The Press., 1918-12-26
A Woman Again
 @0
By JEAN ELGIN1RoD

Jeanette Whipple, trunk operator, fac ing the clock, saw that in a little less than two hours her time would be up. She wondered if Richard was watch ing the clock as impatiently as she. Such a long, long time to six o'clock and the happy walk home.
 She glanced over the local board. The local girls were always busy. Their hands flew as they connected line after line. The drops fell quick CT than they could answer them. The chief operator (No. 25 officially was working back of the board on the Hayes.
 The monitor walked up and down, up and down, back of the girls, who hated her nearly as much as they did their chief. She had been 15 years in the business-and showed it. She was reported to have a soft spot in her heart for the young, curly-headed as- sIstant chief operator at the desk.
 The messenger boys called him the fellow with the pretty blue hair" The girls called him "1212," being assist ant to No. 25.
 Jeanette laughed to herself as she thought of it. Then she turned down a jack to see If No. 270 was still talk ing to Ridgeton. Captain Henry's big voice boomed in her ear and she ; caught the sentence:
 "-tall and dark, about thirty years old, been foreman of the Electric com pany six years"
 | mi rh | jack. Then as she realized what she had heard she listened again. Why, Richard was foreman of the Electric company. What could have hap l pened?
 "Oh, LathrOp'l die, There is no chance. Don't know just how 1t hap pened yet. Nash has always borne good name. though there has been bad blood between him and LathrOp long time, hear. Have your men watch sharp. If he did go on that four o'clock I'll head it off at Saturne. It gets there about four-thirty. If he got off at Ridgeton, which doubt, he can't have gone far yet think he will keep on toward the west. Got it aIl?-fve feet eleven, dark, smooth face, we'll built brown suit, black derby-all right, GOod-by,"
 270 rang off.
 Jeanette took the connection down and leaned back In her chair The bulletins on the board swayed up and down with a horrible, sickenlng action. The noise of falling plugs grew faint. The hum of voices died into silence. The board seemed an immeasurabIe distance away.
 Then slowly her brain cleared. She had no trouble in realizing now what 1t all meant. Richard Nash. her Rich and Nash, had killed Lathrop.
 His face came up before her, clear cut as a cameo, the wise, tender face, the frank, steady eyes. Why, every one had hated Lathrop hut Richard. He had only laughed at him. It could not be true. Some one was playing a joke on her.
 She looked swiftly down the long line of girls. All were working, still and sober. The monitor paced slowly, back and forth. No. 1912 was writing out trouble reports.
 A drop fell. It was 270, She took it before the recording operator could reach it, and plugged In on the line. Her voice sounded strange to her as she spoke.
 "TOlI lIne."
 "Give me police station. Saturne, Captain Briggs to the telephone. And right away quick, to central"
 hn do no fingers were stiff and cold. She felt numbed nll over except her brain. That seemed on fire. She looked down at the small diamond on her left hand. Whether 1t were true or not. he was Richard-yes-and she loved him.
 If RidgetOn had not been able to get man down to the train In time to search 1t, after getting Captain Henry's message, there was a small chance for his escape-perhaps she could make 1t a bigger one, If he were really on that train, as she thought. Could she keep 270 from getting Saturne before the train passed there, whole half hour yet?
 New York was probably his goal. If she could keep the train from being searched before 1t reached New York, he might escape West, or across the water.
 Was he thinking of their walk home at the end of the day, now, she wOn- dered, remOrse and fear fighting within him. Or had he had no time to think of her yet?
 270 was calling again.
 Cant you get Saturne, Central? What is the matter?"
 ''Wire is busy. will call you," she answered clearly. It was only qnarter of five now.
 She cast a furtive look at the mon. itOr, who was coming toward her. She answered two other calls, and made quick connections. The monitor glanced at her board, then walked slowly away again. Time seemed to stand still, 4 4:57-4 :58-.
 pro called again.
 Captain Henry's voice bOded trouble for. somebody.
 "Why can't have Saturne? Imust have them before four-ffty."
 Jeanette almost laughed. Her blood was dp now. 27O must have Can. tain Henry said so. 27U must not have Jeanette Whipple said so. Which would win?
 ''Wire still busy. I will call you,'' she said.
 Captain Henry fumed. Jeanette lis tened in silence. Then he slammed up his telephone. She watched the clock and waited. 4 4:55-ssle drew long breath, and passed the call In a few moments they were talking.
 Captain Henry gave the same details that he had given to Ridgeton. gave them like a flash. Then having evil dently learned wisdom he passed calls to Lakeville, New Burn and New York at the same time. i
 Jeanette had not thought he would !