The Tupelo journal., 1915-07-02

III be at my task bright and early
tomorrow before your uncle is ZIP and
about planned Ned. Come here to-
morrow evening, climb up in the tree.
There's a comfortable seat on the sec
ond branch. Take down the receiver.
Call up Xxx III arrange with the
switchboard girls as TO what that
send you a dozen over the wires
every evening"
Oh, the delight of it! That blissful
twilight hour! The deft hand of the
master workman had arranged the
wires so that only a suspicious, search
ing person could have guessed the
mission of the double wire loop run
ming from the fence up into the old
apple tree.
For three consecutive evenings Het-
ty sauntered carelessly down the
road. Her uncle supposed she was 60
ing TO visit the daughter of the farm
er Just next to them. Hetty had no.
ticed him standing at the door of the
house the last evening of the three,
watching her till she was out of sight.
She made a cautious detour to reach
the old tree.
The fourth evening Hetty did not
start away until she saw Mr.. Barclay
busy in what he called his little of
flee, looking over his business papers.
1t vas quite dusk by the time she
reached her destination.
She had climbed into the tree and
had herself comfortably disposed,
when she was startled by a low quick
whistle. A man came oVer the fence,
rough looking and sinister. He stood
directly beneath her leafy shelter.
1t was he who had uttered the
whistle and in a few moments a com
rade of the same type slouched into
view.
We'll, how's the outlook" queried
the first m
Capital"
Girl gomez" RSsaSs
Half an hour ago"
And the old man."
In the room where his safe is, all
alone. There's a rich haul, partner.
Come on"
Mercy" gasped the startled Hetty,
as the two strangers disappeared in
the direction Of the farm house.
They are going to rob uncle."
Her wits worked quick. She was
aware that the men folks on the next
farm were not at home. Then a
bright idea occurred to her. She
snatched free the receiver OF the tele-
phone.
"X-X'-oh, quick. please. please."
she breathed frantically.
And then as the connection was
made: ooh, Ned, come quick, with
help. There are two burglars here
who are going to rob u%ncle!"
Will they never Gomez" she cried,
standing u in the road and looking
~townwards. Then her heart took
hope. Two distant sparks grew
brighter, the lamps of a speeding
automobile. Then she could hear the
c%hug-chug of the flying machine. She
ran out into the road and waved her
neck scarf.
Two town officers accompanied her
lover. One guarded the front door of
the house as they reached it. Ned
and the other man went around to the
porch that opened into the office of
old Simon.
Gust in time," announced Ned, and
he and the officer sprang into the
room. One of the burglars was guard
ing their victim with a revolver. The
other had just lifted his strong box
from the safe.
The officers departed with their
prisoners. Ned explained.
"A telephone did it?' muttered old
Simon, closely hugging his treasure
box. But for that-Join hands, he
said abruptly. I'm converted, Hetty.
This young man may put in a phone
in the morning. As to coming here
regular, I fancy he's earned the priv
ilege.'
And so love by telephone led tC
love directly under the home roof.
Copyright, 1914, by ". G. Chapman.)