The Ely miner., 1928-11-02


Stanley. much puzzled. remarked,
"That's not my voice."
at was at first, sir"
"Yes, yes. | know-but after that
somebody else spoke. What on earth
do you make of it?"
81 don't know"
"What | mean is. after the dictation.
after ii said very sincerely yours II
spoke In another voice."
"Two other voices, thought, sir"
"Yes, thought so, too. Did you
recognize them?"
81 thought | did"
"Whose voices were they?"
swell. sir,l should say that one of
them was Mr.. Watermans."
"Yes, and the other voice was
woman's-didn't you think so?"
"Yes, sir, did"
did you recognize TT"
81 think, sir, 1t was the voice of
Nina Morgan"
Rollins secretary?"
"Yes, sir"
81 thought so, too, but wondered
If 1t was my imagination"
"No, sir. No doubt about It," VII,
son assured him.
"Bu. how do you account for It.
Frank?"
swell, you know this machine stood
on your desk in the Office that last
afternoon until every one but me had
left"
ayes. yes" objected Stanley, "but
I'm sure | stopped 1t after l finished
dictating."
"Some one must have started II
again. remember going into your
office after you left and finding Mr..
Waterman and Miss Morgan talking
there. Mr.. Waterman was sitting on
the corner of your desk. He might
have started it by accident-some
careless gesture or other-like this"
Sitting on the corner of the desk
the secretary put one hand behind
him, carelessly, as If for support and
touched the starting lever of the ma
chine. which instantly began to speak
again.
stop it." cried Stanley irritably.
Wilson obeyed him. But after a pause
he inquired, "Aren't you going to hear
the rest?"
Stanley smiled little uneasily. 81
was thinking it's bit like eavesdrop-
ping. isn't it?"
"Why yes" agreed Wilson, IF we
had reason to suspect anything would
be said that we shouldn't hear. But
1t can't be anything but busineSs-the
business of the firm-your own firm" I"
81 suppose that's so," admitted Stan.
ley. Anyhow, I'm curious to hear it.
If It's an offense against propriety.
let's wink at it." he added with a
grin. Don't you tell on me, and I'll
not tell on you"
Wilson smiled also. 81 see, sir
we're two conspiratOrs."
He showed the cylinder back a bit,
pressed the starting lever, and these
were the words they heard:
"Glad to discuss the matter at length
and in detail. Very sincerely yours. -
Don't worry about that. I'll attend
| to the Details"
splendid. ] have only one slight
suggestion to make as to the construc-
ton of your scenario
"And what's that?"
81 don't like the name of your vii
,ain."
"You ought to, it's your own"
"That's the point"
"What are you getting att"
81 suggest that you strike out the
| name of Rollin Waterman and substi-
tute the name of James Stanley"
| .'What?'
Precisely"
'"You want me to tell Miss Colby
that II is Stanley and not your
/ Exactly"
"Stop it'll Stop It'll" cried Stanley
again. He glared at Wilson. "Good
God!" he added family. and abruptly
sat down. Wilson could not utter a
syllable. There was silence In the
room for time. Presently Stanley
spoke. ''It must be some kind Of a
| joke!"
"a very poor one. I'll say" COM
mented the other.
"But it must be, 1t must! Rollin
my old friendl Why, I've never
been anything but generous to him in
all my life. Why-I can't understand
it." He put both hands to his head.
Perhaps" suggested Wilson, "if we
hear the rest 1t will all be explained" "
Stanley caught at the suggestion.
"Yes, yes, no doubt. Go on" But
as Wilson moved to start the machine
again he cried, "No-wait-I'm afraid
to hear It."
But Wilson had no intention of stop
| ping there. Surely, sir" he objected,
"you can't stop now. 1t wouldn't be
| fair to Mr.. Waterman or to anybody