Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-26

pecially when the telephone was still
something Of novelty.
"They heard the telegram dictated" ne
went on. She'll have hard time over
coming that, even IL II doesn't fool her.
It's rather good sport, but I wish she'd
be sensible. Still, I can show her I'm
not such bad sort when it's all over
When he reached town he sent word to
his father to rush crafty unknown man
down there to take quick advantage of
the situation thus created.
The girl. meanwhile. was much trou-
bled. II the young man had authority to
abandon that site. as his telegram indi-
Gated, he ought to have had authority to
release the option. That he did not re-
lease it seemed to her proof Of determi-
nation to locate the Tomlins' country
place there, in spite Of the telegram. Pos
sibly the telegram never was sent.
II not. why did he dictate 1t over the
telephone? For the effect upon her? He
had not tried to follow 1t up In any way.
Still, It might be bluff" as she had sug-
gcsted at the time: he might think that
she would reconsider and telegraph an
acceptance Of his terms. But she would
not. On that point she was decided.
1.-THE neighbors will blame me-" she
thought; they're probably blaming me
now. Old Mrs. Raster gets her ear to
the telephone every time the bell tinkles.
and that Goodwin girl Is just as bad.
They must have heard the message"
Suddenly her eyes grew large. Il Won
der if he thought Of that" she said in
awed tone 1T was awfully clever. il he
did, A direct message from me won't
overcome that, either, but there are
other ways. III believe I'd rather beat
him, just for the fun of it. than sell the
farm for ten times it's value"
Her thoughts were busy with him as
she drove to town-quite as busy with
him as his thoughts had been with her.
She had left word with her bewildered
father that she might call him UP on the
telephone, and, if so, he was not to be at
all disturbed by the message. For she
had a telephone plan of her own. A little
preliminary information was necessary,
but she got it. A telegraph operator may
not divulge the contents OF the message
lie sends, but the rule does not cover mes
sages that he does not send, and the OPP
orator and the operators family were on
friendly terms with the Crosbys.
''Oh, that telegram" said the operator.
Why, / never sent it at all, He fixed
that up in advance-gave>m me a dollar and
said he might telephone me a message
ti.at was not to be sent. Queer deal, but
il was none Of my business. ! didn't even
know where he was telephoning from"
That was enough to satisfy her, and a
little later her father received this ex-
traordinary communication from her over
tho teIsph0ne;
Don't come down penny on the price
OF the farm That Tomlins telegram was
a bluff and was never sent. But don't
say anything about it, we'll look out fer
ourselves this time
That, she told herself, was a pretty
good message for old Mrs Raster and the
Goodwin girl and various others to over
hear, The apparent effort at secrecy
would make it more convincing and would
insure it a wider and quicker circulation
than any direct message could possibly
have done,
She was quite satisfied with tina situa-
ton when she met Paul Tomlins on the
street a little later. SO was Paul. Each
was rather sorry for the other.
'T hope" said Paul, that you're not
gstng to blame me-
why should II" she asked.
.sWsll." he explained, when you think
it Ill over you're likely to ina tha& you've
made q snistals, and Ice hard 70 be sod
natursd over lost opportunity
s'rIl promise to be pleasant shout II
you WIN" she Gaid,
'Tt's Z bargain" he dselaFod.
ehe ~ tn A6ssS wan wAgs she
skeaala ax44romah -fhAsx1lla9n sXf3h him. n