Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-26
CHRIsTIE,S TELEGRAPHING.

take some time, for it is quite story:
We live in the country, at Oakbrook,
and my father is the Treasurer and
Superintendent of the Oak brook mills.
Our, house, very pleasant country
house it isis situated ON beautifully
wooded slope close to the river. and is
a quarter of . mile from the mills
That is why telegraph wire was placed
between the two.
promised father when it was putup
that would learn to send messages
over it. There was no one else in the
family who could have learned. Both
my brothers were at boarding school,
and mother would rs soon have thought
of studying the Chinese language as
biography
Father declared that | never would
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
alphabet and technicalities of the in
strument so that | could use 1t 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 be had learned to use the
instrument, because il 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, | think
have said all that is necessary to en-
able you to understand what occurred
on certain February night, about
which am going to tell you.
We were through supper, and were
sitting together, father, mother and l,
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
seemed to have been expected, from
the other letters. | noticed 4 disturbed
expression upon his face as he read it;
ana was more anxious than surprised
when he arose and went to the hall
door and called to the girl who was in
the dining-room-
MARY" said he, tell Joseph to har-
ness Prince at once. | must get 10 the
Junction in time for the o'clock ex-
press. He'll have to finish his supper
when he gets back.
Then he turned and said that letter
contained intelligence that made it
necessary that he should 90 to Now
York that night. OF course, as the
wife and daughter Of q business man,
we knew what it meant, and that there
was not word of rcmoustrance to be
said. So mother went 10 make for him
what preparation was necdful. and |
should have followed her y moment
later, but father called me back
Christie, he said, rather soberiy.
81 am going to tell You something that
no one knows anything about save
Harry Randall. ! have quite Il large
sum of money-over $2,000-in my
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 me than to allow it to remain in
the safe at the office. / cannot, of
course, take il to New York, so | want
you to take charge OF it and keep it till
tomorrow morning, and then carry it
to Randall for him TO deposit in the
bank. Don't say anything to your
mother about it. She is so timid and
nervous that she would not sleep
wink all night if she knew 50 large
sum wac in the house. Do you under
stand?"
With no slight feeling of response
bility took the leathern pocket-book
which he handed me and placed it in
the pocket Of my dress.
Father went on: Perhaps YOU had
better put it under your pillow. OF
course it is fire that / am most anxious
about. There is no danger of the
money in any other W, 3. Not - soul
knows it.
Then he went into the hall and came
very unexpectedly upon Joseph, for /
heard him speak somewhat sharply to
Aim because nc had not gone TO the
stable, and declaring that his business
was of more importance than his sup
per. | heard Joseph mutter something
about taking time to finish his meal.
Ten minutes later, rs father was 60
ing down the steps to get into the car
riage, he turned back to me, and hold
ing his umbrella so mother should not
hear, he whispered
I've been thinking, Christie, that
young Randall had better come and
sleep at the house. | shall feel easier
about you. He is to be there at work
to night until very late. u
Then he stepped into the buggy, and
they drove away into the darkness and
rain.
did not send 4 message to Harry,
however, Indeed, ! laughed a little
as thought of fathers anxiety. He
was almost as timid as mother, after
all.
was of a rather easy, careless dis
position, and really had not a particle
of fear of having the money in my
keeping Aud as we two sat there in
the library for long while after this,
mother doing in the big chair, and in
tent upon some fancy work which ! was
anxious TO finish in time for friends
birthday, / forgot altogether OF the
DackaUe of money that lay at the bot