The Scranton chronicle., 1900-10-20
BILLY MASON'S
"FOOLISHNESS"
By Eben E. Rexford. :
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be a telegraph operator, and he asked
his father to buy him the necessary
outft, so that he might learn the busi-
ness at home.
"All foohshness." answered Mr. Ma
son. You'd get tired of it in less than
1 a week. Better GO in for something
that you'd get some good out Of"
u wouldn't get tired of it," asserted
Billy. Il promise you that if you'll
buy me an outfit I'll stick to it till get
8 so | can send messages just. as real
That settled the matter. so far as Mr..
Mason was concerned. But Billy did
not give up his plan.
When the new railroad came to
Brownsville of course a telegraph line
came withft, and Billy lost no time in
! makingathe acquaintance of the opera
tor, who was a pleasant. good-natured
fellow, and quite willing to show Billy
how to use the instrument.
In less than week from the time he
began to practice on the operators
SENDER" he had learned the alphabet,
and it was not long before he could
begin to pick up short and easy words
as they came to the operator, over the
line.
"You'd learn the business in no time
II you had chance" the operat tor said.
"You ought to have an instrument at
home. If you had we'd string a wire
between your place and the station,
and we could practice good deal at
odd spells"
One day the operator at the station
told him that he had found where a
secondhand outfit could be bought for
a song, almost.
"If you'll buy that I'll furnish the
wire,' he said. "Then we'll have a line
q of our own. and will ask no favors of
s. the main line"
Billy determined that such a chance
al this should not be lost, and he went
to work that day to earn the money
with which to buy the outfit. He ran
on errands. He did all kinds of odd
jobs that would bring in penny. By
and by, seeing how intent he was on
the purchase of the instrument, his
mother felt sorry for him and gave
him enough to make UP the price of it,
when added to what he had earned.
And Billy bought the outfit.
A happier boy than Billy Mason was
when the wire was strung and the line
was4ready for use it would be hard to
find.s
1t was not long before he was able to
stake the messages the station man
sent him over their line, and in little
while he became quite proficient at
sending" They talked back and forth
between the farm and sta tion, and
Billy began to feel quite like full
fiedged operator when he was able to
"call up" the man at the other end of
the line, and ask him question whose
meaning did not have to be guessed at
One day Mr.. Mason announced his in
tention to take the family and go over
to his sisters at Three Lakes on a
visit.
"We'll go Saturday and come back
Monday" he said. But / guess you'll
have to stay at home"--to Billy-"to
see to things. 1t wouldn't do to shut
up the house and leave it alone"
Mr.. Mason and the family started off
on Saturday afternoon on the long
planned, often-delayed visit, and Billy
was left to look out for himself, which
he felt quite able to do.
The night closed in. dark and threat
ea1ng storm. The wind blew fiercely
a3eut the house and made a roaring
g sound in the chimney of the fireplace.
E Billy did not feel at all frightened at
being alone, but he could not help feel
ing lonesome.
He went up to his room about eight
o'clock and concluded he would go to
bed.
81 wonder if Stewart is in the office
still?" he thought. ''I'll call him and
see."
a He went to the instrument and made
his ''call."
"Cliek, click. elickl" came back the
answer, presently.
Didn't know but that you'd gone
i home" telegraphed Billy.
BUSY making out my monthly re-
port" came back the answer. .Shall
not be able to get away very early to-
night. Good night"
'Good night" responded Billy. and
then he went to bed
z# NC uioPPcu Oh 10 steep almost lmme-
diately. But he woke just as the old
clock downstairs was striking ten.
# As the sound of the clock died away
he became conscious of another sound
sound like that of step in the room
below-a slow, careful step, as of some
one who did not care to make noise
enough to warn others of his presence.
II wonder if some one is downstairs.
or am imagining ?" thought Billy.
He sat up in bed and listened.
II do hear steps" he decided. who's
downstairs, I'd like to know? None of
our folks--they wouldn't be tip-toeing
!. around like that. 1t must be burglar
j or tramp"
i BiIiy's room was over the sitting
roLm. There was register in the floor,
Immediately in front of his bed. When
This was open, light would shine
through from the room below. As he
at there he heard a sound like the
nreful opening of door, and then he
glimrner of light through the
Pening In the register plate. He
eaned out of bed and peerec down into
tne room below. Presently a man
assed under the register. He could see
nough Of him to tell that il was a man.
&nd that was all.
lie listened. Pretty soon he heard a