Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-04-09
THE OPERATOR.

A telegraph operator in knocking
about the country is apt to see and
learn a great deal if he keeps his eyes
open. II is not generally conceded.
but the fact is that telegraph operators
are almost as great travellers as COM
positors or matters. Operators seldom
take to the road and tramp it like
matters or typos being little more
aesthetic in their tastes and modes of
travel, nut they manage to get around
the world pretty well for all that.
Years back. in Chicago. a character
used to haunt the telegraph offices
who was as near being a genuine
tramp as any brass-pounder | ever
knew. He first attracted my attention
By the look Of utter hopeless despair
that always clouded his face. He
looked as though he was living simply
10 meet the time appointed for him to
die He made no effort to obtain
work and seemed to live solely upon
the quarters and half dollars that were
given him in pity. l asked him once
when ne requested quarter if | had
it TO spare:
Why don't you get a sit If you
know your business; you claim 70 be
an OPERATOR
Il can't do it, my friend Ii was
the best operator that ever touched a
key could not get situation.
,Why not? Is there something
against you'
Unfortunately there is.
If its not too hard question,
what IS it?''
That l don't care to say. but | will
say that it's something that l am in
no way to blame for. and could not
have helped If mad known. Ii you
can spare a quarter. all right; if not
can starye little more or go without
a drink little longer. I'm used K
doing both.
/ gave him the quarter, and with ;
thank YOU" he went away. asked
the boys about him, but none Of then
could give me any information fuFthej
than that they knew him to be gooC
operator; that he was called Jim. anC
that he could not get situation If he
tried, and therefore had given up try
ing.
In the course of time l gave up thu
key and sounder and took a reportoria
position on morning newspaper. On
night in going through the morgue I
see what had been gathered from tn
river and lake, stopped beside on
of the slabs, for the face of its occu
pant seemed familiar. / stood rack
ing my brain to place the face. whe
it suddenly occurred to me where
had seen the face before. and invol
unfairly exclaimed half aloud, Jim
the operator.
YES, that's poor Jim. " said voic
at my side, and turned to see a men
Der OF the detective force standing a
my elbow. | had a slight acquaiDtanc
with the detective, so asked him
Did you know him2"
Yes, knew him and all about hi
case. That poor fellow was grippe
by circumstances so strong that h
could not break the hold. His stor
Is a strange one and may be of intere:
to you as newspaper man. Com
over to the cafe and I'll tell it {
you"
We went over, and after gettin
comfortably seated, he said
About six years ago | got order
from headquarters to go out to lit
railroad station about hundred mile
from the city and take the operate
into my custody. There was te
thousand dollars missing. and W;
to bring in the operator and money
could, but bring the operator an,
way. These are the circumstances:
The station was a small one, ar
only an operator and freight age
were employed there but there vi
considerable freight handled Their
and it was a pay station, where mai
men were paid off each month. III
railroad company would send q
money to pay off with to the freig
agent, who was a thoroughly trus
worthy man, day or so before pa
day, so that he could get his pay re
made out and the money for each m;
in envelopes This particular mon
they sent the money as usual II
next morning they got word that d
freight agent had been killed viii
coupling cars and that the mon
could not be found. Then I was Sc
out there The balance OF the sto
is as Jim told it TO me, and though
have no positive proof to back h
statements. believed him.
Jim said that the money was alwa
a source OF considerable worry TO t
freight agent and himself from t
time it arrived until it was paid OF
The company placed this great !
sponsibility upon them, but did r
even give them a safe to help the
keep the trust There we're go
many hard characters about The
among the train men, and the pa
money was something Of template
This time when the money arrived
saw the agent put it in couple
battery jars and just after nightfall
out with it He asked where he v
going. and the agent replied to hide
somewhere. so they would not run