Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-06-09
CHRlSTiE'S TELEGRAPHING.

l am very glad. indeed, that tele-
phones have been invented: and Yet |
am glad they Were not sooner invented.
l should like to tell You the reason
That will take some time for it is quite
u story.
We live in the country, at OakbrOOk,
and my father is the Treasurer and Su-
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
a quarter of a mile from the mills. That
is why Il telegraphic wire was placed
between the two.
Ipromised father when it was put up
that would learn to send messages over
1t. There was no one else in the fami-
ly who could have learned Both nv
brothers were at boarding school, and
mother would as soon have thought of
studying the Chinese language as tele-
graphy.
Father declared that would never
learn. Girls had but little patience for
such things. he said. Nevertheless. the
wire was put up and connected with a
battery in the library. And in Just four
months time had mastered the alpha
bet and the technicalitics of the instru-
ment, SO that could Use it readily, and
was able to read the messages by ear
1t was Harry Randall who taught me.
He was one of the clerks at the office;
and he had learned to use the instrl-
mcIt. because it was necessary to have
somebody to send messages by the wire
that ran from the mills to the adjacent
CITY of Palmer.
Having explained so much, l think
have said all that is necessary to enable
you to understand what occurred ON a
certain February night. about which l
am going to tell you.
We were through supper. and were
sitting tOgether-father, mother and
around the table in the library. when
Joseph, our coachman and man fall
work about the place. brought in the
evening mail as usual.
Father eagerly took letter that he
seemed to have been expecting, from the
other letters. noticed disturbed ex-
preston upon his face as he read it; and
was more anxious than surprised when
he arose and went to the hall-door,
and called to the girl who was in the din
ing-room.
''Mary.n said he. "tell Joseph to
harness Prince at once. must get to
the Junction in time for the eight o clock
express. He'll have to finish his supper
when he gets back
Then lie turned and said that the let
ter contained intelligence that m:de it
necessary he should 60 on TO New York
that night. Of course. rs the wife and
daughter of Il business man, we knew
what that meant, and that there was
not word of remonstrance to be said.
So mother went to make for him what
preparation was needful; and | should
have followed her moment later, but
that father called me back.
Christie" said he, rather sOberly,
{" am going to tell you something that
no one knows anything about save Har-
ry Randall. have quite large sum of
money--over two thousand dollars in
my coat pocket He touched his
breast with his finger. Il never keep
large amounts of money by me, but in
this case it was unavoidable. and |
thought should feel less anxious to
have it with HE than to allow it to re-
main at The office in the safe. lcannot.
OF course, take it to New York. So
want you to take charge of it, and keep
1t until tomorrow morning. and then
carry it TO Randall for him to deposit in
the bank. Don't say anything about it
toyour mother She is 20 timid and
nervous that she would not sleepa wink
all night if she knew SO large sum was
in the house. DO you understand"
With no slight feeling of responsible
ity. l took the leathern pocket-Dook
which he handed me and placed it in
the pocket of my dress.
Father went on, " Perhaps you better
put it under your pillow. Of course, it
Is fire that | am most anxious about.
There's no danger to the money in anv
other way Not Il soul knows about it. y
Then he went into the hall. and came
very unexpectedly upon Joseph for
heard him speaking somewhat sharply
10 him because he had not gone to the
stable, and declaring that his business
was Ut more consequence than his sup
per. ! heard Joseph mutter something
about taking time to finish his meal.
len minutes later, rs father was going
aowh the steps to gctrinto the carriage,
ne ,urned back to me, and holding his
umbrella 50 that mother should not hear,
he said:
I've been thinking, Christie, that
young Randall had better come and sleen