Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-21

not engaged at what he was hired to
do he was questioning the operators
as TO how they communicated with
distant points, the alphabet they used
and other matters pertaining TO teleg-
raphy. When he was twelve, though
he would not have been fitted 10 ill
an operators position, he knew many
things about the telegraphic system
that some operators did not know, for
Jimmie was OF an inQuiring turn OF
mind and was always looking into
things and the reasons for their being.
When he was fourteen, being large
and strong for his age, he was given
a Job as assistant in the construction
department of a telephone company.
Here. too, Jimmie wanted to know the
why and wherefore" and at the same
time absorbed the practical features
of making telephone lines. BY the
time he was eighteen years old. hav-
ing the materials, he was perfectly
capable Of setting up a telegraph or
telephone line and operating it.
The first situation Of any Importance
Jimmie secured was that of station
agent on the Y. G. and St G. railroad.
But he was only nineteen, and to Sc
cure such a place he was obliged to
take a station in a desolate place, the
nearest house being a mile away. AT
/ this house he took his meals. sleeping
| in a room over the station.
| In the family with which he boarded
was country lass two or three years
younger than Jimmie. whose blue eyes
! and yellow hair naturally had an eff
/ feet on the young station agent. A
single girl Off by herself is to a young
man as a jackknife Is to a boy. That
! same knife in a store among a hun
/ bred other knives Is not nearly so
/ beautiful as when he gets it home.
1t wasn't long before Jimmie and
Kitty concluded that it would not be
half so lonely for Jimmie If they could
build little nest nearer the station.
where they would dwell together jim
ME had the framework of a small
house and the other necessary parts
shipped to him. The people whereabouts
got together for a house raising, and
Kitty's pop. with occasional help from
Jimmie. did the rest. except the paint
ing. which Jimmie did at such times
| as he could leave the station.
When all was finished those who had
helped to build the nest were invited
left the young couple in their new
home. The first thing Jimmie did after
they were married was to build tele-
phone from the station to his home
He located the station end Of it in the
room above. which he had used for a
bedroom. In order that II any one came
in while he was talking with his wife
he might not be overheard. There was
steep, narrow staircase leading up
to this room from the waiting room.
ticket and telegraph office below.
He wrote to his old employers. the
telephone company. to send him the
apparatus he needed. knowing that
they had plenty such material in old
stock. and they made him a present OF
an outfit. including a desk transmitter
and receiver. Since there We're nights
that he was obliged to remain at the
station he put the instrument between
his cot and the side of the house
Since the latter was not piastercd
there was convenient place for 1t be
tween two joists and the clapboards
Often when he was about to snatch al
hours sleep he would throw himself
on the cot. pick up the instrument, cal
Kitty for few words. then set ii down
again on the floor. The wires passed
directly out Of the house, down behind
a water spout and thence underground
to Jimmie's home
During the day. when confined to the
station. he would often go upstairs. es
pecially after the baby came to cal
up Kitty and ask her how she was
getting on. if she wanted anything and
to send a kiss for both mother and
child. One day while thus engaged
person came into the station. and since
the room below was neither sealed MOI
pIastered Jim was overheard. After
that when telephoning, upon hearing
step below. be wrapped his head and
the instrument in bedquilt, which
deadened the sound.
These details may seem unimpor'
tlDt. out Il time came " men ihtS "tie
turning point in Jimmie's life. But
that was not for some time after his
marriage Meanwhile ne was thinking
about his wife and baby's future. The
appearance OF helpless child in a
mans life stimulates him to action
Jimmie was not getting on very fast
in accommodating surplus funds. and he
felt the responsibilities resting upon
him. He didn't like the idea in case
he should die Of leaving his wife with
no income and as for the baby, a boy
he wished him to have the advantage
Of an education. That meant the
wherewithal 70 secure one. Since the
father had not been able to get mucF
! education himself he understood tbs
disadvantage Of being thus deprived
and was all the more eager that hi:
son should be favored.
Jim was now a man of twenty five
years. One night there were extra
trains on the railroad making theiI
. way between the regular numbers
and Jim was Obliged to remain at the
station. lie was sitting at his operat
iprr fIR b.