Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-10-13
A Phone Call in the Night


/ expect it was rather foolish but
YOU see | was SO alone so long be-
fore Phil came back from the war
and Sheila came into my life that
| had grown into the way Of con-
sulting Blake, and it did seem to me
that at times he answered me and
Strengthened my troubles for me
from clear across that eternity of
No Mans Land where he had laid
down his life.
Tonight it seemed to me that he
was very near me. 1t seemed to me
that he knew all about the whole
trouble and that he was able to look
upon it with clearer sight than l.
Blake, dear, l know you would
not be as silly as Phil has been,
| whispered, as though he were close
beside. But do you not think even
he would have some explanation of
his conduct And when he does ex-
plain, | shall only have to tell him
that it is too late, that probably
neither he nor l will ever see Sheila
again"
! was almost convinced of this, be-
cause / Rew Sheila. | knew her
determination stubborness
Of character, and l was sure that
if she made up her mind that Phil
really loved Susanne Jones she
would make it very easy for him
to marry her--even If she had to
disappear.
The evening seemed interminable
as / waited to hear from Tony. At
last the telephone raGg and | rush
ed to the receiver. 1t was not Tony'sI
vuice, but voice hoarsened and
thickened, either by sickness or
drugs.
"I want to talk with Mrs. Phil
lip Spencer.
"she isn't here just now. Who
is speakingG"
IL don't understand, want to see
Mrs. Phillip Spencer.
"She is not here just now" l
repeated, and asked. "Who is speak
ingS"
Instead of answering my ques-
ton, the voice said, "Please tell
Sheila to come immediately"
''But she is not here"
"Oh, Godl Oh, Godl" was the ex
clamation, evidently not meant for
me. "When will she be homef"
81 cannot tell, Who is speaking"
| demanded.
"Will you tell her that she nblst
come at oncef" There was a choking
sound, as though the mans voice
had been cut off, either by extreme
weakness and coughing or else some
one had put hand over his mouth.
Where shall / tell her to Gomez"
was my frantic question, for l de-
termined to go to the place my
self.
There was no answer. The line
was dead
Hurriedly l called up central, to
find out from where the call had
come, and was informed that it
came from the pay station on Null
berry street.
AS last resort again tried
frantieally to get Tony. called up
one place after another where l
might possibly find him, only to be
told that Mr.. Soper isn't here,
ma'am. Do you want to leave any
mesagei"
looked at the clock. 1t was near
ly 10. called myself silly fool
and determined to go back to bed
But when | got to my room it seem
cd to me- that if l undressed and
got into bed | should have an at
tack of hysteria. Something kept
saying TO me, "You must be ready,
you must be ready
hadn't taken off the gown that
I had worn during the afternoon in
the city, and now bathed my face,
brushed my hair and freshened my
self up generally. For what. l did
not know.
After | had finished I sat down
beside the window.
An at once the light in my room
seemed glaringly bright and it burn
ed my eyes. This had never happen
ed TO me before, but I excused it on
account Of the state which my
nerves were in. l got up and turned
out the light. Everything in the
room was in state of emi-dark-
ness as only the light from the street
lamp which flickered through the
window lighted up the place. seat
ed myself in The great overstuffed |
chair beside the window, Il was e
chair in which Blake had always |
sat when he was alive, and I us
aally perched myself upon its great
broad arm.
After a while sank down into a
more comfortable position, and per
haps I dreamed it-perhaps I went
10 sleep--l do not know, but I do
know that as absolutely splendid as