Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-10-28
RAI.PH'S
RESCUE
n ADn1AlD. snosaox.

RAlpA Morrow turned out the light
cpd jumped Into bed. It was only 9
e'Aaosk Sut he waa tired to the point
~ osnplste exhaustion. He had put
In . hard day In new telegraph Of
Dee, and be had been glad whom tho
piGht relief came In to let him OF.
4 was the 1rst experience IN q rail-
eeA4 once. and he found the work
SAstly dlGsrent from the more placid
routine q q commercial branch.
whore the kilograms were simply
wordsd, and there were chances for
rest bstwesa times.
a busy railroad wire was one con-
slant strain and he told himself that
IN ave minutes ne would be asleep.
He had dropped Into half dozc.
when . soft. insistsnt clicking fell
upon his ear and he rose in bed.
There was NO mistaking the familiar
sound. It was the click of telo-
g1aph key. and 1t was sounding q
call for help. over and over again
the clickA and ticks spelled out the
message as clear to Morrow as
though 1t was q spoken language. 1t
Was an odd sort OF More, clear and
precise with none 0! the Individuality
that the average operator gives his
vending" but It was Morse beyond
question. Someone in the next
room was in dire peril and was call
ing for help with the aid Of . tele-
graph instrument. 1t seemed odd that
this means should be resortsd to. and
Ralph decided that 1t must be be-
cause the victim was gagged.
Tho landlady had said somsthing
about having another telegrapher as
Q boarder when he had told her his
business. It was not uncommon for
operators to rig up apparatus at home
Tor the purpose OF getting up speed
through practice. Some fellow oper-
ator was In danger, and had managed
70 work his way over to the key, and,
with his bound hands, sent ont his
cali for help in the faint hope that
some brother Of the key might hear
and answer. That accounted for the;
slow, mechanical sending.
Il am bound and helpless: Come
quickly to my assistance"
There was silence for minute,
then springing from the Bad Ralph
took pencil and on the o6ver off, "a
Cigar box he tapped out an inquiry
~ to where the call came from. AZ
ter moment there came a reply
nj am In the room on your right.
Unless you come quickly they will
return and kill me. Every moment
II precious"
With a hasty 80. K" Ralph slip
ped into his clothes, and. with re-
volver that he had used when he
MAS In charge Of an once on the
night trick held ready for instant use.
he softly opened his door and went
out into the hall. For . moment the
room on the right" puzzled him.
There were rooms on each side Of him.
Was 1t ON the right. entering or leav-
ting his own room. He concluded
that 1t must have meant the room to
the east of his, and with stealthy
steps he approached the door. Care
fully he turned the knob and then,
with lunge, threw his entire weight
against the door.
There was no crash OF splintering
wood. The door was not looked, and
the push he gave sent him spinning
into the room. until he lost his bal
snce and fell heavily to the floor.
There was a cry OF terror, and
Ralph scrambled into sitting posi-
tion to look into a pair Of blue eyes
set in = very scared faes.
'I'm not burglar" he assured as
hs slipped the gun into bis pocket.
you telegraphed for help and /
Z came to your relief"
'Telssraphed?" The girl seemed
aazed.
Certainly" insisted Ralph. "You
es1sgraphsd that your life was In
danger, You said that you were
bound and helpless"
He looked uncertainty about him.
The girl had been sitting quietly
beside the drop light on the table
The book she had been reading lay
ON the floor beside her, and there
was no trace OF ropes or bonds OF
any sort.
1T must be the other ROOM" he
said duly. ut said the room on
right and supposed that that meant
the east. 1t is one of the two"
Some one is In danger?" asked
the girl, catching the infection Of his
tear.
I'm mortal danger! Listen" He
led the way to the door OF his room.
The ticking was heard distinctively
and now the message had changed
to more desperate appeal for assist.
anee. Ralph read the call as 1t came
and the girls face grew white with
terror.
ITO think that such a thing could
happen in this house." she gasped
~ have been living here for nearly
year. There might have been other
people killed in that time and we
know nothing about 1t"
There was labored step on the
stairs and the landlady's perspirins
face appeared above the top step, the
rest OF her ponderous body following
She eyed the pair sharply as she
! came toward them.
"Been getting acquainted?" she
asked pleasantly, though her face In
dicated suspicion and disapproval.
Hysterically the girl told her story
and the suspicious look gave place
to smile.
Come with me-" commanded the
boarding house mistress. II guess
can find the man who needs assist
ance.''
She led the way to the floor above
and as she tapped on door there
came again a terrified appeal fol
aid. THE message stopped in tn.
middle Of sentence and the doc,