Arizona republican., 1910-03-25

there was at least one person who listened to what passing over the wire He knew how that operated on party lines in the country especially when the telephone still something of d novelty
 They heard the telegram dictated he went Shell have d hard time overcoming that If 1t doesn't fool her Its rather good sport, but l wish Shed'be sensible. Still, can show her m not such bad when it's 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, much troubled Ii the young had authority to abandon that site his telegram indicated he ought to have had authority to release the option That he. did release seemed her proof Of determination 10 locate the TOmlins country place there spite o the telegram Possibly the telegram never sent.
 If not. why did he dictate the telephone? For the effect upon her. He had not tried to follow up in any way. Still, it might be a bluff she had sug gested 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 decided
 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 tlnkles, and that Goodwin girl IS just bad They must have heard the message Suddenly her eyes grew large. Y wonder ii he thought of that she said in awed tone Tt was awfuv clever if he did A direct message from won't overcome that. either. but there are other ways I-I believe I'd rather beat him. just for the fun of it. than sell the farm for its value Her thoughts busy with him she drove to town-quite busy with him his thoughts had been with her. She had left word with her bewildercd father that she might call him up the telephone. and if so he not he at all disturbed by the message For she had telephone plan of her \ little pre- lminary information necessary. but she got it \ telegraph operator may not divuge the contents of the message he sends. but the rule does not cover messages that he does send. and the operator and the operators family were on friendly terms with the Crosby's
 "Oh. that telegram" said the operator "Why never sent it at all. He fixed that ID in advance gave dollar and said he might telephone me a message that was not to be sent. Queer deal. but 1t of my business. I didn't even know where he telephoning from.
 That enough to satisfy her. and a little later her father received this extraordinary communica- tion from her the telephone:
 Don't down a penny on the price Of the farm. That Tomlins telegram bluff and was never sent But don't say anything about it. we'll 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 overhear. The apparent effort at secrecy would make 1t convincing and would insure 1t wider and quicker circulation than any direct message could possibly have done
 She quite satisfied with the situation when she met Paul Tomns the street little later. So Paul. Each rather sorry for the other l hope said Paul. "that you're going to blame me"
 Why should I?' she asked
 Well" he explained. "when you think it all over you're likely 10 find that you've made mistake. and it's hard to be good natured lost op- portunity"
 "Ill promise be pleasant about it if you will she said
 "Its bargain" he declared
 She let the horse wait while she srolled through the village with him It was rather pleasant this verbal sparring. He found it SO. too He said he had missed the first train and was waiting for the next As matter of fact he intended to stay there until the new buyer came down.
 When she finally decided that she must start for home he discovered that he wanted 70 see a man who lived about mile out on her road He could walk