Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-09-24
oRANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURsDAY 7sIspTEhdBE
and the doctor came out. with the pro-

and the doctor came out, with the pro-
fessor following him.
It is o terrible thinp.p lie said.
slowly terrible. I have known sud.
den shocks to. produce death very of.
ten, when the heart was affected. Ali.
dear me" I,
"Please sir" cried dozen boys
voices at once, ss won't you tell us what
has happened ?n - -,
That telegram was from poor Jack
iRedburn's home, said the professor.
70 His mother is dead. He was deli!
cate boy, and the doctor Says
All, yes !" said the doctor. Yes,
yes-dropped dead ut once, didn't he
poor fellow Pn
"Dead 70 cried the boys.
Dead !" cried Tom Hurd. I" Oh,
doctor doctor no, no, mol Save
him save him It's joke-a wicked
joke. His mother is alive. I sent the
telegram. Tell him that; it will bring
him to. Tell him tell aim 70
81 Dead people can't be brought to-"
cried the doctor. Are you speaking
the truth p
"oh, yes," cried Tom, groveling in
the dust. Oh, yes. Oh, God forgive
mel Will be hung? o try to save
him, doctor u
'sThomas Hurd, cried the professor.
!" stand up; don't grovel there. Do.
you mean all this2 Did you really
send o lying message to n widows only
son to tell him she was dead 2"
:" Yes, Sir, = said Tom. " Oh, I am SO
sorry. 1 wish I was dead. CAN'T some-
thing be donep He may not be quite
gone: Oh, pray, pray, try"
Why did you do such thing as
this 2" asked the doctor.
Only for fun" answered Tom.
Do you think it fun now ?" asked
the doctor.
"Pm murderer r. said Tom. "Oh.
hang mel hang me -
:Do you think the law would allow
MS to do it, doctor ?" asked the profess
sor. should like very much to
risk it." - -
"Please do," said Tom, seriously.
BE dropped on the steps ms he spoke.
and, lying on his face, began to moan.
I've killed himi I've killed him
I've killed him I" in O way that was
terrible to hear.
The professor looked at the doctor
He slipped back and opened the door.
and ont ran little slender figure. that
knelt down by Tom, and whispered;
Don't go on 30, Tom; I'm alive"
Tom lifted up his head, and saw little
Jack Redburn, and gave scream, and
caught him IN his arms, crying
Oh, he's alive he's aliyeI he's
alive !" over and over again.
Yes. he's alive" said the professor
and, Tom, your telegram was never
sent at all. I caught Harry Pratt at
his trick and dragged confession from
him and arranged that message
about nothing should be sent through
the telegraph, in order that you might
see it arrive. The doctor was in the
plot, and if any one has been the victim
of a joke, it is YOU"
But, young man." said the doctor.
eff it had been sent, that message Of
yours, it might have ended in yery
tragic way. 1t is evident you don't
know how strong boys love for his
mother may be, or you would not have
fancied it joke to use it rs q means of
torture; and you do not know how dan
gerous such o shock might be to any
one, especially to a delicate little fellow
like that"
Z" It was very cruel, ;" said Jack "but
l guess you didn't think, or you wouldn't
have done it."
:" am SO thankful, that I don't care
what happens to me, he said. ST de-
serve what I've got, and I certainly
shall never play q practical joke on any
one again as long as L live"
And Tom kept his word.