Evening star., 1934-12-16

II was Ine VOICE OI Fdt " 1OOic IZUA Was III
his name. He left box of candy for the
operators regularly once a week. Gertrude liked
the sound of his voice. 1t sounded like that of
O person who would help you out of a jam II
you got into one
"Yes, Mr.. OToole"
Gertrude prided herself on always being able
to call the name back to the tenant Smart,
that was Good business. Made the tenant
realize you were alert. OToole's voice got low.
So low that Gertrude had to press the earphones
close to her head in order to hear him.
Miss Smiley. want to ask a favor of you."
said OToole.
Sure"
"I wonder if you'd keep little money for
me for an hour or So"
Gertrude's reply was one that she had made
many times before.
I'VE have a safe for that purpose. I'll ring
the manager and he'll take care of you"
"Oh, no, no, no. no. OToole said quickly.
"it isn't that important. If you could just keep
it in your purse for an hour or two"
Il really can't"
III be right down"
When Patrick O'Tooe appeared in the tiny
doorway of the operators room, the lights on
the board seemed suddenly to have flashed on
all at once. Thus it was that the gambler in
1901 hurriedly pushed a roll of bills into
Gertrude's fiat, worn leather purse that was
lying on top of the switchboard and dis
appeared before she had time to demonstrate.
TWICE Gertrude reached up to get her purse,
but both times the restless tenants of the
Belden Arms deluged her with calls. Then
things began to happen. There was a shot.
Instantaneously, the board lighted up as though
some one had turned on q switch.
Call the police
"where was the shot?"
"What's all the excitement"
where was the murder?"
Gertrude answered each one of the excited
voices calmly and in the manner she had
learned after years of service at a hotel switch
board. Things like these were bad for hotel.
They must be treated quietly possible.
Nothing at all, madam, must have been
tire"
I'm sure you were mistaken"
'Yes, I'll let you know when find out"
eyes, will)
The light under 1901 glowed brightly Tho
receiver must be of the hook. That's where
the shot had come from then, Gertrude decided
528 That was the manager calling.
"Get the police, Miss Smiley"
The operators were not allowed to call the
police unless he told them to do so.
Police station"
1.-THE Belden Arms" the manager said, apart
ment 1901. Right away
The cops. Gertrude hated them. She hoped
some one answer up there. 802 flashed. Then
the booth phone. The board would get busy, of
course Just when she wanted a little free time.
Old Phillips was calling his wife from
the lobby. Gertrude put in separate plug
and called his wife.
"Your husband is calling you on the lobby
phone"
MY Godi Thanks, Miss Smiley"
Gertrude smiled. She hoped it would be
beads or perfume in the morning from the
old girl. She was getting tired of candy, and
besides she had dropped hint to Phillips about
candy being fattening.
The light that had burned steadily under
1901 now flashed. The cops were there. Call
ing the station. The detective bureau. Cor
oner's Office.
Murder at the Belden Arms. Yeah. A
bunch Of gamblers"
Gertrude held her breath.
"A guy named Doyle, YEAH oToole killed
him, all right, but he plugged OToole in the
belly. The rest ran off and left OToole here