When Jack reached the station, several of the newspaper men, including West of the “Star,” already were there. Among them he saw Raub, a reporter of the “Bulletin,” and with him Simpson, an operator of the opposition telegraph company.
“Why, hello, kid!” said the latter on seeing Jack. “They are not sending you out to Oakton, are they?”
“They are,” responded Jack, with pride. Simpson laughed, and, somewhat indignant, Jack passed on down the platform. On turning back, he noticed Simpson and Raub apart, talking earnestly. As he again neared them, both glanced toward him, and abruptly the conversation ceased. At once Jack’s suspicions were aroused, for he knew Raub had the name of being very unscrupulous in news-getting matters, and that Simpson was not much better. He determined to watch them.
But nothing further attracted his attention, and finally, the train arriving, they boarded it, and made a quick run of the ten miles to the little village. There Jack headed for the local telegraph office.
He found it a tiny affair, in a small coal office on the southern outskirts of the village. Introducing himself to the elderly lady operator, who was just leaving, he went to the key and announced his arrival to the chief at Hammerton.
It was an hour later when West, the “Star” reporter, appeared. “Here you are, youngster,” said he; “a thousand words for a starter. It’s going to be a great story. I’ll be back in half an hour with another batch.”
Promptly Jack called “H,” and soon was clicking away in full swing. But suddenly the instruments ceased to respond. The wire had “opened.” Jack tested with his earth connection, and finding the opening was to the south, waited, thinking the receiving operator at Hammerton had opened his key. But minute after minute passed, and finally becoming anxious, he cut off the southern end and began calling “B,” the terminal office to the north.
“I, I,” said B.
“Get H on another wire and ask him what is wrong here,” Jack sent quickly. “We are being held up on some very important stuff.”
“H says it is open north of him,” announced B, returning. “We are putting in a set of repeaters here, so you can reach him this way.”