Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-10-31

no. And you knew II was not Ne
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 trackf
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?"
TO save time"
"Oh! And we've been saving time.
have we, sir?"
NO." he returned with ominous
calm, I'VE haven't. But we've found
out exactly where you stand in the
matter, Miss Kelly. We"
Then" flashed Wanda, shaking her
manifold affectations from her like q
garment, then you know I won't tell.
And If l don't, you know you can't
find out. You haven't time You said
SO yourself. You've only got a 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, glaze
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. Well
trace the number we want, sooner or
later. Why won't you be sensible,
Miss Kelly, and talk terms?"
Because 1 don't like the work Il
looks too rank for anyone but states
man. I'm not to be bought for that
kind Of
Il see," said Mark effectively Now
let Us get back 10 the oGher matter: to
your interference with our WIRE
He hesttated, leaned across to Van
Dyke and whispered. Tan Dyke nod
ded, rose and crossed to case tered
ceiling-hign with law books.
you spoke just now, MISS Kelly"
continued Robertson, "of taking your
medicine. And / asked you If you
knew what sort of medicine Il might
be-"
Don't rub it in," she snapped I'm
going to lose my job Let it SO al that.
A bunch of the nations representative
men have combined, in an als-n$ght
session, to throw a telephone operator
out of work. And they've succeeded
Well take that for granted. I'll leave
you to do your celebrating of the
mighty victory without me. I'm go
ing. 1 congratulate you all. YOU'VE
lost the Mullins bill fight. But, instead
you've won in your great fight ts
! make me lose my job. That ought ia
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
vened Mark, opening the calfskin vol
ume Van Dyke had Just brought him
from the book-shelves. "You spoke o1
losing your job. I'm afraid that isn't
all you'U lose"
NO" she agreed, "I1l lose tho blood
money could have raked in If I'd sold
you the Woman's name"
And your liberty"
"My-my-what?"
Your liberty, Miss Kelly" repeated
Mark, eying the startled girl with
stormy unconcern.
"You mighty finance jugglers live Sc
long on the razor edge Of JAIL" she
scoffed with q bravado that somehow
| would not ring true, that you ought
to be experts on all the stunts people
can be locked up for. But this time
the bluffs too thin"
(TO BE Continued