The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-12

II was a breathless ominous night
on the Pacific coast. The place was a
lonely little wireless station at Bal.
Iona Key. That isn't It's real name.
by the bye. but IL is something like
II. Ten miles down the shore was
Ballona proper.
Baliona means marsh. and Is de-
scriptive. since this little cluster OF
houses was huddled on the edge OF a
salt swamp. The swamp was most
depressing as constant outlook.
Eight miles inland were low hill and
the town OF Santa Miguela. and ten
miles up the coast and some twelve
out TO sea wac one OF the government
islands. They had a girl operator
there. and she sometimes called Bal
Iona up TO say that IL was awfully
lonely.
Adam Carleton and his grandson.
Regis. were spending the evening to-
geth-r. as they spent all the evenings.
Adam was eighty-fve and bed ridden.
but he was s feet .. and splendid
looking. He was one OF the forgotten
race OF physical heroes. lie had been
telegraph operator In his youth
among other things Adventure was
In his blood. and Il was daring
coast rescue and consequent accident
which had crippled him hopelessly a
score of years ago.
Now he lay through the DAYS and
nights and years. watching with fierce
eyes the generation which was carry
ing on the arms he had been forced
to lay down. At eighty-fve his blood
still ran too strong for resignation;
but he had To live his life on a diva n
with pillow under his magnificent
white head. and a Navajo blanket
spread by his dutiful grandson over
his crushed legs
Regis Carleton was twenty.six.
pallid and small-boned Though he
had never been III. any out-of-door
man would have put him down as a
weaklng. His grandfather had given
him an education and a thorough
training in telegraphy. lie had a
scientific trend OF mind. and when
wireless came In he qualified as a
brilliant expert operator under the
new regime.
Old 4 dam could not get used 10
the present day. IN which II IS 20 Gf-
ten the young and uLi.t. F., man who,
by virtue OF his absolute technical
training. bears the most complete and
eIac;lne burdens of modern civiliz.
alton. The old man found IL astouisr-
ing that headquarters should ha--
given the boy so much responsibility
When Reggie got the new post. his
grandfather came along as n matter
of course. lie loved tho boy in n
savage. jealous fashion Of MS own
and neither had any closer ties Tho
old man felt with a singular intensity
The pangs Of affection. and the anx-
iety which such Affection brings. The
devoted but critical soul asked itself
often whether the lad was of the stun
needed TO make what Adam called a
man
us the new order" he said. reach
Ing for his black ana ancient Ina
II belong 10 the old"
The wireless operator shrugged his
Z shoulders. He was used 10 bis graUG-
father.
You know a lot" went or Adam
putting NJ h'~ pipe. Your" trained
20 Opcrat. now machines, and You're
darned near a. perfect and as new as
the machines them elves In Uy dav
Il wa all new. dy'. seq Tho tote
craph aud u. telephone were -"
modern miracles. The arst biz ocean
liners they'd make Us chaps want
20 play they seemed SO wonderful -
uf. Sow that's an old story Nou'v"
got q telephone without wines. son
yCull have a telephone that WORKS
the same way. our miraculous ocean
liners are out OF date
ffif'a1f Nlrfr. ...fr..I l..
gained mastery % things. But you :"
lot 'om"thing. too. boy you take u
from me-. you've lost -ouethins. too.
We we're the pioneers. tho adyen.
turer-. YOU just follow after Your"
losing The romance Of g all. and ~
nance is The stun that makes men
P But then. they're inventing machines
10 take place a. men now
sudden hard not wind ri.sh bed m
~ them. and gave an even stronger
I smell 81 tho sea than before q smell
that was somehow dank and evil
Re-. what's yogr smbi'ion7"
To IHv' my own laboratory. ra.
turned Reggie promptly so make
freHt electrical dijruveri-s. and De-.
com" famous"
" iyhr ,ou're right Ndam scoRcI
END puH . BIT % rather Won were
wrong was q pt tty GOOD operator
no SELF when was young chap. but
The Lord Aimi.nty know mover
thought - 20 as LfeWorF % VAS
nv work. r.Ftf enough hut wy lie
well. that nae F1mathing bit big
ger
Nrsi's hands Vcut ont ls-llv nd
indiu'ftuly over 'hr Iusulatif plate.
Something wrong asked Adam
putting D. pipe down qu4fly
oh. ! guess NOT said Rcrln easily