The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-06-04

strumcnt 10 indulge ia game u "mum
hle-te-peg" in the court. Thomas A
Is too nice Ia play with "a other TEL
lers, he Is: he's goin' 10 improve ever,
passin' moment by soupin' round Bill
ings. SOS he can git all the soft snaps
Thomas 4" he concluded. ia whisper
I'm goin' 20 put head on YOU some
day. when git you alone,"
Ray never carried his desire for
knowledge far enough ia Interfere with
his regular duties. No matter how
much time he devoted 80 the telegraph
alphabet, he was always in his place
on the bench. ready 10 spring when his
turn came TO answer "A call.
His promptness i'm delivering mes
sagcs and running errands had been
commented upon by the manager Of
the office. as well as 10y the operators;
and his faithfulEess won for him many
small favors. which only increased the
jealousy of the other boys
One day. when Ray was hurrying
back TO the Office " it'll message. he
overlook one of the other boys. who
was going AT much more moderate
rate. A. lay did not slacken his speed
the other increased his pace 10 keep up
with him. and began talking.
Thomas A.. you've mstook your call
in. Your gait's aiiogedder too fast fur
this biz; you'll ruin the profesh goin'
like that
As Ray paid no attention 10 the boys
carcasm, his prosecutor became threat
cning as he continued:
.Some day the other kids II take
YOU. an they wont 20 a thing TO you.
oh. no. If ever ketch you hurryin'
like this ag'in. I'm goin' to thump the
life out of you-see?''
Even the severe shaking up which
the linemans cruel trick gave him did
not cause Rays seeking for electrical
knowledge 70 abate.
One night he came home with card.
and as soon as hc was inside the house
he made the request:
Mrs. Green. won't YOU sign this card
for me?"
What 10 YOU want me 10 sign the
card for? Did you bring your ray
home with you ," was the sharp reply
OF the woman with whom he lived.
Ray was an orphan. and since his
mother died. two years before, he had
lived with Mrs Green. woman who
had been his mothers neighbor.
Mrs Green's hard struggle IN the bait
tie OF life had done much to spoil her
temper. and her treatment of the poor
boy who had been left in her care was
often far from kind.
''Here's the money" was the meek
reply. II want you 10 sign the card
so | can get books from the librarr.
There's some books about electricity
there that want TO get: but they won't
let boy have books unless his par
ents or guardians sign one of these
cards: and | haven't any parents. so
won't YOU please sign il for me?"
"You 90 now and mind the baby.
y lille | get supper. OF you'll get signed
in a way YOU won't like. No. | won't
sign no cards so YOU can get books to
read. You waste enough time already.
without getting any more books TO be
reading. when YOU ought TO be doing
else" was the disappointing
answer which the boy received to his
request.
Even il he was denied the use of the
coveted library books. Ray managed 10
get books from Mr.. Billings and the
TO which he applied himself
as much as possible.
Every bit of information which he
could gain upon his pet subject was
stored away in his active brain. He
would 60 along the street with his eyes
turned slSywarsls. looking ~ the wires
overhead. until he could readily distin-
guish between --bum" linework and
that which was properly done. and
could trace out the lines as we'll as any
lineman.
'.Git on to Thomas ~ was the man
her in which one OF the other boys one
lay called attention To Ray. who was
studying the illustrated copy |
Of instructions for -Eesuscitation in
case OF Electric Shock which MIR. /
Billings had tackled upon the wall the
day before. Thomas \. is goin' into
the life-savin' business. He's goin' to
know how to rusticate people what We
got shocked. he is"
One day while he was waiting for
message to be written. Ray overheard
merchant say TO an assistant:
'-Send out and get some one TO come |
md fix the electric bell in the other
,ffice. Something is the matter with il |
again"
The boys bright eyes sparkled as he
inquired:
IF you please. sir. may look at il?
Perhaps can fix it,"
Permission being given him to try his
hand At this repair work. Ray asked a
ew questions as to the way the bell 1
acted" secured stepladder and screw
irivcr. and got mp So he could reach
he bell. and. having some one work the
,ush in the other Office. he carefully
urned the adjusting screw. and by
he time the message was written the
,ell was again in working order.
''llow did YOU know how &c fix it,"
,sked the merchant.
'Oh. I inst picked II up. Some one
ave me an old bell. and kent working