The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-03-19

there at least person who listened to what
passing the wire He knew how that operated on
party lines the country especially when the telephone
was still something OF novelty
They heard the telegram dictated" he went on
Shell have hard time overcoming that even If 1t
doesn't fool her. It's rather good sport, but wish
she d be sensible. STILL can show her I'm not such
bad sort when its all over"
When he reached town he sent word to his father
to rush a crafty and unknown down there to take
quick advantage OF the situation thus created.
The girl, meanwhile, was much troubled Ii the
young man had authority to abandon that site, as his
telegram indicated, he ought to have had authority TO
release the option That he did not release 1t seemed
to her proof OF determination to locate the Iomllns
country place there in spite of the telegram Possibly
the telegram sent
If not why did he dictate it the telephone? For
the effect upon her? He had not tried to follow it up
in any way Still, it might be 4 bluff, she had sug
Gestcd at the time he might think that she would re-
consider and telegraph acceptance OF his terms.
But she would not On that point she was decided
The ncghborS Will blame me-. she thought, they're
probably blaming me now Old Mrs. Raster gets her
car TO the telephone every time the bell tnkes, and
that Goodwin girl is Just as bad They must have
heard the message" Suddenly her eyes grew large Il
wonder if he thought of that she said in awed tone.
1T awfully clever if he did, direct message
from won't overcome that, either but there arc
other ways. II believe I'd rather beat him. just for
the fun of it, than sell the farm Tor times its value
Her thoughts busy with him as she drove TO
town-qutc busy with him his thoughts had been
with her She had left word with her bcwildercd
father that she might call him up the telephone and,
if so he TO be At all disturbed by the message.
liminary information necessary, but she got it
telegraph operator may not dWulgc the contents OF
the message he sends. but the rule docs not cover
messages that nc docs not send, and the operator
and the operators family friendly terms
with the Crosby'S.
"Oh, that telegram said tho operator Why [
never sent ii at all. He fixed that up in advance
gave dollar and said he might telephone
message that was not TO be sent. Queer deal, but
1t of my business. | didn't even know
where he was telephoning from"
That was enough TO satisfy her. and little later
her father received this extraordinary communica
ton from her over the telephone;
Don't come down penny on the price OF the
farm, That Tomlins telegram was bluff and was
never sent But don't say anything about it; we'l
look out for ourselves this time
That, she told herself, was pretty good message
for old Mrs. Raster and the Goodwin girl and vari-
others to ovcrhear. The apparent effort at
secrecy would make 1t more convincing and would
insure IT wider and quicker circulation than any
direct message could possibly have done.
She quito satisfied with the situation when
she met Paul ToDns the street little later.
So Paul Each rather sorry for the other.
81 hope" said Paul. that you're not going to
blame me-.
"Wcll." he explained. when you think il all over
you're likely find that you've made a mistake,
and its hard to be good natured over lost op-
porunity"
I'm promise to be pleasant about it if you will" +"
she said
Its bargain" he declared.
She let the horse wait while she stroed through
the village with him 1t rather pleasant, this
verbal sparrng. He found it so. too. He said he
had missed the first train and was waiting for tho
next AS a matter OF fact he intended TO stay there
until the buyer down.
When she hrallv decided that she must start for
homo he discovered that he wanted TO sec a man who
lived about mile out on her road. He could walk