The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-10-12

over the funnel OF the telephone sc
| that no sound could reach the other,
he called out:
"Fox, is that youp"
"Yes," answered Fox, coming into
the room.
"See here, Fox, I'll tell you what [
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 | 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. / 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-
duces asphyxia and death. 0.5 per
cent OF G. o. in the air is sufficient to
kill small bird in very few minutes.
Have you got that all right?"
"Yes," said the city editor.
Every well,' continued the other.
"Now, here goes for light"
In the silence of the Office tho almost
inaudible electrical crackle of the tele-
phone was the 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 u match. This almost
imperceptible sound had a strange
effect on the city editor. 1t seemed to
give ghastly 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, sup to date
there is nothing to go on with. There
are no symptoms. l 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 Il very large one,
anyhow, and l expect to be able to tell
you something by and by. Got your
pencil and paper all readyP"
"All ready" said the other.
"Ah, now | feel difference" said
the voice over the telephone. l seem
to have difficulty in breathing"
well, you expected that. didn't
youP" said the city editor.
10, of course, certainly. But 1 did
not know but might come on some
symptoms that had hitherto been un-
recorded. Have you got that downp
There is increased inspiratory and ex-
piratory efforts. l am breathing now
as if were running a race
perhaps you are," said the city ed
itor to himself. II wish Fox were
there"
Say" he said aloud, how far out of
town are you?"
80, am not out of town at ALL"
said the other.
"How far are you from this Officer"
Il don't know. About mile, 1
think"
"All right" said the editor.
Through the telephone the listener
could now hear the man breathe quickly
and deeply.
Say" said the other, Il am afraid
that this test isn't going to amount to
much. feel now so that l can hardly
talk and am afraid that there is going
to be a 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
yetP"
81 am here" said the city editor.
"You have not left the instrument,
have you?"
Il 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"
"The room appears to be swimming
about me. There is IA great dominance
of the exploratory efforts. seem to
breathe out more than breathe in"
Again there was silence, and the city
editor could plainly hear through the
telephone the deep expiration of the
man in the chair.
Hello" he cried through Ithe tele-
phone. There was no answer. Hello!
nello!' he shouted. Finally faint
voice came over the instrument, say
ng: "Are you there yet?"
Yes" answered the other. "How
ire you feelingp"
II think | have tainted. feel very
exhausted. The inspirations now are
leep and long. Goodbye, don't think
can talk any more"
"Say," cried the city editor, "hold
IN minute. What would be the best
hing to do for you if you were caught
lowp"
"DoP" said the other. wonderingly,
Il don't know. Are you there YETI"
"Yes. Say, brace up. Tell me what
would be the thing to do, supposing
omebody were to break into your
oou pn