The San Francisco call., 1910-08-07
by Il. A. PRICE

Jimmy was very willing to agree
with the doctor. and when his father
and mother wrote to Uncle Dick to ask
il they could find room for him he was
very much excited over the outcome.
Uncle Dick was station agent at a
little place in Arizona, and was mar
ried to a sister of Jimmys mother. He
had son of IA. who was just about
Jimny's age.
In a few days Jimmy's father re-
ceived the following telegram: Jimmy
very welcome. Good chance to wear
out old clothes"
A word to the wise is sufficient. and
the boys suit case was well packed.
so much so that 1t was hard to find
room for one of Jimmys most cher
ished possessions-his wireless tele-
graph outfit. He belonged to boys
wireless club. and they had been very
successful in their experiments While
he was not very sure of opportunities
for sending messages in the little town
he was going to, he might be able to
receive some.
1t was a long ride on the train to
the little Arizona town. but when he
got off at the station he found his
Uncle Dick and Aunt Kate waiting for
him, and his cousin Bob helped him
down the steps with his suit case
His uncle and aunt were nice and
friendly, and he felt right at home
with them. Immediately. After fine
luncheon when he had told them all the
news of his folks, Bob took him in
hand and showed him the place.
Bob was very much interested in
Jimmy's wireless outfit. He had read
of them, and, as a bright boy, was
more or less familiar with the way the
messages were sent and received but
he had never seen the real Instruments
before.
Uncle Dicks station was the dis
tributing point for telegraph supplies
in the division and there was lots of
wire on hand. So before the week was
over the two boys had rugged up an
aerial from the top Of the water tank
to telegraph pole. and then they set
up the apparatus.
The receiving part worked fine; they
could hear the tick, tick" of messages
that were being flashed from some-
where, but the calls were made and
signed In code letters and were all
strange to Jimmy who was used to
those Of his own vicinity. But the
principal thing against any active op-
Grating was the fact that Jimmy had
no power to operate his sending ap-
paratus At home he had used the
electric light current in his house. but
here there was none to be had.
There were lots of batteries In the
storeroom, but Jimmy knew they
would not do to operate his outfit,
which was designed to use heavy cur
rent, and besides Uncle Dick would not
allow him to use the cells, as they
might be needed at any time and must
be available for use.
So, much against the wishes of the
two boys, they had to give Nup the
idea of establishing a wireless station
in the desert. and this turned Jimmy's
mind to the object of his being there,
to be out Of doors as much as possible.
Once when they were far from home
lot
thirsty Bob hunted about until he
found queer looking plant, which
he stuck with his knife. Judge of
Jimmy's surprise to be handed a cup
of water from the plant. 1t didn't
taste very good, but 1t satisfied his
thirst, and his cousin gained added
respect.
One afternoon Uncle Dick called
Aunt Kate and the boys to notice some
queer looking clouds which were form
ing over the mountain. The weather
had been unusually sultry and 1t was
the closeness which kept the boys at
home.
1T looks to me-" said Uncle Dick,
"as If we might have storm Those
kind OF clouds mean trouble, and /
wish they were on the other side Of
the ridge"
1t wasn't very long before they did
have a storm! To Uncle Dick and his
family 1t did not promise to be very ex-
citing. for they had lived for some
years In that region, but II was Jim
mys first experience with thunder and
lightning. With Bob he watched the
flashes playing over the peaks. and felt
the chill In the air which betokens
the storms approach.
Get the ponies in the shed. boys"
called Uncle Dick. II think it's COM
ing our way!"
AS the boys ran down the path big
rain drops began to fall. They got the
horses under shelter and darted back
to the house, and none too soon. II be-
gan TO rain in torrents. The hot earth
seemed to steam under the downpour,
and the path was soon running with
watar like a miniature river