“You may ask her yourself,” said Mr. Boise, as he turned to the pretty girl. “Allow me to introduce to you Miss Minnie Renfield, who is the young lady in charge of the trunk lines from our office. Miss Renfield, just tell Mr. Cutler and Tom, here, what you told me.” “I have been a central operator for a number of years,” said Miss Renfield, with an engaging smile. “I have a very good memory for voices. After I hear a voice over the telephone once or twice, I never forget it. Several of my friends can do the same thing. “I know the voice of your private exchange operator very well. I have had quite some conversation with him lately, about one of the wires that was out of order. I know his voice as soon as he calls for a number.” Tom smiled. This, then, was the girl whom he had wished to meet. He had his wish, now, but he would have been glad had it been under happier circumstances. “Do you mean to say that you can recognize voices over the telephone?” demanded Mr. Cutler. “Yes, sir; I can. I remember the two calls for the Kittridge office. I have to make a note of every call, and those two were on a new wire, that has recently been put in. The first call was made by your regular operator, I am sure of that.” “That was the time I had Tom get Kittridge for me, when I refused to consent to an adjournment,” put in Mr. Boise. “But the second call? The call when the secret was disclosed?” asked Mr. Cutler. “That was not made by your operator here,” said Miss Renfield firmly. “Are you sure?” demanded the junior partner. “Quite sure. I recall wondering at the time who was calling up. The call came in at one fifty-seven.” “This is preposterous!” exclaimed Mr. Cutler. “No one can remember that!” “I made a record of it,” declared the young lady. “It was exactly one fifty-seven.” “And that’s the time I was out to lunch!” exclaimed Tom suddenly. “I was with my chum, Charley Grove! He can prove it!” Mr. Cutler looked confused. But he was not going to give up yet. “I think this young lady means all right,” he said, “but I doubt if she can so readily distinguish voices over the wire. I believe she is in error. I think Tom Baldwin sent that message.” “I believe I can prove that I am right, and that he did not,” answered Minnie Renfield, confidently. “Will you allow me?” “Certainly,” answered Mr. Boise. “This is a serious matter, and I want it cleared up.” “Then I am going to propose a little experiment,” said the girl with a smile at Tom. CHAPTER XX VINDICATION OF TOM The two lawyers and the telephone boy looked curiously at Miss Renfield. “I am going out to some telephone,” she said. “I will then call up the office, and each of you, in turn, may speak to me over the wire. I am sure I can tell exactly who is talking, though I am not very familiar with this gentleman’s voice,” and she looked at Mr. Cutler. “That is the junior member of our firm,” explained Mr. Boise. “I think that will be a fair experiment.”