"Shoot." "Call up the Hotel Grantham--say you're a florist with an order to deliver some flowers direct to Miss Margaret Cameron--and ask for the number of her suite--and keep the wire open." The girl obeyed promptly.

In less than a minute she was reporting to Larry: "They say 1141-1142-1143." "Ask if she's in.

If she is, get her on the 'phone, tell her long distance is calling, but doesn't want to speak to her unless she is alone.

You get it ?" "Sure, brother.

This ain't the first time I helped a party out." There was more jabbing with the switch-board plug, evident switching at the other end, several questions, and then the girl asked: "Is this Miss Margaret Cameron?
Miss Cameron--" and so on as per Larry's instructions.
The operator turned to Larry: "She says she's alone." "Tell her to hold the wire till you get better connections--the storm has messed up connections terribly--and keep your own wire open and make her hold her end." As Larry went out he heard his instructions being executed while an adept hand safely banked the bill inside her shirt-waist.