He still didn't have the courage to tell her, but sought to make himself known by explaining. He then mentioned the state from whence he came, but no further did he get. It so happened that she had heard all about his troubles following his marriage, and, womanlike, feeling that she had been in a way displaced by the other, she had always been anxious to meet and know him.
"Oh," she cried, and the echo of her voice rang in his ears over the wire for some moments. "Is this you?" she cried now, her voice evidencing the excitement she was laboring under.
"Yes," he admitted somewhat awkwardly, not knowing whether the fact had thrilled and joyed her, or, whether he was in for a rebuke for calling her up. But he was speedily reassured.
"Then why don't you come on out here?" she cried.
"I—I didn't know whether I would be welcome," he replied, happy in a new way.
"Oh, pshaw! Why wouldn't you be welcome? But now," her tone changed. "Where are you?"
"In Kansas City."
"Let me see," she said, and he knew she was thinking. "It is now four thirty, and a train leaves there that passes through here in forty minutes. It doesn't stop here; but you catch it and go to the station above here, do you understand?"
"Yes, yes," he replied eagerly.
"Well, now, listen! The station I refer to is only four miles above this, and when you get off there, catch another train that comes in a few minutes back this way, see?"