The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-03-05

efforts. He know that he was going at a
tremendous rate, yet it seemed as if the
dangerous space would never be passed.
But now. through the darkness, the
lights Of Pine, Bluffs began to twinkle,
only few miles away. Bert no longer
ice beneath him, and skated with new
confidence. Tired though he was his
speed did not slacken. He had reached
| safety at last.
He struck the shore near the steam
boat wharf, and it was only minutes
swinging them over his shoulder by a
strap, he waded through the snow to the
| path, which had been partially shoveled
clear Five minutes later he was at the
| telegraph office.
Are the wires working?" he asked
brcathlessly.
All OPEN returned the official
THANK goodness! !" calculated Bert.
For moment he had thought of the
awful possibility of being stopped here
after all his work and danger. He I'M
| buttOned his coat and pulled out the
to the Cosmos as fast as you can,
please he said, handing it to the oper-
atOr. And here's my card"
The operator glanced at the bit of
naste,hoard. and then looked curious'y at
the boy. care you one Of the Cosmos
men,? he asked:
II am tonight Bert answered prompt
III brought '0"' message across the
The man uttered an ejaculation.
| "Well, You newspaper fellows do beat
an.'
Soon the message was speeding over
the wires, and to Bert the clicking Of the
music. He leaned Oh the sill of the Of
| flee counter and eagerly listened until
the last word had been transmitted.
Then he suddenly realized that he had to
return that night, and that he should be
starting, for he would have to 20 back
by the longer way.
AS he reached the door of the room
the telegraph instruments again began to
click, and the operator sang out to him:
Here! Hold on there, Cosmos; they're
sending II message to you from the city
Office And Bert halted in surprise.
After minute the operator said:
''They say send 500 words on your trip
across the lake."
How'd they know anything about
thatw asked Bert in wonderment.
1T was in your account here 1T the
end,' explained the operator. "Dont
you remember?' Bert did not remem-
Der, but he understood. The Cosmos man
had added Il line explanatory of how
J his ''story' was to be put on the wires.
For a moment the young aspirant for
newspaper honors did not know just wha t
to do. Here was his chance, but it was
SO unexpected that the surprise Of it be-
wildered him, But he managed to an
swer: GAIL right: Tell them they shall
have it ut once
The experience he had 50 recently been
through was still wildly clear to his
minds eye. and he gave it ip a straight
forward. simple story. The 500 words
were quickly written and dispatched,
signed with his name. Then Bert, with
a goodnight to the. OPERATOR trudged
with a light heart down to the frozen
| lake.
1t was a, long, hard pull back, for he
had to make a big detour to avoid the
thin ice, and it was II o'clock when he
reached home. His father was waiting
for him; SO was the Cosmos man, and
many were the words of praise he got
for his pluck. -~.. ..-.. =. T.. w.. s1z5
But happy as these made Bert feel,
It was letter which came a week later
that made his Joy the greatest. It. was
from the managing editor Of the Cos
mos, and 1t offered him chance to work