“Yes, it will be easier with him out of the way. The old doctor has taken quite a notion to him. But he’s so forgetful everything ought to be easy.” “Did you bring the papers?” “Yes; here they are. He left them in his study under a book, but, as there are five hundred books there he’ll have a task to remember under which one they were put. He can’t remember, and, before he can do anything to protect himself, the property will be disposed of, and you’ll have your share.” “Not so loud,” cautioned Elias Cutler, looking around apprehensively. “Some one might hear you.” “Why, you’re not afraid, are you?” “No--not exactly, as everything is safe, but be careful, Barton.” “If we get rid of Tom Baldwin we’ll have nothing more to fear, as neither Boise nor Keen suspect that we have anything to do with each other; do they?” asked Mr. Sandow. “Not in the least. If they did--well, I know I’d be looking for another position.” The two conversed for some time further, and then prepared to separate. “When will you work the trick?” asked Mr. Sandow. “As soon as possible. To-morrow, if I get a chance.” It was several days after this that, one afternoon, Mr. Boise came into the office from the court house, where he had been all day, trying a case. “What’s the matter?” inquired Mr. Keen, of his partner. “You look annoyed.” “And I have good cause to be,” replied the lawyer. “I lost the Kendall case.” “What! That one where the old farmer was mixed up in some action over water-rights and a dam?” “That’s it. I had a good case, and we were going to apply for an injunction as soon as Simpson, who is the party Kendall had the dispute with, started to cut the dam. But, it seems Simpson’s lawyer, Amos Kittridge, got wind of the affair. He knew what we were going to do, and he took action that caused our case to be thrown out of court. My client, Mr. Kendall lost, and he is very angry about it.” “How do you suppose Kittridge learned of your side of the case?” asked Mr. Keen, while Tom listened anxiously. “I don’t know. He’s a trickster, but when he won he laughed at me, and as much as hinted that the leak came from this office.” “From this office?” “Yes. He advised me to pay my help better, then they wouldn’t be dissatisfied, and give away the details of our cases. I tell you, Mr. Keen, this is a serious matter, and I am going to have an investigation. I want to see all the clerks in my office. Some news went out of here that shouldn’t have gone, and it lost us the case. It was given over the telephone, Kittridge as much as said. Tom, I shall have to question you. Do not go home this afternoon, until I have seen you. Kittridge is a trickster, and a sneak, but what he did is legal, though it is not right. But if I find out who gave him the tip, it will go hard with him!” Mr. Boise looked sterner than Tom had ever seen him before, and the telephone boy, though he knew he had had nothing to do with the matter, felt a little apprehensive.