The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1900-06-15
\ HAIRLESS OMEARA was an ope-

quadruplexed wire running to
Chicago. The operator on the CORE
spending side IN Chicago was Miss
Amy Davidson. Both were expert, ana
the manner in which they kept their
message hooks clear excited the nd
mlration of the chiefs in their respect
i've offices. O'Meara was a handsome
and intelligent young Irishman, with
jet black hair and mustache and great,
soulful blue eyes-one Of the kind Of
men who seem almost unconsciOusly to
possess the power of fascination over
women.
After having worked the wire togeth-
er few months O'Meara and Miss
Davidson became well acquainted al
though, Of course, neither had ever
seen the other. They had abundant
opportunities for conversation in the
early morning before the rush Of bust
ness Of the day began and in the late
afternoon when the rush was over.
There is a sort of telepathy in teleg-
raphy all telegraphers admit, and
there certainly was in this case. Long
before any word of love had passed be
tween them each had become conscious
Of tender regard for the other.
O'Meara could recognize in an instant
the touch of Il strange hand on the key
in Chicago and Miss Davidson was as
quickly conscious of the change when
any other than O'Meara's hand manip-
ulated the transmltter in New York.
There is as much that is distinctly
characteristic in the manner in which
telegraphers form the dots and dashes
as there is in the manifold forms of
chrography.
One morning Amy complained of
feeling i'll. Il am afraid" she said,
"that l will have to give up and go
home. l would do so surely if l could
afford to lose the time. My head aches
dreadfully. Dear met What would
my mother and sister do if | should be-
come really sick? They have no one to
take care of them but me-"
There was a tremuolousness in the
dots and dashes which plainly indi-
Gated to O'Meara that the girl, a thou
sand miles away, was weeping softly,
as indeed she was, with her head rest
ing YEARLY against the resonator con
tanning the sounder. He replied:
"Try to stick it out today. dear. We
will take it easy, and perhaps you will
feel better by tomorrow. At any rate,
don't worry"
1t was the first time he had used any
term of endearment in their inter-
course, and she was very much affect
ed. But she frightened up a little and
managed to struggle through the days
work.
Next morning O'Meara found a
strange operator ut the Chicago end of
the wire, and when he inquired for
Miss Davidson he was told that she
was very i'll. The poor fellow realized
now, If he never had before, that he
was deeply in love with a woman he
had never seen. He became so fretful
and irritable as to excite comment
among the others In the office.
"What on earth is the matter with
O'MearaY asked one of the operators
on the opposite side of the quad" Of
the man who sat at the next instru-
ment.
81 guess he's in love with that Chi
cago girl who is sick" was the reply.
One morning the answer made by the
Chicago operator to O'Meara's inquiry
as to Miss DavidsOn's condition CON
tanned but one word-"Deadw
OMeara uttered Il kind Of moan, and
his head fell upon his desk. When one
Of the chiefs aroused him he found the
young mans face flushed and his eyes
blOOdshot. O'Meara was sent home,
where he remained for weeks suffering
from a severe attack of brain fever.
When at last he had recovered and re-
turned TO the office to report for duty
the chief told him to take his usual seat
at the Chicago quadruplex.
IF you'd just rs lief give me another
wire I'd rather have it," O'Meara said.
81 don't think care to work with Chi
cago any more"
There was n twinkle in the eye of the
chief as he said:
You used to do some fine work on
that Chicago wire"
Perhaps So" O'Meara replied sadly,
"but l had fine operator to work
with"
We'll" said the chief. that's fine
operator there yct-the same one, be-
lleve. that was there before"
THAT cannot be-for she is dead"
This with great sob.
Il think you had better return to the
old WIRE FOR the present at least" the
chief said. "Then. II you are not salts
fled / will transfer You TO some other
circuit"
O'Meara walked slowly over to his
old place TO relieve the man who was
at that moment receiving some mes
sngcs from Chicago. As he neared IN,
instrument ana heard the character,
coming with dearly loved and famil
, lar sound his heart almost stopped