The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-03-29
CHRIsTIE's TELEGRAPHING.


I am very glad that telephones have
been invented; and yet am glad they
were not sooner invented. 1 should
like to tell you the reason. , That Will
take some time for it is quite a story.
We live in the country, at Oakbrook,
and my father is the treasurer and gu
perintendent of the Oakbrook mills.
Our house-a very pleasant country
house it isis situated on beautifully
wooded slope close to the river, and is
quarter of a mile from the mills,
That is why telegraphic wire was
placed between the two.
| promised father when it was put
up that / would learn to send messages
over it. There was no. one else In the
family who could have learned. Both
nv brothers were at boarding-school
and mother would assoon have thought
of studying the Chinese language a.
telegraphy.
Father declared that / would never
learn, Girls had but little patience
for such things, he said. Neverthe
less the wire was put up and connected
with q battery in the library. And in
lust four months time l had mastered
the alphabet and the technicalities OF
the instrument so that could use it
readily and was able to read the mes
sages by the ear2
1t was Harry Randall who taught me.
He was one of the clerks at the office !;
and he had learned to use the instru-
ment because it was necessary to have
somebody to send messages by the
wire that ran from the mills to the ad-
jacent city of Palmer.
Having explained so much, think L
have said all that is necessary to enable
YOU to understand what occurred on
certain February night, about which 1
am going to tell you.
We were through supper, and were
sitting toeether-father, mother and
= around the table in the library, when
Joseph. our coachman and man-of-all-
work about the place, brought in the
mail as usual.
Father eagerly took letter that be
seemed to have been expecting, from
the other letters. l noticed disturbed
expression upon his face as he read 1t
ard / was more anxious than surprised
when he arose and went to the hall
door, and called to the girl who was IL
the dining room.
"Mary," said he, "tell Joseph e
harness Prince at once. must get tC
the Junction in time for the
o'clock express. He'll have to fnisl
his supper when he gets back"
Then he turned and said that tn,
letter contained intelligence that mad
il necessary he should go on to Ney
Yosk that night. OF course, as the wifi
and daughter of business man, W
knew what that meant, and that ther
was not word of remopstrance to b
said. So mother went to make for hin
what preparation was needful and
should have followed her q momen
later. but that father called me back.
"Christie," said he, rather soberly
"I am going to tell you something tina
no one knows anything about saw
Harry Randall. 1 have quite a larg
sum of money-oyer two thousand do
lars-in my coat pocket" He touche
his breast with his finger. 81 nevt
keep large amounts of money by m'
Int in this case it was unavoidabl
and thought / should feel less anxior
TO have it with me than to allow 1t
remain at the Office in the safe.
"I cannot, of course, take 1T to Ne
York. So I want you to take charge
it and keep it until tomorrow morning
and then carry it to Randall for him
deposit in the bank. Don't say an
thing about it to your mother. She
SO timid and nervous that she would n
sleep a wink all night if she knew
large sum was in the house. Do "
understand p
With no slight feeling of responl
bility l took the leathern pocketbo'
which he handed me and placed 1t
the pocket of my dress.
Father went on: Perhaps you oett
put it under your pillow. OF course,
is fire that am most anxious abo'
There's no danger to the money In q
other way. Not soul knows about i
Then he went into the hall, and car
very unexpectedly upon Joseph, for
heard him speaking somewhat sharI
to him because he had not gone to
stable, and declaring that his businl