The Idaho recorder., 1922-02-17
An Unusual
Message
ny DOROTHY WIllTcoMe

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Copyright 1921. Western Newspaper un.oa.
a man was tramplng heavily across
the sands Of the interior OF the vast
Australian continent. Preston watched
llin from the door OF his tent. lie
had no doubt that this was an illu-
sion, born, like so many others, Of
loneliness and the scorcling heat Of
Ilie lllimitable wastes.
For fifteen months Preston had not
seen II white mans face. With his
smuil company Of faithful blacks he
Lad Travelled almost from coast to
coast, erecting the wireless telegraph
stHtlons. lie had had companion
Hall; but Hall lay undor eairn Of
stones many weeks journey southwark
and Preston was without companion
ship.
Back In England girl was wait
ing TN the completion Of his task en-
abled hlm TO send for her. that they
might take up life together.
The figure came forward. He was
eaaclated by hunger and burned brick
red by the tropical sun. Preston car
ried him into bis tent.
Evening came at length; the meal
was prepared. The stranger showed
signs OF reyiying. Then lie relapsed
into deliriun aud began muttering.
Preston at first paid no attention
to his dclilium. Gradually, however,
he became worse. One maine per-
sistently lowered upon his lips 1t
was woman's name. The girl was
his iiancce 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 nahie be-
came continuous.
All at once a wild idea came into
Prestons brain. He shook Barnett
violently.
do you want a message from Miss
Glbson?" he asked him.
The words acted electrically upon
the other.
"Aiessage?" he uttered. "She's in
England
But listen, man. can flash q
message to the coast. Perhaps an an
swer win 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.
1t was the operator on board the
y. S. cruiser "Tenafly" 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 a message"
There was no signature.
The message was flashed out In nil
directions. 1t was picked up simulta-
neously by a Dutch merchantlnan off
the Celobes, by British warship in
the Indian ocean, by German pas
scngcr ship off Surinam. Before noon
It wns pouring Into the telegraph Office
at Plymouth from hundred different
places.
The newspapers brought out spe-
clal 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 ii, he sat be
side Ids guest, his head IN his hands
/ All his work had gone for nothing
and the hope of life was shattered fol
the message had been to his own
/ sweetheart.
/ He took the loeket from his pocket
| aud opened 1t. The sight of her face
occasioned him exquisite tortures
| Tho dismal night passed by, Th,
/ 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
How did you learn her name?'
! Prom your lips" answered Pres
ton. "You were delirious."
II should have kept that name Sc
cret," said the other bitterly, "Yo,
said you had received message z
Sutu tiut Vtlt Stuiu bt Stul,
said Preston. "And--"
with the wireless apparatus? NJ,
/ friend, II YOU sent a message TO he
you would wrong two people bitterly
/ Il suppose l had better tell yo,
about It," he continued. ut isn't
thing that i am very proud of, bu
here 1t Is. We were engaged nearl,
two years ago. Then l went to tn
! Indies with pearl-fishlng outfit. hop
ing To make u fortune and return [,
marry her. Well, l got tangled VI
with girl In Calcutta, and the loni
and short of II Is that we were mar
ried. wrote to Miss Gibson and tol,
her-it was the only thing TO do.
haven't regretted my marriage either
but when l think of the dishonor @
jiltlng girl who was waiting fo
me--well, 1t makes me pretty wei
ashamed OF myself"
Preston's heart was beating har
against the locket, And just as h
reached the wireless apparatus h
hazard thp fafnt elf..l- nf Sb, ,,,,.lt,