The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-08-06
The Wire Specialist
n Sborr Story

and the big cap had number on lis
front
Presently a quick pun OF wind came
up the roadway. lifting a little cloud
OF dust and whirling the fallen leaves
II nuttereG the leaves OF the boys fas-
chatting romance, too, and then deity
lifted yellow envelope from a little
pile OF other yellow envelopes on the
wall beside the boy. and toppled IL
over the stone wall and into the gar
den on the other side, and then sped
along
When the boy finally reused himself
and thrust the romance into his peck
ct. he failed TO notice the loss OF the
envelope. II he remembered right
there were six messages to deliver
and now there were but five. Perhaps
he had been mistaken. He had been
mistaken on several occasions. So he
trudged along and the message sent by
Shelburn Apgar was not delivered. II
was intended for the edification OF his
daughter, Grace. But she remained in
happy ignorance OF its contents
This was the message:
Am sending up Curtiss Thorne on
the three-thirty. Meet him al station
and make him welcome. There's moth
ing too good for Thorne. can't leave
here until six"
Grace would have understood this.
She knew how Curtiss Thorne was the
famous young engineer whom the
bridge company, Of which her father
was president. was so anxious TO Sc
cure. But at $3.50 O'Clock the message
was lying in the long grass behind the
stone wall on the East hill
The father OF Grace had said moth I
ing TO her about the coming OF this /
guest. She knew that the company
was anxious TO get his services, and 4
that the directors meant 10 make him \
handsome offer. Her father had
spoken in high praise OF his work. but \
the engineer was out OF the city at
the time and nobody seemed TO know
Just when he would return. So that
Curtiss Thorne was not at all in Grace
Apgar's mind
But at breakfast that morning her
father had said something about his
fear that the electrical wiring of the
house was not in the best OF order
There had been disastrous fire in the
neighborhood and the cause had been
given as defective wiring
I'm going TO have a man up here"
he said as he passed her coffee cup.
ITO look the wiring over. I'm a little
afraid Of electricity myself. And a
stitch In time may save a fight with ,
the insurance companies"
Cant you telephone for a workman. /
daddy" Grace asked.
NO" her father answered. Il want I
something better than an ordinary r
workman. | want an expert to look 7
the thing over and tell me what needs /
10 be done The ordinary workman v
can do the rest" \
What you want is a specialist. a
daddy" 4
That's 1t. A specialist on installa- G
ton. I'll attend to il as soon as h
reach the city. Perhaps can get the r
man up here today" y
All right, daddy, I'll be on the look i
out for him" v
Grace had this electric specialist in II
mind when she saw man coming up "
he gravel walk late that afternoon
She went 10 the door 10 admit him. 81
lie was well built young man. not n
ar from thirty. He wore a neat fit ri
ing gray suit and light felt hat and
,arried hand satehel. He was rather II
lark. with dark hair. and he wore a r.
,air Of dark glasses over his presum- a,
Ibly dark eyes.
Home OF Shelburn Apgar. pre- q,
ume?" he said in a sharp, quick fash
on
YES" q,
Possibly you are one of his house tn
Iold?"
Il am his daughter" gt
He drew Of his gray hat.
Glad to meet you" n
I0 canr4ad n lpplr atNhor r.-f4t,
dmiration or surprise-the dark ed
lasses quite effectually hiding his ey
yes 70
Come in" said Grace. "a
He entered the hall and put down
is satchel. M.
Your father prepared me for the hi
act that | was TO meet you-at the
ailway station. think he said"
AT the station?" exclaimed Grace. m.
1T is quite dusty walk" said the los
tranger And then he added. But I ke
ont mind the dust, and the scenery m,
as pleasing May | sit down." no
Grace started. This was a very
fendly young man. Much too friend nj,
she thought.
'Sit down II you are tired" she said m,
nd pointed out a high backed hall mi
hair
I'm not really tired" he said. Just ..r,
little languid. perhaps. Had a fall -,
me time ago. and haven't quite re-
'vered from II. Besides, IL looks ,,a
tile more--well. a little more friend. nc
TO sit. don't you Think"
And he pointed to another chair.
race, a good deal against her will. M,
ated herself. and the presumptiye %
Jung man took the chair she had
tinted out.
"Ah." he said, that's better. Then :
N heard from your father" /.
Heard from my father" /.
Eyes"
you knew | was coming?" ont
Father said he would secure Won "a tao
on as he reached the city" "
The young man started a little. the
did he? That's strange. He didn't ste
EN- at all sure about ii when | met arm
m this afternoon" wa
Grace almost admired his egotism int,
Il suppose your services are in G
eat demand?" she said. and there cas-
Ia "A flavor ~ earcaap, In 49, -. -