Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-16
THE OPERATORS STORY

ION the night of the occurrence" said the
telegraph operator who had been requested
| to tell the story 81 had been reading one
| of those newspaper yarns which narrate In
lur1d language the trying experience Of
some poor cuss who Is buried ii the ruins
or in prison or some other impossible situa.
ton and who saves himself by ticking 9
| message on the wall or on gaspipe or any
old way that leads out to daylight and free.
dom, andsymy mind was considerably
wrought up. for the story was strong and
very well told. It was about midnight
when finished 1t, and 1 at once began to
get ready for bed. thinking meanwhile what
would do II caught in such box. As
was knocking around the room undressing,
my attention was suddenly called to a
queer knocking that didn't seem to be To-
Gated anywhere at first, but shortly
thought 1t was from the gaspipe and
went over and listened. 1 was right in my
guess, and in second more I detected a
message in the peculiar ticking. Help!
help! 1t said; come quick, whoever you
are
There wasn't any going back on a warn
ing like that, and forgetting in the ex-
cltement OF the moment that I was about
TO become a character in the very kind of
story had been reading, and, 1 NAV saw
doubling, broke in on the gaspipe with a
metal back hairbrush for a sounder and
asked the party for particulars. Imme-
dlately there came to me briefly the infor-
nation that the sender was held a prisoner
at NO II Verona place, not far from my
nat py some persons who would not stop
al any crime to accomplish their purpose
IN 1act, they had informed the sender that
If certain moneys were not Forthcoming nv
noon the next day the sender would never
be forthcoming again, or words to that eff
rect Also, in the name Of heaven 1 was
begged to come at once with strong force
u ponce 10 the number given ho
sons were desperate characters.
Iacklng back word that I would go at
once TO the rescue, and telling the prisoner
TO Keep up courage, I went for the police
telegraph operator and an officer to verify
What had heard. and having done this to
the satisfaction of everybody, a party of
nVe or US went In a hurry to No. 81 PIac-
ing the police front and back of the house
which showed family a light from the
third-story windows, I went with the lieu
tenant of the squad to the door and rang
the bell. 1t was evident the house was not
asleep, for in a minute or two footsteps
were heard hurrying along the halls and
up ana down stairs and then, after a mo-
ments stiffness, the front door was eau
tlously opered and inquiry made as to
what was wanted. In an instant the lieu
tenant mad thrust his knee in the crack OF
the door and before the man inside knew
what had happened we were in the hall and
the officer had him by the neck.
"A minute later friend of mine living
on the floor above in the same fiat with
me, rose from a corner and gave me a
huge laugh, and then the whole house came
down, and kept coming until the officer
threatened to arrest the entire business for
dlsorderly conduct. Quiet was restored on
this threat, and the crowd informed me
that the thrilling message had been sent to
me from the room above my own by the
occupant thereof who had skipped and
got around to y as soon as he could when
he saw what a success his scheme was
likely to be- The gang was waiting for
me, and when we got into the house. of
course, l was given a reception worthy of
the occasion. 1t also cost me the drinks,
numerous, and many good cigars for all
the people concerned in 1t, though the
lieutenant assured me that he would ar.
rest the entire lot for obtaining drinks un-
der false pretenses If I said so.'