The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-29
sByI H.H.HudssIoepnr.s

Il ByI 90. HI Hudson
lls-I..'-siF
The din accom- pun ring the storage
of freight and baggage gradually
creased. The ropes were east on. and
lie ocean liner slowly headed to sea.
! Her rasscnsers were happy. They
watched the passing steamers. The
city WIS soon left behind. J. li$i
The waves began TO show their
strength. The number OF boats en-
tering the harbor grew less, and q
greater distance separated them. Tho
call to supper was responded to by
the merry passengers.
The operator of the wireless"
stood near the rail. lie was Yet ION
duty. They were headed down the
coast. Lights bealne.i from the win.
dows III cottages. They were pass-
Ing some of the most famous sum
mar resDrls In the world. The ciesr
moon now made n pathway of silver
leading in another direction. s.ti
II The rhythmic thruhblng OF the en.i
gfnes and the muno,ouous swash Of
the waves Indicated gond speed
Plano music and the applause OF the
merrymakers added pleasure to tho
occasion. !.
The operator was happy. He was
proud OF his work. He had been
specialist In his line. having worked
for some OF the best railroads and
mercantile houses before taking up
his present position. The change had
been beneficial. His health had I'M
proved. He was no longer confined to
an office. Furthermore. he was per-
fecting patent which would make
him more valuable to his company.
His meditation was Interrupted.
Are you the wireless operator7"
queried passenger. YES" was the
reply.
81 wonder II you know a friend OF
mine. said the passenger. HE Is on
one OF the vessels. plying along the
coast. He is also an operator like
yourself. His name Is Jack Spark.
We were chums."
II know your friend" replied the
operator. 81 keep in touch with. him
mt times. We will send him Jolly.
after awhile. Are you enjoying the
trip?"
| i
II wish 1t would storm. have never
been In storm at sea-"
"One experience would be enough"
replied the operator.
. The two young men entered the
operators room. The dynamo was
started. The leytlen Jars were soon
charged. The operator touched the
key. A flash followed like the report
Of pistol. The loud swapping and
cracking OF the discharges, accom-.
panied by binding flashes. soon
Hooded the room with the odor OF
ozone. One outgoing message fol.
lowed another In! rapid succession.
The operhtor finally removed his
headpiece and handed it to his visitor.
The passenger placed It snugly; to hls
ears and listened. He finally removed
1t with the remark that he could hear
the faint electrical sounds ut times:
but that there was another impress.
sion which sounded like that pro
duced BY drawing diamond over
plate OF glass. &
Lightning" muttered the operator.
as he took the headpiece. There Is
a terrific storm somewhere. l will
| try to communicate with your friend
Jack. hive not heard from him for
several days. He Is somewhere down
the coast. I will get in tune with
him." The operator moved little
pointer along a graduated scale tc
the notch numbered Is.
Flashes and instantaneous reports
followed the manipulation OF the key
for the outgoing message-then 81.
lence. The operator was all atten
ton. He grasped pencil. The Wis
itor watched Its movement. The pen
ell wrote: "Around: heavy sea;
driven from course: going 10 pieces:
good.by! JACK"
The operators fingers trembled
For some time the two sat breath
lessly waiting. The operator flnall,
removed the hcadpiece and beckonct
the visitor to adjust It. He did 30:
and rs he listened all that could be
heard was the scratching sound Us
of diamond cutting glass.
! The passenger went on deck. The
serene moon still shone from starlii
sky. The water splashed harmlessls
along the sides OF the liner. Sweet
muslc came from within. Two Hhipt
mad signnled In the night; but the,
were hundreds OF miles apart. There
was something terrible In the ingenu
ity that rendered 1t possible.