The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-11-27
Evidence by
Telephone
By EDWIN WATERMAN

Especially when some part Of the &C.
cusation is technically true. Being en-
gagged to Clara Underwood, a very
pious and lovely young lady, felt ii
my duty before marriage not to give
up certain amusements-a friendly
game Of poker, for instance-but to
. conceal such from my fiancee 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 it!'
II certainly do"
II wish she were 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?'
7 George thought awhile, then said:
Il have 1.-THE telephone"
what do you mean"
i AT Clara's home there Is receiver
upstairs and one downstairs. You 60
to see Clara and send up word that
you've come to explain Madge's allie
cations. l don't know whether Clara
will see you, but If she does don't try
to explain by a 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 60 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 plan. If you can.
before you begin to talk; II not, rely
on your wits and be guided by what
Madge says"
That afternoon called on Clara. and
was half an hour getting an inter-
view. When l succeeded l told her
that would call up very dear friend
Of mine who would disprove the
charges against me and that wished
her to hear what was said without the
other person knowing she was listen
ing. She consented, and 1 started the
>, game.
Now, I knew what neither Billy nor
! Clara knew-that Madge was one Of
the girls 1 had Tilted. That is to say,
she had tried to rake me in, and l had
declined to be raked. Clara went to
the receiver upstairs and to the one
downstairs. 1 called up Madge, and
the following dialogue ensued:
us that you, Madge?'
Eyes. Who is this? ?"
"I'm Billy Meredith"
"Oh."
"How would you like to 60 to the
theater with me tomorrow night"
1.-The theater?"
"Yes"
what would Clara Underwood say?'
"Oh, she wouldn't care. Didn't you
know that my engagement with her is
broken?"
mo; is it?'
Eyes; Clara broke it. but have been
for some time wishing to be free"
"Why?'
"For certain reasons?"
"What reasons"
"Well, I've never felt right about
you. l 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
don't believe she's any better than
any one else"
II don't either. She thinks I'm q
bad one. That's one reason why she
broke with me. Did you ever hear that
drank?' &c..
."No. And I know you don't, at least
not immoderately."
"Or gambler" 49,.
Certainly. not"
"Or that Pm generally wlldT'
"How ridiculous"
"Well, how, about going to the thea
ter tomorrow night"
II have an engagement for tomor-
row night, but I can break it,
II wouldn't do that. haven't
bought the tickets yet III see for
what night can get them and call you
up again. Goodby."
Without waiting to hear her own
goodby hung up the receiver and
waited for Clara to come down to me-
/ feared that her ire would overcome
her discretion, but she controlled her,
self, and in a few moments heard her
footsteps on the staircase. She ap-
preached me with extended arms,
clasped her in mine, and we stood for
awhile without speaking. When she
disengaged herself I saw that her eyes