Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-16
THE WRONG SIDE
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.


city his breezy. sunshiny air had Won
him many friends and his ready wit
kept them around him In dr0ves. There
wasn't u girl n the office who wouldn't
Jump ut the chance Of going out to
lunch with hiin--that was before this
to push in the plugs on the switch
board
He recognized her the first day-lit-
tie Madge Murray, whom. he had
taught in the village school the frst
year after he left the normal. the year
he found ont he wasn't cut out for a
teacher and left for the city to try
MS hand In the newspaper game. She
had written him such nice school grille
letters, that first year In the city. and
when he went home for the first we'll
earned vacation he spent most Of 1t
boating with her. Then after that he
forgot all about her. or thought he did
In the whirl of growing popularity and
gay times In the city. She had written
him once or twice, but re didn't find
time to answer with more than pic
ture post card now and then. To his
"See who's here! I'm awfully glad to
see you, Madge!" she puckered her
pretty lips into stiff and formal,
"IIow-dO-you-do" and turned to her
switchboard.
She had improved, he noticed. AZ he
passed through the office on the way
back from the lunch he hadn't touched
improved not in her attitude toward
him but in appearance.
Madge answered the buzz Of Teddys
telephone. When he asked for an ex-
PLANTATION of her GOODNESS the only an
swer he got was: "What number did
you want?" He hung up his receiver
with disgust and didn't try again for
days.
The other men on the staff were not
so coolly treated by the new girl on
the switchboard. Teddy noted with
alarm her preference for Billy Gibbs
Billy and his wife were not on speak
ing terms and Billy was trying to get
a divorce.
Teddy resolved to talk to Madge, but
when she answered his telephone call.
she wouldn't listen to him. He wasn't
going to suffer the humiliation Of a per-
sOnal interview. He tried to talk to
her over the phone time and again. 30
to get rid of him Madge switched him
on the central line. The girl ut cen
trail heard all that was intended for
Madge and made an appointment with
Teddy. He thought It was Madge.
While Madge was trying to get cen
trail for the manager, she heard over
the wire the telephone operator there
talking to one of the other girls. "Yes.
I just made date with one Of those
reporters at the Times. He was the
cutest thing" the girl was saying.
"Hello.' Times. give me the foreman
of the composing ROOM" the operntor
broke in on Madge. Realizing the mis-
take she had been the cause Of Madge
couldn't help listening to the next con-
versatiOn.
"Hello. Dick. Flora speaking.
Dreadful headache! Tomorrow night
-gOOd-by."
Madge worried about II all after
noon. She had been very foolish In
her treatment of Teddy. she thought
But she couldn't blame herself for
treating him SO cOOlly. She had cared
so much for him that summer and
thought he cared, too. but he had
spoiled it all by sending her post cnrtis
as he would to his little sister.
Late that afternoon Madge got
call i'm feminine voice for the fore
man of the composing room. Probably
he was as tickle as the girl ut CEN
trail. she thought It would ease her
conscience rttle If he was. 80 she
listened to find out.
"This is Peg speaking Dick. Thought
date with one of those fresh reporters
for tonight. at WHY'S. think"
"I'll get him." Madge heard Dick
mutter as he put up the receiver.
Then she was in panic She couldn't
let Teddy 90 to that place. perhaps to
be murdered.
Madge was at WHY'S first. She
took good care of that at the expense
of hasty preparation. She would
like to have "fussed" little more. but
she hoped Teddy would not notice that.
Perhaps he would he mean and treat
her like little girl. az he had done
before. she thought. but when she saw
the pleased look on his face when he
caught sight Of her waiting for him,
she knew he wouldn't.
"Now. dear. since you told me how
I offended you and have accepted nv
humblest apologies. and my promise
never 10 send another post card to
you as long as live, won't you tell
me what made you change your mind
and manner toward me?" Teddy
asked.
Madge breathed sigh Of relief as
she noted the departure of the tall
girl in green who had been waiting i'm
patiently for more than half an hour.
"Just because | was foolish. Teddy.
very foolish" she laughed
Copyright. 1917. by the Mcclure Nevspa-
per Syndicate)
ANt Qualified g.. c---f-