The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-02
THE EVENING STORY
Love Works by Wire.
(By NJ. J. PhiIlips.)

1SnOs SHiO Nell EidnuluSs Is
this Broad -eight-seven? ?"
Nine and five" sound much
alike, especially when the wire is not
working we'll A girls voice at the
other end of the line said YES" in
that faraway, eerie, impersonal tone
that contrary telephone will some
times impart
This is the Williams Valentine Ma
chine company. Please send one of
your trucks down for a pickup"
Just moment, please returned
the other voice. a little more distinct
ly; you have the wrong number
This is Broad Five-five-ei ight-seven."
"Oh, CALCULATED Banding; I
wanted Five-nine instead of F'ive-five.
Beg pardon
"Granted=Mr. Blanding!"
BIanding secured the express COM
pany's office and delivered his mes
sage before allowing himself to ponder
on this most surprising rejoinder. The
girl with the faraway voice knew his
name.
He was humble unit in the big Of
fee force of the Williams Valentine
company. He knew scarcely a score
of persons in the citys swarming
hundreds of thousands, and certainly,
he declared to himself not a girl with
SO pleasant and well ;nodulated a
voice.
BIanding looked about the office
speculatively. Was it a joke of one
of the stenographers, using another
phone crossed with his? No. All
were at their accustomed places. Per-
haps, then, his conversation had been
carried on with the private Office of
Mr.. Williams or Mr.. Valentine.
But this guess proved incorrect.
| The doors were open; from the presi-
dents office came the urgent click of
Miss Peters typewriter From the
%I7o efo
OF Mr.. Valentines voice as he dictat-
ed to Miss Marvin.
Neil Blanding put the mystery away
| for pondering during less urgent mo-
ments. There was work to do now
He Law awake half that night in his
narrow, sitting hall bedroom. But
| the baking heat seemed more bearable
than usual. He had the incident of
the day to think about.
The next day, when the hands of
the clock pointed to eleven Blanding
found it necessary to cali the express
company again.
He smiled as he took down the re-
ceiver. 1t was just this -Four yester-
day he had called. and had been given
/ the wrong number. Of course the in
concerned. In due time he would un
doubtedly find out who tina. girl was.
Number" said Central.
Blanding replied: Broad Five-five-
| eight-seven-
He realized before the words had
barely passed his lips that he had
called the number which had been
Iuppermost in his mind for twenty
four hours.
Broad five-eight-seven," said
the girls voice, as familiar to Bland
ings waiting ear as Though he had
been hearing it for years.
Oceanic Express company" he
lqueried, craftily
Came a little ripple laughter.
mo. Mr.. Banding; you have the
wrong number-again.'
'Who is this?" he demanded boldly.
| Broad Five-hye- ight-seven, came
the demure reply
Yes, but who is that?"
| why don't you look it up in the
book?" was the retort, IL a voice fair
ly bubbling with mischief. He heard
the receiver click back on the hook
umental task, as he OWNED at a
glance at the ponderous, blue bound
book.
Blanding Ioitered that night until
he was the last person IN the office.
Then he took the telephone book from
its shelf and hurried out with it.
After midnight he found the number
and it's complement: Crank zolin-
ski. S2S Twenty-ffth street.
That didn't sound very encourag-
told himself that it woule be all right
He fell asleep and drearred about a
lgirl of wonderful beauty with a voice
of gold.
He was two hours carly the next
morning, partially that lie might go
far out of his way to pass S2s Twenty
fifth street, and partially to return the
telephone book before it would be
needed.
His heart sank to his boots when
he stopped in front of the number. It
was a small. dingy brick store in a
Ineighborhood of small, dingy brick
stores Over the door was big sign:
Frank Zolinsl1i, Fine Wines and
Liquors
He rebounded happily when he saw
that the place was empty and that a
ITO Rent sign was displayed promi-
nently in the window OF course! The
phone number had been transferred to
another subscriber. whose name was
not yet in the book
That day he called Broad 55S7
without subterfuge- The girl was
pleased to be serious
You mustn't think I'm doing
something I shouldn't" she said.
| Mamma knows 1 have talked to you.
And since We are acquainted"
II know your" interrupted the mys-
titled BIanding.
Yes. indeed. How easily you for
get your friends."
The habit of talking with the girl
daily was now established. They
were not long chats, never more than
a few minutes. But they frightened
/ his labors materially.
Blanding made no further effort to
discover her identity. He had a half
superstitious feeling that in time it
would be revealed.
! Insensibly she grew deeply into his
confidence. He told her of his home,
his hopes and ambitions: of his moth
! or and father
I In Blanding's mind a certain dream
Of the future begau to form itself. a
dream in which himself and the girl
lNhose voice only he kew were the