Gilpin observer., 1914-02-19
CHAPTER XVII.
The Third Degree.


few moments ago?'
Yes, SIR"
while / was talking to the Asso-
ciated Press Officer"
How can tell, sirf" she asked with
smiling helplessness. You know
we're not allowed to listen to conver-
sations over the wire
But you connected me when I
called up 400 Main just now?"
"Oh. yes. sir"
HIN! You remember that, do you?
Well that is the number of the Asso-
ciated Press ONCE. I called up Jen-
nings, the manager. talked with him
a 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 child
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 feat as Mark had just described.
Then she looked back at Mark as
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.
he was told-by you, Miss Kelly
that the line was out of order"
"Oh, yes!" she cried brightly. And
that must have been why the connec-
tion was cut OF. What a shame! Just
when he wanted to talk. tool"
Il suppose" said Mark carelessly.
III the line had got out of order. the
managers ONCE would know Of It by
this timer
"Oh. yes"
Very good" reaching for the instru-
ment. 'Ill call up the manager and
ask about it."
"Oh. moi" she exclaimed. momen-
tarily on 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 fal-
tered in confusion. Il might pos
accident"
And you might possibly have done
It on purpose" retorted Mark.
~" she asked, astounded. why
| should l do such q foolish thing a.
that!"
That's what we're going to find out.
II 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
to-" she returned spitefully. II don't
care what you believed"
The line of questioning had thrown
her of her carefully prepared line Of
defense. Angry. confused. she tossed
aside her useless weapons and was
for the instant merely q worried and
much badgered little girl.
rs 1t not true" repeated Robertson
in measured query. that you delib-
! erately refused to transmit our mes
sage Just now!"
Il s'pose So" she vouchsafed. ~
butted N. And now I guess I've got
to take my medicine"
And" asked Mark. do you happen
to realize what that medicine is?"
"Oh. know. all right. I'll lose my
Job"
Exactly. And you don't want to
lose your job. do you. Miss Kelly?"
mo. 1 don't l need the money"
Il 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!"
Yes. But-Oh. what's the use! You
can get me fired. But guess I 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 1t IL
to your interest to work for us. Mr..
Blake has told you how necessary 1t is
for US to gain the Information that you
| alone can give US. He will pay you
we'll We have asked you to come up
here tonight to nnd out whether you
will not accept this offer"
Well" she inquired in weary pa
tience. what is 1t you want me to tell
your"
we want you." replied Mark. ito
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 1t with new and hap.
PLY absorbed interest from a dozen