The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-26
The MESSAGE
FROM BLEAKER
II Led to Results In a Love
Affair.
by ALICE c. DERBY.

half an eye-which was all he ever oil
Erected toward the sex-when he came
i'm for the coal scuttle that evening.
Taxing his imagination for cause,
Job suHnised that Rhoda wept be-
cause her father was laid up again
with his crippled back, a memento OF
the last landslide. which be had defed
In order to tick OFF warning to others.
AS a matter OF fact the girls tears
were not filial ones. but pertained to
the discovery that the young engineer
OF No. was no ordinary sweat-of-the-
brow-running man. but chap of very
different caliber--in Short son OF the
first vice president. with a penchant
for practical knowledge concerning his
fathers road.
True, Dave maintained that a man
is not accountable for his father and
had clustered reassuringly when Rho
da wormed out OF him the admission
that his sire had shown tendency to
q hot box when told of their matrimo-
NAL plans.
dad needn't be so doggoned crit
ical." grumbled Dave, bhssfully de-
posting a cinder smudge near Rhoda's
pink mouth. Hes self made. every
inch Of him; began at rock bottom for
ty years ago. He's often told me that
I'm named for an old buddy OF his
some one he thought the world of and
would give lot TO find"
Notwithstanding the vice presidents
magnanimity toward the memory OF a
whilom buddy" Rhoda felt that her
humble self as daughter-in-law
should not be wantonly thrust upon
him. particularly since Dave confessed
light heartedly that the act might bind
him TO an engineers life in dead ear.
nest. she was girl with a conscience.
and that unfeellng mentor represented
that she ought not to wreck her low
er's career. Therefore Rhoda was dig
ging little heart grave that night at
Bleakers Lift and trying to shovel big
Dave into 1t.
Old Job in his worldless sympathy
had filed up her coal stove so solicit
ously at 10 O'clock and again at that
Rhoda was driven to the open door
for q breath-of the keen mountain air
of late November. The black night
showed only few sickly stars above
the tall pines and Job Days lantern
swinging along the winding path to-
ward his own shanty, Suddenly this
one friendly twinkle amid the dark
ness lurched sideways and went out
Job" called Rhoda concernedly-
"Job, did you tall2"
There was no answer. and the girl
turned resolutely within the Office.
She had lighted another lantern and
was reaching for wrap when I'M
usual sounds made her wheel quickly.
Five burly. evil looking men blocked
the doorway.
Rhoda stepped across to the table,
her eyes seeking the old fashioned
photograph hanging above it as one
the likeness of her father, whom she
idolized, and she was taking counsel
of him now and also thanking God
that 1t was she on duty that night In
stead OF him. Then she coolly faced
the intruders, her back to the table
and one hand creeping out stealthily
behind her
Drop that curse your snaried one
of the men. You'll finger that ticker
when I tell you to and not before.
Seer
1t was the ugliest villain Of them all |
who spoke, and Rhoda's arm fell at |
her side.
Now you'll wire the old man at
Rumford," the fellow commanded. lev
cling a stfshing barrel at her head.
''that there's a rock or tree-make
1t tree-on the track. and the ex-
press II have to take the siding. Tell
'em the old guy is hurt and they'll |
have TO throw the switch themselves"
He lowered his voice. speaking to the
others. ''Thatll give us time to fix the
engineer and get aboard"
His accompliees nodded.
Now hump yourself. girl. This man.
Bill, is next to the dot and
dash lingo. SO you can't fool us. and
you'll do the job up proper or It'll be
all day with you" A metallic click
emphasized the threat
Rhoda glanced slowly about the cir
Gle of dark. sinister faces. Coming
last to Telegraph Bill. she saw that the
man was listening inteIigen1y to a
passing over the wire. and she
knew the leader had spoken truly.
They were not TO be ,fooled
An ashen pallor overspread her face
She reached hesitatingly for the key
Her fingers stiffened on it unwillingly.
and Jerkily the instrument began tc
tick. At the first sound Telegraph BIN
looked up. and their eyes held each
bther for an instant. then the mans
brow contracted doggedly, and he look
I'd down, Even a train robber may not
relish seeing a loyal hearted woman
10 betray her post.
Tick, tick. tick. sped the message,
while Rhoda gazed fascinatedly at the
me man who understood It When she Ii
had finished their eyes met again. but
lis spoke only bold admiration be
lore which Rhoda's lashes sank.
After cutting the wires the men iled
put engaged in muttered colloquy.
Rhoda flung herself down, her head