The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-01-17
A PARTY
WIRE
BY OSCAR COX

on long winded conversations over the
wire and always at that hour in the
i 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 story written
to order on plan suggested by mem
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.
1.-The line is busy"
I was about to drop the receiver and
wait till the line would be free when
heard the we'll known melodious voice
of Miss Trewsdale:
",Nhat are you going to do today,
Cora:'
81 don't know. What are you going
to do"
OOu KNOW Cllucl.
: HAS Tom IS. been to call iutely?"
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"
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 he Il l,lll. The operator gave
me the number l wanted, and l got
Mr.. Hathorne, with whom wished to
speak.
"What do you think Id better do
with Dudley?' 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
telephone at the same time.
ooh. heavens!' 1t was a woman's
voice.
us that you, Nary"
YES: some one is planning a mur-
der over this phone. ! wonder II l
should call the police"
"Please send to Mrs. James B.
Wright two pounds Of lamb chops.
bunch of celery
This wires busyr' 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 l sit down
to work-I've lost three-quarters Of an
hour-what I'd better do with Dudley"
III l were you would
1.-THE baby won't take his food this
morning, doctor. What shall I do?"
At this point there was dead ST.
lence.
"Hello!" cried.
"What NUMBER came from the op-
orator.
81 was talking just now with 3642.
Some one buttel III and I've lost him.
Can you get him for me again?"
'.Is this the police Officer"
= Eyes, mum. What is it?'
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.
and l heard locomotive evidently
pulling out Of station. All the voices
were hushed. waited till the train
had got away, then helloed till l was
hoarse, without getting reply. Then
l began to work the arm on Which the
receiver hangs when not in use. At
last the operator asked:
"What NUMBER
Il want 3642. had him, but 1 was
cut of by concourse from the tower
Of Babel"
Presently there was click and the
query well. who is it," in Hathornes
voice.
Il say, Hathorne. asked you while
ago what should do with Dudley in
my story. You suggested that 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, central."' l shouted in a
rage. Cant get this wire for few
minutes this morning without the whole
town butting in?'
Thine, please
mine fifty-nine."
THANK you
You're welcome"
: There was click. and in a few mo-
ments the operator asked again:
: What number?'
was soon in connection with Ha-
thorne again. and We were debating
what should be done with Dudley
! when there was another. a final. inter-
ruption in the voice Of the woman who
| had spotted murder.
''There you are. Mr.. Police Officer.
Those men who are going to kill some
body are talking again. I'd know their
voices again if ever heard them"
"EIatEorne.' I shouted.
"Well?''
I'm coming around to your place to
talk it over"
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