An Afternoon Miracle Page: 81
[18], 104, [46] p., 4 leaves of plates : ill., some col. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this prose (fiction).
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AN AFTERNO
is either a transmitter or a receiver. The
simple changing of a switch and substitu-
tion of a pen for the stylus makes the
change. Sitting at his machine the receiv-
ing operator sees the face before him de-
velop in a few moments from an imperfect
outline to a human likeness which is start-
ling. The effect is somewhat similar to the
development of a photographic negative,
pens acting instead of the chemical.
The electrograph has been operated over
lines ranging from a few miles to 1,100,
portraits heing transmitted the longer dis-
tance successfully. An idea of the value
of the apparatus for news service can beON 11IRA(CTE 81
gained when it is stated that the Washing-
ton correspondent of a metropolitan daily
paper, for instance, can keep one wire
" hot " with the text of an interview or an
account of some sensational episode, while
by another he is transmitting portraits of
persons prominently cncerned and photo-
graphs of scenes connected with his story.
It is not an exaggeration to predict that a
year or so may see the writing telegraph
and the electrograph side hy side in the
larger newspaper offices of the country,
each doing its part in mechanical news-
gathering.
Whut once xws tictin nimv soon h fact.AN F l' li) . ' I.
IHY H. ll:NurC.T the United States end of an inter-
national river bridge, four earned
rangers sweltered in a little 'dobe
hut, keeping a fairly faithful espionage upon
the lagging trail of passengers from the
Mexican side.
IBud D)awson, proprietor of the Top Notch
saloon, had, on the evening previous, vio-
lently ejected from his premises one Leandro
G(arcia, for alleged violation of the Top
Notch code of behavior. GIarcia had men-
tioned twenty-four hours as a limit, by which
time he would call and collect a plentiful in-
lemnmity for personal satisfaction.
This Mexican, although a tremendous
braggart, was thoroughly courageous, and
each side of the river respected him for one
of these attributes. lie and a following of
similar braves were addicted to the pas-
time of retrieving towns from stagnation.
The day designated by HIarcia for retri-
hution was to be further signalized on the
American side by a cattleman's convention,
a bull fight, and an old settler's barbecue
an,! picnic. Knowing the avenger to be a
man: of his word, and believing it prudent
to court peace while three such gently so-
cial relaxations were in progress, Captain
M1 'iulty, of the ranger company stationedthere, detailed his lieutenant and three men
for duty at the end of the bridge. Their in-
structions were to prevent tile invasion of
Garcia, either alone or attended by his gang.
Travel was slight that sultry afternoon,
and the rangers swore gently, and mopped
their brows in their convenient but close
quarters. For an hour no one had crossed
save an old woman enveloped in a brown
wrapper and a black mantilla, driving be-
fore her a burro loaded with kindling wood
tied in small bundles for peddling. Then
three shots were fired down the street, the
sound coming clear and snappy through the
still air.
The four rangers quickened from sprawl-
ing, symbolic figures of indolence to alert
life, but only one rose to his feet. Three
turned their eyes beseechingly but hope-
lessly upon the fourth, who had gotten nim-
bly up and was buckling his cartridge-belt
around him. The three knew that Lieuten-
ant Iob Iuckley, in command, would allow
no man of them the privilege of investigat-
ing a row when he himself might go.
The agile, broad-chested lieutenant, with-
out a change of expression in his smooth,
yellow-brown, melancholy face, shot the
belt strap through tile guard of the hlclo,,I a, Irl
I III
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Reference the current page of this Prose (Fiction).
Henry, O., 1862-1910. An Afternoon Miracle, prose (fiction), July 1902; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth139426/m1/2/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.