Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-10-24

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The operator, accustomed to all kinds OF
sxtravagant outlay for expedition, replied
that he would la this proposition, with the
dispatch, before the San Francisco office. He
then took 1t and read it-aud re-read IL. He
preserved the usual professional apathy
bad doubtless sent many more enigm9tical
and mysterious meSSages-bUt nevertheless,
when he finished, he raised his eyes inqu!r-
ngly TO his customer. That gentleman, whO
enjoyed a reputation for equal spOntaneity Of
temper and revolver, met his gaze a little i'm
patiently. The operator had recourse TO u
trick. Under the Pretenceo 81 misunderstand-
ing the message, ho Obliged the sender to re-
peat it aloud for the sake Of accuracy, and
sven suggested a few verbal alterations,
ustenSibly TO insure correctness, but really to
extract further information. Nevertheless,
the man doggedly persisted in a literal trans
cript Of his message. The operator went to
his instrument heSitatingly.
Il suppose" he added half questioningly,
there amt no chance of a mistake. This
address is Rightbody, that rich old BOstonian
that everybody knows. There amt but
oneF'
That's the address" responded the first
speaker cOolly.
Didn't know the old chap had investments
out here suggested the operator, lingering
at his instrument.
mo more did l." was the insufficient reply.
For some few moments nothing was heard
but the click Of the instrument, Is the opera
tor worked the key, with the usual appear
ance Of imparting confidence TO a somewhat
reluctant hearer who preferred to talk HIM
self. The two men stood by, watching his
motions with the usual awe Of the uuprofes-
Sional. When he had finished they laid be-
fore him two gold pieces. As the operator
took them up he could not help saying:
The old man went off kinder sudden,
didn't het Had no timo to writeE'
Not sudden for that kind o man, p was the
exasperating reply.
But the speaker was not to be Disconnected
"If there is an answer" he began.
There amt any, - replied the first speaker
quietly. d.
"WhyF
sBecarse the man ez sent the message il
dead"
But it's signed by you two"
aOn'y ez witnesseS-ehf' appealed the frs
speaker to mis- comrade.
aOn'y ez witnesses, =" responded the other.
The operator shrugged his shoulders Th'
business concluded, the first speaker slightly
relaxed. He nodded to the operator, am
turned to the bar room with a pleasing socia
impulse. When their glasses were set dow
empty the first speaker, with a cheerful con
demnation Of the hard times and the weather
apparently dismissed all previous proceeding
from his mind, and lounged out with his com
panion. At the corner Of the street they
stopped
aWen, that jobs DONE" said the mrs
speaker, by way of relieving the slight sOcia
embarrassment of parting.
"Thet's so" responded his companion, am
shook his hand.
They parted \ gust Of wind sWep
through the pines, and struck a faint, Eolal
CRY from the wires above their heads, AM
the rain and the darkness again slowly sftle
upon Cottonwood.
The message Jagged a little at San Fran
cisco, laid over half an hour at Chicago, ana
fought longitude the whole way; so that i
was past midnight when the ~all night oper
Rtor took it from the wires at Boston. But
it was freighted with a mandate from th,
San Francisco office; and a messenger wa
procured who sped with it through darl
snow bound streets, between the high wall
OF ~closeAhuttered rayleSS houses, to certain
formal square, ghoStly with snow covereC
statues Here he assembled the broad steps o
a reserved and solid looking mansion, anC
pulled a bronze bell knob, that somewhere
within those ChaSte receSSes, after an apparen
reflective pause, oddly communicated tn
fact that q stranger was waiting without
he ought Despite the lateneSS Of the hour
there was a slight glow from the windows
clearly rot enough to warm the meSSenge
with indications Of a feStiyity within, bu
yet ~beSpeaking, as it were, some prolOngs
though Subdued excitement The sober ser
want who took the dispatch, and receipte'
for it as grayely as il witnessing a last VII
and testament, respectfully paused befor
the entrance Of the drawing room tn
sound Of measured and rhetorical speech
through which the occasional catarrhs
cough Of the New England coast struggled
- the only effect Of natsre not wholly re