Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
BY ARTHUR STRINGER,

FOOLS luck, I ever got this wire up! First,
had forty feet of water pipe, then eighty
feet o brick wall. then over fifty feet of
cornice, and about twice as much cave
trough hangin on all the time by my eye
lashes and dog-sick waitin' to be pinched
with the goods on! Hold on, there-what 3
this?'
The sounder had given out a tremulous
little quaver: then feeble click or two;
then was silent once more.
Lost it again. said Mackenzie. under
his breath.
Let me look over that relay a minuter'
relay usually used by linemen, with a
Morse key attached to the Dashboard; and
he ran his eye over it quickly. Then with
deft movement or two he released the
the next moment the instrument felt the
pulse of life. and spoke out clearly and dis
tinctly. Mackenzie looked up at the new
conner. for the first time, with an actual
and personal interest.
That's the trick, all rightr' he said. with
an admiring shake of the head.
Listen" Durkin cried. gleefully, how
ever. holding up a finger. That's Cor
coran, rhe old slob! He's sending through
the New Orleans returnsr' And he chuckied
as he listened with inclined ear.
That's Corcoran. same old slob as ever!'
And still again he chuckled, a little con-
temptuously. with the disdain Of the expert
for the slovenly sender. He remembered,
with touch of pride. his own sending three
years before at the Kansas City telegraph
ers' convention, and the little cheer that
broke from the audience in the great hall
as he left the test table. 1t was not at his
mere speed they had cheered, for he could
do little more than forty-flve words min
ute. but because, as the chairman had
later said, 1t was so clean-cut and neat and
incisive-"as pure as Rocky mountain
trout stream!
There they arer' said Mackenzie
The four silent figures leaned little
closer over the clicking instrument of in
sensate brass-leaned intent and motionless
with quickened breathing and dilated nostrii
and strangely altering faces. as though
they were far from quiet little back sew
ing room. and were indeed beholding vast
issues and participating In great efforts.
We've got 'em. at lastr' said MacNutt.
quietly. hopping his face and pacing the
little room with feverish steps.
Yes. we've got 'em.' echoed Mackenzie
tubilantly.
Frances Gambler, the woman said nothing.
But Durkin could feel her breath playing on
the back of his neck: and when he turned
to her he could see by her quick breathing
and widened pupils that she. too, had been
reading the wire. And again he wondered
as he looked at her wide forehead and those
warm yet firm lips In which he could see
impulsiveness still waywardly lurking. how
she ever came to such place. To Durlkin-
who had heard Of woman bookies and sheet
writer's and touts IN his day-she seemed
so soft, SO hower-like. in her pale woman
uOOus tnhI Bue Sui renamed 10 MIN one OF
the mysteries of a mysterious day.
The woman saw the play Of the quicker
thought on his face. and the impetuous
warmth in his eyes az he gazed up at her,
still half-timidly. And seeing 1t, she looked
quickly away.
mo goo-gooin' there you folks" broke in
MacNutt, brusQueiy. A. he was turning
hurrtedly away he looked back for q hest
tating moment, from Durkin to the woman,
and from the woman to Durkin again. II
he was about to say anything further on
the point 70 than, he changed his mind be-
fore speaking. and addressed himself once
moro TO Mackenzie.
Now, Mack. we've got 10 get move on!
Get some OF that CRIME OF, and your
clothes on, auiokr Then no turned back to
the other two ct the operating table.
"t've certainly got couple O. good-look.
ers IN you two, all right. all rishtF he said.
DprtiH thought hall meekingiy. "Bnt
want You to get greetnsd up. DuritIn, SOS to
do justice 10 that 9th avenue face o. yoursi
Better get rugged aut complete. before trou-
Bile begins, for you're EeiH TO move among
seRe Eind O. swell people. And you twovs
g sin g put On a lot o faes, to carry this
Purkia laughed sentsatsdiy. for his eyes