courage" and
knew that be was to be relieved But
whether the man would succeed In
opening the safe before some one came
to stop him was question He was
evidently a skillful craftsman. the safe
was a very ordinary one. and be acted
as II be counted on getting 1t opened
before assistance could arrive He
drilled a hole In the lock and began to
work the tumbIers.
He had not been engaged more than
twenty minutes when Johuny. facing
the window as he did. saw figure
dlmly looming up In the darkness
without He was so agitated that he
ceased to work the key. The robber
turned and sent q bullet close to his
ear. At first Johnny thought the shot
had been fired at the figure without,
but an order to go on" convinced
him Of his mistake.
The burglar again turned his back
and recommended his work. Then
there were sounds Of dropping tum.
blers, and Johnny heard the safe door
pulled open. At the same moment
there was crack" at the window.
leaving small hole. Something
dropped behind Johnny. and. turning.
he saw the robber lying on the fioor.
blood oozing from hoe in his head.
Springing TO the window, be un.
locked it, and Henry Town stepped |
into the room
The first thing Johnny did was to |
click the news TO Mabel. and the re- !
ply was the FIRST message embodying |
love that passed between them.
II happened that Johnny had consid- |
cradle cash in the safe. which be In. |
tended TO send In the next morning. |
This the robber doubtless knew. The |
fact Of so much money being saved |
through Mabel disposed the company |
to liberality, and they sent her a |
handsome check A year lar. yhpn /