The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-05-04
The Wrong
Number
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Dy r. RAY BAKER


office never would make the connec-
tlon. Hal Golden fumed, for he was
always ia a hurry. especially when
talking over the telephone. OF all the
lrksome activities OF his business life,
holding a wire CONVEX sation was the
worst This In spite OF the fact that
the telephone was his daily bread.
Finally he heard a click and knew
someone was answering. A womHns
voice said, Hello" and without pre-
llmlEahes Hal launched into the bust
ness on hand.
'Td like to speak TO Frank" he said.
"Frank r. the woman's voice repeat
ed. II was singuiariy sweet voice.
The owner must be quite captivating,
n she was anything like the intonation
OF her speech. But Hal had no time
Tor women, no matter how captivating.
His only experience In love had taught
him lesson.
"Yes-Frank." he said brusquely.
but not quite so brusquely as he usu-
ally spoke. Isn't this Frank Jarvis
rCsidenceT'
NO" replied the young woman;
"you have the wrong number, I guess"
BEG pdrdon." he said, and hung up
the 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 serylcel He
would have to look into matters him
self. II other subscribers were having
the same difficulties his regime as man.
Hger Of the Sparta office was not re-
ceivlng desirable advertising Tomor-
row he would talk TO the chief opera
tor-yes. he would call in the very girl
who had been making these mistakes,
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 Frank Jarvis on the
line, and the business was duly dis
cussed. Then. being In a reminiscent
mood, induced largely by the pleasant
voice Of the wrong number, he settled
bush III lif blk AAhlA rAhbhfhE hhh
let his thoughts roam to bygone days,
luxury In which he seldom lndulged-
because IL was dangerous.
IL was not such long time ago,
at that, when his young heart had
burned with affection for Mildred
Fauncc. They had really been en-
guged when the earthquake occurred.
The cataclysm was a sudden termina-
tion Of the engagement by Mildred. He
had never thought OF her as an unrea-
sonable girl, but she appeared that way
now. for there was no other reason In
evidence for the break In relations but
the fact that Hal had taken lnez Wal
ton to theater and dance while
Mildred was out Of town on visit.
Hal had thought II would be all right
TO spend a couple of his lonely eve
nlngs with Inez, because she was fel-
low worker. being employed In the
telephone Office where he had joh
as "trouble shooter" She was an at
tractive girl, but not the equal Of Mil
dred, to Halls way OF thinking. Be
sides, Mildred had told him TO amuse
himself with other young ladies'. II he
chose, while she was gone, because. she
assured him II Intend to have a good
time myself" That had been In ac-
cord with her broad-mlnded ideas.
But the first time Hal called after
Mlldred's return she told him all was
over and handed his ring back TO him,
and before he came TO himself he was
walking down the street In a most un.
pleasant dazc.
81 can't come between you and some
one else" was all she had offered by
way OF explanation. She had seemed
more sad than angry, but she always
had remarkable control OF her temper.
He tried twice 10 heal the breach.
but received no encouragement, and
finally was forced to the conclusion
that Mildred, while having good
time" on her visit, had met someone
she considered more desirable. I'm
able TO live In the same town with
Mildred after the change In the situ-
alton, he obtained transfer 10 Spar
Ia, where he worked so earnestly, In
order to keep his mind or his lost
love. that he climbed rapidly TO the
managershlp. Now he called himself
woman hater."
All this passed In review In Halls
mind as he sat In his bachelor apart
ments that night, but finally he cast
thoughts OF Mildred aside. shrugged
his shoulders, smiled bitterly. knocked
the ashes from his pipe, and retired.
The next evening his experience
with the wrong number was repeated.
Furious, he called central and said
abruptly:
"This is Mr.. Golden, the telephone
manager Four times this week you
have given me the wrong number. and
II will be necessary for you 10 explain
in my Office at ten o'clock tomorrow
morning"
At ten In the morning Hal was busy
with some reports when there came
a gentle knock-not timid, just gentle
L.