The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-23

Van Dyke ran searching finger down
the list he held. You are quite sure,
Miss Kelly, that it was 678 Takoma?"
"Oh, yes, indeed" Wanda assured
him in eager triumph. 1918 Takoma.
remember"
ut wasn't 876 Takoma?"
ooh, no, sir, 678"
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
nessi"
''Why?" asked Wanda in marveling
innocence. Wasn't that number the
right one, after aIl?"
mo. And you knew it was not. No
such number was called from this
hotel"
ooh! 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?
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"
ooh! And we've been saving time.
have we, sir?"
NO." he returned with ominous
calm, Eve 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 a
garment, then you know 1 won't tell
And if / 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 silenca
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-1O01 Plaza"
They've charged you for two calls,
Mark" commented Van Dyke, glanc-
ing at the list over Robertson's shout
der. See? Plaza 10O1-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 1t
looks too rank for anyone but a states
man. I'm not to be bought for that
kind Of
Il see," said Mark reflectively. Nov
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 if you
knew what sort Of medicine it might
be-"
Don't rub it 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 aIl-night
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 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 if
you can't lick man like Standish
you're still live wires"
Zone moment, Miss Kelly" inter-
vened Mark, opening the calfskin vol
ume Van Dyke had just brought him
from the book-shelves. You spoke Of
losing your job. I'm afraid that isn't
all you'll lose"
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, ey1ng the startled girl with
stormy unconcern.
you mighty finance jugglers live so
long on the razor edge Of JAIL" she
scoffed with a 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"
Robertson did not answer at once.
Indeed, he did not seem to hear. He
was turning the pages of the law book
before him. Presently he found what
he wanted.
Miss Kelly" he said, "as a tele
phone operator, you must have had
your attention called to Section Gal
of the Penal Code. Have you not?"
YES" she returned defantly, 81