"Yes, I'm here."
"Is the light on?"
"Yes."
"And you're looking at the plate?"
"Sure. Can you see any reflection in your plate?"
"No, not a thing," answered Tom, and there was great discouragement in his voice. "The thing is a failure, Ned. Come on back," and the young banker could hear his chum hang up the telephone receiver at the other end.
"That's too bad," murmured Ned, knowing how Tom must feel. "I'll have to cheer him up a bit."
Chapter IV Run Down
When Ned Newton got back to where Tom sat in the small telephone booth, the young banker found his chum staring rather moodily at the polished metal plate on the shelf that held the talking instrument.