I wrote out a long telegram, informing him of my difficulty.

But when it was taken to the telegraph office for transmission the operator refused to send it at once.
Instead he showed it to General Bankhead, who tore it up.

When no reply came I went to the office, accompanied by a guard, and learned from the operator what he had done.
"See here, my young friend," said I, "this is a public telegraph line.
I want my telegram sent, or there'll be trouble." He knew very well it was his duty to send the dispatch.

I rewrote it and gave it to him, with the money to pay for it.

But before he made any effort to transmit it he called on General Bankhead and informed him of what I had said.