nes in
circuit and we could talk together.'

"After looking at Mr. Holmes for a moment with great surprise, Mr.
Hubbard slapped him on the back and said, 'I will do it! Get your
switches and other things ready.'

"Of course Mr. Holmes was greatly elated to be the first one to show on
his wires this wonderful new instrument and connect two or more parties
through a Central Office. He immediately had a switchboard made (its
actual size was five by thirty-six inches) through which he ran a few
of his burglar-alarm circuits and by means of plugs he arranged so that
he could throw the circuit from the burglar-alarm instruments to the
telephone. He also had a shelf made to rest the telephones on and had
others like it built at the Exchange National and the Hide and Leather
banks. In a few days the telephones, numbered 6, 7, and 8, arrived and
were quickly installed, and the marvellous exhibition opened. Soon two
more instruments were added, one of which was placed in the banking
house of Brewster, Bassett and Company and the other in the Shoe and
Leather Bank. When the Williams shop was connected, it gave Mr. Holmes
a working exchange of five connections, the first telephone exchange in
history."

"I'll bet they had some queer times with it," asserted Ted.

"They did, indeed!" smiled Mr. Hazen. "The papers announced the event,
although in very retiring type, and persons of every walk in life
flocked to the Holmes office to see the wonder with their own eyes. So
many came that Mr. Holmes had a long bench made so that visitors could
sit down and watch the show. One day a cornetist played from the Holmes
building so that the members of the Boston Stock Exchange, assembled at
the office of Brewster, Bassett and Company, could hear the
performance. Considering the innovation a great boon, the New York man
secured another instrument and after meditating some time on whom he
would bestow it he decided to install it in the Revere Bank, thinking
the bank people would be delighted to be recipients of the favor. His
burglar-alarm department had pass-keys to all the banks and therefore,
when banking hours were over, he and one of his men obtained entrance
and put the telephone in place. The following morning he had word that
the president of the bank wished to see him and expecting to receive
thanks for the happy little surprise he had given the official, he
hurried to the bank. Instead of expressing gratitude, however, the
presiden