The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-05-20
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
RIGHT AT THE SWITCH
BY JUNE GABlAN.

Sue Daniels had been switchboard
operator at the St. Hubert for two
years when Winthrop Tate registered
as transient guest
Sue always kept personal tab on all
+, newcomers, and when she looked Win
throp over appraisingly the first time
he stood at her desk and asked for a
! number.
The general summing up was not so
bad. lie was young, rather bald
easterner, with eyeglasses, and way
Of staring inquiringly at you before
speaking, but his eyes were brown
and pleasant, and his chin was we'll
rounded, with deep cleft in 1t. Also,
his voice was deep and we'll modu-
lated, and she approved of his taste
In neckties The fashion in neckties
around Buffalo WalloW was not espe-
cially artistic, although it showed di-
versified tastes and much individu-
ality.
the little struggling town that sort
OF dripped over the edge of the big
mountain, and chung to its sides pre-
cariously She had been sent down
by the telegraph company when it
threw line through from Tuscaloosa,
and had worked down at the station
first, but when the boom hit the town,
and the St. Hubert was built, civic
pride placed the little blonde operator
In place of honor at the switch.
1t was understood locally that Mr..
Tate was the eastern representative
Of the particular branch that connect
ed Tuscaloosa and Buffalo WalloW
with the outer world. Also, that the
said company was listening favorably
to Buffalo WalloW's wall that its name
be changed to something In keeping
with its new financial Importance.
But Sue knew otherwise. She knew
that Mr. Tate was in daily telephone
communication with Saunders of the
Bucking Bronch mines, and 1t troubled
her. Two years in Buffalo WalloW
had left her with very fair estimate
OF everybody's private and public
character. Mr.. Saunders would not
bear close inspection. He had rec
ord behind him that gave him the full
credit of being the cleverest mine salt
er Of any male in western Montana.
The only trouble was that he got away
with it. He sailed so thoroughly and
SO ingeniously, that only the native
understanding could realize that the
result was purely artificial. Bucky
Saunders victims always believed that
he meant well, and was sore deceived
even as were they, by Mother Natures
caprices
DO you know anything about this
Mr. Saunders, Miss Daniels?' asked
Winthrop, casually one day, after a
long distance chat with Bucky
I've known him for two years" Sue
replied. He's tartar Nobody ever
connects with him except eastern folks.
Don't get in too deep, Mr.. Tate
"Oh, I'm not getting in at all,
thanks" smiled back Winthrop. Only
he interests me. Seems wide awake.
What's his speciality"
HE gets people who don't know
: any better to put cold cash into mines
that are only skin deep, and then
ducks"
| But he owns the Bucking
Broncho"
/ He does now II used to be his
partners, too. Half of 1t ought to
belong to AL Baldwin. That's his part.
ner's SON." Sue clicked switch
sharply. Some people say that Mr.
Saunders took special pains to push
| Mr.. Baldwin over the edge of the can
| yon, but maybe not He was dead
| anyway when they found him."
II Successful people always make
enemies remarked Mr.. Tate, pleas
antly. HE seems rather nice sort
| Of fellow to me-"
II "Oh, he's NICE she laughed, only
| don't let him sell you any mines un
less you like the salt of the earth
that's all The Bucking Broncho used
to be a good mine, | guess, but its
all worked out. Bucky's sold 1t about
| eight times so far, and got 1t bach
cheap each time. Don't let him hurt
you, Mr.. Tate"
IS I'm not here after mines" sale
i Tate. MY business Is railroads"
i We'll, Bucky deals with them, too,
Sue told him, cheerfully. He's yer1
4 versatile We're trying to name thu
i town Lewiston, because Lewis an,
{ Clark camped here once, guess, ant
i, Bucky disapproves. He wants t
7 found a new town over on his sid,
!, Of the range, and get the railroad Il
7" take an interest In the BuckinI
{ Broncho."
!, You're right at the switch. aren'
1 you, little gtri7" smiled Tate.
/ Sue flushed slightly, but stood he