The Washburn leader., 1913-03-28
A
Transfor orrnatiion
By LOUISE 3. CUMMINGS

was q telegraph operator for the
Central Pacific railroad in one of the
important stations when one day re-
:eived an order to so out for a few
days to G.. station some twenty
miles from where WAS working, and
take the place of an operator there
who was i'll. G. was merely place
for the stopping Of trains.
The day after l went to work at G.
station l noticed rough man looking
at me. It seemed to me that he was
saying to himself. with that girl
alone a man who wanted to control
the station would have an easy time
Of it." But / was aware that my
Imagination was highly stimulated.
and was in condition to fancy
that any man who cast an eye on me
was. about to murder me. Neverthe-
less after this man had gone I took
a revolver out Of the drawer Of my
operat ting table and hung 1t around
my waist. under my dress skirt. with
a string. and in order that l might get
at It easily I made rip in a seam of
my skirt.
As to using it I was in singular
state of mind. Unless I was threat
ened with death or something worse it
didn't seem to me that ! could pos
sibly use it. But in this event knew
I could. I had read accounts of how
train robbers acted toward station
agents they desired to control. and in
no instance had they injured him. En-
gineers and express messengers they
had always shot to kill. What l ex-
pected in case was interfered with
was that would simply be removed
from the operating table. but not hurt
so long as I made no resistance.
But train robbers were not the only
danger l feared. conjured up every
conceivable injury from mouse to
madman and invented methods of re-
sistance, some of which-especially as
to the madman-were very ingenious.
But in no case did dream of making
the slightest opposition unless in de-
tense of my own self.
The sending Of woman to such
place was very reprehensible In the
management. for 1t was simply an in
vitation to any gang who might have
possible intentions to rob train to
make it easy for themselves by put
ting the operator out Of commission
and regulating the movement of trains
Themselves provided they were able to
work the wires, and in this case the
invitation was accepted. One after
noon in broad daylight. but when there
was no one except myself in the sta
tion. two masked men entered and be-
fore / could touch the operating key
ordered me away from it. went to
the other end Of the little telegraph Of
dee Ed WINS directed to sit down In
chair there. was too frightened to
consider what they said to each other.
but one of them sat down at the table
IN way that convinced me that he
understood telegraphing. The other
waited a few moments. then said
something to his companion and went
out.
By this time l had regained some of
my eauanimity. The man sitting ut
the table presented his back to me.
II I had been a man doubtless he
would not have taken any such risk.
And as It was as soon as his pal had
gone out ne turned and looked me
over. showing by his expression that
he was wondering II l could commu-
nicate In any way with the outside
world. There seemed to be no possi-
bility of my doing so. and suppose !
looked as felt-that was bordering
on state of collapse.
I have often since been surprised at
the rapidity with which regained my
thinking power. The first great re-
storative was consciousness that, be-
ing woman and the men bent on
some crime with which was con-
nected only as an operator. was safe
from harm so long as l remained a
noncombatant. The first thing no.
ticed outside my own personality was
the trousers the man at the table
wore. The pattern was the same as
worn by the man whom ! had caught
eying me a short time before. There
was possibility Of my identifying
him.. 8 -Y1-.i
Presently he began to click the key,
and read message notifying the ex-
press that was nearly due that the
road was clear. At this marvellous
change came over me- I pictured a
conductor. an engineer, an express
messenger, one or all. shot to death
and an express car robbed. The loss
Of treasure did not move me. but the
sight conjured up Of these men "
ing weltening In their blood made q
lion Of me. I took no thought for my
self or the frightful danger ! ran.
Selling the revolver under my skirt.
whipped 1t out and cooked 1t. The
man. hearing click, turned instantly.
grasping revolver he had laid on the
table. There was not an instant for
consideration. MY own life and the
lives of others shut ont the horror Of
my deed. I fred without aim. only in
his direction. but the bullet pierced his
brain. He fell. and in another moment
I had sent the words: Train robber
here! Keep away
That was the last Of consciousness