Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-17
! THE COURIER !
] OF THE CAR !
BY Jules Verne
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Michael strogoff went to him anc
with a voice broken by fatigue asked:
"What do you know%
"Nothing," answered the employee
smiling.
"Are the Russians and Tartars fight
ing"
people say so."
"But who are the victors"
81 don't know"
So much coolness in the midst Of
these terrible occurrences, so much Ia
difference even, was hardly possible.
"And Is not the wire cut" asked MI
chael Strogoff.
ut is cut between Kalyvan and Kras
noiarsk, but 1t works yet between kaly
van and the Russian frontier"
For the government"
"For the government when they thinh
It proper, for the public when they pay
1t is 10 copecks a word. l wait youi
orders, sir"
Michael Strogoff was going to answer
that strange operator that he had nj
dispatch to send; that he wanted onl,
q little bread and water, when sudden
ly the door of the house was abruptly
opened.
Michael Strogof thought the Office In
vaded by the Tartars and was about t.
Jump thrc9gh the window when he no
ticed that two men only entered the
room and that they were far from be
ing Tartar soldiers.
One Of them held dispatch writer
in pencil, and. outrunning the other, ht
was at the window of the stoical em
ployee. In those two men Michae
Strogoff was astonished to discover tive
persons he had thought never to see
again. They were the correspondent
Harry Blount and Alcide JOlivet, nc
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 StrogOf
and II they arrived before him at Kaly
van in following the same route 1t wal
because Michael Strogof had lost three
days Oh the borders Of the Irish. Ant
now, after having witnessed the battle
between the Russians and the TARTAR
in front Of the city, leaving the city
when the struggle was still going on ir
the streets, they had to run to the sta
ton to send away their dispatches tt
Europe. each seeking to rob the othei
of priority in describing the stirring
events.
Michael Strogoff kept at distance IL
the shadow. and without being seen III
could see all and hear all. He wai
probably about to learn important newt
and know II he ought to enter Kalyvar
or not.
Harry Blount, more alert than bit
colleague, had possession Of the win
dow and handed in his dispatch, Will,
Alc!de Jolivet, contrary to his habits
stopped impatiently. "Ten copecks s
word" said the operator. taking tn,
dispatch.
Harry Blount placed q pile Of ruble.
on the counter, his confrere looking ii
him somewhat stupcied.
"Well." said the employee. and witt
undisturbed sang froid he commenced
to telegraph the following dispatch:
Daily Telegraph, London:
Frsm Kalyvan, Government Of omsk, Siberia,
Aug. 6.-Engagsmsnt Of Russian troops with Tar
tara
That reading being made aloud, MI
chael strogoff could hear all the Eng
lish correspondent addressed to his pa
per.
Russian troops repulsed with great losse. Tar.
tars enter Kalyvan this day.
These words ended the dispatch.
"My turn now," said Alcide Jolivet,
who tried to pass his dispatch address
I'd to his cousin of the Montmartre Eau.
bourg.
But that did not suit the English re-
porter, who thought Of remaining at
the window as long as he should have
news to transmit, as fast as fresh
events might occur, 80 he did not give
place to his confrere.
"You are throughT cried Alcide Joli-
vet.
81 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.
~ 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 his paper
would have the first information.
France might wait.
Think of the anger Of Alcide Jolivet,
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 eoolly, 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 ut the Office window and added
to his telegram:
Two churches In flames. The IRE seems to gain
/ on the right. The earth was without form and
void Darkness covered the face OF the earth.
Alcide Jollvet had simply a ferocioui
desire to strangle the honorable re-
porter Of The Daily Telegraph.
He once more called upon the en-
ployee. who again coolly answered:
at is his right, sir; It Is his right
ITen copecks q word"