The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-12

the hall. Now" said the city editor,
perhaps before you light the fire you
will tell me something about the cause
OF death in the method YOU are about
to adopt. You see, | know nothing
whatever about the matter and l would
like to have little preliminary in
formation about it?"
I'll do that" said the voice from
the telephone, "but in any case, after
you have the article written, if l were
you would submit it to some physi-
clan, and then if there are any technical
mistakes he will correct them"
That is a good idea," said the city
editor, NOW go ahead with the pre-
liminary." Then placing his hand
over the funnel of the telephone so
that no sound could reach the other,
he called out:
"Fox, is that you?"
YES" answered Fox, coming into
the room.
"See here, Fox, III tell you what I
want you to do. Go right up to the
central Office of the telephone company
and find who is connected with me.
I've got to stick right to the telephone.
There is some fellow trying to hoax us
again and l want to catch him. AS
soon as you find out positively who it
is, get policeman with you and go up
to the house and catch him, if possible,
at the telephone. l think we will
make an example of this fellow"
Fox disappeared. While this con-
versation WAS going on the person at
the other end of the line was talking
in this manner:
poisoning by carbon monoxide oc-
ours in this way. 1t is the toxic con-
stituent in gases given out from coal
or charcoal fire. An atmosphere con-
tanning small portion of the gas pro-
duces asphyxia and death. 0.5 per
cent. OF c. o. in the air is sufficient to
kill a small bird in u very few minutes.
Have you got that all right?"
yes" said the city editor.
Every we'll continued the other.
"Now, here goes for light"
In the silence of the Office the almost
inaudible electrical crackle of the tele-
phone was tbs only thing the city
editor could hear, but in the midst of
this there appeared to come through
the telephone the slight sound of the
scratching of a match. This almost
imperceptible sound had a strange
effect on the city editor. 1t seemed to
give a CHASTITY reality to the whole
thing, that up to that moment had been
absent. He wished that he had told
Fox to bring with him physician as
well as a policeman.
why don't you go on?" said the
city editor through the telephone. not
knowing what else to say.
Well" said the other, cup to date
there is nothing to go on with. There
are no symptoms. | may say, how
ever, that the charcoal is burning, that
l have stuffed with old newspapers
every crack and crevice in the room,
and the room isn't a very large one,
anyhow. and expect to be able to tell
you something by and by. Got your
pencil and paper all ready?"
''All ready" said the other
'Ah, now l feel difference" said
the voice over the telephone. l seem
to have difficulty in breathing"
well, you expected that, didn't
you?" said the city editor.
20, of course certainly. But l did
not know but l might come on some
symptoms that had hitherto been I'M
recorded. Have you got that down?
There is increased respiratory and ex-
piratory efforts. l am breathing now
as if l were running race"
Perhaps you are," said the city ed.
itor to himself. Il wish Fox were
there"
Say" he said aloud, how far out of
town are you"
20, am not out of town at ALL"
said the other.
''How far are you from this office?"
Il don't know. About mile, l
think"
"All right" said the editor.
Through the telephone the listener
could now hear the man breathe quickly
and deeply.
Say" said the other. II am afraid
that this test isn't going to amount to
much. feel now so that can hardly
talk and am afraid that there is going
to be contraction of the muscles of
the throat that will prevent me from
speaking at all. There are no further
symptoms to record except the in
creased breathing. Are you there
yet?"
81 am here" said the city editor.
"You have not left the instrument,
have you?"
II have not left the instrument since
you began talking"
"Well, there is a change" Here
there was slight pause.
There is change" said the other
'Yes. hear that" said the city ed
itor, what is the changer"
1.-The room appears to be swimming
about me. There is a great dominance
of the exploratory efforts. seem to
breathe out more than l breathe in"