Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-12-30
LOCATING THE BREAK
New LineSman Repaired Two;
One in Wire, the Other More
important.
az WALTER JOSEPH DELANEY

or discharge, I'm sorry 10 say, an
nounced Forman Perkins OF the Mid
land Electric Light company
II was In the Office of the Midland
plant that he said il. and the man he
addressed, Robert Cole, looked dismal
IL out across acres on acres Of huge
snow drifts, sighed desperately. and
arose to his feet with the words;
Rules are rules, Mr.. Perkins, aud
I'VE always tried to follow the COM
pany's here, but l give up this time.
In the first place, that soaking / got
in the rainstorm last week has left
me chills and fever, and haven't the
strength to work. IN the next place,
there's new baby at our house, and
I'm needed there"
The speakers hectic face and harsh,
racxing cough told that he was ma
king no pretence. He went TO the
window to hide the tears coursing
down his cheeks and gazed out at the
fast darkening landscape.
Besides himself and the boss, there
was only one other occupant Of the
little Office He was a stranger TO
both of them, outside of the fact that
he was the new man sent from head
quarters that day Young, bronzed.
athletic, he was a vigorous contrast
in physical health to the poor fellow
VINO now saw his life chances fading
away from him, with no position to
guarantee comfort for the dear ones
at home. The stranger had been reg
istered as Dale Tyler, linesman." He
glanced twice at Cole after he had
made his plea. He seemed studying
the situation. There were lines in his
face that showed hard contact with
the world, and these did not indicate
any deep sympathy. His accustomed
cynical expression changed, however,
as some good impulse stirred him. He
arose, went over to Cole, placed his
hand on his shoulder and said tersely.
You go home-I1l take care of
the job"
At the words the foreman turned
sharply upon him.
"Why, you're not scheduled for work
until tomorrow" he said
THAT so?" retorted Dale Tyler non
chalantly. "AIl right, I'll do it any
way, and you can credit it to this man
here, who faces death if he goes out
in such bowling blizzard as this"
The speaker resented the express
sions of deep gratitude attempted by
Cole, and went over to where the fore
man had opened the order book. He
reached into a corner took up a re-
pairing outfit, and swung it careless
ly over his shoulder.
tits the line between here and
Hampton" announced the foreman.
Its down somewhere, the trans
former end reports"
How shall l locate it?" inquired
Tyler.
Il should say it was the old trou.
ble-pole 5S5 or Whereabouts. Last
week the rain made sag in two Of
the poles near it and a break in the
wires. The distance is about
You needn't tell me-" interrupted
Tyler, with a frown. Il knew this
district pretty well-once"
"Oh, you dido" asked the foreman.
We'll, you can't miss it, following the
line. If the break is serious, reach
the nearest telephone and Wen send
help some way or other"
"All right"
~There's an extra fee IL we get the
connection before eight O'Clock" ad-
yised the foreman. You see, there's a
big wedding at Hampton. They want
to get the lights on at any expense.
It's the rich Miss Norton, going to
marry-hellol"
The new man was strange man as
well, decided the asto1ished foreman
as the former bolted from the place
as suddenly as If shot AS the men
ton of that name-AIiss Norton-Dale
Tyler shrank as If his informant had
drawn red hot iron over raw
wound.
He left the place muttering strange
words, his eyes fixed ahead in q
panied, intense stare, needless of the
roaring wind, the cutting sleet, the
great snow drifts.
What did ! come back for he
cried bitterly torture? Lights
for the weddingl And ], Of all men,
to add to the grandeur and briIliancy
Of the occasion! Is it Fate or-Retri-
butiong?'
This mans soul was q seething
volcano. No marvel that he disdained
the cold, the discomfort, the hard
ship! A storm of emotion, OF anguish,
was sweeping through his brain with
rushing, devastating force. That name
Miss Norton-had unlocked the
most secret chamber in his heart OF
hearts.
Two years before Dale Tyler had
been engaged to Miss Lucia Norton,
Of Hampton. There had come a
lovers quarrel de was inpetuous,
and she was just In fit of pioue he
had gone west Losing his ambition.
from work as an engineer he became
a practical linesman on account OF the
hustle and exercise OF outside work.
All that time his life was embittered
by his rash act, but he was proud. and
long since ne had decided that Lucia
must have forgotten him as he de-
served, he told himself.
And now-tTansferred nearer to his
old home. his first task had been to re-
pair the broken wires I'm. +I,a v.-e7, is,,,,