ure, 'Havens, operator, Brewster's," ordered Black.

Still the machine clicked insistently.

"Super still yells for my signature," explained the man at the
barrel desk. "He demands to know whether I'm really the operator
at Brewster's, or whether I've broken in on the wire at some other
point."

"Don't answer the division super any further, then," snorted Black
disgustedly.

Tom, with his ability to read messages, was enjoying the whole
situation until Black, with a sudden flash of his eyes, turned upon
the cub chief engineer.

"Reade," he hissed, "you must know the proper signature for tonight
for the operator at Brewster's to use."

"Nothing doing," grunted Tom.

"Give us that signature the right one for Brewster's."

"Nothing doing," Tom repeated.

"Put a pistol muzzle to his ear and see his memory brighten,"
snarled the scoundrel.

One of the hard-looking men behind Tom obeyed. Reade, it must
be confessed, shivered slightly when he felt the cold touch of
steel behind his ear.

"Give us the proper signature!" insisted 'Gene.

"Nothing doing," Tom insisted.

"Give us the right signature, or take the consequences!"

"I can't give it to you," Tom replied steadily. "I don't know
the signature."

"You lie!"

"Thank you."

Tom had gotten his drawl back.

"Do you want to have the trigger of that pistol pulled?" cried
'Gene Black hoarsely.

"I certainly don't," Tom confessed. "Neither do I doubt that
you fellows are scoundrels enough to do such a trick. However,
I can't help you, even though I have to lose my life for my ignorance.
I honestly don't know the right signature for Brewster's tonight.
That information doesn't belong to the engineering department,
anyway."

"Shall I pull the trigger, Black?" asked the man who held the
weapon to Reade's head.

"Yes; if he doesn't soon come to his senses," snarled Black.

"I've already told you," persisted Tom, "that I couldn't give
you the proper signature, even if I wanted to---which I don't."

"You may be glad to talk before we're through with you tonight,"
threatened Black. "The time for trifling is past. Either give
us that signature or else prepare to take the consequences. For
the last time, are you going to answer my question?"

"I've told you the truth," Reade insisted. "If you won't believe
me, then there is nothing more to be said."

"You lie, if you insist that you don't know the signatures for
tonight!" cried Black savagely.