Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-30
An Unusual
Message
By DOROTHY WHITcoMB
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Copyright, 1921, Western Newspaper Union

Copyright. 1921. Western Newspaper Union
A man was tramping heavily across
the sands of the interior Of the vast
Australian continent. Preston watched
him from the door Of his tent. He
had no doubt that this was an illu-
sion, born, like so many others, Of
loneliness and the scorching heat Of
the illimitable wastes.
For fifteen months Preston had not
seen q white mans face. With his
small company Of faithful blacks he
had travelled almost from coast to
coast, erecting the wireless telegraph
stations. He had had companion
Hall; but Hall lay under cairn OF
stones many weeks journey southwark
and Preston was without companion
ship.
Back in England girl was wait
ing till the, completion of his. task en-
abled him TO send for her, that they
might take up life together.
The figure came forward. He was
emaciated by hunger and burned brick
red by the tropical sun. Preston car
ried him into his tent.
Evening came ut length; the meal
was prepared. The Stranger showed
signs of reviving. Then he relapsed
into delirium ana~ began mutterins.
Preston at first paid no attention
10 his lelirium. Gradually, however,
he became worse. One name per-
sistently lowered npon his lips. It
was woman's name. The girl was
his fancee and lived In Plymouth,
England. That much he knew: Miss
Daisy Gibson, engaged to Peter Bar
nett and waiting for his return with
the pearl oyster catch, that they might
be married. AS the sick man grew
weaker his utterance Of her name be-
came continuous.
All at once Wild idea came into
PrestOn's brain. He shook Barnett
violently.
"Do you want a message from Miss
Glbson?" he asked him.
The words acted electrically upon
the other.
Messenger he uttered. shes in
England" -
"But listen, man. I can fash q
message to the coast. Perhaps an an
swer will come"
Fired with the idea, he hurried out
to the transmitting apparatus; and
that was the origin Of the strangest
message that ever went by wireless.
It was the operator on board the
L. s. cruiser "Tenany" who caught
the faint signals and showed the mes
sage to his commanding officer. 1t
ran like this:
Miss Daisy Gibson, Plymouth, Eng
land. Peter Barnett, sick in North
Australia, asks for message"
There was 10 signature.
The message was flashed out In all
directions. 1t was picked up simuta-
neously by Dutch merchantmen OH
the Celcbes, by u British warship in
tne lIluldH OCtdH, ny uSiihah b"o
senger ship off Surinam. Before noon
it was pouring into the telegraph Office
at Plymouth from a hundred different
places.
The newspapers brought out spe-
cial editions. BY nightfall Miss Gibson
was world-famous heroine.
But of all that Preston was ignor-
ant. He had sent the message in the
last hope of saving the strangers life.
Now, having dispatched it, he sat be-
side his guest, his head in his hands.
All his work had gone for nothing
and the hope of life was shattered, for
the message had been to his own
sweetheart.
He took the locket from his pocket
and opened it. The sight Of her face
occasioned him exquisite tortures.
The dismal night passed by. The
hot sun scorched the sands again.
The sick man awoke. He would re-
cover now.
What was that you said about Miss
Gihson?" asked the man on the bed.