Tom and the central girl walked out of the office together.
“I’m ever so much obliged to you,” said Tom, as they went down in the elevator.
“Oh, that’s nothing,” replied his companion, whom Tom, stealing a look at now and then, thought quite the prettiest girl he had ever seen. It was the second time he had thought the same thing that day.
“So you are the young lady who told me how to fix the cord and plug,” went on our hero.
“Yes. You see I’ve been in the central office for some years now, and I’m getting quite interested in the work. I have a brother who is an electrician, and he tells me lots about the instruments, so I have more advantages than the other girls. I often fix my switchboard when it gets out of order.”
“You are quite talented.”
“Oh, it comes natural to me. But, say, I didn’t want to speak of it to Mr. Boise, but I have a suspicion who sent that message.”
“Who?” asked Tom quickly.
“Well, I shouldn’t want you to repeat it, but when that cross man—Mr. Cutler, I believe his name is—when he was talking this afternoon, his voice sounded a good deal like the one that sent the second message to the Kittridge firm. I am not positive enough of it to tell Mr. Boise so, for I think Mr. Cutler tried to disguise his voice, but I’d advise you to keep your eyes open.”
“I will,” declared Tom. “I think he has a grudge against me, because I found out something about him. I’ll be on the watch, and the next queer move he makes, I’ll tell Mr. Boise.”