l clicks--made over a telegraph wire by
an operator miles away will sound different to the clicks made by any
other operator?"

"I do," said Alex quietly. "And I am ready to demonstrate it."

"Oh, you are, are you? And how, pray?"

"Three other operators from the Exeter office are in the court-room, with
a set of instruments and a battery. Let them place the instruments on the
table down there; blindfold me, then have them and Jack Orr by turns
write something on the key. I'll identify every one of them before he
sends a half-dozen words."

A wave of surprise, then smiles of incredulity passed over the crowded
room.

"Very well," agreed the lawyer readily. "Set up the instruments."

The three Exeter operators came forward, and the prosecutor, producing a
handkerchief, himself stepped into the witness-box and proceeded to bind
Alex's eyes. That done, to make doubly sure, he turned Alex face to the
wall.

When the lawyer returned to the counsel-table the proceedings were
momentarily interrupted by a whispered consultation with his assistant,
at the end of which, while the spectators wondered, the latter hastened
from the room.

Curiosity as to the junior counsel's mission was quickly forgotten,
however, as the prosecutor then called Jack Orr to the table beside the
telegraph instruments, and stood Jack and the three Exeter operators in a
row before him.

"Now," said he in a low voice, "each of you, as I touch you, step quietly
to the key, and send these words: 'Do you know who this is?'"

A moment the lawyer paused, while spectators, judge and jury waited in
breathless silence, then reaching out, he lightly touched one of the
Exeter men.

"Do you know who this is?" clicked the sounder.

All eyes turned toward Alex. Without a moment's hesitation he answered,
"Johnson."

The operator nodded, and a flutter passed over the court-room.

"Huh! A guess," declared the prosecutor audibly, and still smiling
confidently, he touched another of the Exeter operators. The instruments
repeated the question.

"Bradley," said Alex promptly.

The flutter of surprise was repeated. Quickly the prosecutor made as
though to touch the third Exeter man, then abruptly again touched
Bradley.

"Bradley again," said Alex.

A ripple like applause swept over the crowded room. With tightening lips
the prosecutor turned again toward the third Exeter operator. At the
moment the door opened, and he paused as his assistant reappeare