The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-11-29

SO violently that I could hardly keep
my feet. Furthermore, my panic seemed
about to wreck me.
After a fashion, I could still think.
Sluggishly at length I decided to at
tempt escape by way of the big rusty
sliding doors. Not even the faintest
Click OF the instruments could I hear.
Wires cut? Well, I knew that I could
not use too much care if I were to sue
coed in escaping to spread the alarm.
THOSE old doors were very noisy. Then,
while thus desperately cogitating, from
somewhere deep within my Subcon-
scious mind, came a family glimmering
memory. Slowly and most carefully
again I tried the door and made . dis
covery which, in my excitement, had
previously escaped my notice. I could
not turn the knob: The s~ubconscious
ghmmer frightened. Slipping m
trembling benumbed fingers along the
upper edge of that common door lock,
I discovered an inconspicuous latch,
threw 1t over sidewfse, most cautiously
opened the door to a tiny crack, and
peeped within the office. Glory be! A
whiff of hot air hit me; the light was
brightly burning; the old stove was
redhot; and, as I opened the door a lit
tie wider, I discovered the safe door
Intact and no one in sight. Never be-
fore or since have I experienced such
enormous relief.
I was a good half hour getting
warmed up, and ven then, so greatly
had my nerves been shaken, I con-
tlnued during another half hour to
tremble. I now greatly wonder that I
did not suffer pneumonia.
I didn't Don mention the tormenting
episode to anyone for, with coming un-
derstanding, shame and diffidence
rnoctnrn1 With o@,o~ $780, ~
shock came memory that during my
early childhood I had suffered a few
little attacks of somnambulism, and I
realized that I had suffered a relapse.
Having become chilled, I had arisen in
my sleep. replenished the fire. and,
God only knows why or how, had then
gone to the wareroom and locked my
self IN by means Of a tiny latch that
I could not remember ever having seen.
The vagaries of the human mind are
often such that e can it fully I'M
derstand itself.
Late one night near the end of my
10 months service at Silver Bow, cas-
ually I listened to a friendly Geographic
conversation between the Deer Lodge
operator and the Butte night man. Dur
ing late hours, when business was
slack, we were allowed briefly thus to
chew the rag" I was about to get my
cot and turn in when I was startled by
hearing the Deer Lodge operator say:
I'm sick of this little hole. Sent in my
resignation yesterday"
Immediately my excitement flared
and continued to flare. I got little
sleep that night. Next morning it hap
.pened that Mr.. Sinclaire went through
Silver Bow on 1.-The Filler" As usual
he took time kindly to greet me. I
begged him for the Deer Lodge job.
He looked troubled as he replied:
"You have been very faithful, son.
But I'm afraid I can't give it to you.
Others with older rights have asked
for that job. Furthermore I'm afraid
you can't handle the bookwork down
there"
But, Mr.. Sinclaire, my folks live
down there, an an THE en-
gineer gave q toot or two. W. P. p, as
we affectionately called him behind his
back, waved his hand for q moments
delay. Then again he spoke.
Buck up, son, buck up! In time