The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-02-12
A
Transformation
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS


Central Pacific railroad In one OF the
| important stations when one day ] re.
ceiyed an order to go out for few
| days to G.. station some twenty
| miles from where | was working, and
take the place of an operator there
who was Ill. g. was merely place
for the stopping of trains.
The day after went to work at @.
station I noticed rough man looking
at me. 1t seemed to me that he was
saving 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 q condition to fancy
that any man who cast an eye on me
was about to murder me. Neverthe.
less after this man had gone / took
revolver out OF the drawer Of my
operating table and hung it around
my waist. under my dress skirt. with
a string. and in order that ] might get
at 1t easily ! made rip in seam of
my skirt
As to using it | was in singular
state of mind. Unless | was threat
ened with death or something worse 1t
didn't seem to me that | could pos
sibly use It. But in this event | knew
/ could. ! 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 I was interfered with
was that I would simply be removed
from the operating table. but not hurt
so long as | made no resistance.
But train robbers were not the only
danger feared. | conjured up every
conceivable injury from mouse to
mailman 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 a woman to such a
place was very reprehensible In the
uluudktiltul, lpi II was Oh
vitation to any gang who might have
possible intentions TO rob a train to
make Ii 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
ton, 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
fee and was directed to sit down in
chair there. was too frightened to
what they said to each other.
but one of them sat down at the table
In a way that convinced me that he
understood telegraphing The other
waited few moments, then said
something to his companion and went
out.
By this time l had regained some OF
ny equanimity. The man sitting at
he table presented his back to me.
4 had been man doubtless he
would not have taken any such risk.
And as it was as soon as his pal had
zone out he turned and looked me
,ver, showing by his expression that
le was wondering If could commu-
licate in any way with the outside
world There seemed to be no posi-
ility OF my doing so. and suppose [
ooked as felt-that | was bordering
n state OF collapse.
| have often since been surprised ut
he rapidity with which regained my
linking power The first great re-
torative was consciousness that. be-
~ a woman and the men bent on
ONE crime with which was con-
ected only as an operator. was safe
rom harm so long as ] remained a
The first thing ] no
ced outside my own personality was
lie trousers the man at the table
ore. The pattern was the same as
orn by the man whom | had caught
ring me short time before. There
as a possibility of my identifying
I'm.
Presently he began to click the key.
I'd read a message notifying the ex-
-ess that was nearly due that the
ad was clear. At this marvellous
lange came over me- | pictured
an engineer. an express
one or all, shot to death
I'd an express car robbed. The loss
treasure did not move me. but the
ght | conjured up of these men "
e wetering In their blood made
IN of me. | took no thought for my
II or the frightful danger I ran
.izing the revolver under my skirt.
whipped II out and cooked it. The
Du. hearing a click. turned instantly,
asping a revolver he had laid on the
Bile. There was not an instant for
My own life and the
es of others shut out the horror OF
, deed | fred without aim. only in
direction. but the bullet pierced his
lin He fell. and in another moment
had sent the words: Train robber
re, Keep awayr'
that WIS the last OF consciousness
me till I was aroused by a woman
o had come into the station TO make
Inquiry. The robber must have car
away the body of the man | bad
ed. for II was not there. They bad
waited for the express TO come.