A REMINISCENCE OF THE ROCKIES 



dangerous thing." The operator was on very 

 friendly terms with a young lady in the same 

 employment at a station not many miles away, 

 and when business was slack they freely cor- 

 responded in complimentary and sometimes 

 sentimental messages, until at length their 

 feelings toward each other had deepened into 

 something more than friendship. One day 

 the guide dropped into the office, and while 

 he was there, the operator had to leave for a 

 short time on other business. During his 

 absence a message came over the wire of 

 the usual sentimental kind. The "charge 

 d'affaires" did not recognize the sender nor 

 understand the message, but being possessed 

 of ready wit and unlimited assurance, he im- 

 mediately sent back a reply characterized by 

 brevity, force and spiciness. When the regu- 

 lar operator returned and endeavored to re- 

 sume a tete-a-tete he could get no response, 

 nor was further communication continued, ex- 

 cept in the ordinary course of business. An 

 23 



