Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-12-04
Tucked OUT AN AL ARM.
The Telegraph Operator Has II 1t un'
Acted With Promp. ituie.

The Telegraph Operator Hes n 1t and
Acted With Prompt itude.
"On the night of the occurrence, y
said the telegraph operator who had
been requested to tell the story, II
had been reading one of those news
paper yarns which narr;;te il Laird
language the trying experience of
some poor cuss who is buried III the
ruins or i'll prison or some other I'M
possible situation and who saves
himself by ticking a message on the
wall or on gas pipe orany old way
that leads out to daylight and free
DOM and my mind was considerably
wrought up, for he story was strong
and very we'll told. 1t WAS about
midnight when | finished it, and |
at once began to get ready fer bed.
thinking meanwhile what | would
do if caught in such Il box. As was
knocking around the room unilress.
ing my attention was suddenly call
ed to Il queer knocking that didn't
seem to he located anywhere at first,
but shortly thought it was from
the gas pipe, and | went over and
listened. l was right in my guess,
and in Il second more detected a
message in the peculiar ticking.
Help! Help!' it said. Come quick,
whoever you are!
'There W ,sn't any going back on
Il warning like that, and. forgetting
in the excitement of the moment
that | was about to become IL char
acter in the very kind of Il story
had been reading and, | may say,
doubling, l broke in on the gas pipe
with Il metal back hairbrush fora
sounder and asked the party for
particulars. Immediately there came
to me briefly the information that
the sender was held q prisoner at 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 lnfol med
the sender that If certain moneys
were not forthcoming by noon the
next day the sender would never DO
forthcoming again, OF words to that
effect; al~o, in the name of heaven,
/ was begged to come at once with
a strong force of police to the nam.
Der given, as the persons were DIES
perate characters.
Clicking back word that | would
go at once to the rescue and telling
the prisoner to keep up courage !
went for the police telegraph oper
ator and an officer to verify what
had heard. and. having done this to
the satisfaction of everybody, a par
ty of five of us went in Il hurry to
q. PLACING the police front and
back Of the house, which showed
family 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 Il minute or
two footsteps were heard h,rrying
along the halls and up and down
stairs, and then. after moments
stiffness, the front door was eau
| tiouSly opened and inquiry made as
to what was wanted: in an instant
the lieutenant had thrust his knee
| In the crack of the door, und before
| the man inside knew what had hap
pencd we were in the hall, and the
officer had him by the neck
"A minute later Il friend of mine,
living on the floor above in the same
| fiat with me, rose from Il corner aud
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 cccu-
pant thereof, who had skipped and
got around to - as soon us he could
when he saw what success his
scheme was likely to be. The gang
was waiting for me, and when we
got into the house of course was
given reception worthy of the oc-
c,tsiun. 1t also cost me the drinks,
numerous, and many good cigars
for all the people concerned in it,
though the lieutenant assured me me
that he would arrest the entire lot
for obtaining drinks under false
pretenses if said so. '-Washlng-
ton Star.