Milford chronicle., 1889-03-15

often mistaken for myself. At is years of /
age, a bright, noble boy, that great scourge
of childhood, scarlet fever, robbed him OF
those two most precious faculties, speech and
hearing. When had secured the position OF
messenger at our local telegraph Office, with I
the promise Of opportunity to perfect myself
in the art teegraphic, it was he who pro
posed and carried out his purpose to
commence the study at the same time,
and so diligently did he pursue bis
labor that, manned as he was, he ao'
auired by constant practice what would seem
an impossibility. He read the fast recurring
clicks of the Morse instruments, not by sound,
as is the rule with telegraphers, but from the
Yense Of touch as he placed his fingers lightly
upon the moving armature. His had been
all home practice from lessons delivered by
mysslf after other duties wero over.
u applied for and secured the management
of the Office at c., goodly town on the
Kennebec Here the summer found US, my
brother and /, busily employed with Office
daties Tho deaf and dumb operator at
tended strictly to this branch of the business,
sitting with fingers lightly resting upon the
Instruments intent upon calls, or copying
with pen the words as they flowed from the
quick pulsations Of the little brass armature
beneath his sensitive touch
1T was well along into the ice harvest OF
winter that one day Col. Tracy, agent IN the
town for one of the larger ice companies, the
chief industry Of the town, entered the office
and after CHEEKY greeting, announced the
fact that 81 600 in greenbacks was expected
on the evening express, 10 be used by him IN
paying the hands ON the morrow. And,
bows he added, as | suppose you don't care
TO keep that amount over night, perhaps
you'd better deliver it to me ct tho house;
then I'll lock it in my safe and be ready with
the pay roll in the morning, for the men VIII
be anxious for their scrip We were willing
to please the colonel, and readily consented
to do as he wished During that afternoon
furious storm of snow set in. Trains were
DELAYED, and, in consequence, it was after
in the evening when the express parcels ana
among them the precious bundle Of cash, ar
rived at the office Ours was a small oince,
supporting no delivery team, and as one
Of us must act as messenger, my brother
proposed doing so while ! settled up the
DAVIS business. Had there been thought Of
danger in the errand to disturb us | never
should have CONSENTED to his going alone;
being none. / gave gesture Of thanks as he
buttoned tightly bis coat about him, seized
tho parcel and stepped out into the storm.
Alone in the office, the days busiues was soon
put to order and tue few express parcels
checked from the way bill. Then, seated IN
NV brothers chair, fen into a revelic upon
the courage of the poor boy who sat there
dav after day, deaf 10 all save the busy IN
struments-until aroused by an unusual STIR
at the office door. They were bringing him
in, my poor boy; bis clothes in disorder and
stained by the storm and, yes, blood. What
could have happeuedi His poor right hand,
which could have told in place of speech
/ hung useless at his side, tine arm disabled 10y
I a blow.
/ "What is it, manr No answer, save that
| they had found him struggling through the
/ storm, and, recognizing him, had brought
/ him here. While plying the questions l had
/ clasped the wounded boy in my arms and
/ supported him to his accustomed seat beside
/ the instrument We have need Of doctor
here greatly raising the injured arm. One
of the men Immediately started in search OF a
physician.
. What is it, dear boyF / asked aloud
For answer he grasped quickly my rlgnt
hand with his uniniured left and with his
fingers spelled out the words in the familiar
Morse alphabet, which | read from the sim
ple strokes of his fingers 'Bol'bedl Robbed
Two Muiiled figures Struck me down.
Clung TO money package to the last-tu-hH
they broke my arm. Oh cruel, cruel-tWo
moor bows. to rob them of so much.
"a severe scalp wound, the result Of a blow
from some blunt instrument, and arm not
broken. but badly hurt. Such was the YER
dict Of the physician after an examination.
THE long winter season at last grew into
spring, then summer, and tho sun danced
again on the waves Of the kennebec. My
brother was back once more in bis old time
seat. fully recovered from his injuries and
busily working the wire as before. Yet nc
trace Of the stolen money nor the robbers.
at was noon, and our telegraph messen-
rer's dinner hour, when ono eventful day
there came a message of special Importance
reur;ring immediate delivery. Our estab
lished reputation fer promptness must moi
suffer this to wait the messengers return So
thrusting the telegram into the pocket Of my
coat, | rushed Off on delivery duty. have
said tbat ~ ir5ther's appearance so closely
-. 81" "a iiy own as to cause uncertainty
eyen among our friends in distinguishing ou'
from another.
Snow, as my course lay down toward th'
river among the ice houses, l noticed tw'
idlcrs Of vagabond appearance sitting cooling
their neolS upon OLle u LlAe ipLA stLt4eN tl-N-
project out into the river, used in hauling th
ice from its bed up the great incline plane t.
the entrance of the house. As ! came oppo
site and almost within arms length of th
two worthies, one turning to the other ex
claimed: Here comes the dummy, Bill He
got our mark on himp In an instant 1t tiashe'
Upon me. now was the time for action. Il
denounce them later as the robbers would b
hazardous
AT last I've got you, and with the words
followed by a cry for help, turned, an
sprang directly at the throat Of the frs
speaker There was an answering cry o
surprise from the villain ere my fingers en-
{ circled his throat, and the next moment W
were rolling over and over each struggling
Z for the mastery The other, evidently
weaker spirit took to his heels and aban
{ doned his comrade. Soon my mad erie
: brought help and thc robber was secured
Then, after directing some to follow the rug
tive. / denounced them both as the expires
robbers. That night both-the runaway cal
tured-were safe within the walls OF the VI
lage lookup.
SAT the trial which followed, the wea6e
e spirit uuailed, and, to secure the clemency o
\ tho court, made full confession, hkewis
S disclosing the hiding place Of the stole
/, money, which, less some $500, was unearthe
" and secured to the express company. Inc rt
!, ward of $500 for the arrest and CONVICTION 2
the robbers enabled us to make good th
ST whole amount. Lewiston tMel journal
=ss
ODDS AND ENDS.