The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-10
A THRILLING
MISTAKE
BY THOMAS r. DUNN

was dressing for dinner one even
ing when the telephone bell rang.
Stepping to the instrument heard a
very sweet feminine voice say:
rs that you, Mr.. PembertonT
Yes, I'm Pemberton."
You're to be at the corner of Eighth
and Walnut this evening at 8. Take
the cab you will find there and
who are youg' l asked. not under
standing all this talk.
I'm Efle Strong. You will be driv-
en- TO the park entrance. Go to the
fountain, where you will find Edith.
Garry rose in Oh, heavens, some
one Is coming"
There was a click and that was the
end Of these remarkable instructions.
II was evident that there had been a
call for some one bearing my name.
and the telephone girl or the person
calling or some one had made mis-
take.
Now, | would not on any account
take advantage of such a blunder TO
crafty curiosity. pry into other peo-
pies affairs or for any other purpose.
But l felt it Incumbent on me TO cor
rect the error If possible. This other
Pemberton would not get the message
intended for him, the driver OF the
cab might wait all night on his box,
and Fife might grow so desperate as
TO drown herself In the fountain. 1t
behooved me TO set matters right.
/ called up the telephone Office and
asked who had given me the last call.
might as we'll have asked the OPP
orator TO tel me how many grains
there are on an ear of corn. look
ed in the directory for the name Penn
berton, but mine was the only one
there
There was nothing for II but that
should go TO she corner of Eighth and
Walnut streets, take the cab, proceed
to the fountain and tell Edith that she
needn't wait any longer because the
real-her real-Pemberton had not
been informed of the meeting.
confess / was somewhat curious to |
know why conveyance had been pro- |
vided and what was to be the upshot |
OF the business. But I resolved sim |
ply 10 state that q mistake had been |
made and ask no questions. / thought |
II necessary TO carry rose in order |
that | should be recognized for the |
other fellow or | might as well stay |
away. So on my way to the place
where / should meet the carriage I
stopped at flower shop and bought
one. The cab was in position, and |
opened the door The driver asked if
| was Mr.. Pemherton, and l told him
that ] was. Then he drove me to the
park. | alighted and went up the
walk TO the fountain.
Two girls were standing looking at
he dripping water, and one of them
IN seeing the rose in my hand left
Ter friend and ,nade straight for me.
81 have come to tell you," said, rails
ng my hat, that there has been
mistake"
Good gracious! What's gone wrong?
S it all oir?'
"A telephone message came to me
his afternoon from a lady whom
lon't know"
Certainly you don't know her. You
re not expected to know her"
You see. I'm not-that is, there's
My one person Of my name in the
telephone book
You're Mr. Pendleton. aren't you|
Certainly I'm Pendleton. There's
o doubt about that. but
Come. Let as hurry. Wen be too
tie. Maud told me that IL failed her
would break her all up: she wouldn't
e able 70 get through with IT,"
IL this young woman had been a
or suspicious looking /
light have attempted further explana-
on. But she was as pretty as
each. and If she wouldn't give me
bance It seemed u me that l was
FOR letting her have her way.