Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-09-20

: BILLY MASON'S :
: "FOOLISHNESS !
(;
= By Eben Z. ReXfo1d.
~
BIZ Ebcn Z. ReXford.

in operation. thought he wGulG Ike 10
be telegraph operator. and he asked
his father 10 buy him the necessary
outfit. so that he might learn the busi-
ness at home.
"A4I fooMshness. answered Nh. Ma
son. y u'G get tired of it ia less han
week. Better 90 in for something
that YOU'D get some good out Of"
81 wouldn't get tired of It," asserted
Billy. III promise you hat if you'll
buy me an outfit LII stick to it till get
so | can send messages just as a real
That settled the matter, SO far as Mr.
Mason WAS concerned. But Billy Clc
DOT give up his plan.
When the new railroad came to
Brownsville OF course telegraph line
came with it. and billy lost no time in
making the acquaintance of he opera
tor. WHO was a pleasant. good tured
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
'senGer" he had learned the alphabet.
and it was not long before he could
begin 10 pick up short and easy words
as they came to the operator. over the
line.
''You'ta learn the business in mo time
if YOU had a chance" the operator SAID.
'1 on 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 a good deal at
y odd spells"
One Gay the operator at the station
told him that he had found where a
secondhand outfit could be bought for
song. almost.
eff you'll buy that I'll furnish the
wire" he said "Then We'll have a line
of our own. and will ask no favors of
the main line"
Billy determined that such chance
as this should not be lost. and he went
to work that day TO earn the money
with which 10 buy the outfit. He ran
on erranGs. 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 % what he had earned.
And Billy bought the outfit.
A happier boy than Billy Mason was
when the Wire was strung and he line
was ready for use it would be hard to
find.
1t was not long before he was able to
'take" the messages the station man
sent him over their line. and in a little
while he became quite proficient at
''sending." They talked back and forth
between the farm anG station, and
Billy began to feel quite like full
fledged operator when he was able 10
"cali up the man at the other end OF
the line, and ask him question whose
meaning did not have to he guessed at
One clay Mr.. Mason announced his in
tention TO take the family and 90 over
20 his sisters at Three Lakes on 3
Visit.
We'll 90 Saturday and come back
MonGay." he said. "But guess you'll
have to stay at hone"-to Billy,
see to things. II wouldn't co to shut
up the house and leave it alone
Mr.. Mason and the family started of
on Saturday afternoon on the long
planned. often-delayed visit. and Bill,
was left TO look out for himself, which
he felt quite able to DO
The night closed in. dark and threat
ening storm. The wind blew fierccly
about the house and made roaring
sound in the chimney Of the FIRE place
Billy did not feel at all frightened Il
IL
ing lonesome.
. lie went up to his room about eigh
O'clock and concluded he would 90 t.
bed.
81 wonder if Stewart is in the otfic.
still?" he thought. 'I'n call him ant
see"
He went to the Instrument and mad
his ''ca!."
Click, click. click.' came back tn
answer. presently.
Didn't know but that you'd gon
home" telegraphed Billy.
BUSY making out my monthly re
port" came back the answer "Shal
not be able to get away very early to
night. Good night"
Good night responded Billy, an,
then he went to bed.
He dropped off to sleep almost imme
diately. But he woke just as the oil
clock downstairs was striking ten.
AS the sound of the clock died ava
he became conscious of another sound
sound like that of step in the room
below--a slow. careful step. as of som
one who did. not care to make nois
enough to warn others of his presence
Il wonder if some one is downstairs
or am imagining it," thought Billy.
He sat up in bed and listened
II do hear steps" he decided. who
downstairs. Id like to know? None @
our folks-they wouldn't be tip-toein
around like that. 1t must be burgia
or a tramp
Bl1y's room was over the sitting
room. There was register in the foo
Immediately in front of his bed Whe
this was open, light would shin
through from the room below. AS h
sat there he heard a sound like tn
careful opening of door. and then h