The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-16

of people hurt-probably killed. Take ---e
first train out. hump yourself! Telephone
us something -anything-for the first
edition; and good story for the second
Above all keep your wits about you and
see you don't get left. Remember, too,
that we go to press at 1 o'clock, and
must hear from you, at the latest, by
haif-past twelve
Though Bates hurried, he missed the
last train to Bed Rock, a small town
about fifteen miles from the city; so
. he was obliged to use the trolley line
1t was close to midnight wnen ne reach
ed Bed Rock. AS he jumped from the
car he caught sight of a mounted patrol
, man. He hailed the officer and questioned
HIM concerning the catastrophe The
policeman told him where the explosion
had occurred; made a wild guess as to
! the number killed and injured and a
wilGer estimate of the losses.
ITS meager, but it will have to do or
, the first edition. grumbled the reporter,
as he looked at his watch in the dim
light of a Pickering street lamp, and
noted that the hands pointed TO ten min
Utes past twelve. Now for a phone"
He ran along wnat seemed to be the
main street of the town until, over a
barber shop, he saw a telephone sign.
The place was dark. Bates --Amnereo at
the door A woman put her head out
of window above him.
I'd like to use your phone" began the
reporter cheerfully.
You'll have to wait; my husband 8
down to the explosion, and / m net goin'
to let any stranger in The woman clos
ed the window.
Bates glared at the door for a moment
as though he had half a mind to break
it in, then turned on his heel and in
quired of a man in milk wagon where
he might find a telephone.
There's a phone in the drug store,
about quarter of a mile the other side
of the car Shed.' was the answer.
1t was twenty minutes past midnight
when Bates found the drug shop The
lights were extinguished, but the drug
gist was standing at the door.
May 1 use your 'phone?" asked Bates.
mo-" replied the man CURLY. I've
shut up for the night
out I'm a reporter-Pve got to send in
a story of the explosion won't keep
you a moment"
Il don't care who you are or what you
have to do. 1 run this place to suit my
self, not you or your paper If you want
a phone-go to the exchange
Go to hell"' returned Bates. wrath
fully as he wheeled about and strobe up
the street
He was desperate.
1t was twenty-five minutes past twelve.
The street was deserted.
He looked up and down the rows of
black windows in despair
Damn it all!' Bates exclaimed, I'm
cursed!'
Hello, hello! Yes, this is central" The
words floated out through a window
above him.
The reporter gazed up eagerly There
was a light in the fourth floor of an
Office building. Then he made out the
sign of telephone exchange on the
door He caught hold of the door knob
and gave it vigorous rattle.
A young man thrust his head out of a
lighted window. well, what's the row,
there?" he asked, good natured1y.
Say, will you please come DOWN here
minute 1 want to speak to you?" The
direct request had failed ON previous ,oc-
casions, SO Bates was making a depart
ure, with the belief that he could be
more persuasive at close range.
"Oh, go on?' exclaimed the youth
above, you're drunk!''
Drunk cried Bates, exasperated; 1T
was never more sober in my nfe" Then
he changed his tone, and put the plea
of his eyes in his voice: Come down
and give me a word, and I'll give you a
dollar
The window closed.
It seemed an hour to Bates before the
door opened. Then the reporter made up
for lost time. He talked like chain light
ming. II want to use your 'phone-got
story Cf the explosion-must get it into
the Globe within five ninutes-if 1 don't,
I'll lose my job"
II can't lose mine to save yours re-
piled the other. It's against the rules
Of the company for me to let even en-
ployes into the exchange unless They're
on business" s.. <,5 ...
Now, look here. Mr.. Central; no one
need know I've been here-In keep it
shady"
1t rather tickled the young operator TO
be called ''Mr. Central stiA he demur-
red
MY God, man, it's life or death to
me-you don't underst andT' cried Bates
desperately.
The youth did not understand, but lie
could not resist the appeal of those mel
ancnoly blue eyes Come in" said he
softly; but mind don't ever give me
away
They hurried UP the stairs together,
into large room, furnished only with a
rude table, a couple of chairs, al the
telephone exchange cabinet. -Four oP five
of the tiny brass hingelike plates on lie
caoinet were hanging down, indicating
that there were calls for connections
For the moment the operator paio no
heed to the clicking at the cabinet He
busted himself closing the WINDOW shut
tiers.
Bates looked at the clock on the white
washed wall. 1t showed twenty-five min
UteS to one
BE good enough to get me the Globe
Office just as quickly as you can 1t is
1-47-62. 1 must catch the first ed Cion,"
S9 Id the raO0rtpr anYiO11cIv
The operator took a seat at the cao1net
and clapped a telephone receiver to his
ear Hello said he, to some one on the
wire; what number? 1-54-S9?"
Bates grasped the youths arm 81 ats
the Chronicles number-cut him Off,
Wires busy; please call again" spoke
the operator, into the telephone, with the
monotone of monograph.
There came another call before Mr..
Central could move a plug. Hello!
What? Eth? Daily Graphic?"
THE Graphic! Tell him the wire $
busy" besoUght Bates
While the Graphic's representative
stamped about livery stable and damn
ed the country telephone operators, Bates
was sending in his meager account of the
explosion in time to make the Globes
first edition.
Nor was the Graphic's man the only re-
porter in Bed Rock that moment who
was swearing. Men from every one of
the city's big dailies were Tuning be-
cause they could not telephone their
papers.
Two Of the men, at the last moment,
rushed frantically to the railroad station
to send the story in by telegraph; but
they found the office dark, and mo one
could tell them where the operator lived
Meanwhile Bates kept right on talking,