The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-04-03

was q gawky boy about eighteen or
nineteen, and was reading every
thing about electricity that he could
pick up. He had a lean and hungry
look, and always seemed TO be IN
der the influence of some secret ex-
element. He had got into bis head
the idea of sending duplex dispatch
es, and all his spare time was deyO-
ted 20 experiments 10 the Office. Cole
man stood it for some time, but at
last began to growl. lie allowed
that Tom was crazy, aud said that
Gny damned fool might know that a
wire can't be worked both ways at
the same time. He declared that be
wouldn't have Tom ~puttering around
the Office with such Stiffness, and f.
nally discharged him in disgust. The
boy went back home to some town
in Michigan, and lost track of him.
Sometime afterward l was trans
ferred to the Boston Office. At that
time wire No. /, as it was called,
was considered the crack wire of the
country. The fastest men were
working it. For some cause the op-
orator in Boston resigned. 1t was
difficult to find a man TO take bis
place. A half dozen fellows tried it,
but found it 90 much for them. Ons
after another they dropped it like a
bot potato, and stopped wiser than
when they came. There was a man
in the office named NJ. f. Adams.
He thought the world of Tom Ed.
son, aud recommended him for the
place, vouching for him as a first
class operator. G.. F. MillikeD, the
manager, telegraphed to the little
town in Michigan, asking Tom if he
would come on and accept the posi-
ton. Tom answered yes, and with
out further words started for Boston.
via the Michigan Central and Grand
Trunk railroads. la running
through Canada be got showed
under, and was kept on the track in
one place for t%wenty-four hours, cold
and hungry without a bed. As usu-
al, be owned but one suit of clothes,
and that was on his back. Unfortu-
nstely, it was a summer suit.
He might have frozen to death had
be not bought an old rough rounda-
bout overcoat from a Canuck rail-
road laborer. But be finally got
through all right.
II was in the Boston Office when
be arrived, aud | must say" oontins
ued Mr.. Stewart, bringing his fist
down upon the table, che was the
worst looking specimen Of humanity
| ever saw. The modern telegraph
tramp isn't a marker. He wore a
pair Of jean breeches six inches too
short for him, and a pair of very low
shoes, the Canuck jacket, aud q
broad brimmed butternut hat, a rel
ic Of his life 10 Memphis. This wide
rim was badly torn. and hung down
so that you could see his ear through
the opening. There was the slight
trace of drift on his upper lip, that be
called a mustache. His hair hadn't
been combed for a week, and be wore
the blacklist white shirt that was ey.
er seen on the back of a human be-
ing. Neryously pinebiEg bis upper
lip-a habit that be had-he inquir.
ed for the manager. and was SEN TO
MIlliken.
"'Are you the boss p Tom asked.
Milliken smiled and said be was
manager. Tom then introduced
himself, and asked when they want
ed him to go 20 work. Milliken star
ed at him as though be couldn't be-
lieve his ears, and said, at hslf.past
s. 1t was then well along in the af-
t%ernoon. Tom began to lock around
the Office for a clock, and Milliien
said, Young man, you have to work
a pretty heavy wire Tom gave
what be called bis mustache an eX-
ira twist, and with all the assurances
in the world buried out, All right,
boss, III be here at halfpast s. He
sloped so quick that it made Milliken's
head swim.
THE operators burst into a peal Of
laughter. They had seen and heard
everything, and their remarks were
anything but complimentary to Tom.
ron said q Of them, he won't
last as long as that Jersey man; that
Jersey man that tackled the wire the
other day Why, that fellow can't
read by paper, let alone by sound,
shouted another. A third declared
that Tom was the worst be ever
saw and when the fourth wondered
whether the walking between Mich
igan and Boston was very good
there was a general oar.
"Well," continued Stewart, "half-
past ) came, and SO did Tom. Every
body vas on the qui. vive. Milliken
was taking from the vault the sup
ply of blanks for the night operators.
As Tom came up be pointed to 3 pile
Of them saying. Take what blanks
you want and | will show you your
table Tom ~innocently picked up
the whole bundle, aud followed Mil
lken to his table. The operators be-
gan to grin and smoker. They all
thought that he would get bounced
after trying to catch one message. 1t
was the No. | wire to New Work.
Jerry Borst. then considered one Of
the fastest senders in the country,
worked the New York end. As
Tom seated himself be heard the call
Is, and turning to Milliken asked if
that was the call for Boston. Yes,
replied the manager, watching Tens
movements with intense curiosity.
Thererpon Tom opened his key
and licked the answer, i, - Jerry
began to whoop 'em up 10 his best
style, and every eye was turned on
Tom. He displayed NJ anxiety, but
kept right along ct bis work, as
though be had been taking Jerry all
his life. For four mortal hours did
Jerry keep it up 100 pounds to the
square inch, and four mortal hours
did Tom take it down 10 8 handyri-
ting as nea and plain as reprint
For the FIRST time in his life, Jerry
had rushed it until be was tired,
without . break from the receiver.
II .-lI Nv l. IL