The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-04
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Crossed Wires.
(Ry IzoLA FoRREsTER.)

orator 1t never could have happen
ed, but she had only been in the Of
lice a week, and It was the first time
she had ever operated large tele-
phone switchboard.
There had como an inside call from
the room OF Purcell, ST., to the room
Of Jack Purcell. who was called Junior
around the office. She had connected
them all right, and then had forgot
ten all about it, when an outside call
came for Mr.. Purcell.
It all happened in moment, her
slipping in the key and catching the
fragment Of conversation between the
two, but that moment sent the color
clear up to Margaret's eyebrows, and
she called family into the outside line.
Busy, please"
Junior had been trying to say some
thing she had not caught all of it,
something about his being able to do
as he liked when 1t came to his own af :
fairs, and his father had told him II
he went out again in the car with
that. gang he needn't show up at the
office.
Paul. tho assistant cashier, strolled
leisurely by and smiled at her know
ingly.
They're at it." he said. "Iack had
smash-up on tho Jamaica turnpike
at 8 a. ~, and got hauled to court
for speeding. Daddy paid the fine, and
found out he was wasting his sub
stance in rlotous living. Had five
aboard; wouldn't give their names in
court, Nobody hurt"
He went on to tell the same news
around the office, and Margaret sat
up very straight her eyes fixed on the
black and white numbers Of her indi-
Gator board. Certainly it was not her
business If he chose to do such a
thing, she told herself emphatically.
There had never been one word said
between them that could give her the
right to ask him about it; but she
saw him slam out Of his office a few
minutes later and catch his Goa. and
hat from the rack as he passed with
out speaking to her, His face was Cd
dly like his fathers in moods Of anger,
the blue eyes turning to stormy gray,
the set lines squarlng the jaws and
hardening the mouth
: Btinacy; that If it happened he was
accused wrongly, he would never tell
the truth, but would harbor a drudge
against his father for not having faith
In him.
Four mistakes she made that at
ternoon and twice Mr.. Purcell himself
called to- her sharply, She was glad
when 1t was time to so home and then,
at the last minute, there was call
for her over the wire, and it was his
voice.
Say, I'm awfully sorry Miss Rob-
erts, but didn't give any dictation
this morning, and I've got some let
ters that must be answered. If I had
them uptown here. could dictate to
one Of the hotel stenographers, but
they leave at S. Could you wait for
me? I'll only keep you half an hour"
She agreed to wait in almost whs-
per, so that neither Paul nor the Of
flee boy could hear. Miss Searles was
the regular stenograI her but when she
was filled up with dictation from the
senior member Of the firm. Margaret
had often acted for the junior. She
wondered now, with little nervous
fluttering Of her pulses, why he had
not asked Miss Searles, unless it was
because he trusted her, end did not
want his father to know he was COM
ing back that night.
It was half past before he came
in. She stood at the west window
looking at the lights glimmering in the
lower end Of the city and out on the
bay 1t seemed oddly, mysteriously
peaceful in the long suite. She hur-
ried to his desk with book and pencil,
but he stood beside It, looking down
at her firmly.
you heard what dad said to me,
/ didn't you?"
"oh, but didn't mean to-" Margaret
exclaimed. II wouldn't listen in for
anything. Surely you know that. It
was Just a mistake"
NO, it wasn't The answered. at
was a God-sent bit of providence. 1
wasn't out joy riding. belong to the
Motor Corps, and had agreed to trans
fer a bunch of nurses from one of the
city hospitals out to the one at camp.
We had two breakdowns, and 1 was
finally held for speeding. That's the
truth. paid the fine, and told nothing
Of course. Dad jumped at the conclu-
sion that was doing the wrong thing
and let him think so. If he's such
an obstinate old duffer as that, let him
50 as far as he likes. I'm old enough
10 go by myself and he'll find out SO"
"oh, but why don't you tell him o"
Margaret begged. You're just as OBJ
stipate as he is"
Neither heard the outer door of the
office open and close, nor did they
see the tall figure in the shadow by
the railing, his cheeks red from the
wind, his eyes exactly like Jacks as
he saw them.
''We'n have to hurry with the let
ters," she added, dropping her glance
before the sudden intent look in his.
"Are there many?"
Il didn't come down here to dictate
letters. just wanted to see you alone
before l left for good. You're the only
one around here that's believed in me-
know was pretty wild when Dad
first took me in. and it was you who
helped me. Margaret, no one else at
all. I'm not asking you to marry me
now. nor even be engaged If you don't
want to. But say I've got first chance,
won't your"
"More than that" she whispered
with, a little sidelong smile at him.
"oniy don't want you to go. It's
really was your fault, Jack, for not