Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1897 — A TELEGRAPHER’S STORY. [ARTICLE]

A TELEGRAPHER’S STORY.

It Relates to a Wonderful Performance of a Hungry Roach. "Yes, it wg£ a very odd sort of thing,” remarked tbe telegraph operator, as he closed his key. “but it really happened. You see, a fellow who* is compelled to sit alone in a telegraph office during the long hours of the night gets kinder lonesome sometimes, and grasps the slightest opportunity of making the hours go without ennui. That IS why I made friends with a big roach that used to put in an appearance on my desk. It was a big fellow, and used to drop in, as it were, about the time I ate my midnight lunch, and as the old fellow never Intruded nor endeavored to get at my lunch, I got into the habit of throwing him odd bits of my lunch. It soon got to be a regular habit, and I managed to secure considerable amusement out of the visits of the roach. One night I was forced to deviate from my regular habit. Work rushed in, and I was unable to get at my lunch at the regular time. The old rascal dropped, in at midnight and took his accustomed station on the table, but after a time he grew uneasy and ran about the paper seeking to attract my attention. Realizing at last that I was paying no attention to his meanderings, he disappeared, and I went on with my work. Just as I had cleared away my last message I heard a rustling noise at the other’ end of the desk, and, looking to ascertain theoccasion, what did I see but my old malodorous friend tugging with all his might at my package of lunch. He had firmly gripped the string which tied the parcel, and was slowly but surely dragging it in my direction. Surprised, I let him tug and pull, and at tbe expiration of ten minutes the roach had manged to tug the lunch packet to my key, and he then, seeing that I was watching him, let go the string and stood panting froqi his exertions, waiting my pleasure. You can just bet I gave him a good feed that night. The old fellow deserved tills consideration. He had thought himself forgotten and b.ad determined to bring the lunch to my mind, and this he had done without overstepping the bounds of courtesy or infringing upon our friendship.”