The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-10
Copyright, 1901, BY A. 5. Richardson.

Copyright 1901 by A. s. Richardson
Ralph Bawn had made out a pretty fair
summer after ALL Looking back to the dread
felt inclined to make merry over his own pes
simism
TO the fellow who is working his way
through college the vacation period is YER
liable haying time. Then it is he must lay
up something for the winter season, pend
ing the arrival at college of some hopeless
dubs in need Of coaching Many a young
chap similarly situated is grateful to secure
a post as waiter at a mountain or seaside re-
sort, but Bawn was more fortunate A knowl-
edge Of telegraphy had given him the post Of
day operator at the Prospect House, and his
college affiliations had secured a social stand
ing which the ordinary member OF the army
of telegraphers could not hope to attain.
Bawn had been the star member of the
athletic association at his prep" school, and
had Won an enyiable reputation the col
lege grounds. Moreover, he had a fine,
muscular figure, clear blue eyes and hair
that waved just enough to create envy in the
breasts OF more than one young woman sub
ject to curling irons and kindred devices.
He distributed his favors fairly until Edith
Cummings arrived at the Prospect House,
after which the remainder Of the young wo-
men spent the time, once devoted to his So
ciety, in wondering what he saw in that
Cummings girl" Yete the Cummings
girl was the sort to catch the
fancy Of an up-to-date man. She could ride,
row. sail and play golf A mountain climb
held no terrors for her and her erect car
riage and clear, healthy complexion were but
the happy reflection of the free, pure life
she led.
The simplicity of her gowns and her demo-
cratic bearing deceived Bawn, who never
dreamed that her father was Chicago mill
lionaire many times over. And further,
when she betrayed eager interest in teleg-
raphy and asked him to give her instructions,
he caught himself wondering if she was
searching for some means of sef-support.
Ralphs office was located in a cosy corner
! of the hotels square entrance, and here on
his practice transmitter she studied teleg-
raphy rainy days with the same energy
that she put into athletics when the sun
shone. To be sure, gossps elevated their
shoulders and glanced knowingly toward the
handsome operator, who was a willing in
structor, but Miss Cummings was gossip
proof.
One afternoon she stood at the desk as he
was preparing to turn 1t over to the night
operator. Bawn was chatting by the Morse
system with the operator at Boston, and as
he prepared to shut off she caught the signal
''73, and pricked up her ears.
What was that '73 for? she asked as
they strolled down the big hall, together
Seventy he replied sis the uni
| versal greeting. 1t means pretty nearly ev-
erything from have drink to an elaborate
| expression Of good will. You won't find it
in the books, but every telegrapher knows
the sign to be one of greeting and regard"
Then the conversation turned to other things,
and the incident was temporarily closed.
/ Bawn had arranged to wait till the hotel
| closed but one afternoon in September there
was trouble in the Cummings fedora
| ton over Mamie FELTON,, and Miss Cum
I mings expressed certain opinions regarding
the FELTON, person with rather more directness
| than was wholly necessary This off heI
mind, she turned her attention to Bawn him
| self, and declared it to be her belief that a
| man who would take a young woman out
rowing at o'clock and never return with
| her to the hotel till after one was hardly