The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-09-13


past and the future. A great ragged
'ock rears its head above the sea some
our miles from the shore barren. but
or tufts Of sickly grass, uninhabited
, save by the sea birds. Once guide
, 20 the unwcildly ships that sailed
seeking empires, landmark to sail
ors, the first glimpse of homeland to
wanderers: now a dangcr-mark to the
luge black lincra-a forgotten senti
lel of the past.
And little inland a small tur-
ret house, with wooden mast point
ing skyward, and square glass eyes
ever staring oceanward, stands as the
sentinel OF the future-the future of
he wireless telegraphy
The clouds had been driving round
forming solid banks of blackness in
The southwest, swooping across the
green seas, that hourly grew more
restless, and often hiding the old barren
rock from the strongest telescope. The
lonely watcher-onc by day and one
oy night-in the gray house Marconi's
wireless telegraph station of the south,
had long known of the approach of
The storm. Ships already caught in
its fierce clutches had telcgraphed its
advent to the watcher, and he. Jove-
like, had hurled electric warnings of
the danger to other boats.
John Priest felt the nervous excite
ment In tho air communicate itself to
his body, filing him with a vague I'M
rest an! fear.
His companion was waiting at the
door.
"I'm glad you're not late" he said.
Il fear even now shall get caught in
the storm before l can cover those
three miles along the cliff. Good
night"
Good night" replied John Priest.
He watched the ether run swiftly
down the path and along the cliffs. He
felt strange longing to call him back.
The quiet threatening Of the night.
quivering with electricity and storm,
thrilled his nerves.
Il wonder what's wrong with me?"
he said aloud, and then checked him
self, unpleasantly conscious Of his own
voice.
Nothing living was visible-not even
o tree; not bird on the wing;
With an effort he laughed
and banged and bolted the door loudly,
and entered the operating room-the |
room with the square eyes facing sea
ward. 1t was a round, plainly furnished
chamber, containing one comfortable |
sofa, a bookshelf filled with books, |
several maps and charts, list of rules |
and explanations concerning the work
ing of the Marconi wireless telegraph, |
and in the centre of the room the in
strument itself
Priest looked at his watch. Eleven
hours and a half of solitary confine-
ment, practically cut off from all hui
nan communication.
When he looked at his watch again
what had seemed an hour proved Is
minutes. Then he swore quietly at
himself for fool and filled his pipe
AS he put it to his lips
| sudden blaze of light lit the room
md terrible crash rent the air, tear.
ng silence and the night asunder and
schoing from cliff to cliff.
With the first great crash all the
clements sprang to life. To the watch
n 1t seemed as if fire, earth, air and
water were swirling and struggling
through space, inextricably mixed to-
,ether.
How long he watched with awe and
Wonder he did not know but the rush.
ng winds howled him into a semi-con-
cious sleep, in which he heard the
waves rising and roaring nearer and
carer.
He awOke with start, feeling some
hing or some one had spoken to him.
he yellow light burned more dimly,
ut instinctively he glanced first at the
instrument. All was in order.
he Taper was silent, motiOnless. AS
e wondered what had suddenly called
i'm the instrument clicked.
He drew his chair to the table and
ent over the instrument and waited.
Again that little spark of light be-
ind him and simultaneously the click
dot -"-LE-LE-LE-
H" it said.
Dbl" that was no trick of the
.Orm: vet he did not know the call
uickly he turned to the code:
DIS. S. ,Delilah mail and pas
'nger steamer 5000 tons-Good heav.
IS! what did the Delilah want and
here was she? Surely, if he remem-
cred right. she was due in Liverpool
70 days ago. M5. g&a
For an instant Priest hesitatingly
atched and listened. From whence /.
midst the thousands of miles of mad
ayes was this message sent? with ,
1steady hand he held his machine !
Id replied: .,..-
Go on" and waited. No answer
e held his breath and counted the
s #*&
AT last an answer LIE" again: an
stant's pause then the machine be-
IN slowly with many pauses and =
'eaks as If the message flying on
agnetic wings through space to the T
tie gray turref nm tho Corpich ooocx