The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-08-26

tarily off guard. "It's-it's probably
all right again by now"
Very likely" was Marks dry as
sent. "Then you don't want me to call
up the manager?"
Don't bother to do that" she fall
tered in confusion. Il might pos
sibly have knocked out the plug-by
accident"
"And you might possibly have done
it on purpose" retorted Mark.
~" she asked, astounded. why
should / do such a foolish thing as
that"
That's what we're going to find out
II 1t had been an accident, you would
have showed the plug back into place
Immediately. when we told you. Isn't
that truer
Il s'pose 3d." she admitted sulkily.
Then. Miss Kelly, we are forced to
believe that you deliberately refused to
transmit our message"
"You can believe anything you want
to-" she returned spitefully. II DOM
care what you believed"
The line of questioning had thrown
her off her carefully prepared line Of
defense. Angry, confused, she tossed
aside her useless weapons and was
for the instant merely a worried and
much badgered little girl.
as it not true" repeated Robertson
in measured query, that you DELHI
erately refused to transmit our mes
sage just now"
Il s'pose So" she vouchsafed. "a
butted in. And now l guess I've got
to take my medicine"
"And," asked Mark, "do you happen
to realize what that medicine is?"
ooh, l know, all right. I'll lose my
job"
Exactly. And you don't want to
lose your job, do you, Miss Kelly?"
mo, don't. need the money"
II see. Quite so. You need the
money. Miss Kelly, Mr. Blake has of
fered you a great deal of money for a
certain bit of information, hasn't hep
Eyes. Butch, what's the use? You
can get me fired. But l guess 1 can
find another job"
ut may not be necessary" suggest
ed Mark. Miss Kelly, we don't want
to harm your prospects in any way
We wish merely to show you that it is
to your interest to work for us. Mr.
Blake has told you how necessary it is
for us to gain the information that you
alone can give us. He will pay you
well. We have asked you to come VI
here tonight to find out whether you
will not accept this Offer"
WELL" she inquired in weary pa
thence, what is it you want me to tell
your"
1--WE want you," replied Mark, "tc
tell us a number called up by Mr.
Standish early this evening""
He paused for her answer. The 9th
ers leaned forward.
Wanda alone was unconcerned. She
was twisting the little bracelet on hel
wrist and eying it with new and hap
PLY absorbed interest from a dozer
successive points of view.
MISS Kelly" demanded Mark, will
you tell US that number or will yot
notf
why" answered Wanda with
charmingly foolish smile Of Grass help
lessness, II really don't think car
remember It,"
II think you can." contradictes
Mark. you knew beforehand, from
Mr.. Blake, how much depended on II
You surely remember"
That's 30. acceded Wanda. seeming
10 grasp the strength Of his argumen
as by inspiration. II surely must. But
you see, it's against the rules to tell
Oh, gentlemen" she cried longingly
I'D just love to help you out. ANY
thing could do. Anything at all. Blu
we're not allowed to give any informa
ton like this. Oh, how wish"
''If you were allowed, them" asle,
Mark. you'd do 1t, wouldn't your"
"Thatd be different. of course" sh
smiled. But you see how I'm fixed-- -
That's too badl" unused Mark. 70