Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-02-11
{ CHAPTER XVIII.
The Third Decree.

smiling helplessness. you know
we're not allowed to listen to CONVEX
sations over the wire 49,. IF ~
but you connected me when
called up 44O0 Main just now?" -
ooh, yes, sir" ~" -s-5 ~
HIN! You remember that, do you
Well, that is the number OF the Asso
! ciated Press office. called up Jen
nings, the manager. talked with hin
minute. Then he wanted to speal
. with Mr.. Blake u
eyes, sir?" asked Wanda. who haC
been following his recital with tht
wide-eyed delighted interest Of a chile
listening to 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 a 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" jy s Il. III Il
"Oh!" 55s d ri q "A 'E; .s
There was a world OF symp pathetic
1 regret in her exclamation.
''He was told. z, said Mark slowly
"he was told-by you. Miss Kelly
that the line was out of order" E
/ az JoJ 1>,,irv tlxrt 4
that must have been why the connec
ton was cut OFF. What shame! Just
when he wanted to talk, too!
Il suppose" said Mark carelessly
"if the line had got out OF order, the
managers Office would know Of 1t by
this time ?" & 4. Il .,s N.
Oh, yes,
very good,''' reaching for the instru.
ment. "I,ll call up the manager and
ask about it." 35.s u /.
"Oh, MOI" she exclaimed. momen.
tarily OF guard. "It's-it's probably
all right again by now" III
Very likely" was Marks dry as.
sent. Then you don't want me to call
up the manager?" .s.s
Don't bother to DO that she fal.
tered in confusion. 81 might pos.
sibly have knocked out the plug-by
accident" t5 3.5 j$/5 +! M Z.
"And you might possibly have done
it on purpose" retorted Mark.
"I?" she asked, astounded. why
should I do such foolish thing as
that?" & .3
That's what we're going to find out
If 1t had been an accident, you would
have showed the plug back into place
Immediately, when we told you. Isn't
that true p Is "A s Z 4 II Il 5 >
81 spose So" she admitted sulkily.
"Then, Miss Kelly, we are forced to
! believe that you deliberately refused to
transmit our message. ~
as-." You can believe anything you want
to-" she returned spitefully. Il don't
care what you believe! -"
The line of questioning had thrown
her off her carefully prepared line Of
defense. Angry, confused, she tossed
aside her useless weapons and waf
for the instant merely worried anG
much badgered little girl. IA
i is it not true" repeated Robertson
4 in measured query, that you DELHI
!: erately refused to transmit our mes
I sage just now :" VI gsE 5
II s'pose so,' she vouchsafed.s W q,
butted IN. And now guess I've go1
to take my medicine"
"And," asked Mark, "do. you happier
to realize what that medicine is p
"Oh. know, all right. III lose my
job" s .y.5a I. j J.
Exactly. And you don't want tc
lose your job, do you. Miss Kelly p
mo, I don't. need the money"
II see. Quite SO. You need the
money. Miss Kelly, Mr.. Blake has Of
fered you great deal of money for a
certain bit of Information, hasn't her
Eyes. Butch, what's the use? You
can get me fired. But ! guess car
find another job!" :i{$ i55.
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 II
to your interest to work for u.s. Mr.
Blake has told you how necessary it Ii
for US to gain the information that YOU
alone can give US. He will pay you
/, well. We have asked you to come VI
here tonight to find out whether you
will not accept this Offer b
WELL she inquired in weary pa
tience, what is 1t you want me to tell
your"
I'VE want you," replied Mark, tic
tell us a 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 hel
wrist and eying it with new and hap
PLY absorbed interest from q dozen
successive points Of view. =
Miss Kelly" demanded Mark, Twill
you tell US that number or will you
not? ..r.tr. il'9. H.; z ~
why" answered Wanda with 8
charmingly foolish smile OF Grass help
lessness. II really don't think. car
remember It,"
II think you can," contradicted
Mark. 'You knew beforehand, from
Mr.. Blake. how much depended on it
You surely remember"
That's So" acceded Wanda, seeming
to grasp the strength Of his argument
as by inspiration. II surely must. But
you see. it's against the rules to tell
oh. gentlemen" she cried longingly
I'D Just love to help you out Any.
thing could do. Anything at all. But
we're not allowed to give any informa.
ton like this. Oh, how I visit"
~>4~c-eo-~.~->.>-~-~-o-~- ~4>>>~-~.~~~~.~4~4~-
| portunity of seeing them in action
and we were much impressed with