Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
CHATTER XVII.

youuE editor. Mercy had offered to go with
her but Betsey had declined her company
with a laush-a laugh of a mysterious sort
which had piqued Mercys curiosity, cur
ios:ty which Aunt Betsey had absolutely re-
fused to satisfy.
Finally during Aunt Betseys absence
Mercy decided to go down to the telegraph
office to ask Frank Bernard il he had not
heard something. There might even be
telegram waiting there for her, for Bernard
had no messenger. ana could only deliver
messages when he went to meals unless
some obliging townsman consented to act
for him.
At about the time when she turned the
corner of the street leading down the hill
toward the station Billy Sticker darted out
of the telegraph operator : room, having
delivered with the announcement that Mr..
Seikirk had left word that they were to be
rushed the messages which Hubbard had
given to him.
1t had been a dull day at the station. and
Bernard yawned as he went over to the
telegraph table turned up the lamp, pulled
out his chair. arranged the papers before
him and sat down. The messages were
much later than they should have been, and
he prepared to send them as quickly as he
could. Hubbard had been afraid to send
them down until the paper was running on
the press. believing that Bernard, who was
Selkirks friend, and who. he knew, had
been lingering much about the Cooper house
of late, might start an investigation which
would end in a raid upon the office and stop
the publication of the lie
As Bernard fumbled at the papers ana
before he had read word of them his
sounder began, "B-X," Blk" BIZ Blk,
his call. He quickly answered, and was
surprised to find that he was receiving
message to himself He wrote it mechan-
ically on blank as it licked out
Frank Bernard Station, Toms River,
il read Am detained and shall not be
.tft
great Importance. Tell Cooper, Hubbard,
Mercy, Betsey Bobbin.
(Signed) "Selkirk.
We'll" thought Bernard. Il m glad to
hear from him. anyway. l couldn't imagine
what had become of him.
Bernard reflected that as soon as he had
finished with the newspaper messages he
would get the news up to the Cooper house
In some way, fearing that the family might
be worried about the absent one. He me-
Chamcally arranged the papers before him,
and looked at the list of addresses TO which
the dispatch was to be duplicated. The
first name on the list was that of paper
"D-f." "D-f." .'D-f." 'D-f," he ratified off
on his sender. until finally there came a
response on the receiver screwed next TO II
on the table
"Oh. there you are. are you?' licked
Bernard in that strange conversation
which telegraph operators carry on among
themselves He always had something to
say to Tuckerton before he sent his mes
saees TO him. for he knew the operator
there. Thought you were asleep ne con-
tinued in his ticking gossip.
He ran the sheets over rapidly between
his fingers, making an estimate of the
length of the message. About three nun
ored words for the Beacon coming to
YOU" he signaled. Are you ready?'
Ok" came in reply.
Bernard looked down again at the copy OF
the dispatch.
oil, no and sent who has hitherto
been strong supporter Cooper for Congress,
has been forced by love of right to change
his front"
WHATS that?" he said, startled into
speaking aloud.
Mechanically he gave the signal of delay,
received a signal of assent, and read on, |
eagerly, keeping his fingers on the instru- |
ment but sending nothing.
THE reason for this" he read, ''is ex- |
planned in an article in his newspaper which |
is published today over his own name. |
He says that greatly to his regret he has |
found that Cooper has made an unworthy !
deal with a certain railroad corporation
seeking an entrance to Toms River. He
says that he has incontrovertible proof that
somewhere about the middle of the cam
paign a representative of this corporation
called upon Cooper and asked him for the
pledge of his vote This Cooper refused,
boldly announcing that such promise from
him ought TO be worth something, and de-
handing to know how much the railroad
would value ii /. The railroad representa-
tive knowing that he would be beyond the
reach of any law providing penalties for
those who bride public officials, because
Cooper was as yet merely a candidate for
office and not an incumbent made a Suffi-
GENTLY high proposal to secure Cooper's
pledge, and the money was paid there and
then. Jacob Musser, CoOper's antagonist in
the campaign, was approached as Cooper
was. but Indignantly refused the overture
made by the railroad interests. only to
learn later. and 10 his unqualified surprise
that Cooper had yielded to it"
Frank Bernard gave the signal over the
wire that further delay had occurred and
that he would call again. He fell that he
must have time for thought before he
sent that message. He could not believe his
eyes. The young operator was not more
deeply interested in politics and political
honesty than most young men of his age.
and would. ordinarily have sent without
question any dispatch turned over to him
and which did not violate the rules of the
company. But Selkirk was his friend and
he could not believe that he wished this
message sent. Cooper he regarded with
that exaggerated respect which a youns,
man of his age is likely TO give 70 the
father of daughters. and Mercy had hean
quite right the night before whom in 6o,
talk with Ress after tbcv had go,a ta
bed, she had assumed that her sisfer and
the operator had fallen in loye u,itL 80 80 |