Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-03-06
MAIZE TAKES A NEW
YEARS RIDE AND GETS
A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.

EkE0 PERATORl Yes, Madam
go I'm trying to get Cleveland
Yes, Madam, / know, bu
~ New Years Eve, everybody
trying TO call their home
town Yes, madam, I'll call you
Operator! Yes, Sir, youn know wher
| you hear the whistles III you hear
them" Maize added, as she deftly
| plugged the questioner out. THAT guys
been rehearsing for New Years Eve
since Christmas" she turned to the
operator beside her. Say, you better
get going-it's twenty to twelvel Where
are you meeting the boy friend?"
"Out in the lobby" the girl rose
It's aWfully sweet of you to take this
extra time for me. Maizie'
Skip it, I've got no date and no
reason to celebrate. Might as well keep
plugging as sit at home with Ma, say
ing Happy New Year when maybe
she won't live through it. So longl
Say good bye to 1896 for mel"
OPERATOR o. K. Wait till I get my
party. Hello. We are ready with your
call to Cleveland. Madam" Maizie
listened minute-the lady from CleVe-
lands conversation was dull. Maize
relaxed and closed her eyes. Why did
everybody get few drinks and then
want to talk to the people they had
been abusing all year?
A quarter to twelvel already the din
OF rattles and horns was starting in
the streets. Happy New Year2 Maizie'S
pretty mouth curled into a Sneer. Well
it couldn't be worse than the last one
Work. Work. WORKING time to play
and no one to play with. Poor Ma.
Lying there alone in that cold hovel
that the landlord claimed was q flat.
OPERATOR Yes, Sirl Wen, I'll try
it's ten minutes to-the wires are tied
up in lovers knots and Chicago is"
II know, but try Langley 1742. I'll
bet you always get what you 60 after"
His voice was low and had smiling
sound. Maize felt as if she were talk
ing to an old friend. do you want
any one in PARTICULAR" she said.
I'm say I dol" he answered, "but
just call the number, thanks I'll hang
on"
She put through the call with
make it snappy, please" to Long
Distance. OF course, he would want
somebody special! A voice like that
was made to make love. Grab me
q line, will you please, Long Distance?"
Her slim fingers tapped a tattoo on
the desk. Maybe he's calling his
Mother?" She smiled-hope revived
Hope of what? You poor sap. he don't
know you're even human.
Ready with Chicago, Sir"
Thanks, operator. You're a peach!
Happy New Yearl-Hellol Hellol Syl-
via? Hellol Is that you, darling? You
don't sound naturall"
Maize sat listening into he'll with
the rest Of the gueStsl This was as
near as she would get to Happy New
Year. Vicarious-but excitingl
ION, it's you, Mrs Hartman" he
was saying. Happy Near Yearl May
I speak to Sylvia, pleaSe?" His antici-
patton, was catching; Maize waited !
"Ohl Hello, Boil" thin voice re-
Sponded. Sylvia isn't home. Shes"
Didn't she get my wire?"
Eyes, she got it, but"
81 told her I would call when it was |
midnight here and we would talk until /
It was midnight in Chicago. Where
IS she, Mrs. Hartmann"
Maize was gasping-Imagine Talk
ing an hour to Chicagol She held the
sarphone in order to hear better.
But Bob" the thin voice was whtn-
ng, you couldn't expect Sylvia to sit
1t home all evening""
Il didn't ask her to. I asked her
20 give me the first hour of the New
Year. 1t didn't seem much when you
igure that she has promised me the
est Of her life. Who's she with?"
Il really am not sure. Bill MarSden
;alled for her at seven and"
"She promised me she wouldn't see
lin again" His voice was far from
milling. Maizie was suspended between
/ shiver and thrill.
"But, Bob, they are with a party
hey're not alone. don't see"
mol You don't see-and you never
WILL Sylvia has to be taken care of.
She can't drink-She loses her head.
You're only her mother-you wouldn't
now that, but Bill Marsden knows 1t.
)h. WE'LL What the hell? Tell her I
aid Happy New Year The same to
ou. Good byel' the receiver banged.
Maize, laughing through tears, an
wered at least six irate guests at once.
What win he do now?" she thought.
Get drunk, of counsel" She banged
lis plug in quickly. "Hellol Did you
ct your party?" Maizie's voice was ;
oft, strangely gentle for a telephone
mol / did mott" he said. II got
God gust of Chicago airl She was out |
18th another guy. Happy New Year
That?" ;
Never mind, there's plenty of good
sh in the seal" Maizies blue eyes I
ere shining unconsciously she patted :
er satin smooth black hair.
yeah! but I don't happen to want
fish" His voice was smiling again. [
Say, what do you look nke?" he added.
"Me2 oh, sort of cross between {
Iarlene Dietrich and Norma Shearer"
Sounds like a double cross" He I
laughed.
What do you look hke?" Maizie
lid. t
some folks say Clark Gable-and ]
)me say Joe E. Brown, but personally S
- s
There go the whistlesl" Maize cut c
|, Happy New Yearl and I hope \
)37 win bring that girl in Chicago C
lore sense Bye OPERATOR Yes, S