The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-05
Story
Crossed Wires.
BY FREDERICK HART.


have Stuyvesant 1122. please. Yes,
1872. No, not usvesant!
S-t-u-y-yes, that's right. 1122. Yes"
Click! The racket at the other end
of the wire indicated a subdued actiy-
ity on the part of central. and Reed
Davidson leaned against the wall of
the booth to await what fate might
that long and periious adventure
known as getting a number"
After due delays and much ear
racking buzzings a voice reached him.
Darlington Company"
rs Miss Darlington there?"
who is this speaking
Metropolitan Agency. I was in
structed> to speak to Miss Darlington
regarding the matter of the J. H. Day
account
Another short wait. and then in his
ear, Miss Darlington speaking. Who
is this, please?"
But,in the short interval it took for
those words to get over the humming
miles of copper that stretched between
him and his fellow eonyersationalist.
Reed Davidson had been transformed
from q man of business. with an inn
portant matter to speak of to wildly
excited young man with a mystery on
his hands.
That voice! But the name was
Darlington. and he remembered that
heH name had been Strattop before
before that June evening when they
had quarreled ana she had told him
but she didn't understand. he knew.
And then he had lost her; and now it
was her voice! With a mighty effort
he mastered himself.
miss D--Darlington? He was spar
ring for time.
.sYesr There was a slight shade of
irnpatience in the. voice. Evidently
Miss Darlington was pressed for time.
He forgot the haunting voice. and
plunged into the matter in hand. In
five minutes twas settled-he found
himself admiring the crisp precision
end of the wire disposed of trouble
some details.
Very welI-Tll write you a letter
confirming this conversation at once
My representatives Will call in day
or so. Good-by!"
"Good-by'' He hung up the receiver
and went out to think. 1t couldn't be
she, of course-not with that name
and yet-the solution burst upon him.
1t. must be she, He couldn't be de-
ceived in the tones even over the wire.
But the name-well, that was easily
explained She had married some one
named Darlington, and for business
reasons called herself Miss" That
was it, And newell, he had lost
her. He returned to the office. sick
at heart. His chief greeted him.
well, did you put that Darlington
matter thru"
Yes" The tone was lifeless.
Good work. I'll put you on it en-
tirely for the finishing touches"
i. mo. chief. don't want it,
but, Great Scott. man! It's a big
deal! You stand to make a lot out of
it IN commissions. And 1 know you
can carry it out to the queens taste.
What's the matter with you? Scared
of a woman ?"
Pretty close to the mark, thought
Davidson; but he merely replied: I'D
rather not handle it, if you don't mind.
dim feeling sort of down and out"
/, The chief looked at him keenly for a
moment ls- s.ff.Tf @a-ss 'se> ~
''All right. old man. Tompkins can
have the job. Better take a weekend
off-go out in the country somewhere
Do you good" And he turned again
to his desk.
But it was not country air that
Davidson needed. That night he
tossed upon his bed, sleepless, tortur-
ing himself with the thought of all
that he had lost. I'm the morning he
arose, dressed mechanically, ate a
tasteless breakfast. and from force of
habit wended his way toward the
office. When there he was met with a
scene of excitement The chief called
him into his office at once
odd man, I'm sorry intended you
to go off today but thank goodness.
you're here. Tompkins is laid up
acute indigestion-and that Darlington
matters got to be settled today. You're
the only man who can handle it, Go
anead, put it over. and you can have a
week to rest up in. It's tough, but it
can't be helped. Be a sport-we need
fore"
Davidson hesitated. 1T would be
agony for him to meet her; but he
could not desert the company in its
need. He squared his shoulders.
All right, chief. I'll take it," he
Good man! Tompkins made an APP
pointment with her for 1880: you'll
Just about have time. to get there
Good luck!"
Davidson left the office and made
his way to the subway. All the way
against the meeting. m the busy
outer office of the Darlington COM
pany he waited: then a girl brought
him his card which he had sent in AMI
said Miss Darlington with see you
now
He rose andNntered the inner office.
The slender girl seated at the big desk
at the side of the room did not look
up at first, but he knew that he had
not been mistaken in the voiee-that
1t was indeed his lost love. The knowi-
edge that she was out of his reach
forever made him sick and shaky, but
he steadied his voice and said:
Miss Darlington, called to see you
aAout the matter of the j. H. Day ac-
count"
At the sound of his voice she
whirled suddenly, cheeks flushed, eyes
shining. Her hands clasped themselves
over her heart. Then the flush died
and q deadly whiteness took its place.
your was all she said.
Ies--too latei" Davidson could
have killed himself the next moment
for uttering those words. but the strain
had been too much. That was no way
to talk to a girl who had married
someone else. He tried TO revert to
business.