Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-08-10

came to the front. Election was but
cne day away.
ri shall return to the Star offica
and tell exactly where 1 found Mr..
purfee and repeat his remarks"
The reform candidate ripped out
savage oath. "1hat will mean that the
Star will spread the news so loud that
even your help won't elect me, Nor
iarityr
ut will mean Morley, right enough"
growled Shortcut, "and Morley is hon
est, If 1t will do you any goo1 to know
! you Star man. Boys, tie him up
gag him and throw him in that closet
until the streets are empty; then hus-
tie him over to Mikes in taxi, and
see that he is kept mum until you
have my word to do something else."
Lang made stubborn fight, altho
he knew that the odds were too many
for him, and was well beaten for his
temerity. Bruised, bleeding. half un-
conscious, and suffering pain from the
torn handkerchief forced between his
teeth, the young reporter was tossed
unceremoniously into the far corner
Of the closet, and the door slammed
shut.
For long time there was no sound
from either adjoining room; then the
room beyond the closet was entered BY
two men, both of whom Lang judged
to be more or less intoxicated. Thru
IL. 1at 10 tIn
Loarding their voices came quite plain
ly and something familiar about the
tines Of one caught his attention.
"Must be going, old man, said one
If the men, rising unsteadily. "You
better come along too. Your trick
pretty quick now"
LET old telegraph Job hang!" num-
bled the man whose voice was vaguely
familiar. Tell chief am sick. Tell
him run over by auto. Tell him Brady's
awful tired and is going to Sleep,
Brady! Lang had known Brady back
| n the home town and later in the
| city office where he was employed.
| Evidently the operator had allowed
mis- one weakness to get the better of
him. Lang waited for the other man
I. leave for he well knew Shortcuts
| hold over the regular habitues of the
place. The reporter need expect no
help. Twice he tried with his fingers
10 tap out a call in the Morse code.
| uis hands, numb and bound, refused
9 40 his bidding.
Then a flash of inspiration came to
rim as he remembered test he had
made with Brady when they were
working together.
In spite of the gag in his throat he
began to make Brady's call over and
over. To the uninitiated the cultural,
incouth sounds might resemble the
cnatter of an African Zulu, or person
" acute distress, but to the trained
=;.r he knew it was possible to talk
telegraph"
"Hn, Hin, HIM. Over and over he
made the letters.
"Now what's that?" he heard Brady
nutter. "Since when did old Shortcut
install thing to make a telegraph
call by word of MOUTH"
"lt's Lang; speak low" came from
lie closet, still in the Morse.
Habit was stronger than drink
'srady had been an operator for TWEEN
" years, and dots and dashes In any
Z. rm dominated his mind. Soldering
's.pidly he dropped on his knees and
crept to the closet wall.
For half an hour the young reporter
alked Morse, and the old reporter
'arely interrupted. Twice some of the
'cugh attendants yelled at Lang to
top groaning and several times to al
ay suspicion Brady had to order
trinks. which he Immediately poured
upon the floor.
Then, acting the part of a much In
toxicatcd. but withal happy Individual