Atsixo’clockMary，whohadreasonsofherownforwishingtobeleftaloneinthestore，suggestedthatsheremaintherewhileheruncleswenthomeforsupper。NeitherMr。HamiltonnortheCaptainwouldconsent，soshewasobligedtogotothehouseherselfandsendIsaiahuponcemoretoactasshopkeeper。Butateleventhatnight，afterunmistakablesoundsfromtheirroomswerefurnishingproofsthatbothpartnersofHamiltonandCompanywereasleep，shetiptoeddownstairs，putonhercoatandhat，tookthestorekeysfromthenailwhereZoethalwayshungthem，andwentout。Shedidnotreturnuntilalmostthree。
Thenextdayshespent，forthemostpart，atthestore。Shewroteseverallettersand，inspiteofheruncles’protests，waiteduponseveralcustomers。Thatevening，asshesatbehindthecounterthinking，aboywhomCaptainShadrachidentifiedasZenasAtkins’
young-onerushedbreathlesslyintothestoretoannouncebetweengaspsthat“Mary-’GustaLathrop’swantedonthephone。It’slongdistance，too，and——and——you’vegottoscrabble’causethey’reholdin’thewire。“Maryhurriedoutandtothetelephoneoffice。
ShehadnotansweredShadrach’squestionastowhoshethoughtwascalling。Shedidnotknow，ofcourse，butshesuspected，andforacool-headedyoungbusinesswoman，agirlwhohadruthlesslydrivenallthoughtsexceptthoseofbusinessfromhermind，herheartbeatsurprisinglyfastassheenteredtheclosetwhichactedasasubstituteforatelephonebooth，andtookdownthereceiver。Yethertonewascalmenoughassheutteredthestereotyped“Hello。“
Thewirehummedandsang，fragmentsofdistantconversationbecameaudibleandwerelost，andthenavoice，thevoicewhichshewasexpectingbut，inaway，dreadingtohear，asked：“Hello！IsthisMissLathrop？“