The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-04-30

replied: ,,,
"Neve@ Rear, sir III tell him all
aboSt the stock. he muGtered some
tAing to himself, and still remained
8 anding over me. ,.ag,
You have heard, perhaps, how much
character and 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 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 hsve 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
trembling hand I 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, end they must send help"
A short pause, as though my message
occasioned some surprise, and then
came the response All right, which
assured me need not repeat.
oval" growied the deep voice of
Lynch, care you going to send my
message ?"
ST have sent it, SIR"
"Whatl Does all that tickin' mean
what told you?" Gig 81 r'5a-
"Yes, and if you'll wait fifteen or
twenty minutes, you'll get an answer"
oval, dunno IS I 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 while in an uneasy way.
l was determined to take him at any
cost ami verify believe I should have
planted myself in his path had he in
sisted upon going now.
"Tick, tick, tickl" the battery called
out, and I listened to the message
keep cool. Gould has gone for
the police"
l should sit here and talk through two
hundred and fifty miles of space with a
man not half a mile from me?
"What's that signerfy?" inquired
my companion, as the ticking ceased +;
and replied that the clerk had Just
written off the message and sent it ont.
He seemed satisfied and settled back
in his chair, where he sat in sullen
silence, his jaws going up and down as
he chewed his weed. BOG
SO how slowly the minutes creep
along The suspense was terrible.
sat and watched thu minute hand of thV
clock, and five minutes seemed as many
months. My companion seemed nerv
Gus, too. He moved uneasily in hi
chair. .HH.r
faint it about time we heard from
Jim?" he asked at length.
we shall get word from him IL
, few minutes now," answered, and fel
: to watching the alcok again. Fiv
: minutes more passed. Lynch got Vi
5 ana began pacing to and fro across tn
= room. At length he paused and said
4 81 don't believe I'll wait any more
s I've got to see a man down at the Penn
e sylvania house, and he'll be abed eff
: don't get thar pretty soon"
"Hold on minute and I'll see VIVA
they're up to-" cried hastily, and
touched the key again. "Make haste,
3 was ny message. 81 shall lose him j
you do not. Not a moment to spare
: Sraightway came the reply, short Blu
| encouraging.
ga squad of police started for tn
depot five minutes ago."
Thank heaven They ought to b
here now. I looked at Lynch AM
thought of the five hundred dollars.
''Well, what's the word !" he growlet
impatiently.
"Your friend is coming" answeret
for want of better reply.
"Comin' Comm WHARF
F'Coming to the Office at Cohoe. h
probably has an answer for you"
g An answer for me? Jim Fellers
: What should he answer for 2"
Lynch stood in stupid thought for
moment, and then he looked at me wit
; a dangerous Light in his eye.
= FLook here, young feller," h
cried, it's my private opinion your
, lynn to me-. And eff We are" here b
uttered horrible oath, "I'l cut YOU
skulking heart out ! I don't know any
thing bout that thar masheen, Bot
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 glaring at ne as he utteret
: these words, his hand on his revolver
, l cannot account for it. As I befor
remarked, am timid man by nature
But this action only made me holder
Everything depended on keeping him
; few seconds longer. It must be don
at any cost. tried new plan.
''What do you mean, sir?" shouted
. rising, "By coming into this office an,
talking in that style2 Do you thin
, I'll endure it? Leave this room a
once, sir, or I'll" and L advance,
T threateningly toward him, My unex
: pected attitude seemed to amuse hin
more than anything else, but it silence,
: his suspicious. He put his hands i
his pockets and delivered loud laugl
in my face. ...
''Wal, wal, my bantam, ye needn'
git SO cantankerOns. Who'd though
: such a little breeches as you had sue
spunk? Haw, haw, haw Why,
could chaw you up 'thout making tw
bites of you"
: "Well, sir" I said, still apparentl,
unmollifed, ''either sit down an
L hold your tongue, or else leave tn
, office. F." And he good-naturedly com
/, piled.
Once more We we're 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. / mus
go to the stairs and listen if L die TO
, it. i arose and took step toward tn
: door, but voice stopped me.
"Hold !" shouted Lynch, standing u
right, all his suspicious aroused one
: more. eyer can't go out of that doc
, afore me. Come back here"
: "Sir ~
Come back here, or by the eterna
-" and the pistol muzzle looked m
in the face. He stood now half turne'
t from the door, and I was facing it
a Slowly and without particle of noise
5 l saw the knob turn, and face unde
[ a blue cap peep IN. Thank God Hell
: had come. / felt a Joy uncontrollabl
. come over me. must keep the muir
4 derer's attention an instant longer, til
? some ore could spring upon him from
3 behind I walked straight up to him
1 but his quick ear had caught move
ment behind. As he turned with al
oath, 1 sprang upon him and bore dow