The Gavelyte, December 1910

CEDARVILLE COLLMGK 197 ---------------------------------- That Mysterious Box. "MARJORIE DREW." "There's no art to find the minds construction in the face: He was a gentleman in whom I built, an absolute trust.'' -Macbeth. Bob LeSourd was at last realizing his boyhood dream. He was stationed in a telegraph office one mile and a half from Marian, Idaho. The telegraph office was a building of two rooms, one which served as a baggage room and the other was the telegraph office proper. Bob had just come on duty and was. in the office all alone. He was thinking of the good old times he had had in college and especially of the jolly time he had had at the family Thanksgiving dinner just one year ago and comparing it with the dinner he had eaten alone that day at the hotel in Marion. He had to confess to himself that he was lonely but he wouldn't to any of his college chums for the world. 'Ihen he began chuckling to himself as he thot of one day at college about.one year ago while waiking in the upper hall he was stopped by the President who asked him, if he was a new studer.t and how he had surprised the old Doctor by telling him that it was just his fourth year in college and he expected to graduate in the Spring, provided he found time to make his literary credits. Then he gave a loud laugh as he thot of the conversation that followed and of the President saying to him: "What are you going to do with yourself when you graduate, enter Seminary?" "No indeed!" he had replied, "No Seminary for me; as soon as I can possi– bly get out of this town after commencement I'm going west, to the very wild– est spot in Idaho.'' "Humph, you are, and do you think you'll like it1 You had better change – your mind and enter Seminary. You won't stay out there two weeks." "Sure I'll like it, and I'JJ stay longer than two weeks too. I have a position as telegraph operator in Mari<?n, Idaho and I'm going to stay there one year at least, see if I don't, Doctor!" Here he was awakened from his reverie by the wind blowing the door open, - as he shut the door, he exclaimed "My, what a night." Outside the night was dark and rainy, the wind whistled around the corners of the office building, on the plains a pack of wolves were howling until Bob de– clared that if there was any of the coward in him he would certainly say that the building was haunted for the windows and doors kept creaking and outside he declared that "thrice the brindled cat had mewd." He filled the stove and sat down again to dream of what the folks at home were doing that 'l hanksgiving evenir:g, when he was startled by a message flashed -0ver the telegraph wires r 2ding ''Watch that box.'' Bob looked around for a box but didn ·t see any. Le went to the baggage room and found none there. Then he took his lantern from the nail, lighted it and went outside and look d but still he found no cox.