The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07
A HAPPY IDEA.

eElly.
A HAPPY IDEA.
This. my position with the company
enabled me TO do. but how TO cover some
twenty or twenty-five miles Of pole-line
without assistance Cor sometime proved
a stumbling block 10 my ambitious pro-
iect of capturing the thief alone and UNI
aided. At last ! struck the happy idea,
which finally and cffectually put a stop
10 the thieving. but in a way had not
calculated upon, and in fact would have
hcsitated to adopt. had l foreseen the
result. Our plant was situated very
nearly in the centor of the town, from
which our wires radiated like the spokes
OF wheel. If not as sy1nmetrically, and
consisted of high voltage alternaters.
railway generators, and arc machines
OF many types and dispositions. the ma
iority Of them added from time TO time
as the public confidence in the safety
and efficiency Of the electric light increas-
ed. The latest corners were the railway
generators. which We're put in when the
old mule cars We're abandoned and new
franchises obtained for operating the
roads electrically and which under the
new order of things took in the several
suburbs. 1t was these suburban lines that
had become interesting OF late through
the operations OF the rwire-thief and TO
protect which every effort was being
made: It was to the pant. however, that
] first gave my attention.
Behind the switchboard I rugged up
with the aid Of a number Of lamps and
some rubber covered wire a detector or
,eli-tale connecting one lamp in series
with each circuit and through switch
TO small transformer on the all-niEht
service line: of course, this switch could
not be thrown while the lines were in
use. but a. night. when the current was
cut off. closing the switch would light up
the lamps brilliantly. AS the electric cur
rent had TO travel out over The whole
circuit and hack through the lamps. the
cutting Of any line would extingnish
The lamp on that line and thus indicate,
moi only that the wires were being ta.n7,
erred with. but which line was in trouble.
TEE FIRST SIGNAL.
was thoroughly familiar with the
route OF each circuit and after completing
my work on the indicator. and eating
hight supper. sat down opposite the 1p-
paratus TO smoke and await develop
rneuts. Ny wheel was at the door and I
had already slipped a revolver into my
pocket. The night was cloudy. and no
doub: ] would soon get the signal for
which I was waiting as eagerly as an
angler waits for a nibbie.
Nell. 1t carne,-lamp on No. IL circuit
flickered an instant and then went out.
1t did not .aE, me many seconds to
,oedalling as though my life depended up
on 81.
Circui; No. II went up through the main
street Of the town for about mile and
4 quarter and then turned due east and
down the prcttiest driveway imaginable;
"a hard, smooth, shell road with scattering
cottage on ether side with their green
lawns and handsome shade trees. but I
did no: see them that trip: my eyes ,Serc
& Fastened on our pofe-line. which ran
along on the LETT OF thu road and every
moment as spun onword ! was expect
ing TO surprise The thief at his work.
suppose 4 had ridden about three
miles whensI reached a sharp decline and
saw before me dark object on the
! eross-a17n Of the third pole from tie bot
tom Of the hill.
"A BAD FALL
Throwing my feet on the coasters, 7.
reached for my revolver. Giving my wheel
ner head. we fairy flew: the pole was not
4 hundred feet ahead when there came a
rrnsh and rnornen, later ! was picking
u.SreH up badly scared and stunned, md
ms. Il, time 10 see q tail lsnk form slide
down the pole ana make OF up the road.
I.,a lame 70 foaow. ! lhY,ped 10 my wheel
! IN lesEn Y possible the cauEe OF my fall.
h + had caught the thief as his work. but
! Unfortunately for me. had run aloul OF
j . - e vlrs bs had cut and thrown