The Pensacola journal., 1917-08-03


my wife and myself came long before
that little affair. It began over-well-
over what they call a serious difference
in temperament. You know q man-an
ambitious man-needs a partner. wo-
man who can use the social position
pleasure, but as a means OF ad-
vancing the partnership. I never
had that. The more I advanced, the more
found her becoming butterny-Snd not
as attractive as the other butternieS
either. She went one way-I. another.
Oh well-what's the use? l went too far
the wrong way. must pay. Only let
me save what I can from the wreck.
1t was not Constance, the woman 10
whom he was talking. It was Constance.
the secretary. Yet IL was the woman, not
the secretary. who listened.
Brainard stopped again beside her desk
''All that IS neither here nor there he
remarked, forcing a change in his man
ner. Il am in for It, Now. the question
is-what are we going to DO about it?"
Constance had unwrapped the package
on her desk, disclosing an oblony box.
whats that" he asked curiously.
Mr.. Bralnard," she answered tapping
the box, there's no limit to the use of
this little machine for our purposes We
can get at their most vital secrets with
II. We can discover every plan which
they have against US We may even
learn the hiding place Of those letters.
Why, there is no limit This is one of
those new microphone detectives"
"A microphone?" he repeated as lie
opened the box, looked sharply st the
two black little storage batteries inside.
the coil OF siIk-covered wire, n little
black rubber receiver and a curious black
disc whose face was pierced by q circular
row of holes.
Yes. You must have heard of them,
/ You hide that transmitter behind a pic
1 ture or under a table or desk. Then you
run the wire out of the room and by lis
tening in The receiver you can hear
everything"
But that is what detectives use
"Well?" she interrupted coolly. what
! OF it? II 1t is good for them, Is 1t not
/ Just as good for u.s."
| Better he exclaimed. BY George
| you are the goods"
1t was late before Constance had a
! chance to do anything with the micro
phone. It seemed as # wotthington
were staying. perversely. later than us
| ual. At last, however, he left with a
curt nod to her.
The moment the door was closed shc
stopped the desultory clicking of he
| typewriter with which she had been toy
| Ing I'm the appearance CT being busy
! With Brainard she entered the board
room where she had noticed Wo-tbingtor
! and Sheppard often during the day.
It was. without exaggeratlon. one OF
the most plainly furnished rooms she had
ever seen. A long mahogany table with
eight large mahogany chairs, a half
inch pile of velvety rug on the floor
and a huge chandelier in the middle OF
the ceiling constituted the furniture. Not
a picture, not a cabinet or filing case
| broke the blankness of the brown painted
walls
For a moment she stopped to consider
| Brainard waited and watched her mar
rowly.
There isn't a place 10 put this trans
mitter except up above that chandelier
she said at length.
He gave her his hand as she stepped
on a chair and then on the table. There
was a glimpse OF a trim ankle The
warmth and softness OF her touch caused
him to hold her hand just for a moment
longer than was absolutely necessary
A moment later he was standing on the
table beside her
This is the place. all right" she said
looking at the thick scum of dust on tn,
top of the reflector.
] Quickly she placed the little black dis
close TO the center on the top of the re
t hector. Can YOU see that from tn
foor?" she asked
NO" he answered. walking about tn
! EOOtlr not sign OF X.
'l'U sit here she said in just tremO
| OF excitement over the adventure, "an
r listen while you talk in the board room.
Il Brainard entered. 1t. seemed ridiculou
, for him to talk to himself.
"If the microphone works." ne sat
:, at length. rap on the desk twice" Thel
he added. half laughing to himself Il
! it doesn't, rap once-Constance."
A single rap cams in answer.
If you couldn't hear he smiled en-
tering her office. why did You ra
once?"
1T didn't work smoothly on that las
word"
"What-Constance?
? He thought there was subtle chang
: in their relations sicne the microphOn
incident. At any rate. she was no
angry. Were they not partners?
Il think it will be better if I turn tha
uicrophOne around she remarked. e
placed it face dOwnwards. Let me chang
, it"
Again he helped her a, she jumpe'
/, UP on the board room table. This tim
his hand fingered a little longer in her
and she did not withdraw it so soon
When she did there was a quick twinkl
in her eyes as she Strengthened the mi
"rophone and offered Ler hand to hin
again.
=, Jump" he said. as Il daring her.
, A moment she paused. II never coul
! take a dare" she answered
She leaped lightly to the floor Fo
r just a moment she seemed about to los
: her balance Then she -3elt an arm
steadying her. He had caught her an
r for an instant their eyes met.
: We'll, Rodman-I scarcely thought /
was as brazen as this"
, They turned in surprise
Il Mrs Brainard was standing in the door
o way.
She was petite blonde little woma,
{ of the deceptive age which the beaut