Ted and the Telephone Read online

  Produced by Sigal Alon, La Monte H.P. Yarroll and theOnline Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

  Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been correctedwithout note. Dialect spellings, contractions and discrepancies havebeen retained.

  TED AND THE TELEPHONE

  By Sara Ware Bassett

  _The Invention Series_

  PAUL AND THE PRINTING PRESSSTEVE AND THE STEAM ENGINETED AND THE TELEPHONE

  "Would you like to go to college if you could?"persisted the elder man. FRONTISPIECE. _See page_ 178.]

  The Invention Series

  TED AND THE TELEPHONE

  By

  SARA WARE BASSETT

  WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BYWILLIAM F. STECHER

  BOSTONLITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY1922

  _Copyright, 1922_,BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.

  _All rights reserved_

  Published April, 1922

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  TO THE MEMORY OF

  EDWIN T. HOLMES

  WHO PLAYED A PART IN THE WONDERFULTELEPHONE STORY, THISBOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

  S. W. B.

  It gives me much pleasure to acknowledge the generosity of Mr. ThomasAugustus Watson, the associate of and co-worker with Mr. AlexanderGraham Bell, who has placed at my disposal his "Birth and Babyhood ofthe Telephone."

  Also the courtesy of Mrs. Edwin T. Holmes who has kindly allowed me tomake use of her husband's book: "A Wonderful Fifty Years."

  THE AUTHOR.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE

  I AN UNHERALDED CHAMPION 1

  II TED RENEWS OLD TIMES 11

  III GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING 21

  IV THE FIRST NIGHT IN THE SHACK 35

  V A VISITOR 49

  VI MORE GUESTS 60

  VII MR. LAURIE 76

  VIII DIPLOMACY AND ITS RESULTS 94

  IX THE STORY OF THE FIRST TELEPHONE 106

  X WHAT CAME AFTERWARD 122

  XI THE REST OF THE STORY 141

  XII CONSPIRATORS 152

  XIII WHAT TED HEARD 163

  XIV THE FERNALDS WIN THEIR POINT 173

  XV WHAT CAME OF THE PLOT 189

  XVI ANOTHER CALAMITY 199

  XVII SURPRISES 213

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  "Would you like to go to college if you could?" persisted theelder man _Frontispiece_

  "You can't be spreadin' wires an' jars an' things round myroom!" protested Mr. Turner Page 9

  Soon he came within sight of the shack which stood at thewater's edge " 27

  He heard an answering shout and a second later saw Ted Turnerdash through the pines " 88

  TED AND THE TELEPHONE