The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-06-26
Bv DAVID H. WALKER

- RANK FISH, aged IS, San Fran
cisco schooIboy. awoke with start
He had dreamed that a tall. stout
man wearing black mask over his
features was trying to enter the house.
He found. to his dread. when he arose
his dream was true. As Frank stole
neiselessly from his bed and looked
carefully down from his bedroom win
dow 70 the yard below he saw a dusky
squire at the back door. With burglars
tools the stranger was breaking into
The house.
The family were all out OF the city
excepting rhe 13 year old lad. He had
returned from the country to get some
things that We're needed. and having
missed the last train for the suburbs he
had been compelled TO sleep in the fam
fly home all alone.
His heart throbbed violently while
he listened 70 the faint noises below as
the burglar worked. He opened his
mouth 70 scream for help. but no sound
issued for he had a second thought.
Just as he was about 10 rouse the
neighborhood with his cries one hand
IN the darkness came into contact with
s telegraph key. part Of a wireless
telegra ph. the system that an indulgent
father had permitted him to construct.
High over the house and garden the
serial wires swung in the west wind.
Close at hand. IN bis sleeping room.
were his condenser. his detecter, his
tuning coil, his helix his induction
colin short all the apparatus of a
station such as wireless amateurs like
10 build.
The touch on the cold telegraph key
was like a shock that made him think
and plan very fast He looked out in
the yard again. There toiled the burg
lar who had been busy all the time
since his tampering with the lock had
reused the young operator from his
slumber.
Just as Frank glanced at the rascal
the key was turned in the lock on the
back door. The door was not 10 open
yet however. There was still a bolt
20 be sawed of before the burglar could
enter the house in that direction
7 have i've minutes TO work IN and
q is now neck or nothing" said the
lad.
TIE window room had been closed
early in the evening when the wind
began 70 rise. Opposite the bed. open
ing into q narrow hallway, was a door
without lock. Still the door was a
factor in q bold game that the boy
had started 10 play.
stealing 70 Il stealthily and as swift
" as he could without giving an alarm
ne smut II sc lnat II tatcneo-
And now for neck or nothing
Frank had read this sentence in a
hook OF adventures and had thought it
q good motto It surely just fitted this
case as the next move was made.
Knowing where everything connect
ed with his wireless telegraphic plant
was situated Frank had no difficulty
in instantly placing his right hand on
the KEY again. He put the receivers
IL
that the spark muf8er was on so that
any slight noise that he might make
could not be heard by the burglar, he
signaled as fast as he could.
p. H." .P. H." p. H.
The electric fash that Jumped the
spark gap as he did this caused a sharp
Elimmer Of light 10 dance repeatedly
through the room. 1t might have been
seen by the burglar If he had been
looking sd at the window near which
the boy was working; but there was a
roof over the porch where the burglar
was standing and that threw dark
sasdow below The burglar glanced
sAther upward nor to the right nor to
The left. but began to briskly use a
small saw
The slight raspiug noise that fol-
lowed told Frank that the villain was
cutting the bolt which alone kept him
from opening the door A dog In the
next yard b8rke0, ana the noise ceased
FOR a minute. but no human being
seemed to stir. and so the saving went
on as before.
Meanwhile a wideawake operator on
The Russian Hill heard the repeated
call for p. H." which was his station.
IS ii came over a mile or more OF
space.
What do you wsnt2" he asked, and
the huge spark that sent this message
out across his lofty aerial into the
black night cracked so loudly that the
neighboring buildings repeated the
noise IN sharp echoes
The dots and dashes from his hand
eped westward They were caught up
bv the aerial wires Of scores OF anna
teur stations on shore. They were
heard in ships that uneasily swung at
anchor in the bay OF San Francisco and
on the lonely. heights OF Goat island,
where an al night operator was on
duty
Help. help. a burglar is trying TO
break into the house and I am all
alone. I am a boy"
"A burglars"
The operator in the commercial sta
lions heard and smiled 1T IS an
other boy hoax" they said and yawned.
The hour was , in the morning and
they had been on strain all night,
and ~ bows ought 10 be asleep.
The lad at his key waited IN a silence
ike death Only the sound Of the
Sea wind stirring among the trees and
swinging his aerial 10 and fro. making
Il sing a dismal night song, was heard;