I don't know as pa knew, anyway, but I guess he wanted something, or else he wouldn't have motioned Julius to go out, unless he just wanted to talk to Julium.

Mebby he just wanted to ask Julius if there was any mail for him.

So pa answered the telephone." "Well, what did it say ?" asked Miss Sally impatiently.
"You've got a pa, haven't you ?" asked the boy.
"Yes," said Miss Sally.
"Well, has he got false teeth ?" asked the boy.
"Yes," said Miss Sally more impatiently.
"Well, that's all right, then," said the boy.

"Pa couldn't tell exactly whether it was false teeth or not, the telephone at the post office works so poor, and pa ain't no hand at it, anyhow.

He said it sounded like false teeth.