"Now, Chase," he directed, "you needn't go in with us. Walter and
I can manage this, now. But don't get out of touch with me. I
shall need you any moment--certainly tomorrow."
I saw that the badge read, Telephone Inspector.
"Walter," he smiled, "you're elected my helper."
We entered the apartment house hall and found a Negro boy in
charge of the switchboard. It took Craig only a moment to convince
the boy that he was from the company and that complaints had been
made by some anonymous tenant.
"You look over that switchboard, Kelly," he winked at me, "while I
test out the connections back here. There must be something wrong
with the wires or there wouldn't be so many complaints."
He had gone back of the switchboard and the Negro, still
unsuspicious, watched without understanding what it was all about.
"I don't know," Craig muttered finally for the benefit of the boy,
"but I think I'll have to leave that tester after all. Say, if I
put it here, you'll have to be careful not to let anyone meddle
with it. If you do, there'll be the deuce to pay. See?"
Kennedy had already started to fasten the telegraphone to the
wires he had selected from the tangle.
At last he finished and stood up.
"Don't disturb it and don't let anyone else touch it," he ordered.
"Better not tell anyone--that's the best way.
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