Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-01-11
Man on
the Wire
Dorothy Douglas

Inc girl glanced up al TOE CLOCK
and stiHed a sigh. Her parents would
not return for another two hours and
Kathleen had begun to feel the lone
illness Of being in q house in the
country with only little yellow dog
for cOmpanionship.
Even Mike had grown restless as.
he snoozed by the fire and Kathleen
watched his little body tremble with
inward growls as the creaking of
door or the gentle tapping Of branch
es on the windows disturbed his
slumber.
mike, If you were not such a nice
little yellow dog / would wish you
were Great Dane OF some ferocious
beast so that / wouldn't feel SO
spooky when you and l are alone in
the house"
Kathleen turned again to her mag
azine, but the steadily rising wind
began to play havoc with her nerves,
and when the telephone clashed a
loud ring she sprang from her chair
in sheer fright.
Kathleen went to the telephone,
but no answer rewarded her. The
number had not been rung, central
informed her.
She returned to her chair, but be-
fore she had seated herself another
sharp ring startled her Kathleen
spoke with asperity to central.
"The telephone certainly rangw
| Probably it is the wind" came
back from central, and Kathleen
hung up the receiver.
She went to her chair, determined
not to be iiturbed again.
The imperious ring did not come,
but a gentle, regular tinkling of the
bell continued. Kathleen drew a
breath ofrelief and remembered that
often before the wind had played up
on the wires in that persistent, eIas-
perating way.
Mike still growled inwardly, but
Kathleen became absorbed in her
story.
Gradually, however, she became
conscious that while the wind had
abated there still continued that
maddening tinkle of the telephone
bell.
Kathleen arose and went to the
window. Outside all was calm aud
clear and moonlit and. Kathleen let
her troubled nerves absorb some Of
that calm. After : moments hesi-
tstion she, decided to investigate the
cause Of the telephones regular
tinkling.
Mike, because he: felt in duty
bound to follow his mistress every
step went with her up the low fight
of stairs to the second floor
Switching on the lights as shs
went Kathleen made her way to the
back OF the house and there her
nerves again played her false.
A low sound, much as Of some one
calling came from the outside world.
Mike set up a deafening bark and
when Kathleen's shaking fingers
found the electric switch and food
ed the room with light Mike was
jumping at the window.
A distinct "Hello" now came
through the window. Kathleen gath
cred all her courage and peered out.
The light from the room streamed
full force on a mans face. Kath-
leen had time to observe that it was
not the face of highway robber.
Mike had ceased TO bark and Kath-
leen leaned far out the window.
"Who is there ?" she called out.
In semi-cOnscious way Kath.
leen's eyes had travelled beyond the
man and she saw, there in the great
oak branches, that which had once
been an airship.
81 am here-just now" came in Z
weak but deep voice. Il am hang,
ing BY my-belt--whea that gives
out" 81
"Or Kathleen had vanished from
the window and'nOw with Mike clos
at her heels shs came swiftly frou
he kitchen door.
81 viii get you . stsp ladder !" sh'
allied 10 ths man, who presented a.
,nusunl spectacle hanging from th'