Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1895 — BILLY'S TELEPHONE GIRL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BILLY'S TELEPHONE GIRL

THE -city editor sat at his table hard -----at^veTfcs==whenWhe : =greetFshadea= electric lamp revealed Billy Gussy, the youngest reporter,' approaching-,* embarrassed and apologeiic in demeanor. “Mr, Banwell." he began, “could I have two passes for the theater to-night?” “Passes for two?” responded Banwell, staring hard. “Two! ♦ Oh, Jonesey, come here, quick! Billy’s wrong. He .wants theater tickets for two!” chuckled the editor, throwing out the coveted pasteboards, and Billy, blushing like a girl, fled from tlie office, followed by Jones’ solemn warning.: “Billy, my son. pause and reflect.” , Billy made his way down the street Till

he reached a tall building that rose from a corner, entered it, took the elevator to the top floor, and paused at the open door bf a great brilliantly-lighted room. Facing the wall, on high stools, sat some dozens,. of girls, aparently..jdaxiflg_jgmca.---witli' pegs cn a conlTnuous brass checkerboard that extended around the room. The girls bad small round discs fastened to their ears, but hands free to place the pegs or ring up a subscriber. It was the city telephone exchange. Perhaps it was the free magnetism of •lectricityjof the place, or Billy's hypnotic glance that made ono girl turn her head, ■mile and gracefully slipping from the tall •tool come quickly into the hall. Billy narrated how he had just got theater tickets, and exhibited them. The telephone girl took them to look at. “Why, Billy,” the said, after a pause, “these tickets art for the 24th.”

"Of course. Christmas eve; that’i «H -vigbt.isn'tit ?” “I'm on duly. Wiry didn't you telephone to me, and ask what fi igh t I eonld go? You knew 1 was at theendofyour WiTc.’rtTid you (vo’ddhnvodonoiv.if-yiT’r cared*anythin-g for me,” and down wefit the ticket J to tlie floor. It was evident that pretty Sadie had a temper of her own. - She turned with dignity, and left Billy standing there. The quarrel had come on so suddenly that he hardly realized it was nil ov<’r. Then, feeling as if all the world hail suddenly turned to ice and iuk he mournfully regained the street. Sadie sat at her work, as the night went on. listening.to calls from people who wished “Merry .Chrisfmas” over tha' wires, and wondered why hers did not ('■’m e... 'T lb: iva bo ut.l o'clock... a. sharp ring chufe" in. No, - St was not’ Billy's voice! “(Jive me one-naught-six-four, quick!’/ Now. it invariably irritates a telephone girl to be told to be quick. She is always quick. The “quick” aroused Miss-Sadie's temper,-btrt~she said nothing; I,Oil 1 was “the number of the Blade editorial rooms, the rival of Billy's paper. “Hello.! that you, Barker?” Continued the voice. “Say, there's the biggest thing on to-night. aJid we'vc got the deadwood oii th? Argtis. if we work it rightrThere’s been a Christmas eve tragedy in the Italian quarter at 768 Bremer street. Two men are dead, and one's so bad.hdl die before morning.”“Who's on that beat for the Argus?” i came the breathless inquiry.“Oh. I've fixed that—Billy MeGuffy, and I'ye got him out the way, I had a fellow tell iiiin, there was a frightful accident out at Bloomfield, and he thinks lie's got a scoop on it. Take the murder ease; here’s the details.” Sadie had made up her mind what to dp. She knew she was but—poor' Billy! She had been on the newspaper wires long enough to know the value of’ time to a morning paper. She listened carefully to Ihe message, then she rang up the. Aratas. ~ “Hello, Banwell, city editor,” she said. “Take a frightful tragedy in the Italian quarter. Billy—Billy MeGuffy.” “All right: hurry it along. Say, Billy, you're scared—you talk like a girl?” “It's enough to scare anybody—two men dend and another on the way-’-’. Sadie gave the full particulars, rang off abruptly, and sat back looking scared herself at what she had dared to do. About 4 o'clock a call came from the Argus office, and Sadie's answer had a tremble iq it. '“Hello,” sounded Billy’s voice. “Is ■ that you? Mep’y Christmas. I just got back from running down a rumor. Do we make up. Sadie?” “Well, I'll be free at 6 o’clock, and then you may come over and see me home.” At the Argus office, Billy just arrived from his bootless errand, stayed all alone till daylight. As ho started after Sadie the watchman handed him a copy of the paper damp from the press. He read the startling headlines: AWFUL CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY.

Two Men Instantly? Killed in a Brawl, __i and a Third Dies This Morning. “Oh, dear! oh, dear!” wailed Billy. “I’m a goner! in my district, too! Here I was fooling about the suburbs, and Banwell sb short-handed. Well, it’s all up with'Bill NfcGriffy.” " " - r - 110 hurried to the telephone exchange building, where lie found Sadie at the door waiting for him. .’Olu.Hi.n.v.l'’,she.;cried; ‘T’ve done the most daeadful thing.” “So h.'iv<*l.” • “But I'll lose my situation if I’m found out.” .. “I'm found out now,” sighed Billy, “and my situation is as good as gone. But tell me about your trouble first,” and Sadie tdld liim as they walked along. himself of being a fool (they were standing in the porch of her home Billy, you're green. You never know’ enough to do the right thing at the right time.” . “Oh, don't I?” said Billy, and nd kissed; her ns they stood there. . i /’Oh,. Billy,” she cried, catching her. breath, “1 did hoi think you had th® courage.” All of which shows that a young man on a. daily paper learns many things as| time goes on, which thought passed;

through Billy's mind as he modestly and gtlently listened to Mr. Banwell's compliments that afternoon cn his enterprise and wide-awakeness on Christmas eve.

“IT WAS EVIDENT SHE HAD A TEMPER OF HER OWN.”