The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-01-16

he rose; he was going 10 put the tel
egraph and telephone out OF commits
sion. The former enterprise he had
already accomplished with a small
fire AK which lay conveniently near
to hand; but as he approached the
latter instrument, considering where
to begin, the girl spoke for the first
time:
Wont you do something for me
first?" she asked piteously.
Sure, MISS answered Menzies,
grinning. Except put back them
bills.
NO, no, it isn't that" she answered
hastily. ITS my father. He'll lose
his position for this and he's too old
to get employment anywhere else"
Menzies leered at her amiably.
Sorry to get him fred from his job"
he said. "Whatcher want me to do?
Get him another?'
NO, but"
Wish l could help the old gentle
man." pursued Menzies. But | got
to skip"
He isn't DID," returned the girl
angrily. But he's served the COM
pany for twenty-five years, and to-
night the superintendent sent for him
to offer him the post at Rowland
Junction. He'll be accused of having
stolen this money!"
Well, what kin I do?" Menzies
growled "Divvy up with him."
mo. l want you to leave mes
sage saying that you took the money.
Tll-I'll write 1t for you on my type
writer" she added with trembling
lips, while her heart began beating
furiously. 1T won't take moment,
And it's his position"
MeAzies was tickled by the idea
AS tramp he had acquired the habit
OF leaving impudent messages on the
walls of hostile farm buildings; this
struck him as humorous. Besides, no.
body knew his scrawl. Sure, miss"
he answered. only, you see, my ed
dication was rather neglected after |
left college, and l amt frst-c!ass
speller."
Il only want you to put your name
to it," answered the girl. May l go
to the typewriter"
AS Menzes watched her suspicious
ly, she rose and drew her chair to the
front of the machine. in which she
inserted sheet of telegraph paper.
The telephone, on which Menzies fixed
his eye, ready in case of treachery,
stood on a movable arm, placed there
for the person at the desk, so that it
could be swung back, this obviating
the necessity of rising and going to
the box on the wall. From the top
of the desk projected pile of led
gers, form books and paper; the
girls eye had quickly noticed that, in
pushing back the telephone arm, the
hook OF the receiver would brush this.
BY def manipulation
She pushed it petulantly away, and,
as she had hoped, the pile of books
caught the hook, so that the receiver
Impractical in the use of the instru-
ment the difference would not have
been noticeable; nevertheless the eff
feet was to summon the 'person at
the other end to his receiver. And
thus three miles away, the bell was
sounding in Harry Grants wayside
office. He hurried to the receiver.
"Hello!" he called rs that you
Edna?" He repeated his call twice;
and then, in sudden apprehension,
listening intently, he heard the faint
click-click Sf the girls typewriter.
Meanwhile the girl had begun to
write her message.
This is to certify" she wrote, and
read, that I-I?" she looked up in
quiringly.
MY monaker, Miss? Menzies--
Hard Luck Menzies is what hey calls
me. | guess We'll let it go at that"
THAT /, Hard Luck Menzies, have
robbed this office of all the bills that
were in the desk, and have likewise
stolen the registered mail, during Mr..
Keyes' absence" She breathed
huge sigh Of relief. Now at all cost
she must detain him few moments.
That means ten years for interior
ing with the government mails" she
said, half incoherently.
He'll" answered Menzies irrever-
emily. rs that all? Go on. And III
meet you all in-heaven.' Now gimme
the pen and III put my tag to it."
He signed and then, snatching the
fire ak, with few well-directed
blows put the telephone out of com.
mission and, buttoning his coat
round him, leaped through the win
dow.
AS the typewriter ceased and the
crash sounded over the wires the
man at the other end leaped for his
telegraph instrument.
Robbery at gainesville" he clicked
over the keys. "A woman killed.
Uniondale and all sta
TONS Then he collapsed In his seat
and his face went white But he did
not leave his instrument until the
answer came.
How do you know"
81 got her last message. Morse code
on typewriter in front of open
phone"
That was how Hard Luck" Men.
zies came to step into the arms of a
posse at Crosstown.
Copyright 1912. by w. G.. Chapman.)