The Burning Question

Scene: A city office. Characters: A very respectable citizen: A Voice.

The citizen takes up the telephone receiver 
and listens patiently for five minutes.

A Voice: Central!

Citizen: I want double oh three.

Voice: Did you hear who won the
Beauty Competition?

Citizen: I want double oh three.

Voice: Aren't they going to an-
nounce it in the paper tonight?

Citizen: I know nothing about
Beauty Competitions. I want Cen-
tral double oh three double oh
three.

Voice: Of course, they say that
most of them are not a bit like their
photographs. But still I think that
Mrs. ——

Citizen: I want Central double
oh three. 

Voice: I supppose some of them are
really beautiful. They tried to per-
suade me to go in for it, but

Citizen: Can I get my number?

Voice: I'm just dying for the paper
to come out. I voted, you know, and
I'm quite sure that Miss ——

Citizen: Can I ——

Voice: As a matter of fact, the
whole thirty look very nice in print;
but when the judges see them, of
course ——

Citizen: Can I get ——

Voice: Anyhow, I bet the one that
wins it ——

Citizen: Look here. Where can a
man see these Beauties you are talk-
ing about? I'm doing nothing this
afternoon and ——

Telephone: Gr-r-r-r.