The Mena weekly star., 1913-09-25
CHAPTER VII.
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The Tran,


 er Nor could Wanda read anything
 nm his utterly expressionless face, 4ben he said
 .Do you know why I did that?"
 "probably," replied Wanda gravely
 hocouse you wanted MT. Standish to eome here.'
 He eyed her searchingly. But her
 nd gave no sign that her reply had |seen intended as impertinence.
 "Hml" he vouchsafed. You're Q Fright girl"
 Thank you, sir" she replied de. murely.
 Again he glanced at her moveless sanlros in quick doubt. Then, evi senrv making up his mind, he went 1p:
 # 'vou heard the story was telling
 hosa men over there? The story bout Standish and the Woman?"
 "r-I happened to catch part of it. # "You happened to catch every word sf ir." he cor acted. And now, why zo -ou supposo I told such an all-im c,iort secret loud enough for a tele. fhone girl to hear it?" # rhafs just what I've been wonder Aq." she said frankly. But I cant Hr,~- is out.'
 I'll tSll you retorted Blake
 approv2l at her unembarrass zpd What's the one thing we
 e7 urn that story from a windy biec. oI campaign gossip into the dead He~t ou ever forged in Washing
 "' Voman'a name" replied Wan ia, ..eo,
 'coo1," apDlauded Blake, You've fot | brain uud der that metal re cever you war. You seem to have 4his situation worked out as clear as ] shaye Maybe, noty, you can guess What that Woman's name Is worth tc Us. How about it?" q Wanda rolled her big eyes cell. hayward after the manner of a stupid .ehild who seeks in space the answer =fo teachers question. 4 "Maybe-maybe a-a million dol. 11ars,' she haZarded timidly, at length Blake grinned appreciation of the Dit of acting, and was not in the very Beast deceived by it-as Wanda had .perfectly well known he would not be Nothing stingy about your ideas |young lady," he commented. Maybe I1'd better put them straight. Do you swant make a hundred dollars?" "A hundred dollars?" she echoed in "a wide-eyed wonder of innocence that Saint Cecelia at her best could not possibly have equaled, "A whole nun. -dred dollars? Why, how could a poor Telephone operator like me make SC |much money?"
 Heres the idea" replied Blake, 'wearyng of matching a cudgel against Ia hatpin, and coming straight to the |pth of the matter. I've sent for |Standish to come here because l want Ito have a talk with him. When I'm Through, I'll so away. And the chances |are that he'll go straight to the tele. phone and call up some one. It's that |'some ones number l want" oh" exclaimed Wanda, smiling Brightly at her own comprehension. |"And that's worth a hundred dollars?" Yes. And if you can hear what he |says on the phone I'll make it two |hundred.'
 For an instant the innocent wonder |lng smile again illumined Wanda's up Burned face. Then. like Blake. she evidently wearied of futile word-fenc- ing for she said. incisively: T see, I've got the idea. You'll |spring this story of the Woman on him. You'll make him think you've almost got her in your net You'll try to scare him into hustling to the near est telephone and warning her. He'll Know you're having him watched. So ne won't dare to go to her in person wlth his warning or send her a letter. Hes got too much sense for that. And A telegram would be too risky. So nothlng's left but the phone. Hell cali her up. You'll get the number. -Ahd then it'll be cinch for your men 10 md the Woman's name in no time ana all about her. The full story names and all-oan be circulated on ne noor as soon as the house sits, to. sisht. And good-by then to Mir. Standish."
 say!" drawled Blake in genuine ad- mifatlon ,l. You've sure got a brain. ven have to get you in the secret SerViee' Or, if you want a job in my once at douole what you're getting here-but we can talk about all that @it1erward. Will-?"
 foure sure the number will give 'ou the clue to the Woman?"
 Absolutely"
 And don't you think one little hun ufeu dollars is a pretty cheap price 'o pay for information that will bring You millions?"
 oneer innocence had reached It's ~"erlhg acme-the summit whereon .es@ pure wisdom. Blake regarded ~ e,! siii rom under his bushy brows. "eilf he demanded, If a whole ,n uufed dollars has shruak so quick n., m'o little hundred dollars what p'iEe i, strikes you as fairy"
 ,o, Ae's see!" pondered innocence's dollars?" ' '" '"ouS"nu p,ot thousand dollarsi" repeated to. "Rotl Ten thousand dollars hor,. one measly telephone mum yo,oO eontradicted Wanda, and her ",os s0 ana face were like chilled steel. .b,. r d victory that saves your leader. sup Of the maoht.o .A.