The Cairo bulletin., 1905-09-26

Of ;he Ee:Ssa who CROSSED the
WIRES OF the Ctiy Telephone and
TIE pub.ie fiic a.aIm.
The police force has actually exerted
Itself for the capture of the perpetrators
OF the deed. The firemen have vowed to
klil him if he is found. Old men ind 1t
topic for endless discussion. Young
si2uths stink around the street corners.
seeking to overhear some chance word
that may direct them in search. Some
small boys ehuckle with glee over The
remembrance of the joy of that night,
other boys, little older and little
wiser, are discreetly silent. Occasion.
ally they glance furtively at the notices
OF the reward. For this is the story of
now a peaceful and law-abding town
stayed up all one night with a clamer
that was like to the noise of glorious
thanksgiving.
On the memorable night dozen
small boys were trying to devise some
httlng means of celebrating their vaca-
ton. From force of habit they had
gathered in front of the schoolhouse
The son of the mayor thrust his
hands deep down in his pockets.
Well, what sEull we do?" he de.
nianded. There's no fun In sitting
Aere, | guess. II yon fellows can't think
Of something to do soon, I'm gotna
nome ! never saw such a lot. You re
worse than the giix,"
This was taunt that could not be
endured The II sat in gloomy silence.
do we all so into this together?"
ne inquired. Il mean, If anything
happens, will all OF us take the blame.
share and share alike? win YOU cross
your hearts, hope to die, that you
WHIP
You bet.' was the unanimous prom
1859. The others clustered around him
as he unfolded his plan.
i can fix the telephone and the fire
alarm wires SO that whenever anybody
rings the. telephone out. on the west
circuit the fire alarm win ring. Are
you gamer"
Were they game? Were, they boys2
We'll have to wait till nine
O'clock" continued the inventive cen.
Jus. Then I'll fix the wires and ven
all skip home. Somebody will be sure
70 ring UP and then the fun will Be-
gin
u anyone had been passing a certain
dark corner on West Main street AT
nine o'clock, he would have heard
strange whisperings. and would per-
maps have seen an agile lad swing him
self up the big tree and climb out an
IT'S branches to where two sets Of
wires intersect each other. But there
was nc passerby. AIT ten minutes past
Alne the town was ominously quiet.
Twelve boys had come lii unwonted-
" early and retired without a single
erumble.
Al exactly 9:14 the fire alarm sound
ed. The sounding Of the alarm in this
town Is Of the kind that would make
fortune for a melodrama, if 1t lid |
not drive all the patrons out of the
-he4tel frat. There are five churches
u the town, every one supplied with
orazeI changers. The Episcopal church
s endowed with chimes. Every school I
house has bell. The courthouse
las a bell. The city hall has
jell. The fire engine house has
song and bell. In addition to these
ne engines in the ra load yards set
~ toot and clamor Of sympathy.
After the first alarm all was still
or al least three minutes. BY this
ima each one of the II had appear ~
ully dressed and eagerly inquring
vherc the fire was.
Why don't you call up Central and
lsk Ter where the fire is?" the son or
he mayor asked that d.gnitary Tha
Mayo followed the sons suggestion
Two seconds later the second alarm
ounded. BY this time the perpetrator
u the mischief was at the telephone
wildly inquiring of the almost hys-
ericai girl at the exchange the loca.
ion o. the second fire. The third alarm
ang.
me whole town was aroused by this
line Naturally, telephone was The
asiest means Of obtaining commune
alton With the sources Of information
! followed that the bells kept up
onstant clamor. For five hours
hey never ceased their ringing.
The fire department had rushed mad.
al over the place, but not even a
loud of smoke rewarded the search
VINO was turning In the false alarms?
ne police ran up and down the streets
len and women came out of the
ouses, inquiring the cause OF the
'ild excitement. Clang! Clang! Twelve
oys at IL telephones kept the fun
ding.
Inc telephone company had loaned
repairer to the fire department to
sek the cause of the alarms when tho
re department insisted that 1t was a |
uestlon of the wires. AT two o'clock |
discovered the cause and remedied 4
NO accident" he replied tersely.
some one crossed those wires. He
imoed the tree to do It."
One Of my political enemies" says !