, 1888-09-08
SAVED BY A WIRE.


am glad that telephones have been in.
vented; and yet am glad they were not
sooner invented. Ishould 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 father is treasurer and superintendent
of the Oalbrook mills. Our house-a
very pleasant country house it isis stu
ated in n beautiful wooded slope close to
the river, and is n quarter of a mile from
the mills. That is why a telegraph wire
was placed between the two.
promised father when it was up that l
would learn to send messages over it.
There was no one else In the family who
could have learned. Both my brothers
We're away at boarding school, and mother
would as soon have thought of studying
the Chinese language as telegraphy.
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 q
battery in the library, and in just four
month time | had mastered the alphabet
and technicalities of the instrument, be-
cause 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 l
have said all that is necessary to enable
you to understand what occurred on a
certain February night about which l an
going to tell you.
We were through supper and sitting
together-father, mother and I-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 a letter which
seemed to AVE been expected from the
other letters. / noticed a disturbed ex-
preston upon his face as he read it, and /
was more anxious han 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 harness
Prince at oncei l must get to the junction
in time for the 0 o'clock express. He'll
have to finish his supper when he gets
back"
Then he turned and said that the letter
contained intelligence that made it neces.
sary that he should go to New York that
night.
of course, as the wife and daughter of
a business man, we knew what he meant,
and that there was not a word of remon-
STRANGE to be said. So mother went to
make for him what preparation was need
full, and should have followed her a
moment later, but father called me back.
Christie" he said. soberly, 81 am
going to tell you something that no one
knows anything about save Harry Ran.
dali. | have quite a large sum of money
over So, 0OO-in my pocket" He touched
his breast with his finger. Il never keep
large amounts of money by me, but in
this case it is unavoidable, and l thought
l should feel less anxious to have it with
mpihan IN allow IL IN rappotp Il, 4ha aof.
at the office. cannot, of course, take it
TO New York. | want you to take charge
OF 1t till tomorrow morning, and then take
it to Randall for him to deposit in the
bank. Don't say anything to ourmother
about it. She is so timid and nervous
that she would not sleep a wink all night
If she knew so large a sum was in the
house. Do you understand"
With no slight feeling of responsibility
took the leathern packet which he
handed me, and placed it in the pocket of
my dress.
Father went on: Perhaps you had bet.
ter 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 way. Not a soul knows about 1t. i"
Then he went to the hall and cam very
unexpectedly upon Joseph, for l heard
him speak somewhat sharply to him be-
thtSc nv "A hOL ROu0 10 Inc SIhDle, and
declaring that his business was of more
Importance than his supper. l heard
Joseph mutter something about taking
time to finish his meal.
Ten minutes later, as father was going
down the steps to get into the carriage,
he turned back to me, and holding his
umbrella so mother could not hear, he
whispered:
I've been thinking, Christie, that
young Randall had better come and sleep
at the house. l shall feel easier about
you. He is to be there at work tonight
until very late
Then he stepped into the buggy. and
they drove away into the darkness and
rain.
did not send a message to Harry, how.
ever. Indeed, l laughed a little as ]
thought of fathers anxiety. He was al.
most as timid as mother, after all.
was of a rather easy, careless disposi.
tion, and really had not n particle of fear
of having money in my keeping And as
we two sat there in the library for n long
time after this, mother doing In the biz
chair, and | intent upon some fancy work
which was anxious to finish in time for
a friends birthday, l forgot altogether
the package of money that lay at the
bottom of my dress pocket.
Joseph did not get back until after 10
o'clock, although it was only three miles
On the junction, and he should have been
lrne long before that hour.
sc thought little of that, however.
- III been with US several years, and |