Hyder weekly herald., 1932-03-12

1A
 \ --dignifedly named after for mer president. A town of twenty two hundred beings-only one white and that one a woman. It's at the edge of the oil regions; but 1t retains its identity as a shipping point Tor plantation products-largely cotton.
 Mrs. Netty Young sat at the tele- graph desk as the train pulled in. She was operator at the station-a life ap- pointee, first because of the herOism which brought death to her husband and second because she was competant enough as an operator to take the few messages regarding train movements for a personal message to or from town inhabitant was a rarity. Two years had passed since her husband was killed by passing train from the path of which he had hurled toddling pickanninny to safety. Two years Of such activities of an unusual character for . woman In her position that sad ness at her loss long had been soft ened.
 AS she dispatched the regular train passing formula, she noticed that mana white man--was standing on the station platform, evidently having alighted from the train
 After gazing fixedly at the one main street of the town a few moments, the man turned into the station. Rais- ing his hat, he said:
 I'm wondering if there is hotel in this town-or some place where l can put up for awhile"
 Mrs. Young smiled in friendly manner and replied, "NO, we have no hotel here. Only travelling men stop here-and get out as quickly as they can. You see-well, I am the only white person in the town
 "What?" the man cried In surprise. DO you mean that the entire popula- ton is colored?'
 "Yes. The people here-that is the men-all work in the oil fields, going over on the train--and the women work in the cotton fields, or do house. work on the plantations"
 Well, why do you stay here?' Mrs. Young flushed-pleasantly, for she could not feel indignant at the honesty of his searching eyes. Before she could reply, small colored girl en- tered the station, weeping, and putting out dark finger cut and bleeding, and cried out. "Fixie, Missy. fixie."
 Mrs. Young turned smilingly to the man. That is my answer" she said. These people-all of them-depend upon me. I am their first aid on al- most every occasion-injury. like this, their family troubles. even their love affairs. It Is my life work"
 When she had finished and the child had scampered off without even a thank you" she turned to the stran- ger and said, "You cannot find any place in town where you would want to r0Om."
 My name is Railt0n-Charles Rail- ton. This town is near to locality in which have certain interests. You see, am rancher-far western part of the state. Dads ranch-left to me to carry on when he died, although hltCh LhC AVA NALS business life. I suppose must go on to Tulsa to find 8 hotel-but" he hesi- tated, then resumed haltlngly, as he continued studying her features. "I wish there was some place here. You see-well. it's so close to where I want to be-"
 Nettie had been moved strangely by Editions appearance and his evident appreciation Of her neat, mature beauty.
 There Is vacant cottage on the street back of the station" she said. Ut is clean and neat. If you could batch it--probably you can get some one of the neighboring women to cook and clean house for you.
 Just the thing" Railton replied, heartily. ''I'll take 1t solely upon your recommendation"
 Nettie closed the station office and went with him to the cottage and also called upon cOlored woman of the old nanny" type who agreed to cook for Railton.
 Days passed and Nettie and Railton became friends. Railton never tired of hearing Nettie's tales of how she took part in the lives of the colored peo- pie about her. To them she was "missy'-to young and old she was the arbiter of disputes. the healer of fam fly jars. the refuge of youth and maiden when hearts were wrung with doubt or jealousies. But her work among the children interested Railton the most. Unprovlded with school facilities, Missy" undertook to in struct the children through twce-a. week "school" held in the station office
 Railton finally told Nettie he had Invested a considerable sum in the oil regions about Tulsa and had come to keep a watch on affairs without his presence being known. Their friend ship developed quickly-grew into the steady, lasting love of mature lives and shortly RailtOn insisted uDon their