The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-22
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tBILLY MASON'S !
"FOOLISHNESS"
su Ebcn E. Rexford.
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su Eben E. Rexford.

n first saw telegraPh instrument
\ operation, thought he would like TO
he telegraph operator, and he asked
bis father to buy him the necessary
unfit. so that he might learn the busi-
ness at home.
-".All foolishness," answered Mr.. Ma
sor. "You'd get tired of it in less than
+, week. Better go in for something
that you'd get some good out of. )"
81 wouldn't get tired of it." asserted
Rilly.Z"I promise you that if you'll
buy me an outfit I'll stick to it till get
.o | 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 telegraph line
zane with ii, and Billy lost no time in
making the acquaintance of the opera
tor. who was pleasant. good-natured
fellow, and quite willing to show Billy
how to use the instrument.
In less than a week from the time he
began to practice on the operators
slender" 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
n YOU had a chance" the operator 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 a good deal al
odd spells"
One day the operator al the station
told him that he had found where
secondhand outfit could be bought for
a song, almost.
"If you'll buy that I'll furnish the
wire" he said. "Then wen 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 to buy the outfit. He ran
on erran6s. He did all kinds of odd
jobs that would bring in a 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 il,
when added to what he had earned.
And Billy bought the outfit.
A happier boy than Billy Mason was
when the wire was strung ard the line
was ready for use it would be hard to
find.
II was not long before he was able to
"take" 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 station, and
Billy began to feel quite Like full
fiedged operator when he was able to
"caQ 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.
"WeIl go Saturday and come back
Monday" he said. "But / guess you'll
have to stay al home''-to Billy-'to
see TO things. II wouldn't DO to shut
up the house and leave 1t alone"
Mr.. Mason and the family started off
on Saturday afternoon on the long
planned, often-delayed visit, and Billy
was left 10 look out for himself, which
he felt quite able to DO
The night closed in. dark and threat
ening storm. The wind blew fiercely
about the house and made n roaring
sound In the chimney of the fireplace
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 be would go to
bed.
'I wonder IL Stewart is in the office
still?' he thought. "Ill call him and
see."
He went 10 the instrument and made
his "call."
"Click, click. click" came back the
answer. presently.
Didn't know but that you'd gone
home" telegraphed Billy.
Busy making out my monthly re-
port" came back the answer. "Shnil
not be able TO get away very early to-
night. Good night"
Good night responded Billy, and
then he went to bed
He dropped off to sleep almost imme-
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
a sound like that of step in the room
below-a slow. careful step. as of some
one who did net care to make noise
enough to warn others of his presence.
II wonder il some one is downstairs.
or am imagining it? ?" 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 foIks-they wouldn't be tip-toeing
around like that. 1t must be burglar
or a tramp"
Billy's room was over the sitting.
room. There was a register in the floor,
immediately In front OF his bed. When
this was open, light would shine
through from the room below. As he
sat there he heard a sound like the
careful opening of door. aud then he
saw q glimmer Of light through the
opening in the register plate He
leaned out of bed and peered down into
the room below. Presently a man
passed under the register. He could see
enough of him to tell that Ii was a man,
and that was all.
He listened. Pretty soon he heard a
SOUND like that of bureau drawers he-