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

Blake nodded grim approval. The 9th. |
er listeners relaxed. Even Robertson's |
hard mouth softened in exultation.
That's right" applauded Mark
You won't be sorry for it."
We'll" asked Mark, what was the
NUMBER"
THE NUMBER" echoed Wanda alb
sently.
Was it district NUMBER" queried
Mark, his face giving no sign of any.
thing but desire to refresh her mem.
org.
"Oh, yes!" cried Wanda, her eyes
Frightening. "a district number. Yes.
I remember that it was a district num-
ber,'
What exchange?"
A further futile ransacking OF the
mind.
WAS it Main?"
She shook her head
"Cleveland?"
"N-no."
"Takoma?"
Eyes! Yes! It's all come back to
me now, sir, It was Takoma. That
was it. Takoma. 678 Takoma!"
1918 Takoma," repeated Mark, while
Van Dyke ran searching finger down
the list he held. You are quite sure,
Miss Kelly, that it was 67S Takoma {"
"Oh, yes, indeed" Wanda assured
him in eager triumph. 1918 Takoma.
| remember"
1T wasn't S76 Takoma?"
"Oh, no, sir, 67S."
| Mark glanced at Van Dyke, who
shook his head. The cross-examiner's
tone grew all at once as cold as death.
You have been playing with US long
enough, Miss Kelly" said he. 81 let
1t go on until was certain you meant
to lead us on a wild-goose chase. Now,
if you please, We'll get down to bust
| ness!"
'Why?" asked Wanda in marveling
innocence. wasn't that number the
right one, after all?"
mo. And you knew 1t was not. No
such number was called from this
hotel"
"Oh! Then you got the duplicate
slips from central? Perhaps, If you'd
let me look over them, could"
Gould send US on the wrong track
l have no doubt you could. No, thank
you. You see, we can investigate
these numbers without you. It's mere
ly question of investigating each OF
them and"
"Then," demanded Wanda, "why did
you bother to ask me?"
ITO save time"
"Oh! And we've been saving time
have we, sir?"
mo-" he returned with ominous
calm, 1--WE haven't. But we've found
out exactly where you stand in the
matter, Miss Kelly. We"
Then" flashed Wanda, shaking her
manifold Alterations from her like a
garment, then you know l won't tell
And if 1 don't, you know you can't
find out. You haven't time. You said
so yourself. You've only got few
hours at most And before you can
strike another trail the Woman will
be on her guard"
Mark glowered at her in silence
Then he picked up the list that Van
Dyke had just laid down..
Many of these numbers" he said.
half to himself, "can be eliminated at
once. For instance, here's my own
call to New York-1001 Plaza"
They've charged you for two calls,
Mark" commented Van Dyke, glanc-
ing at the list over Robertson's shout.
der. See? Plaza 1001-twice. One
directly under the other"
YES" said Mark, they must have
repeated it in copying the list. That
makes two less for us to look up. Wen
trace the number we want, sooner or
later. Why won't you be sensible
Miss Kelly, and talk terms7"
Because l don't like the work. II
looks too rank for anyone but states.
man. I'm not to be bought for that
kind Of"
Il see," said Mark refiectively. "Now
let us get back to the other matter; to
your interference with our wire"
He hesitated, leaned across to Van
Dyke and whispered. Van Dyke nod.
ded, rose and crossed to case TERED
ceiling-high with law books.
you spoke just now, Miss Kelly
continued Robertson, "of taking your
medicine. And l asked you IL you
knew what sort Of medicine 1t might
be-"
Don't rub u In" she snapped. "I'm
going to lose my job. Let it go at that
A bunch Of the nations representative
men have combined. in an all-night
session, to throw q telephone operator
out Of work. And they've succeeded.
Wen take that for granted. I'll leave
you to do your celebrating Of the
mighty victory without me. I'm 60
ing. l congratulate you all. You've
lost the Mullins bill fight But, instead
you've won In your great fight to
make me lose my Job. That ought to
help some. And It proves that even II
you can't lick a man like Standish
you're still live wires"
"One moment, Miss Kelly" inter