The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1916-02-12
BEGUN ON A
PHONE
By OSCAR COX


ing, youngster who was, to say the
least, by no means bashful, was called
to the telephone one day-a party wire
and a soft feminine voice asked, lis
this Mrs. PartingtonY'
mo; this IS not Mrs PartngtOn."
What Is your number|
my number Is 946. party W."
'Oh! I've got the wrong letter.
called 846 r. Excuse me-" .
How much often depends upon a
trffe! ... ....-... .. .. .-.
mo excuse needed. | assure you.
Indeed, must ask you to excuse me.
What for, pleaseY
a., keeping you talking longer than is
necessary to your purpose. The sound
ear .. ...
A slight chuckle informed Mr. Hard
ing that he had not given Offense. The
chuckle was the only reply, but it en-
.couraged him to go on.
1--WE are frequently called to answer
calls Of 846 Il. suppose it is very
easy for an operator to make a mis-
take in letter.
"Quite So"
Are you on a party w1rep'
After some hesitancy the lady an
swered I'm the affirmative.
do you have the same letter as IY'
my letter is M"
"And your number"
Again the chuckle, but no other re-
ply.
"Beg pardon. Ny question was
thoughtless."
This was not true, as the girl well
knew. If he 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 a stran-
ger" said the voice, IF he knew who
was, but since 1 am unknown l sup
pose it's no harm"
"How do you know that I'm not a
very disreputable person" asked Hard
ing.
"By your voice There is nothing
that bespeaks refinement or the want
of 1t so surely as the infection of ones
words. l defy any one not born and
brought up in the highest class to as
sumo the accent Of one Of that class"
''Thank you. You are repaying me
for what l said to you with inter
est Isn't it strange that can. hear
you speak as plainly as if our lips were
only an inch or two apart?''
Another Chuckle.
"But, not being able to see you, am
oh tn i'm OH of
a picture Of you"
What do you think / am ikeT"
Zone OF Titian's pictures-fair skin.
dark eyes and a tinge of mellow sun
set in your hair"
"Tm not like that at ALL"
well, then you're q brunette"
There being no reply, Harding asked
IL he was getting warm" as the chill
dren say in hide and seek games. But
the lady, who was evidently guarding
herself against Identification, declined
to favor him with reply.
'T wish you would give me some
thing by. which, could find out who
you. are" he said. sss. e. 49,, .. ....
Il am a lady" "eal rg. o. .' .t.n4.
- And, while a lady may talk to q
strange man unknowng she would cease
q to- be lady if she became, known. l
suppose" ,44,ult r4Is :,
f,&' "Exactly% kr, ;t,1i,tlS t'.aQ;$e&
: fAtgHNery WE'LL there is a. chance, ac-
,atcoRding, tatNouE deanitiaR taf a. ladyS of
=; youF ceasing tofbeaene.f HAD. tt,aat 3
- sa"HoW is2thatH' aiat.a s y1 rs4441 i
ait ,hfIfleyer Il meetayoua and you say n
word to me 1 shall kRowty youeb by that
~.s voice of yours, which hasa melody in
it / ihaves never heard inca ,!woman's s
voice hefore.2 .}iGpc as ts$nF .l.sG
""Oh, my good gEaciousH y; ,.rL ,
~. Therefore pray that 4 shall never
meet; Bou."-&A ,,e2 utss s2?sG az. :lH.y .
~, II will You're simply nfattering me.
/ don't believe you could tell me- by
. my voice at taA." eng Il tSI.4.t :
Z I'VE may test that, and9without your
giving me-. any iclew vtQtEOqE identity
except what l have. your voice"
How y. ia. .vt.'t.EN 4a!},t .esf T.
F.. I'll tell you my name and where l.
live and give you any other information
Of myself that win enable you to- meet
me, YOU remaining unknown to. me. BY
this you may Contriyel q meeting with
out my suspeeting it. If L don't rec
), Ognize. you by your voice l am much
mistaken. Is it "a go?"laf .. ..a. .
.~ She did not say; whether it was a
go or not, but he. gave. her his name
and. address, She asked him to name
some persons he knew, and at his Civ.
ing a certain name she said he need
not. go any further, thereby giving; him
APPOINT, and he 'res0lXed to be watch
full Whenever. at the home. of the per
son named, = Then they said ""Goodby, .
- there were. two clicks, and fate, had
arranged for a wedding. 49,. ,s...s- ,
Some months later Harding was in
vited to dine at the house of a friend
=. mot. the. one the. girl of the telephone
S had given him reason. to, suspect as a
mutual friend Before going in to din.
e per, hearing ia voice, behind him, he
a, turned looked. a girl in the face and