The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-29
TWO TELEPHONE SERVICES
"TWo-one-four-nine"


''Two-one-four-nine."
The man had consulted the log boob
Of the automatic system with great car.
and considered himself fully prepared for
any emergency. He picked out the not
| ches on the disk of his new telephon,
| and brought them down to the pointel
with firmness, counting audbIy He
pushed the button and waited for results
Hello" came the reply as the Other
| end was unlimbered for action
rs this two-one-four- nine?" was the
more urgent request.
| The Lord only knows" said the one
at the other end 1.-The phone was just
connected up today and haven't book
Who're you?"
I'm Notwithstanding consulting
! the log.
rs this Brown talking?"
Yes"
''Why, hello Jim. you're talking to
Graham out on Forty-third street.
4 thought l rang up Bings ware
house,
You're only about four miles off. Try
again." And they both hung up. So
III get the right notches this time. -
thought Brown as he put the receiver
on its hook and let the machine run
down before trying again He reached
out for the instrument when ne paused
and scratched his head.
Lets see. The first figure is one.'
and he put his finger in the one notch
and jerked confidently.
Let's see" he continued. "Was IT
one-two or two-one. now?"
4 guess it was two-one," he added
after a moments thought and he let
the machine run down and started over
These numbers are easier to learn than
! thought" he said to himself and he
called two-one with a jerk that made the
machine sing.
The next figure puzzled him and he
stopped and jerked out his watch and
then went at things with renewed energy
II wonder if I have called two-one al
ready or one-two-and there's two more
figures on the number. What are they
Hanged if 1 know
So he reached for the log holding the
clicking pet in one hand fingered the
pages of the book with the other when
''Biff- bling ling aling-a-ling sounded the
Il
desk almost under his ear. Central must
have been in a huff for she rang to wake
the dead and before she finished Brown
had ditched the automatic. log book. re-
ceiver and ALL showing them back among
the papers on his desk in a tangle Hold
ing the Bell receiver to his ear he sat
In culver until the changing should
cease
Well he finally said. his voice con-
veying irritation.
do you know who this is?' asked
feminine voice.
Yes" said Brown. whats broken
loose at home?"
'Oh. I've been nearly frightened to
death. Jim. wish you were here"
What's happened?" asked Jim sud
denly interested
oh. just had the awfulles tscare.
Johnny was out in the yard little while
ago watching the telephone men and he
got the notion that he would be one too.
He cut OFF a piece Of the clothes line and
rugged UP belt and climbed the big pole
In the alley. I wanted him 70 run over
TO Mrs Smiths for me and when called
him he didn't answer. But the first thing
! knew he commenced to scream from up
in the air somewhere and when looked
up there he was at the top of the pole
hanging 10 a bolt and screachinz terri
bly, Igsve just one scream and tainted
and II the telephone men hadn't been
right there Johnnyd have dropped and
killed himself They said his escape was
A miracle"
Gracious well have 10 chain him Up
al day" exclaimed the father. relieved
at the safe outcome OF the adventure.
How Is he now2''
'oh hes all right said the wife. +
Hes been working the automatic reIe-
phone ever since the men put il In
Why didn't you call ne Up on it,
1t isn't corrected yet. TIE men have
% run an extra cable fer cur part Of
he city and It'll take a week yet
We'll good bye dear. said Nrz Brown
I'm weak vet iron the shock. but 7
,uess Johnny is all right
Brown pondered over domestic a~a!-s
moment when both bells commenced
. ring vigorously He looked from one
h;ny instrument to The ether helpless
=. then reached cut with both hands
nd grabbing a receiver II each. r1aees
hem 10 his ears.
who Is thtsT' cam. tvo demands a,
1c- over Two wires.
This is t~o-;hree-fve-stght, szst
brown into the Bell phone.
Gene OF was the answer from. some
erson who evidently recognized his voice.
I've jus, called one-ten and that's your