Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-06-05

could make a "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.
While the other boys were at play 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 isl" sarcastically
drawled one of the older boys one day,
when the others were poking fun at
Ray, because he would not leave his in
stru1nent to indulge in a game of mum
ble-te-peg'' in the court. Thomas A.
is too nice 20 play with us other fell
lers, he is; he's goin' to improve every
passin' moment by soupin' round Bill
ings, SOS he can git all the soft snaps.
Thomas A." he concluded, in whisper,
I'm goin' to put a head on you some
day, when git you alone!"
Ray never carried his desire for
knowledge far enough 10 interfere with
| his regular duties. No matter how
much time he devoted to the telegraph
| alpha bet, he was always in his place
| on the bench, ready to spring when his
turn came to answer a call.
| His promptness in delivering mes
sages and running errands had been
commented upon by the manager of
the office, as wei. as by 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 with message, he
| overlook one of the other boys, who
was going at much more moderate
rate. AS Ray did not slacken his speed,
the other increased his pace to keep up
with him. and began talking.
Thomas A, you've mistook your call
| in. Your gait's altogether too fast fur
this biz; you'll ruin the profesh goin'
| like that"
| AS Ray paid no attention to the boys
carcasm, his prosecutor became threat
ening as he continued:
''Some day the other kids II take
you, an they won't 10 thing to you,
oh, no! If L 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 lineman's cruel trick gave him did
not cause Rays seeking for electrical
| knowledge to abate.
| One night he came home with a card,
| and as soon as he was inside the house
| he made the request:
Mrs. Green, won't you sign this card
| for me?''
What do you want re to sign the
card for? Did you bring your pay
| home with you?'' was the sharp reply
| of the woman with whom he lived.
Ray was orphan, and since his
mother died, two years before. he had
| lived with Mrs. Green, a woman who
| had been his mothers neighbour.
Mrs. Green's hard struggle IN the bat
| 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 to sign the card
so 1 can get books from the library.
| There's some books about electricity
there that want to get; but they won't
let a boy have books unless his par
ents or guardians sign one of these
cards; and 1 haven't any parents, so
| won't you please sign it for me?"
You go now and mind the baby.
" lille 1 get supper, or 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
| something else" was the disappointing
| answer which the boy received to his
request.
Even if he was denied the use of the
coveted library books, Ray managed to
| get books from Mr.. Billings and the
manager. to which ne applied himself
as much possible.
| Every bit of information which he
could gain upon his pet subject was
stored away in his active BRAIN He
would go along the street with his eyes
| turned skywards, looking at 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 well as any
| lineman.
.sGit on to Thomas Al was the man.
ner in which one of the other boys one
day called attention to Ray. who was
| carefully studying the illustrated copy
| of instructions for DEMONSTRATION in
| case of Electric Shock which Mr..