Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-12-14
rHE MYsrERloUs MEssAaE.
II Came to the Operator Via n, Gas
Pipe

II Came to the Operator via ths Gas
Pipe
Son the night Of the occurrence"
said the telegraph operator who had
been requested to tell the story, Il
had been readingone Of those ncwspa-
per yarns which narrate IN lurid lam
guagc the trying experience Of some
poor cuss who is buried in the ruins
or in prison or some ether impossible
situation and whoTiyrs himself by
ticking a message Oh the wall or on a
gas pipe or any old way that leads out
to daylight and ffeulcm, and my
mind was considers 5ly wrought up,
for the story was sGorg and very
well told 1t was about midnight
when / finished il, and | at once be-
gan to get ready for bed, thinking
meanwhile what | would do if caught
in such a box. As | was knocking
around the room undressing, my at
tention was suddenly called to queer
knocking that didn't seem to be To-
Gated anywhere at FIRST, but shortly I
thought it was from the gas pipe, and
| went over and listened. ! was right
in my guess, and in a second more |
detected a message in the peculiar
ticking, Help! helpv il said: come
quick, whoever you arep
There wasn't any going back on a
warming like that, and forgetting in
the excitement of the moment that |
was about to become a character in
the very kind of story / had been
reading, and, | may say, doubling, |
broke in on the gas pipe with metal
back hair brush for a sounder and
asked the party for particulars. I'M
mediately there came to me briefly
the information that the sender was
held a prisoner at No. 81 Verona
place, not far from my flat, by some
persons who would not stop at any
crime to accomplish their purpose.
In fact, they had informed the sender
that if certain moneys were not forth
coming by noon the next day the
sender would never be forthcoming
again, or words to that effect Also, in
the name of heaven, was begged to
come at once with strong force of
| police to the number given, as the
persons were desperate characters.
Ticking back word that | would
go at once to the rescue, and telling
the prisoner to keep up courage, !
went for the police telegraph operator
and an officer to verify what | had
heard, and a party of five of us went
in a hurry to No 81. Placing the
police front and back of the house,
which showed family a light from the
third-story windows, | went with the
lieutenant 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 and down
stairs, and then, after a moments
stiffness, the front door was cautious
ly opened and inquiry made as to what
was wanted. In an instant the lieu
tenant had 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 a friend of mine,
living on the floor above in the same
flat with me, rose from a corner and
gave me huge laugh, and then the
whole house came down, and kept
coming until the officer threatened |
to arrest the entire business for dis
orderly conduct Quiet was restored
on this threat, and the crowd in
formed me that the thrilling mes
sage had been sent to me from the |
room above my own by the occupant
thereof, who had skipped and got |
around to q as soon as he couldwhen |
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, | was given reccp- |
lion worthy of the occasion. Ii also |
cost me the drinks, numerous, and
many good cigars for all the people |
concerned in it, though the lieutenant |
assured me that he would arrest the |
entire lot for obtaining drinks under
false pretenses if l said so.'-Wash-
ington Star
Prefer Homely Girls.