Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-10-31
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Third Degree.

were at the SWlCCnDOdrO uOWnSIdlfS
few moments ago?"
Eyes, sir"
while I was talking to the Asso-
ciated Press Officer"
How can l tell, sir?" she asked with
smiling helplessness. "You know
we're not allowed to listen to CONVEX
sations over the wire
But you connected me when /
called up 4400 Main just now?"
ooh, yes, sir"
HIN! You remember that, do you?
Well, that is the number of the Asso-
ciated Press office. l called up Jen-
nings, the manager. I talked with him
minute. Then he wanted to speak
with Mr.. Blake"
YES, sir?" asked Wanda, who had
been following his recital with the
wide-eyed delighted interest of a child
listening to a wondrous fairy tale.
M Blake took the telephone in
strument from my hands," pursued
Mark, unheeding, land spoke into it."
Wanda turned slowly and gaZed up
on Blake in pleased amazement that
he could have performed so sensation
al feat as Mark had just described.
Then she looked back at Mark as
though unwilling to miss single word
of such an enthralling narrative.
"'But," continued Mark. when he
tried to speak to Jennings he found
the connection had suddenly been
severed
OH"
There was a world Of sympathetic
regret in her exclamation.
HE was told" said Mark slowly,
che was told-by you, Miss Kelly
that the line was out of order"
s"Oh, yes!" she cried brightly. "And
that must have been why the connec-
ton was cut off. What shame! Just
when he wanted to talk, tool"
Il suppose" said Mark carelessly,
eff the line had got out of order, the
managers office would know of 1t by
this timer"
ooh, yes"
VERY good" reaching for the instru-
ment. 'I'll call up the manager and
ask about it.
ooh, mol" she exclaimed, momen-
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 il confusion. Il might pos
sibly have knocked out the plug-by
accident"
"And you might possibly have done
it on purpose" retorted Marx.
"I?" she asked, astounded. Why
should l do such a foolish thing as
that?"
That's what we're going to find out.
If it had been an accident, you would
have showed the plug back into place,
Immediately. when we told you. Isn't
that true?"
Il s'pose so,' 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
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 worried and
much badgered little girl.
rs it not true" repeated Robertson
in measured query, that you DELHI
erately refused to transmit our mes
sage just now?"
II s'pose So" she vouchsafed 81
butted N. And now l guess I've got
to take my medicine"
"And," asked Mark, do you happen
to realize what that medicine is?"
ooh. 1 know, all right. I'll lose my
job"
Exactly. And you don't want to
lose your job, do you, Miss Kelly?"
mo, l don't. need the money"
II see. Quite So You need the
money. Miss Kelly, Mr.. Blake has Of
fered you great deal of money for a
| certain bit of information, hasn't he?"
eyes. But-Oh, what's the use? You
can get me fired. But I guess can
find another job!"
1T 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 up
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, "to
tell us 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 her
wrist and eying 1. with new and hap
PLY absorbed interest from a dozen