The Ordway new era., 1910-04-15
By Telephone

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relievedly: Thank goodness!
thought you never were going to get
through"
"Hello!" Lothary said. in surprise.
Where did you come from?"
There was breathless little laugh.
"oh." said the voice. airily. II Just
dropped in!"
We'll. should say YOU did," agreed
Lothary. Somehow. he liked the
voice. rs there something I can do
for your" he inquired. ingratiatingly.
"No," said the voice, meditatively.
u don't think so-unless you happen
to be green 1875. That's the number
called"
Sorry" mourned Lothary. II hap
pen to be blue 7069. but"
"Oh" gurgled the voice.
The little chuckle at the end OF the
exclamation quite won Lothary's
heart. Whoever It was surely must be
young. and anyone who could laugh
like that assuredly must be attrac-
tive.
"see here!" Lothary cried. Tell
me who you are. won't you?"
Certainly not" said the voice in
properly shocked tones. why should
I? l don't know who you are and it's
most unheard of that should talk to
you at all. What l should do is to
hang up the receiver. You might be
a-a-burglar Or"
I'm not!" Lothary protested. I'm
q hne young man. really! You'd like
me II you knew me-"
well. Of all the conceitl" said the
voice.
Il wish." said Lothary. II could con-
vince you that I'm a respectable per-
son. Aren't you going to tell me
I'm not" said the voice. "I'm
going to hang up the receiver this
very"
Waltz" begged Lothary. He could
not explain why. but he had a strange
reluctance to let her go. There was
haunting quality to her voice which
charmed him and spurred him on.
"Please-won't you call me up
again."
well. Of all the impudence!" cried
the voice.
Il know" he begged. but you
won't tell me who you are nor your
number. SO what can do? Won't
you call me up?"
She seemed to consider the matter.
Maybe" she said at last. Then came
the little chuckle which had SO
charmed him and she was gone from
the wire. r.,f.-,
Lothary was certain shd was no
ordinary girl. Her voice, her infiec-
tions and the strange impression she
had made Of daintiness and airiness
convinced him Of that. Lothary is
hard-headed, but he was immensely
curious about this unknown young
woman and a great deal fearful. II
only she had the requisite spice Of
daring in her makeup which would
lead her to call him up again deliber-
ately! Lothary blessed tho telephone
operator who had made the mistake OF
mixing numbers.
For several days he jumped when
ever the telephone rang and then,
Just as he was regretfully thinking he
should never hear from her again. she
called him! Lothary was SO dazed
and pleased and anxious to make a
good impression that his conversation
was stilted and halting. She was
bright and gay and charming. but she
persistently refused to give her name
or number.
II shouldn't be doing this at all. you
know" she said. with a verbal shud-
der.
You'll call again?" besought Lo-
thary.
No ho tn
filtration which developed over the
telephone. The girl was exceptional
and he was conscious that she did him
| . special favor. He told her SO. CRATE
fully, along with many other things.
Finally his opportunities to see her
became so insistent that she relented.
ut is perfectly scandalous." she said.
but I suppose owe you something.
I've had 1t all on my side SO far" She
named a downtown drug store and an
hour. II have gold bow on my black
velvet turban," she told him.
Lothary was so excited over the
prospect Of actually knowing her that
he counted the hours till the appointed
time. He was fearful lest she should
back out at the last minute.
There was one girl standing just in.
side the drug store when he entered
and there was a gold bow on her vel
We toque. She regarded Lothary
| smilingly. She was his sister.
why, Jim.' she said. What are you
doing here?"
Lothary was getting hold Of his emo
tions. It couldn't be possible-yet II
1t was so. had she known him all
I - H. IL
so innocently at him-and. anyhow
Then she laughed. And in the lit
tie gurgle which Lothary now remem-
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