Bertha picked up the combination receiver and mouthpiece, said, “Hello.”
There was only a faint singing sound on the wire.
Bertha said parenthetically to Belder, “Evidently she’s just dialled the number. I can hear it ringing. I—”
A feminine voice said, “Hello, Nunnely Sales Products.”
“Mr. Nunnely, please,” Bertha Cool said in a calm, methodical voice which barely missed being a drawl.
“Who is this talking, please?”
“Mrs. Cool.”
The feminine voice at the other end of the line flashed into quick response. “Yes, Mrs. Cool. Hold the line, just a moment, please. He’s been trying to get you.”
Another click and Nunnely’s voice, much more rapid in its tempo than when Bertha had talked with him last, said, “Hello, Mrs. Cool?”
“Yes.”