Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-03
URGENT DISPATCHES.
TWO TeLEeRAPHlc MESSAGES THAT
MEANT LIFE OR DEATH.

A0 Whs the means OF Unltlng Two
Young Lovers Just as Ono Was About
70 Sail Away to "A Foreign Shore.
Telegraph operators who have sent dis
patches OF all kinds for years might be ex-
cused II they were to show no surprise at
any message that could be sent. It is only
natural that there should be dreary
routine In the work which banishes all de-
greco excitement In anything. The writer
once met a telegraph superintendent who
mad handled an electric key in all parts Of
this country. He had stored in his mind q
FUND OF "reminiscences and as the time
dragged heavily he ratified off story after
story.
1t was good many years ago." he said,
when | was not 80 old az am now, and
perhaps more sentimental, that | won
husband for girl. was an operator then
In town out in Ohio. / hadn't much to
do, and used to sit In the window good
deal to watch the people on the station
platform OF the railroad.
"One day caught sight of young man
and young woman who were in earnest
conversation. He was dressed for travel.
ing, and was evidently waiting for the next
train, AS the time for the arrival Of the
train drew near the young man seemed to
become desperate, for he paced up and
down the platform nervously, talking very
rapidly.
"Then the train came gliding in. | saw
the girl shake her head and he said some
thing which made her turn pale. The
train had again started, and he climbed up
the car steps without turning to look back
She gave a little cry. but he did not hear
1t; his train was gone.
A MARROW MARGIN.
sit was two days after this that the
young woman came into the telegraph Of
flee, with white face and red tnged eye
lids. She came to me and spoke rapidly In
q frightened whisper.
Il want you to send a telegram she
said. You must send it right away. It's
to New York, and it must be delivered be-
fore o'clock this afternoon
"She was trying to write but her fingers
trembled 80 that she could not guide the
pencil
"'Let me write it, said.
"'Oh, thank YOU she answered, and
then she gave me the address. There were
Just two words in the message, Come
back
Can you get 1t there before o'cockP
she asked breathlessly. You must. He
will leave his hotel then to catch steam
err Her voice faltered here.
T'm afraid not | said. The difference
in time, you know, makes it hard work to
do that
"'oh,' she cried, I forgot about the diff
ference in time What shall do2'
Send two,' said, all the while work
ing on my key to get my wire. Send one
TO the hotel and one to the steamer
'She was crying now so that could not
hear her answer, but ! knew what she
wanted. never worked so hard before or
since to get messages through. And all
the while that poor girl watched my fin
gers with look in her eyes that made me
swear I'd get them through If quick work
could do 1t.
JUST IN TIME.
"When / turned around finally she drew
long breath.
"'Well, said, they are gone and
looked at the clock. This made her SILVER.
"She would not leave the office, and as /
the minutes slipped away began to feel
the dread that was reflected in her eyes.
knew that the steamer must have started
pow. felt rs II ! had committed murder.
but she was silent and pale. Only her
look was reproachful, MS II had failed her
fash Of color was In her cheek.
"'What is ftp she said. 'Quickl What
ia ftp
sits for your shouted, like the boy
chat was; 'hurrahl he's coming for !
was 80 excited that forgot to give her the
message.
"Theu wrote 1t out for her: I'm com
ing, God bless you. was on the steamer
She cried over that bit OF yellow paper and
think that the hulking country boy who
gave 1t to her had a choking in the throat
too.
swell, there was a wedding short while
otter that. The only one | knew in the
party was the bride You know how met
her. But the country operator was at that
wedding, and when the bridegroom grasped
my hand he shook 1t in way that hurt.
He sent me letter from the east after
ward asking me to come on to go into
big telegraph office where he had secured a
place for me-"
II had another experience In sending In
my younger days In which l got greatly in
terested. 1t was after l went east. part
ly broke down and got transferred for one
summer to n watering place,
CIPHER TELEGRAMs.
"One day dignihed, well dressed man
of middle age came hurredly into the of
fee.
"'Send this at once he said in a strained
tone.
II reached for my key, and MS | clicked
away TO get New York watched him. His
teeth were ground together and his fingers
clenched the rail 80 fiercely that they were
absolutely bloodless
acct it, he said between his teeth. Get
IL there or am ruined
"Then saw that his dispatch was in
cipher, and / remembered that that morn
ing had received one in cipher.
'When ] had sent the last word he be-
came deathly white and leaned against the
wall family, tanning himself with his hat.
have never seen such an intense look of
agony on mans face ms was on his He
seemed to have strength enough only to
look at his watch every minute or two.
His answer came back in cipher. He
braced himself before reading It,
"'Thank Godr he said in low voice,
and the next thing l knew felt n bill in
my hand. Before / could cry out to him
that would not take his money he was
gone.
"I afterward learned that he was also an
operator-one of the heaviest operators in
Wall street l often think about my hav-
ing saved millionaire from ruin. New
York Tribune.