Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1907 — Answering The Call. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Answering The Call.

By Dorothy Glenn.

Copyrighted, IHOT, by M. M. Cunningham.

Forsythe scowled out into the black night. The southbound express was already overdue. As soon as the long train of coaches had thundered past he could close up and go home. “Going home*’ meant a dash across the sodden field to where he had pitched his tent for the summter. Jack Bailey, the regular operator at Haddon Junction, owited a tiny house, one of the four that constituted the settlement about the place, but Howard Forsythe preferred the tent for the summer, and so the house waq shut up. Hard work bad kept Howard Forsythe In bad health all winter, and the physician had advised camping. He had pleaded the necessity, for earning sufficient money to enable him to complete his senior year at college, and so the doctor had suggested Haddon Junction. Bailey wab to be married and was going dbt west on his honeymoon. Fe expected to be gone all Summer and was glad to have a man to take his place who would be willing to give it up In the fall. Matters were arranged between Bailey and the train dispatcher, and ever since tb.e college year had closed Howard Forsythe had reported the trains on the main line and the little twentyfive mile spur that gave the junction its name. There were dreary times lx>tween. and Howard spent a part of his leisure In talking to Lottie Bayliss, the agent up In Green River, the first stop on the branch line. Lottie was a cousin of Mrs. Fyce, who lived at the junction, and It was her custom to run down on her bicycle after her office was closed as soon as the 6:37 had gone up. She found the station more Interesting than her cousin, and before the middle of August she was wearing the ring that Howard had ordered from town. They were not to be married

until Howard had graduated, but the thought was an Incentive to the man, and the days sped all too rapidly until the Inevitable lovers’ quarrel. That had occurred three days before and Lottie had not been down to the < junction since. It was for that reason rather than because of the belated train that Howard scowled into. darkness as he looked down the track. At last the headlight gleamed faintly through the deluge, growing brighter, until with a roar the train swept past Howard reported the train to th® dispatcher’s office and prepared to close the station. He was just slipping into his raincoat when the instrument on the Hampton line began to. click out his call, add without waiting for a reply went on. “I am alone in the station and robbers are trying to blow qpen the safe. I am tied to a chair arid cannot escape. Come to my assistance.” Howard groaned. It was eight miles to Green River, and through the pelting storm he could not make it in less than twenty minutes.. Perhaps he would be too late. He ran to the sMd'where the track bicycle was stored and ran it out upon the rails. There was no use to carry the raincoat. He threw it in the shed, together with his coat arid vest, and, making sure that his revolver was in his pocket, he stepped tato the seat. It was up grade all the way to Green River, but the tracks were wet enough to hold the wheels, and Howard bent to his work. He had gained tn health since he had come to the junction, and no freshman working to make the eight had ever bent his back to his work'as did Howard For- 1 , sythe speeding to the rescue of the girl he loved.’ He was drenched to the skin, and the drfvin# rain nearly blinded him, but he fought his way between the teeth of the half gale that was blowing, and at last the lights of Green River came into sight and encouraged i

him to make a final spurt With a rush he drew Into the station and sprang from th§ bicycle. .The station was dark and apparently deserted. As quietly as he could Howard crept about the platform, peering Into the windows. He could see no sign of life, and at last he Sought to force the doors in the belief that the robbery must have been accomplished. He. was still working upon the lock when a heavy hand fell upon his shoulder. “Got yd!” was the triumphant exclamation. “Stole a track velocipede, did yer? Goin’ to rob all the stations in the rain? Well, there’s one constable that knows his duty,” “Are you the constable?" demanded Howard. The other flashed his star with a gesture of pride, and Howard went "on: "I am the operator from the junction. I had a message from Miss Bayliss. She telegraphed that she was in trouble, and I came to her assistance.” “I guess Lottie Bayliss don’t have to call on the junction for no help while I’m here,” was the rejoinder. “Lottie never sent no message like that. Tfiafa too thin a story, young fellowA “But it is true,” Forsythe persisted. “Force the door, and you will slid her tied to a chair. There have been robbers here already.” The constable grinned. “You want to tell me that she’s tied to a chair? I was over to Clem Bay-. Uss’ tonight. Jest came away from there. Lottie said good night to me. Come along now.” f “Are you going to take me to the jail?” Forsythe demanded. “That’s what I be,” was the answer in uncompromising tones. “Will you stop at the Baylisses on the way there?” he.-begged. “It will only take a moment, and Miss Bayliss will Identify me.” The constable paused uncertainly, but at last he decided to grant the request, and he led Howard up the trim walk through the Bayliss garden. “I caught this young fellow trying to break Into the station. He declared that Lottie telegraphed him to come up,” he explained to his recent host Lottie came Into the hall at that moment. • “I did not telegraph for Mr. Forsythe,” she said coldly. “I have not been in the station all evening.” “But you did," persisted Howard. “You telegraphed me that you were bound to a chair in the station and that robbers were preparing*to blow open the safe. I would know your Morse anywhere any time.” To the surprise of all Lottie began to laugh so that she sank down upon a chair. It was some minutes before she could explain. At last her mirth abated. “I am teaching my nephew, Ted, telegraphy,” she explained. “I borrowed some wire from the construction department, and most of It Is strung on the railroad poles. I was practicing with him tonight, and I sent that absurd message for fun. The wire must have broken in the storm and crossed your wire, and that is how you happened to get it” “And it’s a sell?” he asked ruefully as he thought of the hard trip. “How did you come up?” she asked. “On the track bicycle,” he explained. “Through all this storm?” Howard nodded. “You poor boy,” she said. “You must have nearly killed yourself. Father will take you upstairs and give you some dry clothes. “It would be no use.” he reminded. "I’ve got to get back again. The limited goes through at 6 and must be reported.” “But you will take good care of yourself when you get back, won't you?’ she pleaded. Howard nodded. She followed him to the door. “Howard,” she called, as he was turning away. He came back up the steps. “I’m going down to see Cousin Jane tomorrow afternoon,” she said softly. *TII tell you then how sorry I am that 1 was cross and hateful the other night” ' There was a soft sound of meeting lips, and then Howard went down the walk. The rain still poured In sheets, but he did not-notlce It In answering the call he had found not danger, but happiness, at the other end of the wire.

“I DID NOT TELKGEGRAPH FOR MB. FOBSYTHE.