The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-06-03
SHORT SHORT
STORY
Complete in This Issue

orators who couldn't tell right from
wrong, but that wise operator
was one who knew when to break
them.
The office gave service until IL,
but after 10 most nights she was
able to put the night bell on and
nap on the couch behind the switch
board, until she could go home in
the rattly old car waiting at the
back door. One night, after things
had quoted down and she had set
tied herself for a nap, the bell
rang. 1t was toll line calling.
"Hullo, there, what you want?"
she yawned.
The operator in the next town
was speaking. ''Say, we're having
great excitement here. Some kind
of disturbance here at political
meeting. Some young boys got into
a rough house,
THAT SO? What of it?" Therba
was sleepy.
"Weu, Sheriff Bean from your
town was here, and he's on their
trail, and says he'll make an eX-
ample of them if he catches them"
A young boy came in, all out of
breath.
"Get me 24-4 Barton, please,
soon's you can"
Therba knew this must be one of
the disturbers of the peace. She
thought, "Only boy. Didn't mean
a bit of harm" She looked at the
tousled head showing through the
glass door Of the booth.
While she was ringing, she was
startled by a loud voice just out
side. Sheriff Bean! There was no
time for the boy to get out of the
booth. 1.-THE sheriff's coming an
you don't want to see him; shut
that door and get down on the floor
and keep quiet" she warned the
boy. 1t was quite evident that he
didn't wish to meet the sheriff.
GOOD evening, sheriff"
'Hello, Therba. Get me Ant Blake
over in Dixmont. Want him to be
on the lookout for some dangerous
| characters.
"Been raising the devil over to
the meeting tonight. They're a bad
lot an I'm goin' to give 'em the
limit when l get some of them"
He roared as he stamped up and
down the office. Therba's heart
skipped a beat every time he went
near the booth. 1.-THE old hyenal"
she thought. She was determined
now to outwit this vicious old man,
"They don't answer over there
now"
"Must be there" he said impa.
tiently, walking toward the booth
again.
ooh, come here quickl" she
shouted in an excited tone. He
came back and she added: "Er-
er-why, I thought that last call
must be one of those dangerous
characters, but it wasn't, after ALL"
'The DEVIL" the man blazed as
he made for the door.
Pulling the curtain down, she got
| the boy behind the board just in
time. The sheriff returned and this
time she had no difficulty in getting
his connection for him.
Therba questioned the boy.
cts this way, Miss fash. There's
a rough gang out there been cutting
up, but tonight some of us boys got
to fooling - honest, we didn't do
much, but my mother-"-the boy
sobbed-"why, it'll break her heart
if I'm arrested That's why I
didn't keep on with the rest.
wanted to let her know about it,"
Therba made up her mind. Nov,
son, you lie down here and rest,
and at IL o'clock I'll take my fiivver
and take you some place. Where'd
you aim to go?"
He wished to 60 10 his aunt's in
Hanover.
"Righto, and I'll telephone your
mother so she'll know what's up.
This will soon be over. Don't you
worry none" She thought, "I'll
get back just about time to 60 to
work in the morning"
There you go, Therba, breaking
more rules. You're just a natural
law-breaker." she muttered.