The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-06-28
A COMEDY OF
PHONE ERRORS.
BY v. LYMAN.

the system of country telephones
you ought to be. The central girl
in small town knows every
body's business, and does what
she can to keep the entire town
straight. She is generally accom-
modating. If you call for John
Smith, she will tell you that John
and his family have gone on Il
days visit to his brother Ike
and Ike has no phone. Then
about five o'clock in the evening
your bell will jingle and Central
will inform you that John Smith
is at home now-and what did you
want?
In rural communities instead of
saying "one-six-five they ask for
zone sixty-five," and sixty
sounds so much like "tifty"-well,
Dozeburg is yet talking about a
mystery that must confess was
dark to me till Central, being a
woman, could keep it no longer
and confided in me. /, being IL
man, could keep it if l wanted to
pooh, yes; but | don't want to.
Now, l dislike to open a story
with a "dramatis personae;;" it is
so much like Shakespeare, and
really | am not at all like Shake
speare-that is, my writings are
not like his. But l must ask you
to remember these four numbers:
No. 155, George Shanmere's
Office.
No. 1876, George Loman's store.
No. 165, George Shanmere's
home.
No. 166, Bill Humphreys home
BilPs daughter Mabel.
For three years George Loman
had "kept company" with Mabel
Humphrey. Mrs. Humphrey
thought it was quite time for
George to ''quit his dallyin' and
git a home started" but George
was extremely shy. He very
much wanted to ask Mabel tn
name the day, but when he
thought he had his courage
screwed up to the sticking point
his heart ceased to beat, he went
cold and shook like a man with a
chill. And so he put it off from
day to day, hoping something
would happen-and something
happened.
On a certain Thursday evening
George Shanmere rose from his
supper and put on his hat. 1t was
his custom to spend couple of
hours at his Office after supper,
but this evening he seemed 10th
to go.
81 dOn'i feel well this evening""
he said to his wife. "I'll be home
early tonight"
He had been at the office hardly
an hour when his telephone bell
rang. He took down the receiver.
Hello"
"ls this Georges"
"Yes."
won't you come up and spend
the evening with me? / have
some new music"
"Why, yes, little girl, / guess
WILL don't feel like working to-
night anyway. I'll be right up"
"Thoughtful of the little girl"
he mused, as he got into his top
coat. "She knows Pm not well
tonight" CLittle girl" is
Georges name for anything fem.
inine-big and little, old and
young, fat and lean.)
Walking up the street he saw
the familiar figure of George Lo-
man, swinging in his left hand IL
paper bag clutched tightly by the
neck. On his right shoulder he
,arried a 5O-pound sack of flour
5hanmere came up with him.
Hello, George; loaded, are
yOu?"
Hello, yep-look out-eggsm
oman turned in at Bill Hum
1hrey's gate.
Mrs. Shanmere looked at her
husband curiously when he went |
n.
"Did you get the things?"
"What thingsW
"Why, the groceries
"Hang it, no. Guess forgot as |
isual-dOn't remember thing
about any groceries"
He settled himself comfortably |
~ the fire. Mrs. Shanmere drew
ier chair near him and took up
ler Battenberg,
"Who was that coming up the
'treet with you~ she asked, pres
'ntly.