Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-02-03

pressing me for a bill Of $500 for
clothes"
Hold on minute. I'm called away.
I'll be back in a second. Hold the
wire"
In a few minutes he returned and
told me to repeat what ! had said. l
repeated 1t, and when l had finished
he told me to go on.
''The next thing the scoundrel has
got hold of is that | have been en-
gagged three times previous to my en-
gagement to Nell"
II didn't get that"
.'He knows I've been engaged three
times before my present engagement"
"How many times?"
"Three-three times-t-h-r-e-e." =
"All right. Anything elseY'
He knows | play poker"
"Didn't hear that. Repeat"
'ae knows ! play poker and some
times for big stakes"
What is it you play7" sr..
"Poker"
"Spell IT,"
"P-o-k-e-r"
"All right. Anything else"
Nothing, except the thrashing ]
gave him"
There was no reply to this. and ]
asked, did you get itY'
Eyes, ! got that. You needn't re-
peat"
heard woman's voice ask what
is it?" in a whisper. The connection
was perfect or would not have heard.
i got an idea that something was
wrong. Any movement about an in
strument produces clicking. and
heard what made me believe there
was a struggle for the receiver at the
other end.
SIS your sister in the roomp l
asked.
Yes"
"Giye her the receiver"
what is it?' In a wOman's voice.
1t flashed upon me that all this was
plan to trap me. had been talking
to my enemy. who had been with my
flancee. Doubtless she had asked him
to call me up on the phone. and l had
given myself away before she had got
the receiver.
''Is that you, Mary Greenwood
Eyes," hesitatingly.
"I've been telling George that Bert
Thurston claims to have a lot OF
charges against me. all of them
groundless. except one. with which to
effect break between me and Nellie
Clement"
THAT'S very mean. What's the
charge you admlt?"
"Giving Bert thrashing."
"a what?"
"A thrashing - t-h-r-a-s-h-fn-g. Do
you get it?"
"Yes. What did you thrash him
for?''
Speaking disrespectfully OF Nellie.
That was before he had been intro
duced to her and before he began to
want her himself"
You don't mean itT'
Il do"
But these charges. especially about
your being engaged three times before
proposing to Nellie Clement. do you
deny themT'
Certainly. told George that Bert
has trumpet up all these charges"
Are you sure?"
Certainly. George knows what
said TO him. George Is my second
brother and wouldn't misrepresent any
thing"
And then ] heard scraps OF sen
fences through the phone between the
two which convinced me that my sup
position was correct The man was
Thurston; the girl was Nellie.
Leave this--and don't let me-
In a twinkling | had turned defeat
into victory. There was only one Of
the charges that could be substantial
ed-the tallor's bill. Taking money
that l had won the night before al
poker. / paid the bill in full on cOndi
ton of its being reeeipted on the day
II had been due.
The next night at the usual time
called on Nellie with a bunch Of Amer
lean Beauty roses. She was very
much embarrassed. and when ] told
her Of the charges that were to b
made against me and that my friend
George Greenwood had secured the
proof that they were all false she sanl
into ms arms and shamefacedly con
feSsed that she had personated Mary
Greenwood through the phone. wal
veFy much shocked Mt her participa
ton in the plot against me. but befor'
leaving fOrgave her.