Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to ring the bell, i.e. for a servant.

1840		Leigh & Leech Comic Eng. Grammar 7: Latinized English, or Fine English, sometimes assumes the character of Comic English [...] ‘Extinguish the luminary,’ ‘Agitate the communicator,’ ‘Are your corporeal functions in a condition of salubrity?’.
1859		Portland Guardian (Vic.) 28 Dec. 2/5: ‘I shall jist agitate the communicator and kape you company till he come.’ So saying, innocent Barnabas O’Rourke rung the bell.
1874		Hotten Sl. Dict. 323: Refined or affected slangists sometimes say, ‘Agitate the communicator,’ which, though it represents “ring the bell,” should more properly mean ‘pull the cord’.
1889		Barrère & Leland Sl. Jargon & Cant I 267: Agitate the communicator , ring the bell.
1890		Farmer & Henley Sl. & Its Analogues II 165/1: AGITATE THE COMMUNICATOR, [...] To ring the bell.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict 3: Agitate the Communicator, pull the cord of the bell; or ring the bell.

1. (US) to move at speed; thus gravel agitator, one who moves fast.

1898		Record-Union (Sacramento, CA) 10 Oct. 4/2: Stanley had been making a sprint for first, and Hutchinson had been agitating the gravel toward the home plate.
1919		El Paso Herald (TX) 25 Aug. 11/1: Hughes stole home a moment later scoring the marker that placed the gravel agitator in the lead.

2. (US) to leave.

1953		Mad mag. Apr.–May 7: Amscray! Agitate the gravel! Hit the road! Strike the pavement!
2005		blurb for play Go Go Kitty, Go! 🌐 Go-Go Kitties Wanda and Sugar 36 have no choice but to agitate the gravel and head out on the trail of the A-1 suspects.
2006		(ref. to 1950s) Benton Courier (AR) 18 Feb. 🌐 To leave meant to agitate the gravel.