Just then one of the black signals fell.
“Here comes a call now,” said Charley. “It’s just in time. Here, you take up a plug from right under the drop, and you jab it in the hole. Then you throw this little cam or handle down, and you ask ’em who they want. Go ahead now.”
Tom listened, and heard a distant voice asking if this was the brokerage firm in whose office the boys were.
“Yes,” replied Tom.
“Is Mr. Simpson in?” the voice asked.
“He wants Mr. Simpson,” whispered Tom to Charley.
“Tell him he’s gone for the day,” was the telephone boy’s answer. “Ask him if he wants to leave any message. If he does I’d better take it.”
Tom did as he was told, but the man on the other end of the wire said he would call up in the morning.
“Pull out the plug,” directed Charley, when the drop fell once more. “He’s done. Now, if he had wanted one of the partners, all you’d have to do would be to take up the other cord, plug it into the hole connected with the particular ’phone on that’s wanted, and punch the button opposite the hole. That rings a bell in whatever office is wanted. See how easy it is?”
“I don’t think it’s very easy,” remarked Tom, “but maybe I’ll learn it after a while.”