Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-09-09
Love and Married Life
BY the Noted Author
Idah McGlone Gibson
A Strange Voice.

Miss Parker came rushing in anc
as she did she glanced at me eX
pectantly. Evidently she thought
had been asleep and was hoping
that the bell would not awaken me
with great effort I kept myself
quiet and Miss Parker went to the
phone. + heard her speaking very
low.
sYes. This is Mrs. Gordon's res
idence-Miss Parker speaking. The
baby is not vrey well and / am sit
ting M with her" There was a 81
lence and | knew she was listening
to the voice at the other end of the
wire.
..Mrs. Gordon has just gone to
sleep and unless it is very impor-
tant 7 would rather not awaken
her Again there was silence
and heard Miss Parker say, "Oh,
didn't recognize your voice"
.'It must be Alice" l said to my
fearsome soul.
II don't hear you" said Miss
Parker and then / heard her ex-
claim. 'Oh, they've cut us off.
IN d moment the bell rang again
and | heard Miss Parker make tnat
absolutely inane exclamation which
almost everyone makes on such oc-
casions at such time. They've
cut NV off"
could stand it no longer. wait
a minute, Miss Parker, whom are
you talking to?" I asked.
with Mrs Staunton,' She safd.
ssWhat is Alice calling me up for
at this time of night, it must be
very late, isn't it?"
AS / walked toward the phone
Miss Parker said into it: Il was
talking to Mrs. Gordon"
Here. I'll talk to Alice said.
and took the receiver from her
hand.
Eyes, yes, this is Katherine,
who's speaking?"
'It's Alice
'Something must be the matter
with the phone; your voice SOUNDS
so strangely, did not recognize It.
What's the matter?'
could hear Alice's sobs at the
other end of the wire. What Is
the natter" / exclaimed. "Has
something happened to Tom?"
mo. no." said Alice. Toms all
right
.What is it, Alice, tell me-" i'm
plored, as she did not answer.
..There has been an automobile
accident, Katherine. i just got the
word minute ago. It's terri
BILE nt--and-and--"
"And John is dead?" said a
strange voice,
.'Here. here! Get off the wire,
please. ] am talking to Mrs
Staunton," I said. !.
Eyes. yes. Katherine, I'm here, :
said Alice.
sweu, what did you say?"
asked,
81 said there had been terrible
accident,
"But someone said that John was
dead,
''You said it yourself, Katherine,
dear. You interrupted me when |
said that there had been an acci-
4, dent. You seemed to know that
G0melfltS utlu HippSitV" w "Nii'
II didn't say that, Alice. 1t was
not my voice.
..Yes. you did dearest. and 1t
your voice, hoarse with horror.
"But is 1t true? oh, it can't be
true. Has John been hurt? Ar..
they taking him to the .hospltaiY
Tell them to bring him here. why
Z liant Won sneak ?"
"Here, let me take the message,
Mrs, Gordon" said Miss Parker.
who haa been standing by, II am
afraid YOU do not understand,
| gave the receiver to her and
said. "I'm sure I do not understand.
All | can get Is that Alice seems to
think that John has been hurt IN
an automobile accident"
Miss Parker took up the CONVEX
sation and said, ut is /. Mrs.
Staunton. Mrs. Gordon doesn't seem
quite to understand your message.
Let me have It, 1t seemed to me
that she was waiting there for long
minutes before she turned to me
slowly. as she hung up the receiver
and said:
Mrs. staunton is coming right
over"
TOMORROW - The Wages of
Sin.