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14 secured at the home of Mrs. Barr, in Unionville, who had two rooms in her large house which she rented by the week to those who could bring satisfactory references. It was necessary for Joe to bring a telegram of recommendation from his yardmaster at Pittsburg [sic] before he was given the room; but he liked the appearance of the surroundings at Mrs. Barr's home so well that he did not hesitate taking this trouble.

Before a month had passed the friends of the Barr family were speaking of this very young and handsome brakeman as a wonderful musician. He was an artist on either the violin or piano, and many of the music lovers of Unionville called at the Barr homestead frequently to hear him play. Among them was Mercedes Morris. It was not her beauty alone that won her so many friends, but her personality was so charming, her intellect so much above that of the average pretty girl, that men whose admiration went beyond merely physical attraction, found an unusual pleasure in her companionship. She was a busy girl, being employed by a commercial telegraph company as telegrapher.

Mercedes came to the house one evening shortly after Joe's arrival and he was presented to her by Mrs. Barr, who noted the mutual interest and the animated conversation into which the usually quiet boy entered with such eagerness and apparent pleasure