The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-03-29
.SQlde17
THt1Sbd1\d
Why Mr., Stockbridge Was 40 Care
full About Madge's Telephone
Call.
ARA C1aEYICOS1

full About Madge's Telephone
Call.
MIR. STOCKBRlDGE appeared at
lVl the door OF my class room one
afternoon shortly after the hol-
iday vacation, and summoned me into
the corridor.
There is some one on the telephone
for you in my office" he said with
the cold bruSqueness so Characteristic
OF his manner to all his teachers. Il
will take your class so that you may
go right down"
| looked at him In undisguised
There is an iron-clad
rule in the Bayyiew school that no
teacher shall he summoned to the
telephone in school hours unless for
a grave emergency. Mr.. Stockbridgc
was courtesy itself, despite his sur
face brusqueness, in taking messages
and delivering them 10 the teachers,
and outside OF class hours the telc-
phone was ours as freely as il in our
own homes. But the recitation hours
were sacred
What could be the emergency that
had led him to summon me-
What Madge Guessed.
He read my thought, smiled sud,
denly, n smile that had in it whimsi-
sal twist, as il something in the sum
mons for me had amused him.
There is 10 need for you 10 be
alarmed" he said, but should advise
you to have your wits about YOU
The last words were almost flip
PANTY spoken. The next moment he
stiffcncd again into his usual brusquc
dignity, and turned toward my class
leaving me nothing TO do but TO go
downqtbe stairs to his office. 1t was
as If the eternal boy behind his mask
of dignity had gotten the better OF
him for the moment.
Puzzled. uneasy, in spite OF his reas-
Surance, ! hurried into the office. Miss
Hines, one of the lower grade teachers,
a colorlcss sort of girl, OF whom |
had seen very little, rose as | came in.
i shalt stay Just outside the office,
Mrs. Graham" she said as | came in,
"and make sure that YOU aren't dis
turbed"
She hurried out, closing the door
after her. ! looked after her in help,
less bcwilderment. OF course, she had
received her instructions from Mr.
Stockbridge, but why all this elaborate
precau,ion for my privacy
u knew there was no bad new. Mr.
Stockbridge's manner had assured me
OF that Besides, | remembered his
Kindness when the news Of
Dicky's disappearance came He would
never have allowed one Of his teachers
to receive bad news alone, 1t must
be some emergency message from Lii
Ian. She must need my aid in some
thing, and had impressed Mr.. Stock
bridge with the importance OF her
errand.
The reason for my stupidity in not
at once guessing the real nature OF
my summons | shall never be able to
understand. But the absurd truth re
mains. IL was Iillian's voice | cx-
pcctcd TO hear when ! crossed the
floor to the telephone booth, sat down
and put the dangling receiver to my
ear.
"All Ready, Sir"
Hello" A girls voice, evidently
that of switchboard operator, came
over the wire in answer to my opening
words. Els this Mrs"
Then, with the inexplicable pervers-
ity OF telephone circuits, the wires
became crossed, and heard in high
pitched feminine voice;
"And she says 10 me: 7 won't de-
mean myself by listening TO no such
talk and | says to her, 'Demean your
self You couldn't do nothing
more"
Cut that chatter out. Get off this
linel" bass voice growled, while
farther and fainter other voices
shrilled and rumbled
moved the receiver up and down,
tried all the other futile methods OF
Strengthening out telephone tansle
Finally, in despair, | hung up the re
cciver, waited full minute, then took
it off again, and at central's mechani-
cal query of Number" laid the case
before her
There was a call for you just now
from Mneola," she said, but the
party rang off Hang up your receiver
and I'll try to get them back for
YOU"
Mineola, or coursel Little Mrs
Durkcel But | wondered what mes
sage she could have for me that would
induce Mr.. Stockbridge TO break his
rule There wa, no u,eapuzzling my
head about the matter, though. ]
should know the trdth about this
strange message in few moments.
waited quite philosophically. there
fore, disturbed only by a ruefnl won
der as TO the extent of Mr.. Stock
bridges patience. But the ring which
heralded the return Of my unknown
summoner was really matter of only
two or three minutes, and this time
there was no delay.
Mrs. Graham" heard her say TO
some one else:
"All ready, sir"
And then there came 10 me the
sound had at one time feared ]
should never hear aaainJDiclyt, 3,