The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-06-08
NIGHT OF MANY
DISTURBANCES
When the Telephone Proved
a Source of Trouble.

in the trolley on their way to their re-
spective homes. make me tired When
the man in the weather tower thinks
there is any probability OF rain he
takes the benefit OF the doubt and
says showers for tomorrow This
morning I proposed to my wife that we
make pleasure trip with the children.
but the weather report said rain so
we gave it up. IL has been delightful
all day. and now. an hour after we
should have got home il is beginning
to thicken up. We can't 20 tomorrow.
for then IL will rain sure enough"
Another overrated addition TO our
telephone. Last summer I thought
how nice il would be when my family
were at our cottage in the country to
be able to speak to them at any mo-
ment So 1 had telephone connection
put i'm. The consequence was that the
baby never coughed but my wife called
me up to report the fact
"One evening just before I left the
Office TO go TO my city home there was
a ring at the telephone beside me on
my desk. and. putting the receiver 10
my ear. 1 heard my wife say TO me in
n tremulous voice: 'Rags'-Rags was
our sky terrier-'has been missing all
day. a tramp came by this morning.
and fear he has enticed the dog away
I'm sure there is plan TO rob u.s.
Il laughed at her fears, though l
confess 1 was worried Telling her to
have the coachman. whose room was
on the second floor of the barn. sleep
in the house. 1 babe her goOdby. tell
ing her that 1 would call her mp before
going to bed Fortunately for me.
had an engagement to dine with an in
innate friend and I'm this was some
thing TO occupy my mind and keep Ii
of what my wife had told me. 4 re-
mafned away from home till 10 O'Clock.
then returned. and the first thing L did
was to go to the telephone and ring up
my wife.
"'Oh. 1 am so glad you've called
she said. Pm so worried
"'What aboutT
rags hasn't come home. and I'm
sure
How about Patrick Is he Sleep
ing in the houseT
"'Yes. made sure of that by go
ing to his room to see If he was there
"'WellY
I'm awfuIly nervous
Nonsense. Go to bed and to sleep.
Here's n good night kiss for you and
1 made a smack with my lips. she re-
piled family. and, after telling her that
1 would sleep downstairs, where
gould hear the ttel lees.sssore Gel. 4 said
Good night and rang or.
Il slept on n divan in the drawing
room. Ii was very hot and 1 left a
front window open. 1 was an hour
getting to sleep and was awakened by
dazzling light shining in my eyes. II
proved TO be n buIlseye in the hands
OF n night Waterman. who. noticing
the open window. was poking around
TO see If anything WAS wrong. l drove
him away. but somehow 1 got to think.
ing about my wife's fears at home. Al
that time of night we are prone TO mag
Nifty tribes, and got mp terrific dread
lest her fears were well grounded.
The telephone bell rang out with a
sound that TO me plainly cried Muir
derr 1 jumped out OF bed and went
into the hall. where the telephone box
hung. and. putting the receiver to my
ear, asked 'WellY
my wife's voice. or a ghost OF It, re
piled. oh. Harry. there's some one try
ing to open a window on the piazzar
"'Well, call Patrick and tell him tc
go down My pistols-yOu know where
they are. I'm the top bureau drawer
take them to him.
There was a click as she hung NJ
the receiver. and waited breathlessly
I'm n few minutes another click told
me that it had been taken again, and
a frightened voice came: oh. Harry
| Patrick is not therel He was when
looked before. but he is not now. The
window has been opened. There's
some one coming upstairs. I'm going
to faintr
After waiting and ringing for five
/ minutes-it seemed an hOur-what dc
you suppose was the next thing heard
from that COMPOUNDED telephone? 'Chol
ly, gone to bed? MOI Well, come
down to the club and have a nightcap-
In vain tried to get central Ii wai
no use The wires had got crossed. and
was shut of from my wife. who was
doubtless being murdered
/. in twenty minutes 1 was at the sta
ton inquiring when the next train left
When they told me u in the morning
begged for an engine. But the super
intendent had gone to bed. and the
wouldn't wake him mp. ] waited ii
agony till the train left and reached
home Mt o'clock.
MY wife was In the garden with TIL
| children picking roses When she turn
1 ed and saw me she looked SURPRISED
| and asked what brought me home
After had Informed her. in no affec
tionate tone. she told me that It wa
Patrick wh0 was coming upstairs III
had stolen out to go TO n dance and 90
locked out He had no difficulty Il
opening TIE window catch with hi
knife. ana - he went past my wife
door there -Fas hitch In the telephon
service felt something rub my lef
and. lOoEing down. there was Rag
wanting - say Good morning. II
had got Nl.id the day before OF ne'
field for .Ats and had gone for a day
4