San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-05-04


er. But he finally got through al
right.
II was in the Boston Office when ho
arrived, and I must say, continued
Mr.. Stewart. bringing bis 6st down up.
on the table, "he vas the worst look.
ing specimen Of humanity I ever saw.
The modern telegraph tramp isn't
marker. He wore . pair Of jeans
breeohes SIX inches too short for him,
. pair of very low shoes, the Cauuck
jacket, and abroad. .brimmed butternut
hat, . relic of bis life in Memphis.
The wide rim was badly torn, and hung
down so that you could see bis ear
through the opening. There was the
slightest trace Of dirt on his upper lip,
that be called . mustaohe. His hair
hadn't been combed fora week. and he
wore the blackest white shirt that was
ever seen on the back Of a human be-
ing. Nervously pinehing his upper
lip-a habit that he had.-he inquired
for the manager, and was sent to Mill.
ken. ~
"Are you the bossP" Tom asked.
Milliken smiled and said he was msna-
ger. Tom then introduced himself
and asked when they wanted him to 90
to work. Milliken stared at him as
though he couldn't believe his ears,
and said at half-past fve.' 1t was
then along in the afternoon. Tom be-
gan to look around for clock; and
Milliken said: Young man, you have
to work pretty heavy wire Tom
gave what he called his mustachs an
extra twist, and with all the assurance
in the world blurted out, All right,
I'll be here at half-past fve.' He
sloped SO quick thatit,mAde Milliken's
lead swim. 49,
THE operators bgrst lid q peal Of
laughter. They had sss&: keArd..
everything, and sheir raml w
thing but complimentary to Tom J,
said one Of them. he won't lastas long.
as that Jerseyman that tackled the
wire the other day. why, that fell !.
low can't read by paper, let alone BY
sound shouted another. A third de-
clared that Tom was the worst he ever
saw and when fourth wondered
whether the walking between Michigan
and Boston was very good, there was
general roar.
"Well, continued Stewart, hall. past
FIVE came, and so did Tom. Every.
body was on the qui vivs. Milliksnb
was just taking from the vault the sup
ply of blanks for the night operators.
As Tom came up he pointed to q pile
of them. saying Take what blanks
you want and I'll show you your ta-
ble.' Tom innocently picked up the
whole bundle, and followed Milliken
to his table. The operators begap.to.
grin and snicker. They all thought.
that he would get bounced after trying
to calch one message. 1t was the No.
/. wire to New York. Jerry Borst,
then considered onsor rthe fastest send
ers in the couutrJ; worked the New
York end. Az Tom seated himself be
heard the call B. and turning to Mil
lik.n, asked if that was the call for
Boston. Yes replied the manager,
watching Toms movements with in
tense curiosity. Thereupon Tom open
ed his key and ticked the answer, i,
L. Jerry began to 'whoop 'em up in
his best style, aud every eye was turn
ed on Tom.. He displayed no anxiety,
but kent right along at bis work as
though he had been taking Jerry oil
his life. For four mortal hours did
j Jerry keep it up at a hundred pounds
to the square inch, and four mortal
hours did Tom take it down in hand.
writing as neat aud plain as reprint.
For the first time in his life Jerry had
rushed it until be was tired withouta
break from the receiver. He was as
founded. When be had finished, the
messages passed between
them:
FRON JERRY.
Who the devil are you, anyhow
FROM TOM.
I'm the new man. My name is Tom
Edison.
FROM JERRY.
Well, by Ia ripper-Rep,l you're the
man I've been looking for for the last
ten years, and you're the only man |
ever found that could take me without
A break. Shake.
And they shook. The sstonish'
uept of the BOYS in the Office Was IN
ho, nd.1 Everxhodv ~ Tom friend