Evening star., 1913-12-17
THE EVENING STORY.
THE VIBRANT WIRE.
BY SARA JOSEPHINE BAYLES.

In its niche in the hallway the tele-
phone bell began to ring violently. 1t
broke the dark silence of the place, and
brought Miller. who was smoking in the
dusk, out of his revery with angry
and gazed meditatively at the wall paper
Hello he said
"1s this - Madison?'
Yes"
rs this Mr. William Lindlay Miller?"
1T is" said Miller. land his eyes lost
their rneditative stare. The voice was a
woman's, and it was unusually sweet
with soft magnetic quality that pro-
voked an instant interest. At her next
words Miller stiffened with surprise.
Its really Billy, Billy Miller. Isn't
1t funny how easy 1t is to get you on the
wire? Until now you've always seemed
so far away-so absolutely unattainable."
Miller frowned. "Who is this?' he de-
manded sharply.
The voice rippled a little. "Of course
you'd ask that, but 1 can't tell you be-
cause I'm no one you ever saw or even
heard of. If We do unconventional things,
we must be careful. Call me Nobody
Nobody of Nowhere -
There was a silence Miller said moth
ing, because he was trying to think of
something non-committal and could not.
Then-"What are you doing?" said the
voice guardedly.
Looking up the number of the Bloom
ingdale Insane Asylum
"Nonsense. There was another ripple
of laughter. rs any one there with
you?"
only a dog. but he's very intelligent
Would you care to speak to him?'
NO; I'm coming around. / shall be
there in few moments Good-by
There was an unmistakable click. Miller
grasped the telephone excitedly. What
he shouted. Here, Central, don't cut me
off. l want that person again. Re quick.
You can't? Blame it, you-oh.'
Miller slammed the receiver into the
rack. He sat down on chair. and a
brindled terrier came and sat in front of
him, and thumped a stubby tail on the
rug.
smile. Fritz. a lady is coming to see US
an anonymous and unlimited lady. But
she had a pretty voice
He went back into the smoking room,
where he Strengthened the magazines on
the table and stacked the couch cushions
in stiff man fashion.
At IL o'clock he threw all the cush-
ions at Fritz. and cast himself upon the
couch In disgust. The evening had been
uneventful and he could only conclude
that some one had been trying to play a
stupid and pointless joke.
On the third day after. which was a
Sunday Lokari, Millers Japanese woke
him from his morning doze with sum-
mons to the telephone. Miller went i'll his
bathrobe-yawning.
Hello he said GROSSLY.
Good morning, Billy"
Billy jumped.
"Of course you won't recognize me-.
II believe I've heard your voice once
before
"Oh, that is nice of you to remember.
Ones mind is often cloudy on Sunday
morning. too. What do you Think"
Il believe you're d woman so I'd best
not tell you what l think" said Billy
Il suppose all this is some kind of
joke on me-
Then the voice suddenly became so
troubled. so earnest and eloquent with
a quickened pulse, that Billy leaned near
er the instrument.
ooh, please don't think that" it plead
ed. IF there is any joke about this it is
all on me and it's n very miserable joke
please don't try to guess. Did you wait
for me the other night"
Il was home all the evening"" said
Billy cautiously.
And who came?
|. Nobody
Nobody
Nobody at ALL
There was pause. Il said / was no.
body" reminded the voice gently.
Billy hung up with a slam and went
back to bed. He tried to sleep, but could
not. Il said / was nobody" repeated the
voice, insiStently. Stuff growled Billy
and turned on his other side.
This was the beginning of Billy Miller S
courtship-a siege laid to his heart by an
intangible, bodiless voice that said the