The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-08
A MYSTERIOUS
TELEGRAM.
The Story of a Telegraph
Operator.

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While talking with my friend, Colonel
hughes, the other evening in the billiard
room of the Sirloin club he related the
following curious incident. 1t dealt of a
time in his railroad career before the
Cloyerdale route, the only line running
through Sleepers between Halifax and
chihuahua, had recognized his sterling
worth and rewarded him with the official
position he now holds. Let the colonel
tell the story in his own way:
In the summer of 1894 | was NIGHT
operator for Il prominent northwestern
railroad at little summer resort sta
tion few miles east of st. Paul. There
was the usual number of houses and
stores clustered around the depot. while
half mile to the south. situated on the
shores of beautiful lake. stood the rath-
er pretcntious hotel which was the prin-
clpal attraction of the place. This house.
popularity known as The Lodge. was the
scene of considerable activity between the
months of May and September each
year, and during that time many guests
found rest and recreation beneath its
hospitable roof.
My duties at the station consisted
chiefly Of trying to keep awake and look
ing forward to the monthly visit of the
pay car. incidentally | was occasionally
called on to handle train order or tele-
gram, to say nothing of selling tickets to
departing tourists and looking after their
baggage.
"On the evening of May 14-how well
| remember the date-I was seated qu-
etly in the office, with my feet elevated
at comfortable angle indulging in a day
dream of an indefinite time in the future
when all would be changed for the bet
ter, and the game of square plugs and
round holes would have ceased to rack
the minds of men. Suddenly | became
conscious of distant rumbling to the
west, which rapidly increased in volume
until shrill whistle and the sound of es-
Gaping steam told me that the Chicago
limited, now slightly overdue, was ap-
preaching. AS the train drew alongside
the platform, squirting and putting, as if
fully aware of its Importance in railroad
circles, stusdily built young fellow
swung from the rear platform of the last
Pullman and walked nervously toward
the office. \ moment later | had me-
chanically begun to count the words in
the telegram which he had thrown be-
fore me. When | had finished and look
ed up to speak, bill was lying on the
desk by my hand-the man had disap-
peared. Then, for the first time, | no.
ticed the contents of the message he had
left, and as its meaning became plain to
me | staggered back and fell into a chair.
Accustomed as | was to handling such
things in a machnelike way, this dis
patch completely unnerved me. Was |,
young man just starting on promising
career, to be made party to some horri-
BILE crime? Heaven forbid! The tele-
gram read as follows:
"Henry W. Bradley - West Forty-second Street,
New York:
''Kill the Doctor tomorrow. All depends on
your success. Tell Alice to have courage.
JACK
although shocked at the cold blooded-
ness of the words, | was entirely igno-
rant as to the proper action to take.
Should | forward the message and thus
be aiding and abetting q tragedy, or
would it be better to withhold it and take
brought against the company which en-
ploycd me? Despite my youth, was
well aware of the nature of cipher dis
patches and realized that the one in ques-
tion might mean Buy 5000 September
wheat or have some other meaning fully
as harmless. Still, thought |. the cir
cumstances all pointed to a terrible crime
about to be committed. Take into con
sideration the nervous, excited air of the
stranger and his disappearance just be-
fore the express pulled out. Had been
positive that he had re-cntered the train
after leaving the telegraph office it would
have been possible to wire some station
farther down the line and have him ap.
pretended and locked up.
1T ended for the time being by giving
my peculiar customer the benefit of the
doubt and forwarding the mesaage, albeit
with mental reservation
But in my own mind the affair would
not down. Through the long days that
followed eagerly scanned the daily pa
pers, expecting in each issue to learn
that some prominent physician of the
eastern metropolis had been made away
with Sleep was almost an inpossihility.
L OSSiHS ItStlcSSlS On my nGu, the WORDS
seemed TO pass before me in letters of
fire, kill the Doctor, kill the noctor!' III.
nally. on one occasion when the strain
seemed too great to bear, | remembered
a friend residing 10 New York. would
write him. explain the case and beg him
for the sake Of old times to restore my
peace of mind by looking the parties up
and learning what he could concerning
them.
"'The plan proved a success, and my
correspondent developed a second edition
of Sherlock Holmes. as the following let
ter, received a few days later. showed:
AT your request | have been playing
the role of amateur detective for the past
week and have been able to gather the
following facts; Henry " Bradley re-
sides at the number designated on West
Forty.second street. The family consists
of the old gentleman, his daughter Alice.
an accomplished young lady of IS. and
son, famiiarly known to his friends as
Jack The latter is at present supposed
70 somcwhprp in the west in search OF
health and fortune. The Bradleys CAM
here about five years ago from Kentucky,
where they had. with moderate success,
nnnduntnI ctanL Fam, In tha hlua