The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-03-04

Tie girls fine face became serious
under the sunbonnet.
The semaphore stopped Its wagglins.
and after a slight pause they heard
the clnnk of one OF the cross-over
switches. The clamor broke out anew
from the garrison In the tower. One
of the monkeys danced q war-dance
on the window sill.
Its a fine wind-up,~ Hank esti-
| mated. with grin.
The girl was puzzled. "what do you
meanf"
| "I'm quitting--thats all. I wrote the
bloomin' president of their road that
I'm through"
| But why7" she had to know.
"why7 Because Of you. We could
never live on the pay I'm getting in
this hole. It's you. Mollie, dear Oh,
stop that racket. you ring-tailed
balloons -
But at that instant came another
sound. II was long-drawn sh-iek.
echoing about among the hills.
Good Lord !" Hank cried "The q.
Ms. special--and the cross-overs are
Heaven knows how"
Only one thing remained. but he
was too late.
Even as he turned to dash upstairs
for MS lantern n third blast cut the
air. and he heard the barking roar OF
the engine die away.
In Its place was the grind OF the
brakes as their fanges bit the wheels.
He gazed. stupefied. Suddenly he
remembered those lever-throwing
apes.
'Saved" he burst out almost hys-
terically. They've set the signal at
'danger'i"
From one OF the brightly lighted
cars knot Of men Jumped down and
ran swiftly across the tracks.
"what in the name OF the Gndarene
swine." shouted the first on the plat
form, "d'you mean by holding up my
speclal1 Who gave you orders?'
Any awe Hank might have had for
the general manager was swept from
him.
Monkeys" he answered curtly.
what !" The rest of the official
statement was merclfully lndistinct.
He turned now to the girl for the first
time.
rs the man crazy. or Just plain
drunk1"
Neither" she retorted, "and II you
knew what he'd gone through for your
old railroad you wouldn't be insulting
him poww
perhaps you would be kind enough
. IA.
giving him his ORDERS" came the @.
, Ms. whitening fire.
Hank took up the burden. "You can
see for yourself" said he. "if you
r look at the tower"
: They all looked.
y The whole ships crew of simians,
Q attracted by the arrival Of the train.
' had gathered In the windows. their
. bodies sIlhouctted against the light
2 In the room.
s "Now." Hank went on. perhaps
e you'll believe me. They came-three
4 Of 'em--about nm hour or so ago.
d,dat pay much attention, because
a thought theywould get tired and run
e away. So" ~
n Hold on" broke In gray-haired
h man with hard eyes. Monkeys. young
man, don't grow In this part Of the
J. world"
o "Yes, they do" the operator patient
y ly explained. There's a farm about
y three miles north OF here, where they
v keep all sorts OF wild beasts. As I was
r saying. didn't mind the three until
i they began running about the tower
l. and trying to throw the levers like
d they'd seen me do. Then more Of 'em
dropped In. I chased 'em. One put the
8 wires out Of business. and"
4 II see." said the gray-halred man,
n whose eyes were now twinkling bit
!. "they made monkey out Of you
Well. gentlemen. we'd better drive out
[ the foe and get the railroad In opera.
ton again. Here-all Of you grab
D. sticks or anything that's handy and
Il mount to the siege. Come on!"
l. But at the tremendous racket Of the
E. attacking party as It climbed the
stairs, the garrison, with cries Of ter.
e. ror, broke ranks. Head over heels they
h piled out OF windows and raced away
h a medley Of waving tails and scamper
% ing feet.
:. my word" sighed the president as
}; he sank into the only chair and held
E. his sides. II haven't had so much fun
e since the cat came homei Halo
What's thisT
IS In his hand was the operators let
: ter, blotted by the tracks Of monkeys
W which had raced across the table.
h Hank. trembling. and with Mollie's
n hand In his own. nodded bravely as the
1t officials eyes bored into his.
lie "ResignT snorted the great man
IS His eyes, now suddenly softened. rest
Is ed for moment on the girl, who grew
scarlet. "Hum Seems to me you need
a. job now more than ever"