Brief description:
CHAPTER I.
INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE
General Earl, then commanding oflicer at the West Point Military Academy, rushed out of his private oflice bareheaded, and started for the railroad station, situated about a quarter of a mile from the Government buildings, on a dead run.
Reaching it, he dashed inside and aroused the drowsy telegraph operator.
“Here, Jackson l” he shouted, handing a slip of paper through the window; “ wire this down as soon as God will let you!"
The operator took the message, read it care fully, and the next moment it was on its way. Here it is:
U. S. M. A., West Point, N. Y.,
May 14, 1889.
To HENRY R. PARSONS, Chief Secret Service Bureau, New York City.
Send me at once the best man on the force under twenty years of age.
Janus D. EARL,
Commanding Officer M. A.
"Bring the reply to the message direct to me," ordered the general, "if any is returned.”
" All right,” said Jackson.
Then the officer turned and ran back toward the main building of the Academy. He had scarcely disappeared over the hill before a young man in a sergeant’s uniform took his place at the window of the telegraph oflice.
“Jacksonl"
“ Well?"
“Who was that the old gentleman that just went out?"
“ It was General Earl.”
“ I thought so. Did he leave a message for you?"
“Yes, and I'm m sending it now,”
The new-corner watched him until the last word had been sent flying over the wires, and then said:
“Would you mind letting me see what the general sent?”
“No,” replied Jackson. “ Here it is."
The sergeant read the paper carefully and then handed it back without comment.
“What does it mean?" asked the operator. "Has there been any more trouble up at the school?”
“Not that I've heard of.”
“ I don’t know anything about it either, but from the general’s actions 1 thought that it must be something important.”
"He seemed a little excited, eh?”
There was silence for a moment, and then the sergeant asked:
“Do you know, Jackson, what train this this fellow could take from the city? The one
the General has sent for, I mean.”
"If he comes up tonight, he’ll have to take the one leaving there at nine o'clock.”
"That will get him here about eleven, won’t it?"
"Yes."
“All right; much obliged for the information"
INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE
General Earl, then commanding oflicer at the West Point Military Academy, rushed out of his private oflice bareheaded, and started for the railroad station, situated about a quarter of a mile from the Government buildings, on a dead run.
Reaching it, he dashed inside and aroused the drowsy telegraph operator.
“Here, Jackson l” he shouted, handing a slip of paper through the window; “ wire this down as soon as God will let you!"
The operator took the message, read it care fully, and the next moment it was on its way. Here it is:
U. S. M. A., West Point, N. Y.,
May 14, 1889.
To HENRY R. PARSONS, Chief Secret Service Bureau, New York City.
Send me at once the best man on the force under twenty years of age.
Janus D. EARL,
Commanding Officer M. A.
"Bring the reply to the message direct to me," ordered the general, "if any is returned.”
" All right,” said Jackson.
Then the officer turned and ran back toward the main building of the Academy. He had scarcely disappeared over the hill before a young man in a sergeant’s uniform took his place at the window of the telegraph oflice.
“Jacksonl"
“ Well?"
“Who was that the old gentleman that just went out?"
“ It was General Earl.”
“ I thought so. Did he leave a message for you?"
“Yes, and I'm m sending it now,”
The new-corner watched him until the last word had been sent flying over the wires, and then said:
“Would you mind letting me see what the general sent?”
“No,” replied Jackson. “ Here it is."
The sergeant read the paper carefully and then handed it back without comment.
“What does it mean?" asked the operator. "Has there been any more trouble up at the school?”
“Not that I've heard of.”
“ I don’t know anything about it either, but from the general’s actions 1 thought that it must be something important.”
"He seemed a little excited, eh?”
There was silence for a moment, and then the sergeant asked:
“Do you know, Jackson, what train this this fellow could take from the city? The one
the General has sent for, I mean.”
"If he comes up tonight, he’ll have to take the one leaving there at nine o'clock.”
"That will get him here about eleven, won’t it?"
"Yes."
“All right; much obliged for the information"
Publication
Beadle's Half Dime Library, August 1896