Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-07-12
AN INNOCENT
PRANK
BY ELINOR MARSH


and 2. railroad, and Elizabeth Crofut
Was a woman operator at Warfeld,
thriving town on the line. One day
Bess had occasion to e7l Greers sta
tion for some informal ..n about trains,
and az they wer~ 1sing the phone John
noticed that th., person calling had a
very gweet voice He complimented
her ON it and thus made a beginning.
Miss Crofut found various excuSes
for calling up Mr.. Greer, and vice ver-
sa. Then came an exchange of photo
graphs.
At this point there was a divergence
from the frankness that had been dis
played when both parties were pro-
tected by distance and an absence of
identification. Greer being a man and
having less at stake sent his own pho
tograph. Miss Crofut sent picture
which, whether or not it was'of her.
self, was that of a pretty girl. AS soon
as Greer saw it he pronounced it pref
~ enough to kiss, and he announced
the fact to his auditor
The natural sequence was, next, an
arrangement for meeting. Greer was
There was small park near tie War
field station, and at 0 o'clock in the
evening he was to go to the northwest
corner of this park, where he would
find a girl sitting on a bench. There
were two benches near together, and
the girl would be sitting on the one
under a tree unless it was occupied.
If it was, she would be on the other
one, which was fanked by bush.
1t was the month of June when the
days are long, but not long enough for
one to distinguish a face without arti-
fetal light at o'clock at night. True,
the moon was half full, but a half
moon is not especially Illuminating.
John, that he might make sure of the
girl, put an electric hand lamp in his
pocket. He entered the park as a
neighboring clock struck 8 and ad-
vanced to the northwest corner Of the
park. Nearing it he saw two girls,
each sitting on bench.
This was unfortunate, for it was i'm
possible for him to determine which
was his telephone girl.
Johnny was in a quandary. He had
no liking for speaking to an unknown
woman in public park and turned to
leave. He was stopped by Hem"
which he supposed came from the girl
on the bench under the tree and, turn
ing, started toward her. He had taken
only few steps when another Hem"
arrested him and which came unmiS-
takably from the girl on the bench be-
side the bush. Supposing that he had
not heard Alright as to the first call, he
turned his course to the girl who had
given the last one.
Another call came this time from the
bench under the tree, which was fol-
lowed by one from the other bench.
There were two girls calling to him,
and Johnny stopped stock still and
thought. Evidently a prank was being
played on him. What wisdom that he
had brought an electric lamp! Flash
ing it, he advanced on a line midway
between both benches, first turning 1t
on the girl on the bench under the tree.
She seemed to be the girl Of the photo
graph, but a photograph does not al
John was not sure. He turned his
lamp toward the other girl. 1t seemed
to him that she was more like the pic
ture than the other. He was nom
plused.
A giggle from both girls convinced
him that a game had been put up on
him. But instead of being miffed he
oh thn i,it nf %1r o,,Ir
stood for few moments considering
how he might outwit the prankers by
hit upon his correspondent.
II beg pardon" he said, you've got
the better of me. You must be twins"
1--WE are said both at once.
Turning to one girl, he asked, did
No. pass here late this morning?"
Silence.
Turning to the other girl he asked
the same question.
Silence.
you're very bright" thought John,
"but I'll get you yet"
zone of you indicated that when we
met l might have a kiss. At any rate,
I'm going to take one"
as though he We're about to take her
in his arms.
"Go awayr
Johnny went to the other girl and re-
peated the process.
III stick pin in you,'' she said.
My friend of the phone" said John
ny, bowling low, 81 am happy to make
your acquaintance"
"How do you know 1 am the one?"
asked the girl.
"By your voice. Your sister may be
like you in looks, but the tones that
pass her lips, compared with yours,
are as cornstalk fiddle compared with
the tender notes Of a flute"
The sisters had realized this differ
ence between their voices and provid-
ed against its giving them away by