He did so after office hours that afternoon, when the senior partner was alone in his room, and the clerks had gone home. Tom related the incident of the first mysterious message he had heard, how Barton Sandow had tried to make him believe it was of no importance, and how he had seen Sandow and the junior partner in consultation one night at the office. “And you think they are trying to swindle Dr. Spidderkins out of his estate?” asked Mr. Boise thoughtfully. “That is my suspicion. And I think that Mr. Crawford Leeth is also mixed up in it. I saw Sandow at his office one night.” “Perhaps you are right, Tom. It is not a very nice thing to have to confess, but I have, for some time, been suspicious of Mr. Cutler. I am sorry I admitted him to partnership in our firm. He was a sharp young lawyer, and I thought he would do good work, but he seems constantly planning and scheming. I think he knows more about the leak regarding the Kendall suit than he would be willing to admit.” “I believe so, too,” agreed Tom. “What do you think we had better do?” “You say that Sandow agreed to call him up to-night?” “Yes; about midnight. I think Mr. Cutler is coming here then.” “Yes; he is. He spoke to me about it, saying he wanted to prepare some papers in a case he had to try to-morrow. I thought nothing of that, as he frequently comes here nights. Perhaps he has often met Sandow here.” “I know he did once,” replied Tom. “Desperate cases require desperate treatment,” spoke Mr. Boise musingly. “Tom, I am going to have you do something, which, if we were dealing with different people I would not like to ask of you. But I want to find out whether or not Mr. Cutler is involved with Sandow in robbing Dr. Spidderkins. The only way I can do this is to know what goes on between them to-night. If you, or I, could hear what is said over the telephone----” “I think I can fix that!” exclaimed Tom. “I can so connect up the switchboard that I can conceal myself in one of the rooms here, and hear whatever is said.” “That will be a good plan. You have my permission to do so.” They talked the matter over at some length, and finally it was arranged that Tom should go home, get his supper, and then return to the office. He would station himself in one of the clerk’s rooms, furthest away from the apartment where the switchboard was located. Then, when Sandow called up the suspected lawyer, the telephone boy could listen to what was said. He hoped to hear enough to enable him to expose the two plotters. “I shall be late again to-night,” said Tom to his mother when he went home to supper. “Late again, Tom? Why, what is the matter?” “Well, we have some legal business to attend to.” “Has it anything to do with my mining shares?” inquired his aunt. “No; but if this goes through, they may make me a partner in the firm, and then I’ll take your case.”