The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-04-12
a witness-l heard every word of the

a witness-1 heard every word of the
conversation"
The detective was trying to trap the
lawyer, but the Celtic wit was too
ready. If 1t was a trap, he wouldn't
fall into 1t.
by thunder, colonel, you're a good
actor. Jensen was at my office last
evening. Sure, l admit that. But you
were not there. No one heard what
was said"
You damned, sneaking blackguard,"
Numbered Cheney, I've a mind to
thresh the hide off of you! Read that"
and he threw a typewriter documen
on the table in front of the Irishman.
O,Brlen did read, and as the words
slipped through his mind he began to
realize that this was a report verbatim
ad seriatum of the conversation which
took place between him and DIR. Philip
Jensen the evening before. OF course
Jensen may AVE had such a good
memory that he could remember every
"oro mat was spoken. But Cheney
sald ne was a witness, and his word on
the stand in confederation of a charge
made by DR.. Jensen would be mighty
convincing to a jury. But the Irish
man wasn't beaten yet. The trump
caro- would have to be played. Cheney
saw it.
Wait a minute, o'Brien. I'm going
" SlC pIOOI IOW. you're
caught, and you know 1T; but I'm 60
ing TO SHOW YOU how it was done. Just
hold this to your ear a minute" hand
ing MIN a gutta percha phone receiver.
only smaller by half than those in gem
eral use. o'Brien did as he was told,
cheney touched a button, and O'Brien
h ear a voice say: Good morning.
1t was J%ensen's voice.
rily. "e
Just a moment. Mr.. o'Brien. DR..
Jensen ant hear You. You see YOU
only have a receiver, not a transmit-
ter. DR.. Jensen has one in the other
room. He'll bring it in presently. and
you can see how you were trapped"
ohBrlen began to feel clammy. This
mans methods We're a bit uncanny.
Th1s telephoning from seemingly no
where wasn't pleasant. The idea was
sleallng over him that he was cor
nefed. The door opened and in walked
Dr: Jensen, followed by Jimmie Ell
mott. Or. Jensen was CARRIED as usual,
ana IN his hand he held his silk hat.
Cheney said: ~
"o.Brien ever hear a man talking
you didn't exactly do that, but YOU
dld talk through DIR. Jensen's hat.
Look here and Cheney reached ont
and took DR.. Jensen's silk tile and
held 1t so O'Brien could see the in
side. Elliott grinned approvingly as
ehehey Went on: You will see a per-
feet telephone transmitter, concealed in
the top OF his hat. Now look at the
outside. These four small air holes are
Ilght over he tranSmitter. DR.. Jensen
held his hat in his left hand towards
you. You talked right into it. A very
siender copper Wire a from a plate
held inside the doctors hand under his
coat sleeve down his back, out the left
trouser leg and along the floor to the
receiver you just held to your ear.
Only 1T was a double receiver last
night. l held n to my ear and a court
.s~tenographer held the other strapped
around his head so that he could take
down every word of the conversation,
You still look ~incredulous. The wire?
On, yes, the wire was on a reel i'm my
hands, and l was in the first office
when DR.. Jensen went to yours. We
the wire before he went in.
n L unwound it as he walked away
from me. Oh, 1 was in the closet When
he came in. l arranged all thai he
torehand. The wire was wound With
green silk the color of your Garnet
and anyway the light precluded your
seeing 1t. Just a moment ago you had
a demonstration as to how this nhnne
worked from the outer office. Jensen
was there, and when l a he said =.
few words to you. Now, Mr.. O'Brien.
what have you to say?"
o,Brien looked like the thoroughly
beaten man he was. From one to the
other he gazed. He was trapped fairly
and squarely. But the Irish in him
was strong, he wouldn't squeal.
There's nothing to say, gentlemen.
save, perhaps, that the telephone is a
damned clever invention.'
Well, DR.. Jensen, it's up to Won.
now" drawled Cheney. "
Jensen looked hard at o'Brien. Per
haps a memory of the old days when
lheS mao been Door companions fitted
before him.. He pitied the man.
Get out of this, O'Brien, and try.
for Gods sake, to lead an honest life
You've got a chance now. Take it,"
osBr1en stood not on the order of
going. but he went. AS he closed the
door he muttered: Great thing, that
telephone!"