The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-10-03
CHAPTER VII.

The Trap. =. an.
For q moment Blake did nov 49,, ~"
srrar Nor could Wanda read anythiue
from his utterly expressionless '"'''
ne" "no l Won T" know why did that?" l.,
probably" replied Wanda s. "a" ~
because you wanted Mr.. Stanu''A
come here" NJ. her
He eyed her searchingly. bu' ~
face gave no sign that her reply p"0
been intended as impertinence.
HIM" he vouchsafed' you're
bright girl" ,,od de-
Thank you. sir" she replied 10
murely. oro,ess
Again he glanced at her mo'e' s,;,
ssotvres in quick doubt. Then, e'i
IDENTIFY making up his mind' 10 "
on: .ou;ng
you heard the story l was tel'lns
those men over there? the sVo''
about Standish and the Woman: :.
II happened to catch part Oh ~.
you happened to catch every ~o.u u
Of it." he corrected. And now wy
do you suppose l told such an s'..l ,a
portant secret loud enough for d '''''
phone girl to hear it?"
That's just what I've been wohoe.
ing" she said frankly. bW ! '"A
figure it out" n,,,o
"Thep III tell you" retorted Blake
nodding approval at her unemoarras %
ed caudor. whats the one thlng W.
need to turn that story from a wiho:
piece of campaign gossip into the oeao
lest weapon ever forged in Washing
TOM" :.
"The Woman's name" replied wan
da, at once.
Good" applauded Blake. "louv
got a real brain under that metal II
ceiyer YOU wear. You seem TO nav
this situation worked out as clear as
have. Maybe, now, you can CUES
what that Woman's name IS worm
US. How about it,"
Wanda rolled her big eyes Gel
ingward after the manner OF SUPP
child who seeks in space the ans"'
to teachers question.
"Maybe-maybe "a million az
lars" she hazarded timidly, at lengt
Blake grinned appreciation OF u
bit of acting, and was not IN the vel
. least deceived by it-as Wanda nj
perfectly we'll known he would not Q
Nothing stingy about your ldea
Young LADY," he commented. May
I'd better put them straight. DO y
want to make a hundred dollars?'
"A hundred dollars?' she echoed
wide-eyed wonder of innocence tn
Saint Cecilia at her best could n
possibly have eQualed. "A whole NJ
Y dred dollars? Why, how could pc
v telephone operator like me make
l. much money!"
Here's the idea" replied Blal
t wearying of matching cudgel agai,
" hatpin, and coming straight to
t pith of the matter. 1--WE sent
8 Standish to come here because | W.
,. to have a talk with him. When
D. through, I'll 60 away. And the chan'
o are that he'll go straight to the II
It phone and call up some one. It's Il
It some ones number want"
re oh" exclaimed Wanda. smil
Is brightly at her own comprehend
And that's worth hundred dollar
ID Yes. And II you can hear what
III says on the phone I'll make 1t
IT. hundred"
III For an instant the innocent won'
ed ing smile again illumined Wanda's
turned face. Then, like Blake,
evidently wearied OF futile word-f'
ing, for she said, incisively:
81 see. I've got the idea. VI
spring this story Of the Woman
him. You'll make him think yo'
almost got her in your net. You'll
to scare him into hustling to the n
est telephone and warning her.
know you're having him watched.
he won't dare to 60 to her In pei
with his warning or send her lei
He's got too much sense for that.
telegram would be too risky.
nothing's left but the phone.
call her up. You'll get the mum
! And then it'll be cinch for your
to find the Woman's name in no t
e and all about her. The full sto
names and all-can be circulated
the floor as soon as the house sits
night. And good-by then to
Standish."
SAY" drawled Blake in genuine
miration. you've sure got b
Well have to get you in the Sc
i1H ~