that if you give a man long enough rope he will hang himself. My
new application is that you let him talk enough he is apt to sing
his own swan song, for a farewell perch on the electric chair at
Sing Sing!"

Then he lit a cigarette and packed up the phonograph.




CHAPTER V

THE MISBEHAVIOR OF THE 'PHONE


Still befuddled by the unusual events of the day, Howard Van
Cleft was unable to delight in a theoretical discovery. Personal
fear began to manifest itself.

"Mr. Shirley, you're going at this too strong. We know the
guilty party--this miserable girl in the machine. We want to
hush it up and let things go at that."

"We're hushing it, aren't we?" demanded Shirley, as he placed the
record in the grip. "Don't you see the wisdom of knowing who may
systematically blackmail you after secrecy is obtained. This is
a matter of the future, as well as the present."

"But I don't want to lose my own life--I am young, with life
before me, and I want to let well enough alone, after these