Smyrna times., 1875-02-24

unWeIeome visitor without further trouble
But in the short conversation with him | had |
somewhat recovered from my first alarm, and |
l now conceived the idea of attempting the |
capture of Tim Lynch.
was only poor salaried operator, trying to |
save enough to marry in the spring. Five |
hundred dollars would do me a great deal of
good just now-to say nothing of the ecldt of
the thing. But how was it to be accomplished |
Here was l alone in the depot with man big |
enough to whip his weight in such little men
as | was several times over. Any attempt to
secure him single handed was not to lie tho t
of. But could not excuse myself, and going
out fasten him in? No; well | knew from tho
distrustful look in his face that any proposal of
mine to leave the room would be persmptorily
objected to by him. What then?
Why, simply this, | would telegraph to the
down town station. But alas That very day
the connection between the two offices had been
cut for repairs. 1t was seldom used at any
time of course. But what of that? Il was
only question Of few seconds more time.
All these thoughts went through my mind
with the rapidity of lightning as l went to the
battery. Lynch regarded me from the corner
of his uncovered eye with a suspicion that
made me shake in my shoes. As | sat down
he arose and came to my side.
Look here, young fsller," he Kissed in
my ear, and his breath was siokening with the
fumes of liquor, perhaps yer mean fair enuff
Il hope ye do, for yer own sake. But don't
understan' nothin bout them tellygrams, and
jist want ter tell ye that yer better be SQuar'
for by the Eternal God ef you 60 back on
me, I'll stretch you on this ysrs foer as stiff as
ever | did man yit /" and felt the cold muz-
ze of his revolver on my cheek. Perhaps my
voice trembled little, but was still unmoved
in my resolution, as l replied:
Never fear, sir; I'll tell him all about the
stock. He muttsrsd something to himself,
and still remained standing over me.
You have heard perhaps how much character
and expression a telegraph operator can put
into his touch. Why, there were dozens Of
different operators communicating with our
Office, and | could tell at the instant, without
ever making mistake, who it was signalling
GU could tell If a man was nervous from his
telegraphing just as well as you could from his
hand writing. The call that l sent hurrying
across the State to Council Bluffs, must have
rung cut upon the ears Of the operator like a
! shrek.
&c. B. Are you there e. was what asked,
and almost Instantly came back reply in the
affirmative Then with trembling hand l
ratified off my message: "For the lore Of God,
telegraph 10 our do,cn-toton office at once. TEL
them that Tin, Lynch Is ioithn ttco feet of me,
and they must send help"
A short pause, as though my message oe.
casloned some surprise, and then came the re-
sponse: "All right" which assured me
need not repeat
WAL" growled the dssp voice of Lynch
, are you going to send my messageV
II have sent it, sir.
/, What Docs all that tickin' mean what
told you2"
"Yes, aud if you will wait fifteen or twenty
minutes, you ii get an answer.
wal, dunno as | want an answer, Jim
he understan' it's all right"
2 but III tell you soon whether he's there o.
q not Sit down"
:. So Lynch reluctantly took his seat, looking
y around at the doors and windows once IN
= while in an uneasy way. | was determined t
= take him now at my cost and | verify belieV
u l should have planted myself in his path ha'
y he insisted upon going now.
: Tick Tick, Tick, Tick !" the battery calle
: = cut, and l listened to the message, "Kes
it was, wasn't it? That | should sit there an
talk through two hundred and fifty miles @
= space with man not half mile from me.
"What's that signerfy2" inquired my CON
" paniOD, as the tickIn ceased and | replie
~ that the clerk at Cohoe, had just written {
J. he message and sent it out. He seemed salts
70 fed and settled back in his chair, where he Sd
's IN surn silence, his jaws going up and dowT
y as he chewed his weed.
:, The suspense was terrible sat and watche
~ the minute hand OF the clock, and five minute
u seemed as many months. My companlC
y seemed Vous TOO. He moved uneasy in b
chair.
"a "Ain't it about time ye heard from jim
he ask ed at length.
m ''We shall get word from him in fs
I moments n0w," | answered, and fell to watc
n. ing the clock again. Five minutes mo
r. passed. Lynch got up and began pacing
a, and fro across the room. At length be pause
90 and said:
~ ~ II don't believe I'll wait any more T.
"a. got to soc a man down at the Pennsylvan
;Iv House, and he II be abed eff | don't git th
AZ pretty room.
~ Hold on a moment and l. II see what they
of up to-" | cried hastily, and L touched the k
again. Make haste, was nay message,
ois shall lose him if you do not. Not a nome
but encouraging "A squad Of police start
in. for the depot five minutes ago. Tha
we Heaven They ought to be here now.
looked at Lynch and though of the five hu
q a dred dollars.
rs. oval, what's the word p he growled i
jsr patiently.
= Your friend is coming" 1 answered
It,. want Of better reply.
e." Comm Comm WHARF
ust "Coming to the Office of Cohoe. He proI
nd. bly, has an answer for you"
im. "An answer for ms2 Jim Rellers2 WI
should he answer for?" Lynch stood in stu
{ to thought for moment and then be looked
me with dangerous light in his eye.
hoe Look here, young feller," he cried, =.
her my private opinion you're lyin' to me. 4
eff ye re-" here he uttered horrible oat
at "I'll cut yer skulkin' heart out don't kE
But anything bout thst thar masheen, but 8
.,id Jim Fellers hain't got nothin' to ansv
More like he'd git up and scatter when
and heerd thet message"
ann He stood glaring at nae as he uttered Il
bar. words, his hand ON his revolver. | car
account for it. As before remarked, l q
ptly timid man by nature. But this action
iat's made me bolder. Everything depended h y
lght keeping him few seconds longer H. ls mus
Pur- deue at my cost. Irleu ns~ pau -
-. 1hv coming into this Office and tel