The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-08-14
BLOWN m BY DRAFT
D. JACK LAYTON.


'cAL8Q I0LO Inc service DJ I0S OrnII-
He entered a Southern encampment
In the latter part Of March and In
early May, with many others, was
transferred to q camp farther North.
1t was the 18th Of May that Vance
was assigned the duty Of 4 switch
board operator at the camp. HIS
hours ut the switchboard were 9 q. m.
to II m, and p. M. to q m.
One bright Tuesday morning. while
on his duty At the switchboard. won
dering how to spend the four-hour re-
lief that afternoon, he at last decided
to take q stroll through the village
Of Riverside. The village church. the
store and the central office were the
important buildings. One O'Clock that
Tuesday found Vance strolllng the
streets of q strange town. Several Of
the village lads were In the service,
20 q lad In khaki was not an uncom-
mon occurrence. II don't see many
lassies In this vicinity. l guess they
are few and far between" said Vance.
Arriving at the store he entered and
bought 4 cigar. then gayiy passed on
his way. He had not gone far when
he approached the central Office
CHANGING into the open windows, and
Stacking his pace as he did so. he saw
the little operator at her post. "Num-
Der, please" "Line busy!" Did you
get himr Riverside" he heard the
sweet little voice saying. "Who Is the
proud owner Of that sweet voiceT
How beautiful she was with that
dark hair. Wish that l might meet
her." said Vance.
As he continued his stroll the OPP
orator was still In his mind. He
walked ON nearly a mile, then began
his journey homeward- Taking a slip
Of paper from his pocket he wrote:
"Vance Donnette, operator at local
camp. Ring up" On his return By
the central Office he walked more
slowly than before. Just at the en-
trance to the ONCE he let the slip
of paper drop out Of his hand Hope
that she Is lucky enough to find it."
said he.
At Eve O'Clock Emita Dell, the Riv-
erside operator, was preparing to
leave the ONCE. Just as she opened
the door to depart q slip Of paper was
'blown In by the draft" (draught) and
dropped at her feet Picking it up
she placed 1t In her ticket book and
started on her way home.
Wednesday morning as Emita was
recording her tickets she found the
paper which she picked up the pre-
yious night. Unfolding 1t she read:
-vance Donnette. Operator at local
camp. Ring up" -Where did 1t
come from9 Who Is Vance Donnettef
Guess I'll ring him up shortly" At
eleven O'Clock Emita rang up the
local camp. Us this Vance DON
netter yes" was the reply. This
q Emita Dell. the Riverside operator.
found your paper in the office. 1t
vas blown In by the draft (draught),
70 I rang you up" Blown In by the
draft (draught). and you found 1t.
|, too, was blown In. by the draft
Thank heaven that you found it." On
Emita's inquiry In regard to the
origin Of the paper Vance related the
ale Of his stroll through Riverside
During their conversation Emita In
1ited him to call at the Office on the
lay of his next relief.
The next Tuesday afternoon Va-ce
vent to the Central ONCE. AS he
reared the Office, instead Of slacken-
ng, he FASTENED his pace he was so
4nxious to meet Emita.. Entering the
nice, Emita greeted him with a hand
hake, rs though they had known
ach other for years. That afternoon
q he sat there talking to her, the
My thought In his mind was: ~She
) the most beautiful of all girls" He
vas obliged to leave the ONCE at
hree O'Clock, that he might not be
ate In reporting at the camp.
As usual at I'VE O'Clock. Vance was
ding ON duty and Emita was coming
d. "She's 4 wonder" Dark hair.
teel gray eyes, cheeks As pink rs
oses, and Just about as tall ~ L
Il all the beauties, she Is It'll" said he.
HE certainly II q nice looking
outh. So gentiemanly In his wayA
nd 20 refined In his language" she
As saying.
The friendship between Emita and
ance grew moro intimate as the
ays passed by. Each Uisit helped to
AXE their friendship moro sincere
ntil finally Dan Cupid accompanied
ance on his visits. Apparently Dan
upid knows how to do his bit.
well. One Tuesday
instead Of Vance taking his
ip to EmitA's, she went to the city
it'll him. The next morning when
mitA came to work she wore
ring on her finger. Cc0se-
lently Dan Cupid had not fAiled to
10 his bit" IL
Early In October Vance expected to
, 'over there" One morning he >
lied Emita ON the phone. Say. las
.. leave tomorrow for q ten-day
rlnr11A hAfoPA 1nlnD anvap fhNRAs