The midland journal., 1908-10-16
RALPH'S
RESCUE
By ADELAIDE BRONSON.

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Ralph Morrow turned out the light
and jumped into bed. It was only 8
o'clock but he was tired to the point
of complete exhaustion. He had put
in hard day in new telegraph Of
fee, and he had been glad when the
night relief came in to lei him OF.
1t was the first experience in rail-
road office, and he found the work
vastly different from the more placid
routine of a commercial branch,
where the kilograms were simply
worded, and there were chances for
rest between times.
A busy railroad wire was one con-
slant strain and he told himself that
In five minutes he would be asleep.
He had dropped into a half doze.
when soft, insistent clicking fell
upon his ear and he rose in bed.
There was no mistaking the familiar
sound. 1t was the click of tela-
graph key, and it was sounding
call for help Over and over again
the clicks and ticks spelled out the
message as clear to Morrow as
though it was spoken language. 1t
was an odd sort of Morse, clear and
precise with none Of the Individuality
that the average operator gives his
Sending" 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 resorted to, and
Ralph decided that it must be be-
cause the victim was gagged.
The landlady had said something
about having another telegrapher as
a boarder when he had told her his
business. 1t was not uncommon for
operators to rig up apparatus at home
for the purpose of getting up speed
through practice. Some fellow oper-
ator was in danger, and had managed
to work his way over to the key, and,
with his bound hands, sent out his
call for help in the faint hope that
some brother of the key might hear
and answer. That accounted for the
slow, mechanical sending.
II am bound and helpless. Come
quickly to my assistance"
There was silence for a minute,
then springing from the bed Ralph
took a pencil and on the cover of a
cigar box he tapped out an inquiry
as to where the call came from. At
ter moment there came reply:
n am in the room on your right.
Unless you come quickly they will
return, and kill me. Every moment
is precious"
With hasty 20. X" Ralph slip
ped into his clothes, and, with re-
volver that he had used when he
was In charge of an Office 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-
ing his own room. He concluded
that it 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 locked, and
the push he gave sent him spinning
into the room, until he lost his bal
ance and fell heavily to the floor
There was cry of terror, and
Ralph scrambled into a sitting posi-
tion to look into a pair of blue eyes
set in very scared face.
I'm not a burglar" he assured as
he slipped the gun into his pocket.
''You telegraphed for help and I
came to your relief"
''Telegraphed?" The girl seemed
dazed.
Certainly" insisted Ralph. "You
telegraphed 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. 'Tt 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
fear.
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