Morris tribune., 1913-12-05
Evidence by
Telephone
By EDWIN WATERMAN

BdSeu 10 cara UnQeFWOOu, very
pious and lovely young lady, l felt it
my duty before marriage not to give
up certain amusements-a friendly
game of poker, for instance-but to
conceal such from my fancee 1t seem
ed to me that there would be no use
In letting her know about them, for
once married, l proposed to settle
down and be a thoroughly domestic
man.
What was my horror one day when
my bosom friend, George Brewster,
came to me and said:
Great Scott, Billy! What do you
suppose that tattler, Madge Ellis, has
been telling Clara about your"
| "What?"
| "Why, that you drink, gamble and
have already Tilted four girls that she
knows of and as many more that she
| don't know Of"
"You don't mean ity'
81 certainly do"
II wish she were a man; I'd make
her eat her words"
"She isn't man and you've got
| lot of diplomacy on your hands,"
"What can do?"
! George thought awhile, then said:
II have 1.-THE telephOner'
what do you mean"
eat Clara's home there is a receiver
upstairs and one downstairs. You go
to see Clara and send up word that
you've come to explain Madge's ale
cations. don't know whether Clara
will see you, but if she does don't try
to explain by denial; it won't do any
good; prove your case by telephone.
Station Clara at one Of the receivers
and call up Madge at the other; then
make Madge go back on what she has
said about you while Clara is listen
ing"
''How can do that?"
Don't ask me. Have you no inven-
tive power? Lay a plan. if you can
before you begin to talk; if not, rely
on your wits and be guided by what
Madge says"
That afternoon called on Clara, and
1 was half an hour getting an inter
view When l succeeded I told her
that would call up very dear friend
OF mine who would disprove the
charges against me and that 1 wished
her to hear what was said without the
other person knowing she was listen
ing. She consented. and I started the
game.
Now, I knew what neither Billy nor
Clara knew-that Madge was one Of
the girls had Tilted. That is to say.
she had tried to rake me in, and had
declined to be raked. Clara went to
the receiver upstairs and to the one
downstairs. called up Madge, and
the following dialogue ensued:
els that you, Madge?"
Eyes. Who is this?"
"Im Billy Meredith"
ooh"
"HOw would you like to go to the
theater with me tomorrow night?"
The theater"
Eyes"
What would Clara Underwood sayY'
"Oh, she wouldn't care. Didn't you
know that my engagement with her is
broken?'
mo; is 1t?'
Eyes; Clara broke it, but have been
for some time wishing to be free"
"Why?"
For certain reasons?"
What reasonsY
"Well, I've never felt right about
you. didn't realize-but telephone
isn't the means by which to talk over
"Clara is very lovely girl won
der you didn't stick to her."
"She has her faults"
"Well-yes-some faults"
"Such as?"
"Well, she affects to be awfully good
1 don't believe she's any better thar
any one else"
Il don't either. She thinks I'm {
: bad one. That's one reason why sh'
broke with me. Did you ever hear tina
1 drankY'
mo. And know you don't, at leas
not immoderately."
Cor gambler"
: Certainly not
''Or that Pm generally wildY
"How ridiculous"
"Well, how about going to the thea
ter tomorrow nightY
II have an engagement for tomor
row night, but can break it."
Il wouldn't do that. haven
0 bought the tickets yet. I'll see 70
e what night can get them and call 20
: up again Goodby."
Without waiting to hear her ow
|. goodby / hung up the receiver an
y waited for Clara to come down to nj
:, 1 feared that her ire would overcom
n her discretion, but she controlled he
f self, and in few moments I heard he
/ footsteps on the staircase. She al
preached me with extended arms,
clasped her in mine, and we stood Il
; awhile without speaking. When 81
disengaged herself l saw that her eye
e were moist.
It "The horrid thing!'' were the fir