St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-11-19

cramped bedroom over the four flight
OF narrow stairs. 1t was hard to b
helpless when she wanted more thai
she had ever wanted anything to brin,
that voice at Main Is back again. Sh,
dropped asleep still brooding over tn,
situation.
Then fate interviewed. Next morn
ing, between complaint from sub
scriber who had received the wroni
number and a call from a woman whit
couldn't see why that number was al
ways SO busy, Miss Maher saw the tai
drop to show that Red 1901 wantei
to talk over the wire. Almost me
chemically she reached to connect will
Suffer- S691.
Central" said that voice whic1
she hated. "Give mo Polk 1857"
Miss Maher jumped, to the situation
instantly. She knew that humble,
well. So did every other operator
on the West Exchange. It belonged
to girls voice, insfstent, pert, pro-
vocative; q voice that said doubtful
things to great many different peo-
pie, and to whose sayings one listened
without conjunction.
Miss Maher listened now. Her eyes
were shining.
"Hellc!" said the girls voice.
"Hello!" said Red 1901. "Say,
suppose you've forgotten your little
friend siuce yesterday"
"Oh. l don't know" said the girl,
whereat they both laughed as If some
one had said something witty. Miss
Maher felt that ii there was voice
on earth she hated more than either
of those now talking on the line, 1t was
the other.
Il suppose you're dated for to-
night" said the mans voice.
whats it to you?" asked the girl
on the other end of the line. do
you always take q lady out the Sec
ond time you meet her?"
Depends on the GIRL" said the
mans voice.
(Which girl?"
Back up. You're going too fast.
Jaw, you know what I mean !
know who you are. A little bird told
me. You are Frank Mathers, and
you're engaged"
THAT shouldn't cut any ice in one
wee, little dinner date-Hello! Hello,
Central, what's the matter with you?
You cut US eff"
In the last second, Miss Makers
nervous fingers had made another
connection. Breathlessly she pressed
the button that would ring the bell.
1t was only an insont before the an
swer came. The girl must have been
standing near. Miss Makers speech
was tense with excitement.
"Oh, Miss-Sutter 1851. please lis
ten! You don't know me, but l beg
you don't say word, and please lis
tent"
Quick as fash she had shot in
The plug that switched Suffer S691
on to the conversation between Red
1901 and Polk 1856. The lines were
but with intention. The con-
was going on beautifully
Hello! That you. angel sweetness?
That Central's dub. She cuts US of
Say, how about that little dinner?"
Il thought you were engaged"
II thought l told you that didn't
cut any ice. I'm disengaged for this
evening""
''Tell that to the Birds
"Sure. I'm not SO certain but that
after get better acquainted I'll be dis
engaged permanently"
1T takes two to make a bargain al
hat kind"
We'll. suppose We see II we can't
:ome to an understanding. How does
0epue's at $50 strike your"
I'm game. Shall l meet you at the
Miss Maher heard with satisfaction
hat bang that she had been expecting.
suffer 1851 had hung up with empha-
lis.
Without ceremony she disconnected
hat number, leaving Red 1901 to finish
lis conversation, and called up Main
IS.
"Sutter 1891 wants to speak to you,"
he said softly. She made the con-
lection, rang the bell, and met her
'wn glance in the dingy mirror with |
defiant smile.
A few minutes later she gained |
ourage to open on the conversation /
which she had prompted. The last |
words We're singing softly over the |
7ires
1T will be Summer and her eyes
ill be blue"
= . = 4
The chief operator, patroling the
me Of her charges, noticed Miss Ma
er sitting at her desk, her hands idle,
nd her eyes heavy and dull.
The chief OPERATOR stopped.
Miss Maher raised her head. A din.
mile forced its way as she glanced
t the silent switchboard. i
Whats the matter?' she asked
wrong?"
"Wrong?" she said vaguely. NO
guess not I'm-I'm a little tired
hats alL"-Overland Monthly.
Print Of the Springs.