The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-11-11
A TICK ON THE WALL.

when was a young man, remarked
the traveller, sitting by the hotel stove one
night II was for about five years tele-
graph operator, and it was the making OF
my fortune. When was 25. was sent
down into Mexico with a lot of other oper-
ators to handle the tickers for new line
they were building there.
"After had been working there about
, month we had a big sensation in the
shape Of the abduction Of an Englshman
who owned one Of the biggest mines in the
mountains, and he was held for ransom
The brigands wanted $780, 900 for him, and
the authorities did all they could to catch
the band or rescue the prisoner, but with
out avail They couldn't find hide nor
hair of robber or Englishman, but the de-
mand for ransom still stood. I'd been
along down the line for week, and when
came back to my town 1 never saw a
man in such pitiable state of grief over
any piece of deviltry as that landlord was
"That night I retired about II o'clock,
and Just as was on the point Of falling
asleep heard what thought was crick-
ct or rather q deathwatch knocking on
my bed stood. Icould hear tho faint knock
ing Of the bug but not being superstitious
paid little attention to it and went to sleep.
Once or twice during the night rolled
over uneasily and fancied could hear that
deathwatch still plugging away. just be-
fore daybreak heard 1t again and made
up my mind to make little Investigation
in the morning and see what manner Of
insect 'deathwatch' was anyhow. At
2 O'Clock knock on my door Weakened me
for breakfast, and at first thought the
deathwatch must have found a hammer
and changed his base of operations, but
when I had my eyes fully opened an
swered the knock and heard the caller pat
ter along down the hall to another door.
As lay in bed enjoying for a moment or
two the pain OF having to get up, heard
my deathwatch again, this time In the
wall near my head, and began to listen.
"'Tick, tick, 1t went, then several ticks,
but could not sec any sign Of bug or in
sect.
"'Tick, tick, TICK it went again, slow
or and faster, irregularly thought ut
first. but In a moment or two as became
accustomed to It discovered It was not
irregular.
"Then all at once sat bolt upright In
bed, with my ears almost standing straight
out from my head, and the next minute
had laid the side Of my face fat against
the wall. think my heart must have
licked 10 times to that others ticking once
as I pressed my ear tight against the wall,
and then almost yelled at my discovery,
but q second thought came, and kept still.
"'Tick, tick, tick, tickety, tickety, tick,
tick went the noise, and I read the tele-
graph signals:
"'Helpi' they said, help, for Gods sakel
am the prisoner they are holding for ran
som, and the landlord is in league with
the brigandsl'
my wits came to mo then, and taking
q hammer had in my small kit licked
back:
keep up your courage. I am the
American telegraph operator and will have
you out of that as soon rs can get force
here
'Then I dressed quickly, went to my
breakfast, which ate as usual, for was
afraid to do anything to excite suspicion,
and went out to sec what kind Of q COM
bination could organize to save my man.
The town police, believed, were In col.
fusion with the brigands, and could not
60 to them. At the corner Of the street
met tho landlord.
"'Ah, Mr.. American, he said, almost
In tears, we have heard nothing Of the
poor, unfortunate gentleman, but there
have just arrived in the town 100 govern
ment troops, and they will hunt tho muir
derers down and do justice to the poor pris-
oner. There comes the gentleman in COM
mand now,' and looking as tho landlord
pointed saw a Mexican cavalry captain
with two aids walking
"sThey arc going to stop at my house, ;
explained tho landlord cheerfully, and
must go to prepare for them
''He hurried away, and waited for the
officers In few minutes had told my
story, and In a very few moro minutes
they had hurried back to their company,
and I was on the tavern steps with the
landlord when tho whole body ca1ne up.