Then there came a buzzing on the wire, and Tom heard no more, but he had listened to enough to understand that whatever game there was between Sandow and the junior partner was still being carried on.
“I want to test that other wire,” came the voice of the central girl, a moment later, and Tom, at her request “gave her a ring,” that is, he depressed the button which flashed a tiny electric light on the switchboard at which she sat in the distant central office.
“That’s all right,” she announced. “Good-by.”
“I believe I’d like to meet that girl,” thought Tom. “If it wasn’t against the rules for her to talk to me, except on business, I’d ask her name. I’ve almost a good notion to do it anyhow. But I don’t want to get her into trouble. I must ask Charley Grove what would happen in case a supervisor overheard her talking to me just for fun.”
He was interrupted in his pleasant thoughts by the necessity of disconnecting Mr. Cutler’s ’phone, as the drop of a disk indicated that the lawyer was through talking. Then a door opened and Mr. Boise and Mr. Kendall came out into the main office.
“Wa’al, I’ll do jest as you say, of course, Mr. Boise,” the farmer was saying, in his loud voice. “If you think it’s best to let my neighbor Simpson start to tear out that dam, an’ then git an injunction, I’m willin’ to do it. Only I’d stop him with a gun, if I had my way.”
“No; if you leave the matter in our hands, you must do as we say,” insisted Mr. Boise. “But don’t let it be known that you are going to let him start to destroy the dam that holds back the water. In fact don’t mention it anywhere. I’d rather you wouldn’t have spoken of it here, as you never know who will hear what you will say, and, if this got out, it might lose you your case.”
“Is that so? I didn’t mean to speak so loud. But I guess your telephone boy won’t tell, will he?”
“Oh, no,” answered Mr. Boise with a smile. “We trust Tom, but it’s best to be on the safe side.”
Tom was grateful for this mark of confidence. As he turned in his chair, to pick up his bookmark that had fallen to the floor, he caught sight of Mr. Cutler’s door. It was partly open and the lawyer was peering out, looking at the farmer and Mr. Boise. As he saw Tom’s eyes turned toward him, the junior partner quickly closed the portal.