The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-02
A THRILLING STORY.

A few years ago. as / was riding on
an out-of-the way railroad in one of
the second cars of a more prosperous
road, | was very much annoyed by
the incessant rafting of the car win
dows. 'Tis said that misery loves
company, and l at last shouted my
! feelings on the subject to the passen-
ger beside me-a middle-aged busi
ness looking man-Who shouted back.
yes, it is pretty noisy, but it don't
mean anything, and amt dangerous.
You probably never heard window
talk nationally, not to say intelligent
ly" he said.
Not that | can remember said |,
a little ironically. Did you?'
Il have,' said he, 'and as soon as we
stop | will not only make window
talk, but possibly get an answer from
some other window
When we had stopped, my neigh
Dor touched me on the shoulder and
said, Now let me sit by that window,
and | will show you something
amusing, and afterward tell you
story
l changed seats with him. and he,
taking hold of the window, began to
rattle it at lively rate, pausing every
few seconds to listen. Pretty soon l
WIS surprised to hear window at the
other end of the car behind us rattle
in he same manner.
Now said the stranger, ask me "A
question about the back of some spe
cial person sitting behind us without
either of US looking behind.'
"Well,' said l. describe to me the
appearance of the back of the head
of, say the outside passenger in the
third seat behind u.s.
He ratified the window and then
listened to the answering window.
Then he said:
There is no person just sitting
there. Try again.
| looked aud sure enough he was
right. So | made it the fifth seat.
Short black hair, parted behind,
one side groy, high shirt collar and
coat collar turned up. Railroad ticket
in the back of his hat said my com
panion at the window.
Stepping back l found that the
description was correct, one side of
the mans hair being turned white,
probably from disease.
How did you do it?' i asked as |
took my seat again.
"By telegraphy,' he said. Il at first
sounded the single word 'Fire!' over
and over till it caught the trained
ear of an operator in the other end of
the car, and he telegraphed what l
wanted to- know. So you see that a
window may rattle intelligibly.'
Yes, said /, 'and now about the
story.
And he proceeded to relate: Ten
years ago | was telegraph operator
at small town in New Jersey, but
my health failing, / gave up the situ-
alton, and taking an agency, travelled
westward until / reached San Fran
cisco. While there | took fancy to
visit mining region, so selecting
suitable goods to sell to miners, |
went and satisfied my curiosity, made
little money and was returning in
stage when tie incident aln
about to relate occurred.
There were besides myself three
inside passengers /; an old man of
sixty, and two roughly dressed men,
apparently miners. These two men
sat at opposite ends of the coach, not
appearing to know each other, while
the old gentleman and myself sat
close together. l noticed that the
old gentleman had tin or iron box
between his legs which he seemed
anxious to keep out of sight.
After short conversation with
him on all subjects ] allowed myself
to drift gently into a doze and while
in that condition my ear, trained as
it was to the intelligent sound of the