The herald., 1918-01-03
The WRONG SIDE
BY VINCENT G. PERRY

Teddy Brent wasn't used n /,
snubbed-before all the bows "a
staff, too; that was the rub !. %
city his breezy, sunshiny air bsa
him many friends and his READ, 's
kept them around him in droyes N w
wasn't girl In the Office who won,saa
jump at the chance Of going ~.
lunch with him-that was before AZ
little girl from his home town 1a
to push in the plugs on the su,,.s
| board. sa'
He recognized her the first dawn
! tie Madge Murray, whom no
taught in the village school the s.a
year after he left the normal, tho ,a' s
he found out he wasn't cut ont ~.
teacher and left for the CITY n
his hand in the newspaper game 81
had written him such nice school.,,,s
letters, that first year In the citr az
when he went home for the first w.r
earned vacation he spent most ~ =
! boating with her. Then after tbs, \.
forgot all about her, or thought he aIs
I'm the whirl of growing popularity ana
gay times in the city. She had writte,
him once or twice, but he didn't s,s
time to answer with more than nj.
ture post card now and then. To N,
"See who's here! I'm awfully glad y
see you, Madge" she puckered M.
pretty lips into a stiff and formal
"How-do-you-do" and turned to Ne,
switchboard.
She had improved, he noticed, as bs
passed through the Office on the vav
back from the lunch ne hadn't touebea
improved not in her attitude toward
him but In appearance.
Madge answered the buzz Of Teddy.
telephone. When he asked for an 81.
PLANTATION Of her GOODNESS the only an.
swer he got was: "What number dn
you wantT He hung up his receiye,
with disgust and didn't try again for
days.
The other men on the staff were nat
SO coolly treated by the new girl on
the switchboard. Teddy noted with
alarm her preference for Billy Glbbs
Billy and his wife were not on spest
Ing terms and Billy was trying to nj
a divorce.
Teddy resolved to talk to Madge but
when she answered his telephone csl
she wouldn't listen to him. He wasn't
going to suffer the humiliation Of a per
sonal interview. He tried to TAN b
her over the phone time and again, n
to get rid Of him Madge switched Nm
on the central line. The girl at ceR
trail heard all that was intended fx
Madge and made an appointment with
Teddy. He thought 1t was Madge
While Madge was trying to get cen
trail for the manager, she heard ovs
the wire the telephone operator ther
talking to one of the other girls. ~Yes
I just made a date with one Of tho&
reporters at the Times. He was IL
cutest thing" the girl was saying.
"Hello, Times, give me the foreman
Of the composing ROOM" the ope1tr
broke In on Madge. Realizing the nh
take she had been the cause Of Msdes
couldn't help listening to the next CO
versation.
"Hello, Dick. Flora speaknf
Dreadful headachel Tomorrow niti
-good-by."
Madge worried about 1t all aftF
noon. She had been very foolish h
her treatment Of Teddy, she thoust
But she couldn't blame herself i9
treating him so coolly. She had card
so much for him that summer az
thought he cared, too. but he ~
spoiled II all by sending her post caso
as he would to his little sister.
Late that afternoon Madge GOT :
call In a feminine voice for the fde
man Of the composing room. Prooag
he was as tickle as the girl at g
trail, she thought. 1t would ease =
conscience a little II he was, % -
listened to find out.
"This is Peg speaking, Dick. ThoueR
I'd let you know Flora has mace !
date with one of those fresh reports
Tor tonight, at WHY'S, think
It'll get him." Madge heard pd
nutter as he put up the receiver. !
Then she was in a panic. She couio'
Iet Teddy % To that Mace, perhapsp
be murdered.
Madge was at WHY'S first. ~
took good care of that at the expe.
Of a hasty preparation. She wos
like to have "fussed" a little more, ~
she hoped Teddy would not notice u
Perhaps he would be mean ana u
her like a little girl, as he BAD "
before, she thought, but when sne
the pleased look on his face wnes :
caught sight Of her waiting for W.
she knew he wouldn't.
snow, dear, since you told me
[ offended you and have accepfeo
humblest apologies, and my pro-
never to send another post caN
you as long as / live, won't you
me what made you change your
and manner toward meT W
asked.
Madge breathed a sigh OF reha
she noted the departure of me
girl in green who had been waiuns
patiently for more than half ID -
"Just because / was foolish w.
very foolish" she laughed. FL
Copyright. 1917, by the Mcclure Ss'
per Syndicate)