The Van Buren press., 1897-06-19
THE BOYS REVENGE.
by Harry N Gardiner.
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"Say, mister, don't the electric cars
use direct current?"
The lineman upon the top of the re-
pair wagon tower seowled as he looked
down upon the messenger boy who had
asked the question.
..Nhat is ii to you what kind of a
current the electric cars use?" was his
surly response.
Il just wanted to know. Some of the
ether boys said it was alternating cur
rent, aad | didn't know but you'd tell
me.
YES, it's direct current" replied an
ether lineman, who was working with
the one who bad before spoken.
.Thanksl And isn't it five hundred
volls?" was the next inquiry of the
young nformation-seeker.
The boss lineman turned 10 his assist
mt with Il frown.
What did you tell him for?"
At the same moment he dropped, APP
parently by accident, the spool of fine
wire which he was about to use. He
held the free end Of the wire, which was
thus unwound as the spool fell to the
ground.
Say, kid, throw me up that spool.
and I'll tell you" he answered, to the
boys second inquiry.
Instantly the lad sprang to obey, and
picking up the spool of wire, be stepped
back to throw it, looking where he was
walking. instead of at the man upon the
wagon tower
With a malicious wink at his com
panion. the lneman brought the wire
in his hand in contact with the trolley
wire upon which he was working.
The boy on the ground gave cry
which was n half groan, half scream,
his arms jerked violently back, his body
twisted, his teeth snapped together, and
his black eyes seemed ready to jump
from his head.
1t was only for an instant that the
llreman held the fine wire in contact
With the live one; but for that instant
II seemed to the boy as if a thousand
needles were running through all parts
OF his body.
AS soon us he could release his hold
upon the spool he threw it under the
wagon, and not wishing to expose the
tears which be could not keep from his
eyes, he started down the street, rub.
bing his wrist where it felt as If the
shock had been the most severe.
The lineman, who considered his
cruel trick great joke, was conyulsed
with laughter.
9TH bet he knows how many volts
there is now, and that he won't want
any more electrical knowledge right
away, neither!" he said as soon as he
could control his mirth.
Il call that pretty low trick. Sup
pose you had killed him." replied his
companion.
"Five hundred volts wouldn't kill
anybody. But how he did dance! and
: how his eyes did pop outl"
And the fellow went into another con-
ynlsion at the Thought of his sport.
Ray Wilson had been in the messenger
service only few weeks, but in that
time he had shown such a desire to gain
Information about electricity that the
other boys had styled him young Edi-
son; and the name of the great invent
or had become so fastened upon him
that ''Thomas A." was their nick.
name for him.
Not only did Ray desire to become an
operator, but he wished to know all
about the mysterious agent that would
reproduce in that Office the clicks of in
struments in New York or Chicago.
He had succeeded in so getting into
the good cruces OF MIR. Billings, the re-
Teir man, that he had explained to him
the workings of the batteries in the eel
tar, until be knew just how they should
lie connected TO produce the best re-
suits.
He had practieed upon pieces of wire
with the repair mans pliers until he
could make western Union" splice
that met the approval of his instructor
Mr.. Billings had explained TO him the
electrical and magnetic working of the
Keys and saunders until he believed he
thoroughly understood it.
W bllt AAI tAlAEI 10Y were al llaN IN
The court at the rear of the Office. or
doing upon the benches while await
ing their calls. he would be seated in an
out-of-the-way corner, with practice
key, clicking away at the Morse alpha.
bet.
let Thomas A. alone; he's goin' to
be a inventor, he is" sarcasticaily
drawled enc of the older boys one dav.
when The Others were poling fun at
Ray. because he would not leave his in
struineHt 70 Indulge in a game II 'uum-
ile-te-peg' in the court. Thomas 4.
IS too nice to play with us other fell
isrs, he is: he's goin' to improve every
passin' moment by soupin' round Bill
ings. SOS be can git ail the soft snaps.
Thomas A." he concluded, IN a whisper,
Elm goiH' TO put head on you some
Jay, when Rit you alonei"
Ray never carried his desire for
knowledge far enough 10 interfere with
his regular duties. No matter how
rlueh tine he devoted TO the telegraph