“No. A week or so, and then you can get a good job. I learned in a week. Wait now, and we’ll practice. I’ll make believe I’m the boss.”
CHAPTER X
GETTING A PLACE
Charley went into one of the inner offices, where there was a telephone connected with the switchboard.
“Now when you see that little black thing drop,” he called to Tom, “you want to take up one of these plugs, which are attached to wires, though they call ’em cords, and plug it into the hole under where the black thing drops.”
“What’s that black thing?” asked Tom.
“That’s the visual signal. There’s a buzzer that goes with it, but I cut the buzzer out, because it makes my head ache,” answered Charley, who was rather free and easy in his manners and talk. “Then,” he went on, “you want to take off the receiver, ’cause there ain’t no head and ear piece here, and listen to get the number. When I tell you a number you want to repeat it to central. And say, don’t let them central girls bluff you. Some of ’em are too tart. Think you understand now? If you do I’ll try you out.”
“Go ahead,” answered Tom, and Charley closed the door.
Presently the “little black thing” dropped. Tom pulled up a plug and inserted it into the proper hole.
“Get me one-eight-two-seven, Oxford,” called Charley over the wire. Tom repeated the number to the central girl.
In a moment he heard the girl’s voice over the wire: