some like question, and scrutinizing him more
particularly, saw a short, rather stout young man, possessing an air of
cheap assurance, hair that insisted on being red, notwithstanding the
bear's grease that covered it, teeth all at variance with each other,
and seeming to rejoice obtrusively in the fact, and light blue eyes of a
most insinuating expression, trimmed around with red.

"Yes," Nattie replied as she took this survey. "I am."

"You don't know me, I suppose?" was the next question.

"No," Nattie replied with a glance at the large mock diamond pin, and
immense imitation amethyst ring he wore; "I certainly do not."

"I think you are mistaken about that," he rejoined, smiling at her in a
most unpleasantly familiar manner.

Surprised and offended, Nattie drew back haughtily. "I think, rather,
you are mistaken," she said, stiffly. "May I inquire your business?"

With an air of easy confidence and familiar remonstrance, he replied,

"Come, now, don't freeze a fellow; why, I came to see you. That's my
business and no other!"

"He is drunk," thought Nattie, indignantly, but before she could reply
he added,

"I am an operator, you see."

"Oh!" said Nattie, comprehensively, but not at all delightedly, for
operator or no operator, and notwithstanding the sort of freemasonry
between those of the craft, she preferred his room to his company. But
constraining herself, she added as civilly as possible, "Did you wish to
send a message, or speak to any one on the wire?"

"No, thank you," he answered; then, with an insinuating smile,

"Can't you guess who I am?"

"I really can't," Nattie replied, coldly and indifferently; thinking,
"some of the operators down town, I suppose, and a delightful set they
are if he is a specimen! So impertinent of him!"

"Can't you?" laughing and displaying his obtrusive teeth to their utmost
advantage. "Now just think of some one you have been buzzing lately, and
then guess, won't you, N?"

Without the least suspicion Nattie shook her head impatiently, feeling
very much disgusted, and longing for some interruption to occur. But his
next words were startling. Leaning forward very confidentially, he asked
with a smile of consciousness,

"Do you see that twinkle, N?"

"What!" ejaculated Nattie--so forcibly that a passing countryman stopped
with a peanut half cracked, to stare--and clutching at an umbrella
hanging by her side, for support, she turned a horror-stricken face to
the