The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-05-01


was still unmoved in nay resolution, as
[ replied:
"Never fear. sir; I'll tell him all
about the stock" He muttered some
thing to himself, and still remained
J anding over me.
You have heard, perhaps, how much
character aud expression telegraph
operator can put into his touch. Why,
there were dozens of different operators
with this office. and 1
could tell the instant, without ever
making a mistake, who it was signaling.
You could tell if a man was nervous
from telegraphing just as You could
from his handwriting. The call that
sent hurrying across the state to Coun-
Gil Bluffs, must have rung out on the
ears of the operator like shrek.
sc. B. Are You there ?" was what I
asked, and almost instantly came back
reply in the affirmative. Then, with a
trembling hand 1 ratified off my mes
sage: "For the love of God, telegraph
to our downtown Office at once. Tell
them that Lynch is within two feet OF
me, and they must send help"
A short pause, as though my message
occasioned some surprise, and then
came the response: CAN right, " which
assured me I need not repeat.
oval" growled the deep voice of
Lynch, care you going to send my
message?"
81 have sent it, SIR"
"What Does all that tickin' mean
what told your"
eyes, and if you'll wait fifteen or
twenty minutes, you'll get an answer"
"Wal, l dunno as want an answer.
Jim, he'll understand it all right"
But I'll tell you soon whether he's
there or not. Sit down."
So Lynch reluctantly took his seat,
looking around at the doors and win
dows once in a while in an uneasy way.
I was determined to take him at any
cost and verify believe I should have
planted myself in his path had he in
sisted upon going now.
"Tick, tick, ticki" the battery called
out, and I listened to the message:
"Keep cool Gould has gone for
the police"
Strange it was, wasn't it, that I
should sit here and talk through two
hundred and fifty miles of space with q
man not half mile from me?
"What's that signerfy?" inquired
nv companion, as the ticking ceased !;
and 1 replied that the clerk had Just
written off the message and sent it out.
He seemed satisfied and settled back
in his chair, where he sat in sullen
silence, his jawe going up and down as
he chewed his weed.
80 how slowly the minutes crept
along The suspense was terrible.
sat and watched tho minute hand of the
clock, and five minutes seemed as many
months. My companion seemed nerv-
GUS, too. He moved uneasily in his
chair.
"Ain't it about time we heard from
Jim ?" he asked at length.
"We shall get word from him in 9
few minutes now" I answered, and fell
to Watching the clock again. Five
minutes more passed. Lynch got uE
and began pacing to and fro across the
room. At length he paused and said
81 don't believe I'll wait any more
I've got to see man down at the Penn
sylvania house, and he'll be abed eff
don't get thar pretty soon."
"Hold on q minute and I'll see wha
they're up TO-" 1 cried hastily, and
touched the key again. "Make haste,
was my message. at shall lose him i
you do not. Not a moment to spare.
Straightway came the reply, short bu
encouraging.
ga squad of police started for tn,
depot five minutes ago."
Thank heaven! They ought to b,
Thoughts of the five hundred dollars.
"Well, what's the word T. he growlei
impatiently.
"Your friend is coming" answered
for want of better reply.
| "hor
"Coming to the Office at Cohoe. HI
probably has an answer for you"
"An answer for me? Jim Fellers
What should he answer for?
| Lynch stood in stupid thought for {
moment, and then he looked at me will
a dangerous light in his eye.
/; "Look a here, young feller," h,
lynn to ms. And eff ye are, here b.
uttered horrible oath, "IIn cut youl
skulking beart out I don't know any
thing bout that thar masheen, But
swar Jim Fellers hain't nothin' to an
swer. More like he'd get up and scat
ter wen he heerd that message"
He stood glazing at me as he uttered
these words, his hand on his revolver
cannot account for it. As I before
remarked, I am a timid man by nature
But this action only made me holder
Everything depended on keeping him 6
few seconds longer. It must be done
at any cost. tried a new plan.
"What do you mean, STRIP shouted
rising, I" By coming into this Office an6
talking in that style? Do you thinl
I'll endure it? Leave this room al
once, sir, or I'll" and L advanced
threateningly toward him, Ny unex
pected attitude seemed to amuse hin
more than anything else, but it silence6
his suspicious. He put his hands il
his pockets and delivered loud laugh
in my face.
"Wal, wal, my bantam, ye needn'
git SO cantankerous. Who'd thought
such little breeches as you had suct
spunk? Haw, haw, hawi Why,
could chaw you up 'thout making two
bites Of You"
"Well, sir,"I said, still apparently
unmollifed, s'either sit down anc
hold your tongue, or else leave the
office" And he good-naturedly DOM
piled.
Once more we were sitting listening
to the ticking of the clock as the min
utes dragged their slow length along
| Would help never come? Three min
| utes more. Great heavens The sus-
pense was becoming intolerable. I must
go to the stairs and listen if I die TO,
it. arose and took a step toward the
door, but voice stopped me.
"Hold !" shouted Lynch, standing ur
right, all his suspicious aroused once
more. eyer can't go out of that doc,
afore me. Come back here"
"Sir 7"
"Come back here, or by the eternal
-" and the pistol muzzle looked me
in the face. He stood now half turned
from the door, and I was facing it.
Slowly and without a particle of noise,
I saw the knob turn. and a face under
q blue cap peep In. Thank God Help
had come. felt joy uncomfortable
come over me. I must keep the muir.
derer's attention an instant longer, till
some ore could spring upon him from
behind. walked straight up to him,
but his quick ear had caught a move
A.