The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-17

on his betty "14l fetch it in to-mor.
row if its convenient" E. .-. ~.
I hastenod to say that the charge
could just as we'll be paid at tho 9th
cr end by his friend. 81:
"UmphI Plaguey little you'll got
O. Jim, I reckon. Howsumdever, per
ceed." .....,.., "a
"What is the message, and to whom
is it TO go ?" ,'..' -
II want you to tell Jim Fellers, Of
ECohoe, that the bull quit here last
night, and ther sheep be close on his
heels" ....... -. q. ',"''.
As he delivered this sentence he
Hooked at me as if he expected me to
be mistifed. But I thought it best
not to appear 80, and I said careless
ly: :. .,. :.
81 suppose you are a dealer in stock
and this is your partner An, Sir
1.-THE telegraph helps you fellows out
of many sharp bargain"
"Ya'as," he answered slowly, evi.
dently pleased with the way I took
it. "Ya'as, that's um.: I'm sending
down of stock. Bought it dog cheap
over in Genesee, yesterday. Purity
lot as ever you see." r..............,...
Iturned to my instrument. +. What
was to be done? Though ours was q
railroad office. we often sent business
messages; and if l did as usual: now
l should probably get rid of my un:
welcome visitor without further trou.
BILE. But in the short, conversation
with him l had somewhat recovered
of my first alarm, and I now conceiv,
led the idea of attempting the cap
ture of Tim Lynch. r.y
was only poor salaried operator
trying to save enough to marry in
the spring! Five hundred dollars
would do me great deal of good
just now-to say nothing of the eclat
tf the thing. But how was it. to be
accomplished? Here was 1 alone in
the depot with man big enough to
whip his weight in such little men as
was several times over. Any at
tempt to secure him, single e-handed
was not to be thought of. But could
I not excuse myself, and going out
fasten him in? No; we'll l knew
from the distrustful look in his face
that any proposal of mine to leave
the room would be peremptorily OBJ
'tiected to by him. What then?
Why, simply this, I would tele-
graph to; the downtown station,
But alas! That very day the connec-
tion between the two offices had been
gut fov repairs 1t was seldom used
Lat any time Of course. But what OF
that? 1t was only question of o
| few seconds moro time.
! All these thoughts went through
my mind with the rapidity of light
Ining as l went to the battery.
Lynch regarded me from the corner
of his uncovered eye. with suspioion
that made me shake in my shoes. As
1 sat down he arose and came to my
side. r". =.
"Look here, young fellow, he
Kissed in my ear, and his breath was
sickening with the fumes Of liquor,
perhaps you mean fair ,enough-I
hope ye do, for yer own sake But
don't understand nothiu'l bout
them ,ellygrums, and 1 jst want ter
tell ye that yer'd better be squar'--
for By the Eternal God eff you 60
back on me, II stretch you on this
we're floor as stiff as ever did man
yit! and / felt the cold muzzle Of bis
revolver on my cheek. Perhaps my
voice trcmbled little, but 1 was
still unmoved in my resolution, as |
replied: ,f'sn ,'rJ.t Pc. .. -H,....-
'Never fear, sir; III tell him oil
about the stock He muttered sorae'
thing to himself, and still remained
standing over me.
!. 'e You have heard perhaps how much
character and expression o telegraph
operator can put into his touch. Why
there wcrc dozens of different opera
tors GonunlbicauDg with our office,
1and l could tell at the instant, with.
Eout ever making a mistake who it
was signaling. You could tell if a
man was nervous from his telegraph
ing just as you could from his hand
writing. The call that I sent hurry
ing across the State Council Bluffs,
must have rung out upon the ears of
the operator like shrek. ii :i:.-.
b. B. Are you there?' was what l
asked aad almost. instantly camo.. the
reply in the affirmative. Then with
trembling hand, 1 ratified off my
message "For the love of God, tel
egraph to our downtown Office at
once. Tell them that Tim Lynch is
within two feet of me, and they must
send help.
4 short pause, as though my mes
sage occasioned some. surprise, and
then came the response ; 'All right?
(which assured me | need not repeat.
'Wel,' growled the deep voice of
Lynch, care you going to send my
mcssage?"
4 have sent it, sir
what Does all that ticking mean
what teld your"
Yes. and if you will wait fifteen. or
Twenty minutes you will get an an
swer.' &c., ...
Wal, dunno as L want an answer
Jim, he'll understand its albright
( "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" | was determined to take him
nov at any cost and I verify believe