The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-03

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call up this station and that and en-
deaVor to draw the distant operators
into a Geographic chat, but after the
exchange of a few commonplace re-
would plead busy, and uncere1ao-
niOusly shut me off. Not one seemed to
sympathize with me in my loneliness.
Telegraphers will be able to assign 2
reason for this shabby treatment when
] explain that I was by no means a
skilled manipulation of the key 1 was
a plug or ham of the most pro-
nOunced type, and as now recall my
can almost imagine that the bones of
the Sainted Morse would rattle about
in their narrow bed in indignant pro
test at the manner in which l man
gled the dot and dash characters which
he left behind to benefit the world
soon ceased to seek for pastime in that
quar- ter, and busted myself smoking,
writing letters, reading such books and
papers as 1 could borrow or pilfer from
the crews Of passing freight trains. and
often sitting with my unpublished shoes
cooked up on the telegraph table build
ing the ARREST sort of air castles
I one day heard of the arrival of q
new operator at Wa-ka-ru-sa, the first
CLEAN of encourag cement in the thought
that 1 might find in him a more con-
genial neighbOr than his predecessor
had proven himself to be. The day fol-
and as an opening wedge to what 1
hoped might prove a mutually pleasant
acquaintance, asked him how he liked
his new station. He expressed the fear
that he might find it a very lonely place.
as he had nothing to do but report the
unfreQuent passing trains and to take
an occasional train order from the
wires. I told him of my loneliness, and
suggested that when the wires We're
not busy we might be able to while
away the laggard hours in an agreeable
conversation We talked for nearly an
hour, and he then excused himself to
go to his dinner. During the after
noon several times kicked him up
and fired my eXecrable Morse" at him,
and was greatly pleased at his witty
replies to my chatting I was delighted
with this cheering oasis in the great
desert of prairie solitude, and retired
that night in a more cOntented frame of
mind than l had known for a long
time.
The next forenoon he answered my
call, and when I began to click an in
uOductOry greeting into his ears, he
broke in On me and said, Very busy
just now" I called him several times
during the forenoon but elected no re-
spouse. After dinner l went at him
with more persisteney, and he finally
answered me.
VT u BIN dom all a m ?' I asked.
IN the abbreviated conversational code
of the telegrapher.
Excuse me. I'm ? busy talk NV.
Posting books
know this to be a fb He had told
me he had nothing to do. and I knew
from knowledge I had gained from his
predecessor that books were kept at
that station only for show. They were
never opened to receive records of busi-
ness, for no business in the freight or
passenger line was ever transacted
there. On that and the succeeding days
l frequently called him, and his nimble
fingers would transmit but the one
word. Busy"
I grew to hate him. for I felt that he
had become tired of me, and desired no
further intercourse with me. began to
picture him as a cross, surly old ogre,
hateful even to himself and ceased all
endeavOrs to draw him into CONVERSE
ton.
The roadmaster alighted from a train
one day, and coming into my office
wrote long telegraphic message to the
section foreman at Wa-ka-ru-sa 1t was
on matters pertaining to repairs on
switches, and contained nun erOus fig
ures and fractions. I had scarcely be-
gun its transmission ere the operator
broke me, and asked me to repeat.
began again, and again he broke and
sent me back several words. Break af-
ter break followed, and I became nerv-
Gus and angry and dashed off the char
acters even vet more bHndly than was
my wont. He broke again and asked:
who is at the key2'
IeDllG0 IndI II was /, the operator,
and asked why he had fired such an
unnecessary query at me.
I thought it might be one of the sec
ton men. What alphabet are you US
ing now2'
This keen thrust at my ineficiency
made me furious. I sWOre aloud, and
would have laden the wire with profan-
ity would if not have been in fragrant
violation of strictly enforced company
rule.
If you can't take it I'll send 1t by
train," l holly said I don't believe
you could correctly copy a verse from
Mary Had Little Lamb rhyme you
know by heart"
mot if you should send it." he re-
torted, for it would sound more like a
Chinese war song
This made me wild, and I determined
to go down there on a freight train,
then nearby due, and lick the fmpudent
fellow if it should cost me my position.
When the train pulled in I jumped into
the CabOOSe, and as we rolled down the
valley I pictured to myself the head" ]
would put on the insulting snob. I was
too angry to consider but one side of the
case, and lost sight of the fact that ]
had replied to his slurring remarks with
others as euttingly severe. To ease my
mind I told the conductor of the object
of my trip.
''I'n mop up his Office floor with him"
I said in my rage. sI'Il fix that face OF
MS III SuG0 mucous shape MS mir
rOr viii turn pale when he looks into
it,"
If you viii take my advice you will
not tackle that fellow the conductor
quietly replied. IF you do you will
come back wishing you had not made
such a fool Of yourself. He is no ordi-
nary man. I tell you"
It don't care if he is big as box car
I will do him up" hotly replied. I've
got the scientific skill and the n uscle to
hoo Oh nd 6yv a
scare pillow team"
prided myself on my athletic accom-
plishments. At college had always
been regarded as a champion in the
manly art of self-defense. During the
latter few months of my college life il
was difficult for me to induce any of my
college chums to put on the gloves with
me
Science is all right" the conductor
said "and muscles good thing in a
!