The Meeker herald., 1916-09-16
BEGUN ON A
PHONE
0, OSCAR cox

There IL nothing 20 pleases . girl Is
10 get behind q screen where there Ii
no possibility Of being discovered and
treating one Of the opposite sex ~ she
would never dream Of treating him
were her identity known. Ralph Hard
ting, Q youngster who was, to say the
least, BY NO means bashfuL was called
to the telephone one day. party wire
End q soft feminine voice asked. ''ls
this Nrs. Partingtoar
-No; this - not Mrx Darlington"
what L. your number7"
my number n $40. party W."
''Oh! I've got the wrong letter.
called 646 Il. Excuse me-"
How much often depends upon
triSei
.No excuse needed. l assure you
ln1eed. must ask you to excuse me"
what fos. pleaseT'
Keeping you talking longer than II
necessary to your purpose. The SOUND
Of your vo'cs u pleasant to the
ear
A slight chuckie informed Nj. Hard
ing that he had not given onense. The
chnckIe was the only reply. but It en-
couraeed him to 60 on.
1--WE arc frequently called to answer
calls Of $40 r. suppose 1t is very
easy for an operator to make . mis-
take In q letter"
"Quite 30"
"Are you On Q party wireT
After some hesitancy the isdy an
swsred In the Affirmative.
"Do you have the same letter a. IT
my Istter II NJ"
and your NUMBER
Again the chuckle, but no other re-
ply.
.Bes pardon. Ny question was
thoushtless."
This was mot true, a. the girl well
knew. II be had the number and the
letter It would be possible for him to
learn her identity.
''It wouldn't be proper for me to be
chatting over the phone with stran-
ger" said the voice, III he knew who
was, but since am unknown sup
pose It's NO harm"
How do you know that I'm not .
very disreputabIe person. asked Hard
ing.
"By your voice. There is nothing
that bespeaks refinement or the want
Of 1t 70 surely a. the infection Of ones
words defy any one not born and
brought up In the highest class to a.
sumo the accent Of one Of that class"
Thank you. You are repaying me
for what said to you with inter
esG. Isn't It strange that can hear
you speak a. plainly ~ II our lips were
only an inch or two apartr'
Another chuckle.
"But, not being able to see you. am
obliged to rely on my imagination for
picture Of you."
swhat do you think 1 am liker'
zone Of Titian's pictures-fair skin.
dark eyes and tinge Of mellow sun
set In your hair"
"rm not like that at ALL"
"WelL then you're brunette"
There being no reply. Harding asked
II be was getting WARM" As the chill
dren say In hide and seek games But
tho lady. who was evidently guarding
herself against Identification, declined
to favor him with 4 reply.
II wish you would give me some
thing BY which could nnd out who
you are" he said.
II am lady"
"And, while . lady may talk to q
to be lady II she became known. /
suppose"
Exactly"
"very well, there Is a chance, &C.
cordins to your definition Of lady. Of
your ceasing to be one"
How b thatr'
"If ever I meet you and you say q
word to me I shall know you by that
voice Of yours. which has melody in
Il 1 have never heard In 4 woman's
voice before"
-Oh. my good graciousr'
Therefore pray that I shall never
meet you"
II will. You're simply hattering me.
don't believe you could tell me BY
my voice at all"
1--WE may test that, and without your
giving me any clew to your identity
except what have. your voice"
"Howr' s.
''I'll tell you my name and where
live and give you any other information
Of myself that will enable you to meet
me-. you remaining unknown to me- BY
this you may contr1ve . meeting with
out my suspecung It II don't rec
ognfze you BY your voice am much
mistaken. II It q gof''
She did not say whether 1t was Q
10 Of not, but he gave her his name
and address. She asked him to name
some persons he knew. and at his CIV
Ing Q certain name she said be need
not 20 any further. thereby giving him
. point, and be resolved to be watch
ful whenever at the home Of the per-