Middletown transcript., 1878-05-11

The wide rim was badly torn ana huhg
down so that you could see his eal
through the opening. There was the
slightest trace of dirt on his upper lip
that he called mustache. His hail
hadn't been combed for a week, and
he wore the blackest white shirt that
was ever seen on the back Of a human
being. Nervously pinching his upper
lip-a habit that he had-he inquired
for the manager, and was sent to Mil
liken.
care you the boss ?" Tom asked.
Milliken smiled and said he was the
manager. Tom then introduced him
self, 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 FIVE 1t was
then well along in the afternoon. Tom
began to look around the Office for a
clock, and MiIliken said, Young man,
you have to work a,pretty heavy wire.
Tom gave what he called his NOUS
tache an extra twist, and with all the
assurance in the world, blurted out,
'AlI right, boss; I'll be here at half
past five. He sIoped 50 quick that it
made Milliken's head swim.
"The operators burst into peal Of
laughter. They had seen and heard
everything, and their remarks were
anything but complimentary to Tom.
oh, said one Of them, 'he won't last
as long as that Jerseynan 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 he
ever saw, and when fourth wonder
ed whether the walking between Mich
igan and Boston was very good, there
was a general roar.
"Well,' continued Stewart, $3.50
came, and so did Tom. Everybody
was on the ga vice. Milliken was
just taking from the vault the supply
of blanks for the night operators. As
Tom came up he pointed to pile Of
them, saying, Take what blanks YOU
want, and I'll show you your table. ,
Tom innocently picked up the whole
bundle and followed Milliken to his
table. The operators began to grin
and snicker They all thought that
he would get bounced after trying to
catch one message. It was the No. 1
wire to New York Jerry Borst, then
considered one of the fastest senders
in the country, worked the New York
end. As Tom seated himself he heard
the call B., and turning to Milliken,
asked if that was the call for Boston.
Yes replied the manager, watching
Toms movements with intense curios-
ity. Thereupon Tom opened his key
and ticked the answer, 4, II Jerry
began to 'whoop 'em. up in his best
style, and every eye was turned on
Tom. He displayed no anxiety, but
kept right along at his work as though
he had been taking Jerry all his life.
For four mortal hours did Jerry keep
it up a hundred pounds to the square
inch, and four mortal hours did Tom
take it down in a handwriting as neat
and plain as reprint. For the first
time in his life Jerry had rushed it
until he was tired without a break
from the receiver. He was astonish-
ed. When he had finished, the follow
ing passages passed between them;
FROM JERRY.
Who the devil are you, anyhow?
FROM TOM.
I'm the new man. My name is
Tom Edison.
FROM JERRY.
Well, by [ripper-REP. ], you're tn
man I've been looking for for the last
ten years, and you're the only man l
ever found could take me without a
break. Shake.
"And they shook. The astonish-
ment Of the boys in the office was un-
bounded. There was no more gliding
nor snickering. Everybody was Toms
friend at once. The next day Mill
ken picked up sheet of Toms manu-
script, and refectively stroked his long
beard. I never saw such pretty copy,
he said. He's as good an operator as
I ever et."-NeW York Sun.
THE Young HE1R.-She had invit-
ed him to stop to supper and he was
trying to appear easy and unconcern-
"a, while she was on her prettiest be-
havior.
"Have you used the sugar, John ?"
inquired the mother, in a winning
"John don't want no sugar" ejacu-
ated the young heir, abrubtly.
"Why not?" inquired the father,
,uriously, while John, in his surprise,
swallowed bit of toasted crust, and
nearly cut his throat open.
"Cos he DON'T" explained the heir,
n an artful manner. Il heard him
ell Mary last night"
"You keep STILL" interrupted Mary,