The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-07-31
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D odlal Fsaness Plsia..


& III do what you ask me, and the
company finds it out, I'll lose my job.
Then win get you better one.
II know you pretty near run things"
admitted Mark Seaton, telephone line
repairer. "but you are asking me to
break the rules Of the company"
'.rll mend them up later" airily de.
clared Jasper Worrell. II 1t ever does
get out the men will call It cleverness,
and the ladies will hail you 40 loyal
emissary Of the love god. Cupid"
Jasper Worrell, manager Of the local
telephone line. had got the devoted
seaton his position, but he was asking
his humble pensioner to do good
deal for him. Jarvis had directed him
to tap wire leading into the home Of,
Robert Brooks, to carry it to certain
secluded closet in the house, and put
In 4 receiver. all the time posing as
4 workman engaged in testing and re-
pairing the regular phone wire.
II Here was the situation: The father
Of charming Blanche Brooks had been
defeated in the local mayoralty con.
test the year previous BY Jasper's
father. Bitterly Brooks had resented
the success Of his political rival. He
refused to speak to any Of the Worrell
family. When he heard that young
Worrell and his daughter had been
seen together on the street, he COM
manded her forthwith to have no fur
ther communication, with the son of
his enemy, Blanche was 2 dutiful
daughter Jasper was Ill but engaged
to her. Blanche met him just once
and sorrowfully advised him that their
dream Of happiness was blighted.
"Never, no; abandon the thought I"
declared Jarvis In his forceful, con-
ndent way. Leave It all to me, dear
Blanche. I've won you, undeserving
% I am to be 80 blessed, I'll win over
your father, too. Don't talk over that
rubbish Of patiently waiting two years
until you are Of age. Leave it all to
me. Within two months I shall be
coming to see you three times a week,
with Father. Brooks smiling vel
come" s> ~ @ 9.
"But never to see you for eight
whole long weeks!" murmured
Blanche. Never to talk with you!"
aDismiss that erroneous impress
sion," directed Jarvis buoyantly. I'VE
shall have the sweetest, coolest, most
blissful chats every evening Of our
lives and four times 4 day, II you
wish, . insisted Jarvis, "and here's my
plan" .<ne
It was daring one. and it quite
scared Blanche. A secret telephone
waste be installed in a secluded room
next to, and communicating with
Blanche's own apartment. All the art
and science expert Mark Seaton could
employ was to be utilized In having "a
phone with no bell call. A mere click
would call Blanche at the other end
of the line at an agreed on time. The
only caution to be exercised was to
be certain that in talking to one an
other no one should overhear them.
And SO Mark Seaton, selecting an
occasion when Mr.. Brooks was absent
from home, duly installed the secret
telephone, and all Blanche had to do
was to lock the door Of her room, 60
into the next apartment, give the sig.
nal and in low-voiced converse those
two revelled in renewed love making
and tenderness.
All this brought them no closer in
actual contact, nor did it seem to
Blanche that her stubborn, determined
father was being made more approach.
able. Don't worry on that score =
encouraged Jarvis one afternoon. I'm
working hard on that end Of the prop
osition. Be at the phone at 8 O'clock
to the minute this evening. and I'll
be ready to announce the program
that is going to win over Father
Brooks In jiffy." q
Through the misadventure Of de
& lay at the house Of girl friend taken
suddenly Ill Blanche did not get home
BY 8 o'clock that evening. At just
that hour Mr.. Brooks, passing through
the upper hall, noticed an open win
;; dow in her room and the rain blow.
ing in. He entered and closed 1t, and
just then a suspicious souAd directed
/ him to the unused apartment beyond
A series Of clicks echoed, then indis
tinct sounds, as Of some one speaking
In a low tone. sI.
"Hellor calculated Mr.. Brooks in
amazement, as, tracing the sound, he
discovered the secret telephone behind
an old wardrobe. He picked up the
J. receiver. At once the words were
swept to his startled hearing!
Its all right, Blanche. I've fixed
everything. Ny father declines to run
again for mayor. I have got In ms
work with the fusion people on com
promise candidate AS can swing
all our workers can elect Father
Brooks, I'm one Of the committee
coming to apprise him Of the situa
ton in the next hour. Kiss your
Jarvis, dear. Good by"
usEat9,er Rrooksl' Kiss your Jar