Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-09-20
A PARTY
WIRE
By OSCAR COX

by CSSAR OON ii
My telephone party wire is 6S4 w.
Next door lives a garrulous girl, whose
number is 6S4 NJ. Eva Trewsdale is
her name, and she has bosom friend
Cora Roberts. with whom she carries
on long winded conversations over the
wire and always at that hour in the
morning when it is most In USE am
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
ence to the closing of a story written
to order on a plan suggested by men,
Der of the firm. Naturally | look to
him for instructions as | proceed. On
this particular occasion l 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
l heard the well known melodious voice
of Miss Trewsdale.s
"What are you going to do today,
Cora?'
81 don't know. What are you going
to do?'
81 don't know either"
HAS Tom B. been to call lately?"
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"
l sighed, hung up the receiver. paced
the floor for some ten minutes and
called again. They were still at it. |
listened again at intervals, but the dia-
logue was still going on. Finally there
seemed to be lull. The operator gave
me the number | wanted, and l got
Mr.. Hathorne. with whom wished to
speak.
What do you think I'd better do
with Du1ley?" asked.
Il 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 woman's
voice.
''Is that you. Mary?"
'Yes: some one is planning a muir
der over this phone. | wonder if I
should call the police"
"Please send to Mrs. James B.
Wright two pounds of lamb chops. a
bunch of celery
''This wires busyv' 1 shouted. I've
got possession of it, and I'm going to
keep it till l get through. Keep off
everybody. Is that you, Hathorne?'
'Yes; what do you want?"
I'D like to know before sit down
to work-I've lost three-quarters of an
hour-what I'd better do with Dudley"
''If 1 were you would
1.-THE baby won't take his food this
morning, doctor. What shall ! do?"
At this point there was a dead ST.
lence.
"Hello!' | cried.
what number?" came from the op-
orator.
81 was talking just now with 3642.
Some one butted in and I've lost him
Can you get him for me again?'
''Is this the police Officer?
"Yes, mum. What is il?
There is murder being arranged
over the telephone. Some one by the
name of Dudley"
who's he goin to kill, num-"
He isn't going to kill any one: he's
going to be-
The speaker was cut off by a click,
pulling out OF station. ALI the voices
were hushed. waited till the train
had got away, then helloed till l was
hoarse, without getting a reply. Then
1 began to work the arm on which the
receiver hangs when not in use. At
last the operator asked:
"What number?"
"I want 3642. had him, but was
cut off by concourse from the tower
Of Babel"
! Presently there was a click and the
query "Well. who is it?' in Hathorne's
voice.
II say, Hathorne, 1 asked you awhile
ago what 1 should do with Dudley in
my story. You suggested that l kill
him. If do that what shall do with
his sweetheart"
whats the price of eggs this morn
ing?"
"Seventy-fve cents, mum"
"See here, centralr' l shouted in a
rage. Cant l get this wire for a few
minutes this morning without the whole
town butting in?"
Thine, please"
Mine fifty-nine."
'Thank YOU"
you're welcome"
There was a click, and in few mo-
ments the operator asked again:
"What number"
/ was soon in connection with Ha.
thorne again, and we were debating