The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-18
BY Jules Verne

7 !AS
! People say so.''
! "But who arc the victors?"
! Il don't know.
! So much coolness in the. midst Of
/ these terrible occurrences, so much IN
! difference even, was hardly possible.
"And is not the wire cut?" asked III.
chael Strogof.
! "It is cut between Kalyvan and Kras-
noiarsl, but i works yet between Aaly-
van and the Russian frontier"
For the government"
"For the government when they think
! it proper, for the public when they pay.
It is 10 copecks word. l wait your
orders, sir"
Michael Strogof was going to answer
that strange operator that he had no
dispatch to send; that he wanted only
q little bread and water, when sudden
" the door Of the house was abruptly
opened.
Michael Strogof thought the Office in
vaded by the Tartars and was about to
jump through the window when he no.
room and tina, they were far from be-
ing Tartar soldiers.
One Of them held dispatch written
in pencil, and, outrunning the other, he
was at the window Of the stoical en-
ployee. In those two men Michael
Strogof was astonished to discover -Wo
persons he had thought never to see
again. They were the correspondents
Harry Blount and Alcide Joliret, no
more travelling companions. but rivals,
enemies, now that they were operating
on the battlefield.
They had left Ichim few hours only
! after the departure Of Michael Stros,oh,
and If they arrived before him a. kaly-
van in following the same route it was
because Michael Strogoff had lost three
days on the borders CT the Irish. And
now. after having witnessed the bt,ttle
between the Russians and the Tartars
in front of the city. leaving the city
when the struggle was still going on in
the streets, they had to run to the Sta
ton to send sway their dispatches to
Europe, each seeking to rob the other
Of priority in describing the stirring
events.
Michael Strogof kept at distance in
the shadow, and without being seen he
could see all and hear all. he was
probably about to learn important news
and know if he ought to enter Kalyvan
! or not.
Harry Blount, more alert than his
colleague, had possession Of the win
dow and handed in his dispatch, while
Alcide Jolivet contrary to his. habits.
stopped impatiently. '.ren coPecks a
word" sai3 the operator, taking the
dispatch. =,
Harry Blount placed q pile Of rubles
on the counter. his ,confrere looking at
him somewhat stupefed.
"Wen," said the employee. and with
undisturbed sang froid he commenced !
to telegraph the following dispatch:
Daily Telegraph, London:
From Kalyvaa, Government Of Orass, Siberia,
Aug Engagement OF Russian troops with Tar
tars.
That reading being made aloud, NJ.
chael Strogoff could hear all the Eng
lish correspondent addressed to his pa
per. -.
Russian troops re2u.sed with great losses. Tar
bars enter Kalyv:n this day
These words ended the dispatch.
"My turn now" said Alcide Joliyet,
who tried to pass his dispatch address
ed to his cousin Of the Montmartre Fau-
bourg.
But that did not suit the English re-
porter, who thought of remaining at
the window rs long as he should have
news to transmit, as fast as fresh
events might occur, so be did not give
place to his confrere.
You are through" cried Alcide Jcli-
vet.
~ am not through simply answered
Harry Blount.
And he went on writing words which
he passed to the operator, who read
very quietly:
IN the beginning God created heaven and earth.
They were verses from the Bible Har-
ry Blount was telegraphing to gain
time and not give place to his rival.
That would probably cost few thou
sand rubles to his paper, but lis paper
would have the first information.
France might wait.
Think Of the anger Of Alcide Joliret
who under any other circumstances
would have appreciated the joke. He
even insisted that the operator should
take his dispatches in preference to
those Of his confrere.
''That is the right Of the gentleman"
said the employee coolly, pointing to
Harry Blount. smiling kindly to him.
AND he continued to transmit to The
Daily Telegraph the first book Of the
holy writ.
While he was operating Harry Blount
went to the window and with his glass
he observed what was going on about
Kalyvan, so as to complete his informa-
ton.
A few minutes later he took his place
again at the Office window and added
to his telegram:
Two churches in flames. The fire seems to gain
on the right. The earth was without form and
void Darkness covered the face Of the earth.
Alcide Jolivet had simply a ferocious
desire to strangle the honorable re-
porter Of The Daily Telegraph.
He once more called upon the en-
ployee, who again coolly answered:
ut is his right, sir; it is his right.
Ten copecks word"
And he telegraphed the following
news, handed him by Blount:
Russian refugees escape the city. And God said,
''Let there be light, and there was light"
Alcide Jolivet was literally transport
ed with rage.
Meanwhile Harry Blount was again
! at the outside window, but this time,
absentminded probably on account Of
! t,o 1o hyc h