The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-09-13
A PARTY
WIRE
By OSCAR cox

Next door lives a garrulIus girl, whose
number is GSl u Eva Trcwsdalc l.
her name, and she has bosom friend,
Cora Roberts with whom she carries
ON long wludcd conversations over the
wire and always at that hour In the
morning when II Is most IN use. | am
n literary man and do my scribbling at
home. The other day before sitting
down To my days work | desired to
confer with my publishers with refer.
encc To the closing of a story written
to order on plan suggested by mem
Der of the nrn Naturally | look to
him FOR Instructions rs | pro ccd. ON
this particular occasion | wished TO
know whether should eliminate one
Of the characters before closing the
yarn. called the publishers number.
The line Is busy"
was about to drop the receiver and
wait till the line would be free when
heard the well known melodious voice
OF Miss Trewsdale:
"What are you going to do today,
CoraT'
II don't know. What are you going
TO doi'
II don't know either"
elias Tom Is. been to call latelyT'
Not since last week. That horrid
Kate W. Is making for him. It's too
disgusting for anything to see the way
she acts when he's around"
I sighed, hung up the receiver, paced
the floor for s,mc ten minutes and
called again. They were still at it. l
listened again at intervals, but the dia-
loglle was still going on. Finally there
seemed to he lull The operator gave
me the number | wanted, and ] got
Mr.. uathorne, with whom | wished TO
speak.
What do you think I'd better do
with Dudley | asked.
II think you'd better kill him."
Then followed one of those confused
situations that sometimes occur when
several persons are trying TO use a
telephone at the same time.
"Oh, heavens" 1t was a wcran's
voice.
"Is that you, Mary"
"Yes; some one is planning a muir
der over this phone. wonder il I
should call the police"
please send to Mrs. James Is.
Wright two pounds Of lamb chops, n
bunch Of celery
This wires busy"' shouted. 1--WE
got possession Of U, and I'm going to
keep It till l get through. Keep of
everybody. Is that you, Hathorne"
Yes: what do you wanti"
"I'd like to know before l sit down
to work-Tve lost three-quarters of an
hour-what I'd better do with Dudley"
IL were you would"-
THE baby won't take his food this
morning, doctor. What shall do?"
At this point there was a dead ST.
lence.
"Hello." l cried.
what number" came from the op-
orator.
II was talking just now with 3G42.
Some one butted In and I've lost him.
Can you get him for me again.
us this the police Officer
"Yes, mum. What is IT."
There Is a murder being arranged
over the telephone. Some one by the
name Of Dudley"
Who's he goin' to kill, mumi"
He isn't going to kill any one; he's
going to be-
The speaker was cut of by click,
and l heard locomotive evidently
pulling out OF a station. All the voices
were hushed waited till the train
had got away, then helloed till ! was
hoarse, without getting a reply. Then
began TO work the arm on which the
receiver hangs when not in use. At
last the operator asked:
what NUMBER"
II want 36i2. l had him, but | was
cut of by a concourse from the tower
of Babel"
Presently there was click and the
query "Well, who Is itT' In Hathorne's
voice.
Il say, Hathorne, asked you awhile
ago what l should do with Dudley In
my story. You suggested that kill
him. If do that what shall do with
his sweetheart"
What's the price OF eggs this morn.
lngi"
"Seventy-iive cents, mum"
See here, central!' | shouted In a
rage Cant | get this wire for few
minutes this morning without the whole
town butting in;'
Time, please"
mine tifty-nine,"
Thank you"
You're welcome"
There was click. aud IN few mo-
ments the operator asked again;
What numbers"
| was soon In connection with Ha-
horne again. and we were debating
what should be done with Dudley
when there was another. a final. inter
ruption In the voice Of the woman who
had spotted murder.
There you are. Mr.. Police Officer.
Those men who are going TO kill some
BODY are talking again. I'd know their
al.a., anaf,, AZ 4 ,xsn.. hnaeI fhapl