Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-08-12
THE TELEGRAPH DETEC
TIVE.
BY J. EDGAR,

following story:
"Ten years ago ] was a tele
graph operator at small towI
in New Jersey, but my health
failing, / gave up my situation
and, taking an agency, Travelled
westward until | finally reached
San Francisco. While there
took a fancy to visit the mining
regions; so selecting suitable
goods to sell among the miners
| went, satisfied my curiosity
made a little money! ahdDwasj re.
turning in the stage coach, when
the incident | am about to re-
late occurred, or at least began
to occur. la g' haa oiIq ai
'rI'here were besides myself
three inside passengers; an ole
gentleman of sixty and two
roughly dressed men apparently
miners. These two, men sat al
opposite ends of the coach, not
appearing to know each other.
while the old gentleman and my
self sat close together. motto
ed that the old gentleman, had a
heavy tin or iron box between
his legs, which Ire seemed to be
anxious to keep out Of sight.
"After a short conversation
with him on general subjects, ]
allowed myself to drift gently
into a doze; and while IN that
condition my ear trained as lit
was to the Intelligent sound of
the telegraph instrument, caught
a faint tick, tick, which resolv-
ed itself into the following
words: 5t'EsstA sEs rs
" Bill, the young one is going
to sleep, and I VIII. tend TO him
while you pitch the old one over
the precipice when l make the
signal and secure the box
Il was now as wide awake
as if | had been called by an
operator-to receive a message,
but [ pretended to be still doz-
| inc while / listened ntently.
Then l heard the coach window
rattle, and it read: 7Ha
!" All right, Bob We will
be to the Big Jump in twenty
minutes, and then giyethe word
and out lie goes.F" EVa '~9
Taking a cautious, look from
between my eye-lids,, I saw that
one of the villains was telegraph
ing by vibrating a knife-blade
between his teeth, while the 9th
er used the window for, that pur-
pose, neither Of them appearing
to notice the other. a. S''tts
81 knew the precipice to
which they referred, a terrible
place, where a miner had once
jumped off in a fit of despair at
his bad luck, from which it was
known as the Big Jump, How
to communicate to the old gen
tleman l was at a loss TO deter
mine, but finally l took out a
newspaper and aunderscored the
words in a lengthy EDITORIAL,
which,. if, read consecutively,
would read: 'sBe cautious, sir.
The two villains here intend to
murder and rob us in ten min
utes. When | arise you attack
the one With the monstache and
/ win take the other. XII if
necessary
"Then I handed the paper to
the old gentleman,say "Have
you read this, sir? Its a most
excellent editorial
"He took the paper, put on his
glasses and commenced to read.
Soon the unaefseered words
drew his attention and he began
to, study them, Then i saw
him grow pale and feel for his
box with his foot. Handing me
back the paper, he said signifi-
canty:
& do youl believe that, sirp
81 know it to be true, sir,
sA|I Friblen said he, slipping
his hand in his breast pocket, a
stern look coming in his face as
he added: 4 believe that I'd
feel like shooting some one
II saw / had man Of cour-
age to help me, so ] cared little
for the villainous smile which
his remark brought to one of the
ruffian's face. i saw we were
near the Big Jump and were go
ing down a steep grade at live
ly rate, when one of the villains
telegraphed: hi 1853
Now aH a..
@The next minute j was on
him, knocked him senseless with
my revolver. The old gentle
man did equally as well, the ruff
fans being taken completely by
surprise at our sudden attack.
We had passed the precipice now,
and calling to the.driver to stop,
he and the one.outside passenger
helped to bind our prisoners,
whom we left inside, while we
climbed to, the top. But when we
arrived at Sacramento we found