“That’s not so!” cried Tom indignantly. “I never spoke to Mr. Kittridge, over the telephone, or otherwise, in my life; I merely got his office once on the wire for Mr. Boise.” “I know what I’m talking about!” declared Mr. Cutler. “I say you gave this fact to Kittridge, and I can prove it. You are responsible for this leak, and I think you had better discharge him, Mr. Boise, and get a boy we can trust. He used to listen to persons talking to me, until I put a stop to it.” “I never listened unless it was absolutely necessary, in order to put some other party on your wire!” said Tom hotly. “I think you had better discharge him,” went on the junior partner. “I know where we can get a boy we can depend on.” “This is a serious accusation,” said Mr. Boise slowly. “Are you--pardon me--are you sure of your facts, Mr. Cutler?” “Positive. Why, ask Kittridge.” “No; I would not like to do that. I would not want to let him know we have some one here we can not trust,” but, though he spoke sadly, Mr. Boise did not look accusingly at Tom. “I have another plan,” the senior partner went on. “I will ask the telephone company to make an investigation. They keep a record of all calls, and they can tell whether there were more than one call for the Kittridge office within the last few days. One I used myself. If there is another on the record----” “It means that it was the one when the secret of the case was given away,” interrupted Mr. Cutler. “It does not absolutely prove it, however,” went on Mr. Boise. “Some one may have called him up from outside.” “Yes; but who knew about the plan to let Simpson partly destroy the dam, so that an injunction might be secured?” asked Mr. Cutler. “Well, unfortunately, Mr. Kendall mentioned it aloud in the office here one day,” admitted Mr. Boise. “I cautioned him to be careful, but he spoke before I could prevent him. I don’t know who heard him. There was no other clients in at the time.” “No; but Tom was,” insisted the junior partner. “Yes; I heard Mr. Kendall’s remarks about the dam,” admitted the telephone boy. “But I never spoke to a soul about it. You were also in your office at the time, Mr. Cutler,” he could not help adding, “and your door was open.” “What! You dare accuse me?” cried the lawyer. “The idea! The impudence. Boise, I demand his discharge at once!” “Wait a minute,” spoke the senior partner calmly, “I do not believe Tom meant to accuse you of giving our secret away.” “No, sir,” put in Tom. “He only meant that other persons besides himself heard what Mr. Kendall so foolishly said. But I shall investigate this further. I will go to the telephone company at once. Tom, remain here until I return.” Mr. Cutler, with a vindictive glance at the boy, passed into his private office, and Tom, with a dull, leaden feeling in his heart, saw Mr. Boise go out. Our hero waited anxiously for what might happen next. CHAPTER XIX A GIRL’S TESTIMONY