Putnam patriot., 1913-11-07

thousands thinks that But the tele- phone girl hears them all. read in an old book once about demon named Asmodeus who used to fit about by night and lift the roofs of of houses to see what people were doing If he were living now he could save a lot of time and work and bother by getting job at central. We-''
 Buzz-Zi
 "H'loi" droned Wanda NO. Mir. Blake hasn't come in yet. Any mes sage? A'ri."
 "Yes," she went on in her own voice; what the telephone girl doesn't hear isn't worth the hearing"
 The whole world under your two little, little hands!" he said softly, reaching for one of them as he spoke.
 But the buzzer rushed to the rescue of it's high priestess with a sudden noisy purr.
 Mrs. Robertson?" droned Wanda to the transmitter. Nom. Mrs. Rob ertson is not at the Keswick Did you wish to be connected with Governor Robertson's suite? Nom. l don't know whether she's expected in Washington soon or not. A'ri."
 Friend of your sisters" she ex. plained, turning from the transmitter. She said Mrs. Robertson wrote her she was coming down from New York some day this week"
 Grace spends more time on the trains during the session than she does at home" laughed the youth She wanted to close the New York house and come down here to stay all winter. But Mark won't let her. But, Wanda, you've simply got to listen to me" he went on with a return of his boyish impulsiyeness. q love you. And T."
 MT. Blakel' she protested, half laughing, half distressed, r."
 MT Blakei" he echoed ruefully. How long since I've been MT. Blake. to you? Haven't I begged you to call me 'Tom?' I always call you Wanda Why can't you call me-"
 T am a telephone operator" she said with mischievous demureness, and you are Mir Thomas Blake, promi- nent on the district attorneys staff, only son of the great Jim Blake, and brother to woman the Sunday papers call a society queen"
 'Lord," he growled, "are you trying to ring social standing in on meat this stage of the gamer"
 If you care to put it that way she answered more seriously, q certainly am"
 What roti''
 '.Yes? Yet I notice you didn't come across to speak to me until Governor Robertson had gone away And yon never have thought to introduce him to me when you and he have passed here together. He has been governor of New York. He may some day be president Would it make any sort or hit with him to have his brother-in-law marry telephone girl that half his political friends have always been try ing to jolly? Would he care to say to MT. Neligan. for instance: Remember that little hello girl you wanted to kiss and who slapped your face for it? We'll, she's my wife's sister-in-law.
 Don't" exclaimed Tom Blake. Tt isn't true. And"
 And" pursued Wanda, would your sister call on me at my boarding housS? Would she ask me to come and see herr"
 "Would she?" cried Tom. clustering to drown twinge of reasonable doubt. You bet she would You don't know Grace. She's all right. As white as they make them. If she knew loved any girl at all-no matter who she'd be the very first to put her arms around her and-and-'
 Then" said WanGa gently, don't tell her; and keep your ideal"
 "Oh!" he scoffed, nettled, you think"
 q think" she finished. I've belong in the twentieth century and not in a Laura Jean Libbey novel. l like you. You're all right-except what hap pened to you. But Pm not in your class. I had an education. A real one A pretty good school and all that before father died. But it's hard cash that scores every time over edu- cation. All education can do for a girl today is to make her sick to get out of the class her bank account puts her in. That's why I'm here and why I've got to talk and act like this. It makes 1t easier It's sort of armor. Things don't hurt so much"
 Don't say such things. They hurt. Isn't there any more coBgenial work that you could take up? With your education. you could"
 q could starve in a dozen daintily genteel ways. I started my profession al life as a stenographer. But l soon found it was pleasanter to work Tor corporation. You see. a corporation doesn't try to kiss you or want to take you out to lunch. Don't look disgusted please. I'm right in not marrying you. I've got as much pride in my own way, guess, as you have. Maype more"
 Pride doesn't come on in this scene at all" he protested. Look here, Wanda, I hate 10 repeat myself so often and to make a specialist or my self on a single subject. But youy got to marry me. I love you. Just say yes and save us both whole iot of trouble Please,"
 She shook her head until the metal band that held the receiver to her ear threw of a dozen silvery reflections from the dusk of her hair.
 Then" he demanded, give me one good sane reason for saying no.
 'sOh. haven't given you enough req sons?'
 Punk reasons, every one Of 'em- A
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