The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-27

less Dy sWitch III the oiiice wiring
In fresh fever of excitement he no
gan a search for the switch, tracIn,
with his fingers the wires which IeJ
from the instrument and following
where they ran around the end of tho
room on the wainscoting. In the cor.
ner farthest from his window OF in
gress he found the switch and felt e.
out. II was a simple cut-out designed
TO connect either the office instrument
or the mine telephones with the main
wire, as might be desired. Under tho
switch stood a corner cupboard and in
feeling for the wire connections ON
top Of the cupboard Judson found his
fingers running lightly over the bound.
ing surfaces of an object with which
he was, unhappily, only too familiar
long necked bottle with the seal
blown IN the glass. The corner cup
board was evidently Flemister's side
board.
Almost before he knew what he was
doing Judson had grasped the bottle
and had removed the cork. Here were
renewed strength and courage and a
swift clearing of the brain to be had
for the taking. At the drawing OF the
cork the fine bouquet Of the liquor
seemed instantly to I'll the room with
its subtle and intoxicating essence.
With the smell of the whisky in his
nostrils he had the bottle halfway TO
his lips before he realized that the de-
mon Of appetite had sprung upon him
out of the darkness. taking him naked
and unawares. Twice he put the bot
tie down. only to take it up again.
His lips were parched. his tongue rat
tied in his mouth, and within there
were cravings like the fires Of hell,
threatening torments unutterable If
they should not be assuaged.
God, have mercyw he mumbled and
then in a voice which the rising fires
had scorched to hoarsc whisper, "If
1 drink I'm damned to all eternity,
and if | don't take just one swallow
I'll never be able TO talk so rs to make
Goodloe understand me''
1t was the supreme test of the man.
Somewhere deep down in the soul
abyss of the tempted one u thing stir
red, took shape and arose to help him
to fight the devil of appetite. Slowly
the fierce thirst burned itself out, the
invisible hand ut his throat relaxed its
cruel grip. and fine dew of perspira-
ton broke out thickly on his forehead.
At the sweating instant the newly
arisen soul captain within him whis-
pered. Now. John Judson, once for
all!' and. staggering to the open win
dow, he flung the tempting bottle afar
among the scattered powders. wait
ing until he had heard the tinkling
crash Of broken glass before he turn
ed back to his appointed task.
His hands were no longer trembling
when he once more wound the crank
Of the telephone and held the receiver
to his ear. There was an answering
skirl of the bell. and then voice said:
Hello! This Is Goodloe. What's
Judson wasted no time I'm explana-
ions. This is Judson-John Judson.
iet Timanyoni on your wire, quick,
md catch Mr.. Lidgerwood's special.
Fell Bradford and Williams to run
low. looking for trouble. DO you get
hat?"
A confused medley of rumblings and
'lankings crashed in over the wire.
md in the midst of the interruption
hudson heard Goodloe put down the re-
eiver. In flash he knew what was
at Little Butte station. The
Ielayed passenger train from the west
lad arrived. and the agent was obliged
o break off and attend to his duties.
AnXiously Judson twirled the crank
gain and yet again. Since Goodloe
lad not cut off the connection the min
led clamor of the station came to the
stening ear, the incessant clicking of
he telegraph instruments of Goodloe's
nble. the trundling roar of baggage
ruck on the station platform, the
acophonous screech of the passenger
ngine's pop valve. Then came the
onductor's cry Of "All aboard! and
hen the long drawn sobs of the big
ngine as Crawford started the train.
udson knew that in all human proba-
ility the superintendent special had
lready passed Timanyoni, the last
nance for telegraphic warning, and
ere was the passenger slipping away,
lso without warning.
Goodloe came back to the telephone
hen the train chatter had died away
nd took up the broken conversation.
Are you there yet, John ?" he called.
nd when Judson's yelp answered
Inn: "All right. Now, what was it
OIL were trying to tell me about the
)ecial?"
Judson did not swear. The seconds
ere too vitality precious. He merely
peated his warning, with q hoarse
aver for haste.
There was another pause, a break
the clicking of Goodloe's telegraph
struments, and then the agents voice
me back over the wire: Cant reach
o special. 1t passed Timanyoni ten
inutes ago"
Judson's heart was in his mouth,
I'd he had to swallow twice before
could go on.
4 o,s