Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-27

what for the moment, led me 10 believe
that we were in fair way to solve the
mystery.
In the second story of the city build
ing, wnere some changes had recently
been made, found the telephone wire
from the exchange had been brought
inside the building through window
casing, and from there dropped directly
to the Office OF police through a discard
ed speaking tube. l discovered a Sec
ond wire. coming from somewhere in
the opposite direction and diving like
wise into that tin tube, seemingly for
the regions below.
Il traced this wire carefully back to
the opposite side of the building, where
/ found that it disappeared through a
window cap. Outside the window it
connected with a wire that was made
fast to a bracket, which line stretched
away to a distant rOoftop, where it was
lost to view.
Here was a starter. l descended to
the Office, and for the first time | dis
covered that there were two telephones
in the place. one of which / reasoned
was the central office instrument and
the other | was quickly informed was
the private line of an eccentric individ-
ual named Philip Stott, a man whom
the captain knew, and who lived alone
in a big house some three-fOurths of a
mile from the police station.
Il made guarded inquiries concerning
the man. and when l ascertained that
ne was well advanced in years / felt q
thrill of satisfaction, for l remembered
that Sergeant Myrtle had stated eX-
preSsly that the voice which he had
heard had been that of an old man.
a close investigation at the upper end
of the old speaking tube showed me that
the insulation upon the wires had been
slightly abraded and that The tin serving
Us a conductor between the wires effec-
tually crossed the lines. so thai call over
the Stott wire might be transmitted 10 the
central office instrument.
IL speedily pictured q solution of the
strange enigma. With all haste I visited
the Stott residence, never so much as
breathing a hint Of my suspicious TO any
one. for I Will confess that I was anxious
10 solve the mystery unaided.
Judge of my surprise. when, upon
AtlN4-lile Al4t 44NA0Nf 4 AOAAtNA 'fN+S w.
locked and every blind carefully closed, as
though the owner had departed.
1T instantly occurred 20 me that is any
thing had really happened to the aged
miser-if ne had been attacked and robbed
i'm his own house. as more than half sus-
pected-the miscreants would undoubted-
ly have left the house IN precisely the
condition in which I discovered it.
IL FASTENED back 70 the station and
found Capt. Rose anxiously waiting for
me. When 1 made the result Of my dis
coveries known 10 him he quickly informed
me that Mr.. SJott had left the city some
TWO weeks previously for the distant town
OF Lincoln, saying that he would inform
the department Immediately upon his re-
turn 10 Clifford and requesting the officers
10 keep q careful watch over his prop
erty.
Il urged upon Capt. Rose the fact that
possibly the old man had arrived at late
hour. and just in season to discover some
one i'm the very act of robbing his house.
In such an event reasoned that he would
have Immediately telephoned for aid. l
explained also my discovery of the crossed
wires, and the officer quickly joined with
me in the opinion that there was cause for
investigation.
I'VE went at once 20 the house and forced
an entrance. after having found that We
could get i'm by no other means. Ten min
utes later two very sober and very much
ruzzled miniors of the law had quit the
house. for not the slightest trace Of a
crime had we been able TO discover, al
though we examined the building from
cellar TO garrett. IL was plain that the
owner had not returned, or, having done
SO. ever ypossible trace OF the fact had
been efrectUauy concealed.
During the rest of the day 1 racked my
brain tor some solution OF the mystery,
but night found me no nearer the truth
than before. The matter of the second
midnight call was sorely puzzling me, and
the longer thought of it the more thor
0ughy convinced became that there was
something supernatural in it all.
cant. Rose believed that some one was
trying to play joke upon the department,
and he resolved TO take the sergeants
place thar night, while 1 quickly awaited
myself Of the opportunity to remain with
him.
eli wanted less than one minute Of L.
The silence in that room became almost
unbearab,e. so intently were We listening
for The sound which We both as much eX-
psct5d TO hear as though We had received
previous notice Of It's coming. Suddenly
the Jingle of the telephone bell caused the
CAPTAIN TO spring from his chair. and at
The same time the sharply whispered words
which had framed themselves for utter
ancs burst from his colorless lips: There
il is. and he darted across the floor.
.I saw him suddenly pause and then he
suatched down the receiver from the Stott
instrument instead of that belonging TO
the central service machine. I saw the
look of bewildermeut which dawned upon
his face and drawing near 1 waited.
suddenly he paled, and, grasping my
arm. ne drew me close up to the machine.
I held the cold receiver pressed close
AGAINST my ear then a strange thrill swept
through my body as I heard voice-a
startling. ghost-lke. cracking sound-that
called:
Help, Help! In Gods name, send me
help"
THE wild cry was suddenly interrupted
nv the ringing echo of a pistol shot; the
rssoundng crash of some heavy body
striking against the diaphragm Of the
tr,nsmit,er. and 1 could hear no more.
...Did YOU recognize that voice? l asked,
thoroughly convinced that could read the
ans. for this sudden agitation in his start
led face. -..,,-.- ,,,.-
eel aid he cried, his teeth rafting ike
cas.anets as he tried to speak. II was
the voice of Philip Stott