The young man was waking up. He supplied the demand, and with ever-increasing amazement, watched his client write.
Stranleigh gave the New York detective particulars in great detail so far as he possessed them, asked him to spare no expense, and requested that Armstrong, when found, should be presented with two hundred dollars or more, as he required, with admonition to take the first train home, where his presence was urgently needed.
"Great Scott!" cried the operator, "is that all one message?"
"I've written the address as plainly as I can. It's going to New York."
"I say, stranger," protested the telegraphist, "have you any idea what it costs to send a message across the Continent to New York?"
"No, I haven't, but I expect to be in possession of that information as soon as you have mastered my handwriting, and counted the words."
The operator was practically speechless when he reached the end of his enumeration, but after making a note on the pad, he was sufficiently recovered to remark--
"Say, stranger, you'll have to dig up a pretty big wad to pay for this. We don't give credit in a Western Union office."
"I shouldn't think of asking credit from a downtrodden monopoly," said Stranleigh, pulling out his pocket book, and liquidating his debt. "You ought to be happy if you get a percentage."
"Well, I think you're entitled to one. I've given a fee this morning and received no particular equivalent for it. Do you, being a useful man, object to accepting a five-dollar bill?"
"Not on your life!" assented the operator with great earnestness.
"I'm expecting a reply. At what time shall I call for it?"
"You don't need to call, Mr. Stranleigh. When it comes, I'll lock up the office, and find you if you're anywhere in town."
"See you later," said the now thoroughly-awakened operator, and Stranleigh proceeded to the railway station. He took the next train to the nearest town east, and there did some more telegraphing, but this time the message was in cypher, and it was addressed to his agent in New York. Translated, it read--
"Send me at once by express, registered and insured, twenty thousand dollars in currency, made up of five dollar, ten dollar, and hundred dollar bills."
The address was fully written out in plain English. He found there was time for a satisfactory lunch before the west-bound train arrived, and he partook of it in the chief hotel, whose accommodation was much superior to that of the Bleachers tavern.