The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-01
The Secret
Phone
BY Oillia Frances Pfeihsr

OcdtOAs lClCpAOnC INT
repairer. but you are asking me 10
break the rules of the company"
"TlI mend them up later" airily de
clared Jasper WOrreIl. IF it ever does
get out the men will call IL cleverness,
and the ladies viii hail you as a loyal
emissary of the love god, Cupid"
Jasper Worrell. manager of the local
telephone line, had got the devoted
Seaton his position, but he was asking
his humble pensioner TO do a good
deal for him Jarvis had directed him
to tap wire leading into the home Of
Robert Brooks, to carry IL TO a certain
secluded closet in the house. and put
In a receiver, all the time posing as
a workman engaged in testing and re-
pairing the regular phone wire.
Here was the situation: The father
of charming Blanche Brooks had been
defeated in the local mayOralty con-
test the year previous by Jasper's
father. Bitterly Brooks had resented
the success of his political rival. He
refused TO speak TO any of the Worrell
family. When he heard that young
Worrell and his daughter had been
seen together on the street, he COM
manded her forthwith to have no fur
Their communication, with the son of
his enemy. Blanche was a dutiful
daughter. Jasper was all but engaged
to her. Blanche met him just once
and sorrowfully advised him that their
dream OF happiness was blighted.
Never. no; abandon the thought ~
declared Jarvis in his fOrceful, con-
fident way. Leave ii all TO me. dear
Blanche. I've won you. undeserving
as / am to be so blessed, I'll win over
your father, too Don't talk over that
rubbish of patiently waiting two years
until you are of age. Leave ii all TO
me. Within two months / shall be
coming TO see you three times a week.
with Father Brooks smiling a well
come"
But never to see you for eight
whole long weeksi" murmured
Blanche. Never TO talk with you ~
Dismiss that erroneous impress
sion," directed Jarvis buoyantly. "We
shall have the sweetest. contest, most
blissfui chats every evening of our
| lives and four times a day, il you
| wish" insisted Jarvis, ''and here's my
plan"
Ii was a daring one, and il quite
| scared Blanche. A secret telephone
was to be installed in a secluded room
next to, and communicating with
Blanche's own apartment. All the art
| end So;anoo awnarf Mall Goo ron could
employ was to be utilized In having a
| phone with no bell call. A mere click
| would call Blanche at the other, end
| Of the line at an agreed on time. The
| only caution to be exercised was to
be certain that In talking 10 one an
other no one should overhesr them.
And so Mark Seaton. selecting an
| from home, duly installed the secret
| telephone. and all Blanche had 10 do
! wassto lock the door of her room. 70
| into the next apartment, give the sig
nal and in low-voiced converse those
two revealed In renewed love making
and tenderness.
All this brought them no closer in
4 actual contact, nor did it seem ID
Blanche that her stubborn, determined
father was being made more approach
able. Don't worry on that score,
encouraged Jarvis one afternoon. I'm
working hard on that end Of the prop
osition. Be at the phone Mt s o'clocl
/ 20 the minute this evening. and IN
be ready to announce the program
1 AAnA t. &c, IT, -.
Brooks In a jiffy."
Through the mIsadventure of a de
lay at the house of girl friend taker
suddenly i'll Blanche did not get hom,
by O'Clock that evening. At JUS
that hour Mr.. Brooks, passing through
the upper hall. noticed an open win
dow in her room and the rain blow
ing In. He entered and closed il, and
just then suspicious sound directed
him to the unused apartment beyond
A series of clicks echoed. then indfs
tinct sounds, as of some one speaking
In low tone.
"Hellol" CALCULATED Mr. Brooks In
amazement, as, tracing the sound. he
discovered the secret telephone behinC
an old wardrobe. He picked up the
receiver At once the words wer,
swept to his startled hearing!
Its all right, Blanche. I've fixeS
everything. Ny father declines to rur
again for mayor. 1 have got In m.
work with the fusion people on a com
promise candidate. As / can swim
all our workers 1 can elect Fathe
Brooks. I'm one Of the COMMITTEE
coming to appriSe him of the situa
ton in the next hour. Kiss you
Jarvis, dear. Good by"
Father Brooksv Kiss your jar
visr The audacious young reprobate.
And there Robert Brooks smiled. III
rather chuckled as he discerned tn
cleverness of this irresistible son o
an enemy who had undermined hi
ridiculous obstinacy.
He was smiling sill as Blanche. hur
rying and breathless. nearly ran int
him in the next room.
L