The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-07-19
THE TAPPED WIRE
BY GENEVIEVE ULMAR.

|
1t was well for Ned Walters. line re-
pairer, that this was SO. Just as Ills
ley CHANGED to be passing, the man
aloft on the telephone received a
shock, uttered sharp cry and fell
upon the crosstrees, apparently insen'
sible.
He was hanging with his head down
and slipping. slipping, the only obsta-
Gle to a sheer earthward plunge being
loose wire in which the climbing
hook had caught.
Illsley sprang at the pole, pulled
himself up and, fourteen feet accom-
plished, grasped the victim of the acct
dent.
One hand Of the latter showed a
closed, the face CHASTITY pale; but Wal
ters breathed slowly, painfully. He |
came back to sensihility and Illsley |
eased him inch by inch down the pole.
you got me In time, didn't your"
faltered Walters. at was u narrow
Craze. I'm not likely to forget you
soon."
he saw him fully out of danger. At
this especial period Illsley was not
very happy. He was a man in love.
but something more than that--a man
In love who had confessed the same
and had been ruthlessly discouraged.
The blow had been n crushing one.
These We're the circumstances Ills
ley had come to Moorville to visit an
old invalid uncle, and his intended So
Journ had glided into month because
he had met Breda Lorne. SO con-
WINGED was he that he had met his
fate, so apparently pleased did Miss
Lorne appear with his attention, that,
two days before his necessary return
to business in the city, powerful i'm
pulse led him to write to her frankly
clearly, telling her Of the true state Of
his mind and asking for the encour
hgement he hoped to receive. Two
mornings after that Illsley received
brief note that seemed to seal his fate.
1t was signed with the initials "B. L."
and Informed him that his appeal was
hopeless, as the writer was already en-
gagged to another.
nlsley closed the chapter of his one
life romance by striving to forget,
which was impossible, and arranged to
get back to the city, where distance
and occupation might assuage the deep
heart pain he experienced. Twice he
passed Miss Lorne on the street. He
simply bowed, his manner grave and
constrained. Breda acknowledged the
salutation and flushed, half-halted, as
though expecting he would address heI
and then passed on, certain hurt ex
preston upon her face.
Both times she was with her con
slant companion, Corinne Mayhem
who was a visitor from another town
and whom Illsley had met severa
times at the Lorne home. He ha
never liked the young lady, for she ha
certainly set her cap for him, and he
bold forwardness in this respect ha
led him to evade her.
Illsley had said good-by to his incl
and had reached the railway depO
Just at dusk, three days after his time
ly services in behalf of Ned Walters
when, just as the train bound for hi
destination came in view, a swift fig
ure rushed up to him and seized hi
arm. 1t was Ned himself, and he wa!
GREATNESS and perturbed.
"Just in timer! the line repairel
painted out. "Mr. .llsley, you mus
come with me for an hour or two"
"But / have made all arrangement!
to take this train"
"You will defer 1t, am sure, wheI
tell you that your future happiness
and that of Miss Breda Lorne depend.
upon your learning what know. Don
think am prying into your affairs, bu
I owe you my life, and in my humble
calling have come to obtain informa
ton of great value to you"
"What do you mean" questioned
nlsley.
"That a certain letter you received
was never written by Miss Lorne, wh'
never read your own that Miss Cor
inne Mayhem has been scheming t.
discredit you with Miss Lorne in tn
interests of her brother"
} credulous, until Walters took him to
, room which had wire running into 1
to temporary receiving instrument.
'Listen at that receiver until Their
passes over the wire q message fror
, Miss Mayhem to her brother, which
happen to know will occur within tn
next hour / have caught many sue
in the course of my work during tn
past few days"
, Twenty minutes later Illsley hear
: Miss Mayhem inform her brother tina
Illsley had abandoned the field, an
that her brother must the next day b.
l gin the siege of Breda's heart, tha
Breda loved Illsley, but her very hl
initiation at his apparent neglet
would arouse her pride and make ht
l pliable for a new sutton.
l Ilsley did not leave the town tn,
night, nor the next-in fact, not at al
He saw Breda and the situation w,
5 cleared at the sacrifice of her fal.
girl friend. nlsley settled down
Moorvi11e and loft ft op1v hammond 4