The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-26
SIX Nmaty-Six. Main.

I
that no one ever calls up $50 on this
circuit. The phone has been in three
or four months now. and ] test the wire
regularly every morning, but there Is no
further communication with the house
day in and day out
who answers when you call?' inquired
the girl with the gray-green eyes
"A man His voice sounds as though
ne were old. I suppose it is Mr.. Rum
ford himself
'Rumford. you say"
George Whitman Rumford. That's his
whole name. l looked him UP in the
city directory. No place Of business is
given. There is no occupation mentioned
in connection with his name"
My goodness, he is a Mystery cried
the girl with the graygreen eyes. Have
you tested the wires yet this morning?"
No
Let me try it. then
She rang up briskiy. A voice answered:
Good morning.
Testing the WIRE" responded Cen
trail" eheerfuuy.
THE wire responds said the voice.
The gray-eyed Central turned to the
blue-eyed Central
NO one ever answered me that way
before" she abserved. He said: The
wire responds
Yes, he always says that. 1t seems
a sensible thing to say, but it sounds
curious. 1 think he doesn't know what
people are in the habit OF saying over
the telephone"
The weeks went by. From time to time
the girl with gray eyes would say to
Ida Nelson, the girl with blue eyes:
Has 696 been called YETI"
Never, said Miss Nelson, "but the
wire still responds"
One day Miss Nelson, against all rules
and regulations, attempted diversion.
1T IS an electrical sort of a morning"
she observed. 1T makes the voice sound
unnatural over the wire.
There was an accent of eagerness in
the voice that replied.
1T does, indeed" observed 696. but
don't you think voice always sounds a
little strange in the telephone?"
Miss Nelson was quite aware that she
had no risht to continue the converse
ton, but she had held her curiosity in
check for months in the face of mys-
terry and she could endure it no longer.
You do not use your phone much"
she said politely.
mo, no., responded the voice somewhat
sadly, I'm not acquainted In the City.
I haven't much use for a telephone il is
4
joy it very much when you call me up
in the morning. / can see what a great
convenience it would be if l wanted 10
ask anything of anybody"
There was something so wistful in the
voice that Miss Nelson made no apology
TO herself for the tiers that came in her
eyes.
1t was a monotonous life that she8led.
It had not much happiness in it and no
romance So it was not surprising that
she endeavored ITO probe this, her FIST
mystery. She took thespains one Sunday
afternoon when she was at leisure to
call at the house of George Whitman
Rumford to make an inquiry about a fic-
titious address. The house was new, and
OF red sandstone, elegant, and plain, and
the yard, the walk, and the steps were In
a condition of scruDuious neatness. A
young colored man answered the door.
Miss Nelson, bushing at heINdeceit, made
her inquiry in loud tone Of voice. AS
she had hoped and expected, this brought
an elderly gentleman out of the library.
What is it the lady wants to know.
John? Can be of any ass stance,
madam"
Miss Nelson, hating herself for her
duplicity, repeated the question.
The tall gentleman shook his head re-
gretfully.
Il really can be of no assistance to
you he said. 81 know so few persons
1n the neighborhood. But if you will do
me the honor to come in and wait viii
send John out to make inquiries"
20, no, nor protested Miss Nelson. 81
shall have to give up trying to find my
friends, I think. 1t is evidently a mis-
take. 1t is sometimes hard to locate
ones friends in a city like this.
1T is, indeed, 1 suppose. Unfortunate
ly, l have no friends here
MOP"
NO; 1 have recently come here. I
have always lived in little town, but
I thought l would like to see what life in
the city was like
Yes"
Il have built this house. Won't you
step in a moment and look at it? l take
great pleasure out of it. The Dostman
kindly stepped in the other day and look
ed at it, and he admired It much"
Miss Nelson hesitated between prudence
and amiability, and then, casting selfish
caution 10 the winds, she went in. A
prim, exquisitely neat. and altogether IN
homelike interior met her view.
Il had to do it quite alone,' explained
Mr.. Rumford. 81 dare say, a lady can
discover many deficiencies in IT, and I
should be glad of suggestions
you must find it pleasant living on
the boulevard" said Miss Nelson.
20, very. very! So many people go by.
I would like to ask some of them in.
at times. but they might think it strange
I'm much obliged to you for coming in.
It has made very agreeable break in
the day. I'm a little solitary. you know
If it were not for John I should be quite
dull"
She got in the way after this, of adding
some little word over the phone after