News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1912-01-31
A WOMAN
AGAIN
BY JEAN ELGINBROD


ing the clock, saw that In a little less
than two hours her time would be up
She wondered if Richard were watch
ing the clock as impatiently as she
Such long, long time to six O'Clock
and the happy walk home.
She glanced over at the local board
The local girls were always busy
Their hands flew as they connected
line after line. The drops fell quick
er than they could answer them. The
chief operator (No. 25 Officially, was
working back of the board on the
Hayes.
The monitor walked up and down,
up and down, back of the girls, who
hated her nearly as much as they did
their chief. She had been 10 years in
the busness-and showed it. She was
reported to have a soft spot in her
heart for the young, curly-headed as
sistant chief operator at the desk.
The messenger boys called him the
fellow with the pretty blue hair"
The girls called him "twelve-and-a-
half" being assistant to No. 25,
jeanette laughed to herself as she
thought of it. Then she turned down
a jack to see if No. 270 were still
talking to Ridgeton Captain Henrys
big voice doomed in her ear, and she
caught sentence
old. been foreman of the Electric
tall and dark, about 80 years
old been foreman of the electric
compan; six years"
Mechanically she turned up the
jack. Then, as she realized what
she had heard she listened again.
Why, Richard was foreman of the
Electric company. What could have
happened!
ooh, Lathrop'll die. There is no
chance Don't know just how it hap
pened yet. Nash has always borne
good name. though there has been
bad blood between him and Lathrop
a long time, I hear. fave your men
watch sharp. If he did go on that
four o'clock I'll head it off at Saturn@,
1t gets there about 4:30. If he got off
at Ridgeton, which I doubt, he can't
have gone far yet. I think he will
keep on toward the west, Got it all?
- 5 feet II, dark, smooth face, well
built, brown suit, black derby-all
right. Goodby."
270 rang off
Jeanette took the connection down
and leaned back in her chair. The
bulletins on the board swayed up and
down with a horrible, sickening &C
ton. The noise Of falling plugs grew
faint The hum of voices died into
silence. The board seemed an I'M
measurable distance away.
Then, slowly her brain cleared.
She had no trouble in realizing now
what it all meant Richard Nash, her
Richard NASH had killed Lathrop.
His face came up before her. clear
cut as a cameo, the wise, tender face,
the frank, steady eyes. Why, every |
one had hated Lathrop, but Richard |
He had only laughed at him. 1t could |
not be true. SOME one was playing a |
Joke on her
She looked swiftly down the long |
line of girls All were working, still |
and sober The monitor paced slowly, |
back and forth No. 1914 was writing |
out trouble reports.
A drop fell 1t was 27o. She took |
1t bss3re the recording operator could |
reach It, and plugged in on the line
Her voice sounded strange to her as
she spoke.
TOLL line
"Give me police station, Saturne,
Captain Briggs to the telephone. And
right away quick, too, central.
She made out the ticket slowly Her |
fingers were stiff and cold. She felt |
numbed all over except her brain
That seemed on fire. She looked down
ct the small diamond on her left |
hand Whether it were frye, or not,
he was acknowledgements She loved
him.
If Ridgeton had not been able to
get man down to the train in time
to search it, after getting Captain
Henry's message, there was small
chance for his escape-perhaps she
could make it bigger one, If he were
really on that train, as they thought.
COulu size Keep AiV lAOhi SSh@AAo !
Saturne before the train passed there,
o whole half hour yet?
New York was probably his goal. IL
she could keep the train from being
searched before it reached New York
be might escape west. or across the
water.
Was he thinking of their walk home
at the end of the day, now, she Won
dered, remorse and fear fighting
within him. Or had he had no time
to think of her yet?
270 was calling again.
Cant you get Saturne, Central?
What is the matter?"
wire is busy l will call you," she
answered clearly. 1t was only quar-
ter of five now.
She cast furtive look at the mon
itor, who was coming toward her. She
answered two other calls, and made
Quick connections. The monitor
glanced at her board, then walked
slowly away again. Time seemed tc
stand still 4:57-4: IS.
1