The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-23
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Wrong Number.
1y Il, A BAKER.

TT seemed that the girl at the
central office never would make
the Econnection. Hal Golden
fniied, for he was always in a hur,
especially when talking over
the telephone. OF all the irksome
activities Of his business life, hold.
ing q wire conversation was the
worst. This In spite Of the fact
hat the telephone was his daily
bread.
Finally he heard a click and
knew some one was answering. A
Womap's voice said, Hello" and
without preliminarles Hal launched
into the business at hanc.
"l'd like to speak to Frank" he
said.
Frank" the woman's voice re.
peated. 1t was a singularly sweet
voice. The owner must be quite
captivating. II she was anything
like the information Of her speech.
But Hal had no time fof women,
no matter how captivating. His
only experience In love had taught
MIN . lesson.
Yes-Frank, he said btusquely,
but not quite SO brusqueIy as he
usually spoke. isn't this Frank
Jaryis's residence?"
no" replied the yoptg woman.
you have the wrong number, I
guess"
Beg pardon" he said and hung
upithe receiver.
This was getting to be the limit.
For the third time this week. while
calling from his home, he had been
connected with the wrong number.
What was getting wrong with the
service? He would have to look into
matters himself. II other subscribe
ers were having the same Difficult.
ties his regime as manager OF the
Sparta office was not receiving de.
sirable advertising. Tomorrow he
would talk to the chief operator
yes, he would call In the very girl
who had been making these mis-.
takes. and II necessary he'd dismiss
her from her position. On second
thought, he'd give her one more
chance.
He called again and this time
had no trouble in getting Franz.
Jarvis on the line, and the business
was duly discussed. Then, being in
q reminiscent mood, induced large
Isl by the pleasant voice Of the
wrong number, he settled back In
the big chair and smoked. and let
his thoughts roam to bygone days,
q luxury in which he seldom in.
dulged-because 1t was dangerous.
1t was not such a long time ago,
a that, when his young heart had
burned with affection for Mildre0
Fapnce. They had really been en-.
gage when the earthquake &C.
CURED. The cataclysm was a sud.
den termination Of the engagement
by Mildred. He had never thought
Of her as an unreasonable girl, hut
she appeared that way now, for
there was no other reason In evt.
uenee for the break In relations but
the fact that Hal had taken Inez
Walton to q theater and a dance
while Mildred was out OF town on
a visit.
Hal had thought It would he all
right to spend a couple of his
lonely evenings with Inez. because
she was a fellow worker, being
employed in the telephone office
where he had a job rs trouble
shooter" She was m attractive
girl, but not the equal OF Mildred.
TOTALS way OF thinking. Besides,
Mildred had told him to amuse
himself with other young ladies,
It he chose, while she was gone
because, she assured him: II in
tend to have a good time myself
That had been In accord with her
broadminded ideas.
But the first time Hal called
after Mildred's return, she4old him
all was orer aud handed his ring
back to him. and before he came
to himself he vas walking down
he street in n most unpleasant
daze.
II can't come between you and
some ono else" was all she had OF.
tered by way OF explanation. She
had seemed more sad than angry,
rs HL#