“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.” The two young people walked on together for some distance farther, and Tom was glad to find that the pretty girl lived quite near him. “I wish I could meet your brother,” he said. “Perhaps he would tell me something about telephones, so I could fix my switchboard if it got out of order.” “Come around some evening, and I will introduce you to him,” promised Miss Renfield, and Tom earnestly said that he would make the call. CHAPTER XXI TOM TELLS HIS SUSPICIONS “Well, Tom,” began the telephone boy’s mother that evening, “how are you getting on at the office? You haven’t told us much about it lately, but I notice that you stay quite late at times. They ought to give you more money for that.” “Perhaps they will, mother. Mr. Boise said this afternoon that he would think about raising my wages again, though I now get more than do other boys in places like mine.” “How are you coming on with your law work?” inquired his aunt. “I wish you could soon begin to practice. Some years ago I invested a little money I had in some mining stock. I never realized anything from it, and I believe I was swindled. I wish you could sue the company. I can’t afford to hire a lawyer, but if you are going to be admitted to the bar, perhaps you could take my case as the first one.” “I’m afraid it will be a good while before I can practice law,” remarked Tom with a laugh. “But when I do, Aunt Sallie, I’ll take your case without a retainer.” “I’ll give you half of whatever you get from the mining company, Tom.” “Then I’ll buy an automobile,” answered our hero, with a laugh. He said nothing to the folks at home about what had happened that afternoon, as he did not want his mother and aunt to needlessly worry. Yet, Tom was beginning to feel more and more that he should tell some one his suspicions regarding Mr. Cutler and Barton Sandow. Tom had a chance to speak of his suspicions the following day. When he was at the switchboard he heard some one ask for Mr. Cutler, and he made the connection. He recognized the voice. It was that of the man who had often spoken before to the junior partner, and this unseen man, Tom decided, was Barton Sandow. The message was a brief one, and, under the circumstances Tom felt justified in listening to it. “I will call you up there to-night,” said the person whom the telephone boy believed was the rascally brother-in-law of Dr. Spidderkins. “I’ll be here,” replied Mr. Cutler. “Make it about midnight, and we’ll not be disturbed, and no fresh central girl will listen to our talk. Get the rest of the papers to-day, and we’ll wind up the matter.” “So, the game is almost over,” mused Tom, as he pulled out the plugs, for the two had finished talking. “I think I had now better tell Mr. Boise my suspicions.”