diff options
Diffstat (limited to '35044.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 35044.txt | 6279 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 6279 deletions
diff --git a/35044.txt b/35044.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 574670e..0000000 --- a/35044.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6279 +0,0 @@ - The Boys of the Wireless - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Title: The Boys of the Wireless - -Author: Frank V. Webster - -Release Date: January 22, 2011 [EBook #35044] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOYS OF THE WIRELESS *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net. - - - [Illustration: TOM SPEEDILY GAVE THE CALL TO THE STATION AT THE - DIXON PLACE.] - - - - -THE BOYS OF THE WIRELESS - -Or - -A Stirring Rescue from the Deep - -BY - -FRANK V. WEBSTER - -AUTHOR OF "AIRSHIP ANDY," "COMRADES OF THE SADDLE," -"BEN HARDY'S FLYING MACHINE," "BOB THE CASTAWAY," ETC. - -ILLUSTRATED - -NEW YORK -CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY -PUBLISHERS - - - - -BOOKS FOR BOYS - -By FRANK V. WEBSTER - -12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - -ONLY A FARM BOY -TOM, THE TELEPHONE BOY -THE BOY FROM THE RANCH -THE YOUNG TREASURE HUNTER -BOB, THE CASTAWAY -THE YOUNG FIREMEN OF LAKEVILLE -THE NEWSBOY PARTNERS -THE BOY PILOT OF THE LAKES -THE TWO BOY GOLD MINERS -JACK, THE RUNAWAY -COMRADES OF THE SADDLE -THE BOYS OF BELLWOOD SCHOOL -THE HIGH SCHOOL RIVALS -BOB CHESTER'S GRIT -AIRSHIP ANDY -DARRY, THE LIFE SAVER -DICK, THE BANK BOY -BEN HARDY'S FLYING MACHINE -THE BOYS OF THE WIRELESS -HARRY WATSON'S HIGH SCHOOL DAYS - -Cupples & Leon Co., Publishers, New York - - - - -Copyright, 1912, by -CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY -THE BOYS OF THE WIRELESS - - - - -Contents - - - - CHAPTER I--TOM BARNES' WIRELESS - - CHAPTER II--STATION Z - - CHAPTER III--"SPOOKS!" - - CHAPTER IV--"DONNER" - - CHAPTER V--A BOY WITH A MYSTERY - - CHAPTER VI--A TIP VIA WIRELESS - - CHAPTER VII--GRACE MORGAN - - CHAPTER VIII--QUICK ACTION - - CHAPTER IX--STRICTLY BUSINESS - - CHAPTER X--A YOUNG CAPITALIST - - CHAPTER XI--A GREAT STEP FORWARD - - CHAPTER XII--"SUN, MOON AND STARS" - - CHAPTER XIII--THE BLACK CAPS - - CHAPTER XIV--TURNING THE TABLES - - CHAPTER XV--AN UNEXPECTED RESCUER - - CHAPTER XVI--KIDNAPPED - - CHAPTER XVII--UP TO MISCHIEF - - CHAPTER XVIII--THE TOY BALLOONS - - CHAPTER XIX--A STARTLING MESSAGE - - CHAPTER XX--THE LAUNCH - - CHAPTER XXI--BRAVING THE STORM - - CHAPTER XXII--THE RESCUE - - CHAPTER XXIII--"EVERY INCH A MAN" - - CHAPTER XXIV--THE KIDNAPPED BOY - - CHAPTER XXV--TOM ON THE TRAIL--CONCLUSION - - - - -THE BOYS OF THE WIRELESS - - - - -CHAPTER I--TOM BARNES' WIRELESS - - -"What's that new-fangled thing on the blasted oak, Tom?" - -"That, Ben, is a wireless." - -"Oh, you don't say so!" - -"Or, rather the start of one." - -"Say, you aren't original or ambitious or anything like that, are you?" - -The speaker, Ben Dixon, bestowed a look of admiration and interest on -the chum he liked best of all in the world, Tom Barnes. - -Tom was reckoned a genius in the little community in which he lived. He -had the record of "always being up to something." In the present -instance he had been up a tree, it seemed. From "the new-fangled thing" -Ben had discovered in passing the familiar landmark, the blasted oak, -wires and rods ran up to quite a height, showing that some one had done -some climbing. - -Ben became instantly absorbed in an inspection of the contrivance before -him. He himself had some mechanical talent. His father had been an -inventor in a small way, and anything in which Tom had a part always -attracted him. - -"Tell me about it. What's that thing up there?" asked Ben, pointing -directly at some metal rods attached to the broken-off top of the tree. - -"Those are antennae." - -"Looks like an--twenty!" chuckled Ben over his own joke. "There's a -whole network of them, isn't there?" - -"They run down to a relay, Ben, catching the electric waves striking the -decoherer, which taps the coherer and disarranges a lot of brass filings -by mechanical vibration. That's the whole essence of the -wireless--otherwise it is no different from common telegraphy--a group -of parts each for individual service in transmitting or receiving the -electric waves." - -"Thank you!" observed Ben drily. "How delightfully plain that all is! -You rattle those scientific terms off good and spry, though." - -"So will you, as soon as you do what I've been doing," asserted Tom. - -"And what's that?" - -"Getting a glance at the real wireless outfit Mr. Edson is operating -down at Sandy Point." - -"I heard of that," nodded Ben. - -"He's a fine man," said Tom enthusiastically. "He's taken all kinds of -trouble to post me and explain things I wanted to know. This little side -show of mine is just an experiment on a small scale. I don't expect any -grand results. It will work out the principle, though, and when I get to -taking messages----" - -"What! you don't mean to say you can do that?" - -"Just that, Ben," declared Tom confidently. - -"From where?" - -"Well, mostly from Mr. Edson's station at Sandy Point, and maybe some -stray ones that may slip past him." - -"Say!" cried Ben, on fire at once with emulation and optimism, "what's -the matter with me starting a station, too, down at my house? Then we -could have all kinds of fun over our line." - -"It isn't much work nor expense," said Tom. "You can get an outfit cheap -for a home-made apparatus--you need some coarse and fine wire for the -main coil, a glass tube, a bell, sounder and a buzzer, some -electromagnets----" - -"I see," interrupted Ben with a mock groan, "just a few things picked up -anywhere. Oh, yes!" - -"You won't be discouraged once you get interested, Ben," assured Tom. -"We'll talk about your starting a station later. Just now you can help -me quite a bit if you want to." - -"Sure!" returned the enterprising Ben with vim. - -"All right; I want to string a coil of new wire I got yesterday," -explained Tom, going around to the other side of the tree. "Why, it's -gone!" he cried. - -"What's gone?" queried Ben. - -"The wire. Now, isn't that a shame!" cried Tom indignantly, fussing -around among the grass and bushes. "That coil couldn't have walked away. -Some one must have stolen it." - -"Don't be too hasty, Tom. Some one passing by may have picked it up. You -know the fellows are playing ball over in the meadow just beyond here. -Some of them may have cut across and stumbled over your wire." - -"Couldn't they see that I was putting up a station here?" demanded Tom -with asperity. - -"Station?" repeated Ben with a jolly laugh. "See here, old fellow, you -forget that we scientific numbskulls wouldn't know your contrivance here -from a clothes dryer." - -"Well, come on, anyway. I've got to find that wire," said Tom with -determination. - -In the distance they could hear the shouts of boys at play, and passing -through some brushwood they came to the edge of the open meadow lining -the river. - -Half a dozen boys were engaged in various pastimes. Two of them playing -at catch greeted Tom with enthusiasm. - -There was no boy at Rockley Cove more popular than Tom Barnes. His -father had farmed it, as the saying goes, at the edge of the little -village for over a quarter of a century. While Mr. Barnes was not -exactly a wealthy man he made a good living, and Tom dressed pretty -well, and was kept at school right along. Now it was vacation time, and -outside of a few chores about the house morning and evening Tom's time -was his own. - -The result was that usually Tom had abundant leisure for sports. The -welcome with which his advent was hailed therefore, was quite natural. - -"I say, Tom," suddenly spoke Ben, seizing the arm of his companion in -some excitement, "there's Mart Walters." - -"Ah, he's here, is he?" exclaimed Tom, and started rapidly across the -meadow to where a crowd of boys were grouped about a diving plank -running out over the stream. "I'm bothered about that missing coil, but -I guess I can take time to attend to Walters." - -The boy he alluded to was talking to several companions as Tom and Ben -came up. His back was to the newcomers and he did not see them approach. -Mart Walters was a fop and a braggart. Tom noticed that he was arrayed -in his best, and his first overheard words announced that he was -bragging as usual. - -Mart was explaining to a credulous audience some of the wonderful feats -in diving and swimming he had engaged in during a recent stay in Boston. -With a good deal of boastful pride he alluded to a friend, Bert Aldrich, -whose father was a part owner of a big city natatorium. Tom interrupted -his bombast unceremoniously by suddenly appearing directly in front of -the boaster. - -"Hello, Mart Walters," he hailed in a sort of aggressive way. - -"Hello yourself," retorted Mart, with a slight uneasiness of manner. - -"I've been looking for you," said Tom bluntly. - -"Have?" - -"Yes, ever since I heard some criticisms of yours yesterday on my -bungling swimming." - -"Oh, I didn't say much," declared Mart evasively. - -"You said enough to make the crowd believe you could beat me all hollow -at diving." - -"Well," flustered Mart desperately, "I can." - -"Want to prove that?" challenged Tom sharply. - -"Some time." - -"Why not now? We're all here and the water is fine. We'll make it a dash -for the half-mile fence and return, under water test, somersaults and -diving." - -Mart had begun to retreat. He flushed and stammered. Finally he blurted -out: - -"I'm due now at Morgan's with a message from my folks." - -"You haven't seemed in a hurry," suggested Ben. - -"Well, I am now." - -"Yes, might muss your collar if you got wet!" sneered a fellow in the -crowd. - -"All right," said Tom, "when will you be back?" - -"Can't say," declared Mart. "You see, I don't know how long I may be." - -He started off, flushed and sheep-faced under the critical gaze of the -crowd. As he did so Tom noticed that he had something in his hand. - -"Here!" he cried, "where did you get that?" - -Tom had discovered his missing coil of wire. His hand seized it. Mart's -did not let go. The latter gave a jerk, Tom a twist. - -"That's mine," Tom said simply. "You took it from where I was stringing -up my wireless." - -"I found it," shouted Mart, thoroughly infuriated in being crossed in -any of his plans. "It was kicking around loose. I'll have it too--take -that!" - -He came at Tom so suddenly that the latter, unprepared for the attack, -went swinging to the ground under a dizzying blow. - -It looked as if Mart was about to follow up the assault with a kick. Tom -offset that peril with a dextrous maneuvre. - -Seated flat, he spun about like a top. His feet met the ankles of the -onrushing Mart. - -Mart stumbled, tripped and slipped. He tried to catch himself, lost his -balance, fell backward, and the next instant went headlong into the -water with a resounding splash. - - - - -CHAPTER II--STATION Z - - -A yell of derisive delight went up from the smaller youths of the crowd -as Mart Walters went toppling into the water. Mart did not have a real -friend in Rockley Cove, and the little fellows Welcomed an opportunity -for showing their dislike. - -Tom, however, promptly on his feet was making for the spot where Mart -was puffing and splashing about, when two of his friends in bathing -attire anticipated his helpful action, reached Mart, and led him, -blinded and dripping, onto dry land. - -Mart was a sight. All the starch was taken out of him, and out of his -clothes. He did not linger to renew the conflict. He only shook his fist -at Tom with the half Whimpered words: - -"I'll fix you, Tom Barnes, see if I don't! This will be a sorry day for -you." - -"Who started it?" demanded Tom bluntly. - -"I'll get even with you for this treatment," threatened Mart direfully, -sneaking off. - -"You've made an enemy for life of that fellow, Tom," declared Ben. - -"Well, he never was very friendly towards me," responded Tom. "Where's -the wire? I've got it," and he picked it up from the ground where it had -dropped. "I'm sorry this thing occurred, but he brought it on himself. -Come on, Ben." - -"You're going to stay and have some fun, aren't you, Tom?" inquired one -of the swimmers. - -"Can't, boys--that is, just now. I've got something to attend to. See -you again." - -Tom and Ben had not proceeded fifty feet, however, when a hurried call -halted them. Tom's younger brother came running towards them. - -"Oh, Tom!" he hailed breathlessly, "I've run all the way from the house. -I've got a message for you." - -"What is it, Ted?" - -"Mr. Edson was passing the house and told me to find you and ask you to -come down to the tower as soon as you could." - -"All right, Ted," replied Tom. "I wonder what's up?" - -"Why?" questioned Ben. - -"I saw Mr. Edson early this morning down at the Point, and thought I'd -got him to talk himself out for a week to come asking him so many -questions about the wireless." - -"Are you going to drop rigging out your plant at the old oak till you -see him?" - -"We'll have to. It may be something important Mr. Edson wants to see me -about. You come too, Ben." - -"Had I better?" - -"You want to, don't you?" - -"Well, I guess!" replied Ben with undisguised fervor. "I've envied the -way he's posting you in this wireless ever since I first saw his -outfit." - -The boys pursued their way to Sandy Point, passing the old blasted oak. -Here Tom took pains to stow the coil of wire safely in a tree. Resuming -their walk they neared Sandy Point twenty minutes later. - -The Point was a high but level stretch of shore with one or two small -houses in its vicinity. It was really a part of Rockley Cove, but the -center of the village was half a mile inland. - -A high metal framework designated the Point, and could be seen from -quite a distance. This, however, was no recent construction nor a beacon -point, nor originally erected for its present use as a wireless station. - -It had served as a windmill for a farmer who once operated an -eighty-acre tract of land. One night his house and barns burned down. -For years the spot was abandoned. Recently, however, the Mr. Edson Tom -had alluded to had come to Rockley Cove and established "Station Z" at -the old windmill. - -He had built a room or tower as he called it midway up the windmill -structure. This was reached through a trap door by a fixed iron ladder. -The height and open construction of the windmill enabled the setting of -upper wireless paraphernalia in a fine way, and the whole layout was -found especially serviceable in carrying out Mr. Edson's ideas. - -The operator was at the window of the little operating room he had -built, and waved a cheery welcome to his two young friends. Tom and Ben -were up the ladder speedily and through the trap door. - -"Did you send for me, Mr. Edson?" inquired Tom. - -"Yes, Tom," replied the operator, "and I'm glad you came so promptly. -I've got to leave Rockley Cove on short notice." - -"Oh, Mr. Edson, I am very sorry for that!" declared Tom. - -"I regret it too, especially so far as you are concerned," admitted Mr. -Edson. - -"I was getting on finely," said Tom in a disappointed tone. - -"No reason why you shouldn't continue," declared the operator -encouragingly. "You have been strictly business all along, Tom. I want -to commend you for it, and I have sent for you to make you a business -proposition." - -"A proposition?" repeated Tom wonderingly. - -"Yes. You have got so that there is very little about the outfit here -that you do not understand. The transmitting and receiving end of it is -old history to you. In fact I am going to leave you here in entire -charge of the station." - -"Oh, Mr. Edson!" exclaimed Tom, "I am afraid you rate me too highly." - -"Not at all. You have got sense, patience, and you want to learn. As you -know, my starting the station here was a private enterprise, but it was -no idle fad. I expected to work something practicable and profitable out -of it. You can carry on the work." - -"Why are you giving it up, sir, if I may ask?" - -"I received a letter only an hour since, with an unexpected offer of a -very fine position with one of the operating wireless companies in -Canada. They expect me at a conference in New York City Friday, and I do -not doubt that I shall close an engagement with them. As I have told -you, I have very little capital. In fact, about all my surplus has been -invested in the station here." - -Ben was looking around the place with his usual devouring glance. Tom -felt that some important disclosure was about to be made and was duly -impressed. - -"There is a good chance for a live young fellow in a business that can -send a message hundreds of miles in a few seconds," continued Mr. Edson. -"The business is now only in its infancy, and those who get in first -have the best chance. The only hope here of the international circuit is -to make a killing." - -"What do you mean by a killing, Mr. Edson?" inquired the big-eyed, -interested Ben. - -"Catching a stray message and making a home shot with it. The fellow who -saved an ocean liner last week by sending help quick, just when needed, -got more pay in one hour than many people earn in a lifetime. Now then, -Tom, as to my proposition." - -"Yes, sir," nodded Tom, eagerly. - -"I want you to buy me out." - -"To buy you out?" repeated Tom slowly and in a puzzled way. - -"That's it." - -"You mean with money?" put in the ever-attentive Ben. - -"It's got to be money, I am obliged to say," replied Mr. Edson. "I shall -need all the ready cash I can get hold of in taking my new position, for -I have a lot of debts to clean up. Between you and me, Tom, I can sell -the outfit here to certain people, but it would throw you out. Of -course, I don't expect you, a boy to have any great amount of money to -invest, but I had an idea that some of your relatives or friends might -help you." - -Tom was silent, deeply thoughtful for a minute or two. His eyes wandered -wistfully over the apparatus that so fascinated him. Then, very -timorously, he asked: - -"How much would it take, Mr. Edson?" - -"One hundred dollars to you, Tom," said Mr. Edson. - -Ben squirmed. Tom's voice was quite tremulous as he inquired: - -"How soon would you have to have the money?" - -"By next Tuesday." - -"Will you give me till then to--to try?" asked Tom. - -"Surely. I hope you can make it, Tom. I like you very much. You are the -right sort, and I think you should be encouraged in your interest in the -wireless. I'll show you just what the equipment here is." - -Ben voted the hour that followed the most interesting of his life. For -the first time in his career he began to get a faint conception of spark -lengths, spark voltage, condensers, circuits, vibrators, grounds, -concentric radiations, wire cores and armatures. He had been dabbling -for over a week with both Morse and the Continental alphabets, and when -Tom mentioned the possibility of establishing a sub-station at the Dixon -home instead of at the old blasted oak, Mr. Edson was quite encouraging, -and offered to contribute some of the equipment necessary to carry out -the idea. - -The expert operator engrossed the attention of the boys. It was a ramble -in a field of rare delight as they passed from one part of the wireless -mechanism to another. - -"Now then, sit down, boys, for a few minutes," said Mr. Edson at length. -"I don't want you to buy a pig in a poke. There are a couple of -attachments that go with the station, and you should know about them." - -"Attachments?" repeated Ben. - -"What are they, Mr. Edson?" inquired Tom with curiosity. - -"Spooks," was the ominous reply. - - - - -CHAPTER III--"SPOOKS!" - - -"Spooks?" repeated Tom, with a stare of wonder. - -"Spooks," echoed Ben, edging a trifle away from the open trap door. - -"Call it that," said Mr. Edson, with a quiet smile. "Perhaps I had -better say--mysterious happenings." - -"What may they be, Mr. Edson?" inquired Ben, always interested in any -sensational disclosures. - -"Well, first--let me see," and the speaker reached over for a slip of -documents held with others in a paper clip on the table; "yes, here it -is--'Donner.'" - -"Who's he?" inquired Tom, puzzled. - -"Say rather what is he?" corrected Mr. Edson. "Frankly, I don't know." - -"It's a name," observed Ben; "a man's name, isn't it?" - -"I don't know that," responded Mr. Edson. - -"Neither do the other fellows on the circuit. Perhaps I'd better -explain, though, so when this Donner comes along you will be prepared -for him." - -"Yes, you have excited our curiosity and we'll be on the lookout," said -Tom. - -"Well, for nearly three weeks, at odd and unexpected times, with no -sense or reason to it, no call or 'sine,' abruptly and mysteriously zip! -the wires have gone, and in floats a jumbled, erratic message." - -"As how?" propounded Ben. - -"'Donner.' That always, first. It may be an explanation, it may be a -name, it may mean nothing, but all the same splutter--splutter! on she -comes. At first it was spelled out slowly, lamely, sometimes wrong, and -then corrected as if an amateur beginner was at the other end of the -line." - -"And that was all--'Donner'" questioned Ben, aggravatingly consumed with -curiosity. - -"Not after a few days. Then 'Donner' began to add something of a -message. That, too, was a jumble, wrong dots and dashes and all that. -Finally, though, this queer crank of a sender began to say something -about a boy." - -"A boy?" murmured the engrossed Ben. - -"It looked as if he was trying to describe some one. However, as I say, -his sending was so faulty that not much could be made out of it. It got -clearer, but no more coherent and enlightening. I tried to trace the -sender. So did others on the circuit. I got in touch with Seagrove." - -"What did they say? Mr. Edson?" asked Tom. - -"They confessed themselves fully as much puzzled as I was. The last -three or four days 'Donner' has gotten into action trying to tell -something about money. First it was a hundred dollars, then two hundred, -then five, and about an hour since the same old string of jangled talk -came in over the receiver: 'Donner boy--a thousand dollars.'" - -"How strange," commented Tom. - -"Oh, you'll get some of it," declared Mr. Edson. "Early in the morning -about daylight, always at noon, sometimes just about dusk, the message -comes through the air." - -"How do you explain it?" submitted Tom. - -"Why, I have to think it is some person who has rigged up an old station -somewhere in range, and is trying to tell something he is too ignorant -to express clearly. Pay no attention to it as a serious circumstance. It -is only one of the freaks of the wireless experience." - -"That's one of the spooks you told about?" inquired Ben. - -"Yes," nodded Mr. Edson. - -"Any more?" - -"Something more tangible this time," observed Mr. Edson. "For about a -week some one has invaded my den here nights regularly." - -"Maybe this same mysterious 'Donner'" suggested Ben. - -"Hardly. You see, I am pretty regular in my hours here. I have come on -at about eight in the morning and leave at six in the evening always." - -"And the second spook you speak about?" interrogated Tom. - -"Puts in an appearance after my departure in the night time. Here's the -gist of it: Every morning when I come down here, the ground under the -windmill for a space of about fifty feet is swept as clean as a ballroom -floor." - -"Yes, I've noticed that," observed Tom. - -"I leave the den up here in some slight disorder evenings, preferring to -put it in shape in the morning. Well," declared Mr. Edson, "I find it -all cleaned up for me." - -"You don't say so!" ejaculated Ben. - -"Nothing is touched about the apparatus, my papers are not disturbed. -One night I carelessly forgot my pocketbook. I found it placed carefully -on the paper tab with the contents intact." - -"Well, that's a helpful, honest, useful kind of a spook, isn't it, now?" -cried Ben. - -"I think this harmless intruder sleeps on the floor here nights," said -Mr. Edson. "Anyhow, I've apprised you of the mysteries as well as the -excellencies of Station Z. I must be going, Barnes," added Mr. Edson, -consulting his watch and arising and taking up his satchel from a corner -of the room. "Think over my proposition." - -"I certainly shall," declared Tom, quickly. - -"It's a dandy chance," remarked Ben. - -"Use your best intelligence and judgment in running the business here -until I come back," added Mr. Edson. "You can come down to the house -with me if you like and get some stuff that will help you rig up your -home-made wireless." - -"All right," assented Tom, "I'd like to do that." - -The professional operator followed his young guests down the ladder, -locking the trap door padlock and tendering the key to Tom. - -"You're in charge now," he said in a pleasant way. - -Tom's finger tips tingled with pleasure at the possession of the key, -and Ben's eyes brightened with glowing anticipations. - -The boys waited outside on a bench on the porch of Mr. Edson's boarding -house when they reached that place. He went up to his room and soon -returned with an oblong box. - -"You'll find the stuff in there I told you about," he explained. - -"Many thanks," said Tom. - -"I'm in that, too!" echoed Ben. "I only hope we can really rig up a -plant at my house like you talk about," he added eagerly. - -"That will be easy," advised Mr. Edson. "And now good-by, my young -friends, and good luck." - -Mr. Edson shook hands in a friendly way with Tom and Ben. The boys -started down the village street in the direction of the Barnes home. - -Ben walked as if he were treading on air. His comrade, carrying the box, -was thoughtfully going over the great fund of information he had -obtained in the preceding two hours. - -"I say!" he spoke suddenly, coming to a halt. - -"What's up?" challenged Ben. - -"I was thinking it would be handier to leave this box at the station." - -"I'm sure it would. You see, it's nearer our place," counselled Ben -eagerly, glad of any excuse that would take them back to the fascinating -influence of Station Z. - -They faced about and proceeded back over the course they had come. - -"Look here, Tom," broke in Ben on the thoughts of his comrade, "are you -going to try and raise that hundred dollars?" - -"Yes, if possible." - -"Wish I could help you. Going to ask your father?" - -"No," replied Tom. "In the first place, I don't think he would let me -have it. You know he calls my craze after wireless, as he terms it, all -a fad,--says I'd better think of getting through school before I take up -outside things." - -"Yes, I know." - -"Then again," continued Tom, "I have a sort of pride of starting in -business life on my own resources." - -"But you've got to have some money help." - -"I've thought of that, and I'll tell you what I'll do. You remember my -Aunt Samantha?" - -"Down at Westport?" - -"Exactly. I have always been a favorite of hers. Many a time she has -hinted at all the money she is going to leave me in her will some day. -Many a time, too, after a visit to our house, she has reminded me that -any time I need help to write her." - -"And you're going to?" - -"Yes," replied Tom, "just as soon as I get home this evening. I'm going -to offer her my note, and I mean to pay it, too." - -"Say, Tom," cried his loyal companion, "I'll endorse for you." - -Tom had to laugh outright at the proposal. - -Then, seeing that he had hurt Ben's feelings, he said kindly: - -"That's all right, Ben; you mean well, but if Aunt Samantha won't let me -have the money alone, she won't give it to the two of us." - -It had been growing dusk as the chums proceeded on their way. They -passed through the village and beyond it, and finally approached the -wireless station. Tom was fumbling in his pocket for the key to the trap -door when Ben suddenly caught his arm. - -"Tom, hold on!" - -"What's the matter?" questioned Tom. - -"Look yonder!" - -Ben pointed directly at the old windmill framework. Both stared -intently. - -Climbing up one of the outer girders was a boy. As he reached the level -of the window of the little aerial room aloft, he swung towards it, in -some deft way lifted or pried up the sash, and disappeared suddenly from -view. - - - [Illustration: BEN POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE OLD WINDMILL - FRAMEWORK.] - - - - -CHAPTER IV--"DONNER" - - -"Well!" ejaculated Tom in startled amazement. - -"Don't you see?" gasped Ben. - -"What?" - -"One of the spooks Mr. Edson spoke about!" - -"That's so, it must be," assented Tom. "The nightly intruder, as sure as -fate!" - -The window was lowered from the inside. In a minute or two a faint light -showed. Tom started forward, joined by Ben, who was in a quiver of -excitement and suspense. - -"What are you going to do, Tom?" he inquired. - -"Find out who this mysterious trespasser is. Don't make any noise, Ben, -but keep close to me." - -Tom gave the box into the possession of his companion, and started up -the ladder. Very cautiously he inserted the key into the padlock. He -managed to turn it and remove the padlock without making any alarming -sound. Then very slowly Tom pushed up the trap door. - -A glance across to one corner of the room interested him. Upon the floor -lay the intruder. He had upset a chair, and he was using its slanting -back as a pillow. On another chair he had set a lighted piece of candle. -In a posture of ease and comfort he lay reading a well-thumbed book, -while gnawing away at a great hunk of dry bread. His face was turned -away from the trap door. He was so engrossed in eating and reading, -that, unobserved, Tom was able to get up into the room and Ben was half -way through the trap door before the trespasser was aware of it. - -"Well, we've caught you right in the act, have we?" spoke Tom suddenly. - -With a slight cry and starting up into a sitting posture, the intruder -stared hard at his unexpected visitors. He seemed to scan their faces -searchingly. His own, at first startled, broke into a pleasant smile. - -"That's just what you've done," he admitted. - -"Pretty cool about it," observed Ben. - -"Not so cool as I've been, sleeping in the damp grass a few foggy -mornings lately. What are you going to do with me, fellows?" - -The speaker rose to his feet with something of an effort. Then Tom -noticed that he limped on one foot. The lad was thin and pale, too. He -righted the upset chair and sat down on it. Ben placed the box on a -table and leaned against it, regarding the stranger with curiosity. Tom -sank into another chair. - -"We're not judges or officers," he said, "but we are in charge here -now." - -"Then I'd better get out, I suppose," said the boy. - -"What did you come in for in the first place? That's what we're -interested in knowing," remarked Ben pointedly. - -The stranger shrugged his shoulders in a way that was quite pathetic. - -"See here," he said soberly, "if you had a foot pretty nigh cut off by a -scythe right on top of a hard spell of the typhoid fever, and no place -to eat or sleep, you'd burrow in most anywhere lying around loose, -wouldn't you?" - -"Does that describe your case?" questioned Tom. - -"Just exactly," responded the lad, a quick dry click in his throat. "I'm -not able to do my old work, and you might call me a roving convalescent, -see?" and he chuckled. "I manage to pick up enough food. I spotted this -place, tried to keep out of anybody's way, and tidied it up to pay for -wearing out the floor boards. Then, too, I frightened off two tramps one -night, who would have ransacked everything in sight if I hadn't made -them believe I was a private watchman." - -"But where do you live?" asked Ben. - -"Here, if you'll let me," was the prompt reply. - -"We'll do better than that," said Tom, who had been studying the boy's -face and manner closely, and each succeeding moment was attracted more -and more by his honest eyes and frank ways. - -"Will you?" questioned the lad wonderingly. - -"Yes," assured Tom. "To be plain about it, you are homeless and -friendless." - -"To be plain about it, you've just hit the nail on the head." - -"All right; when we leave here you come along." - -"Where to?" - -"My home. You shall have a good supper, and I'm sure my mother will let -me rig up a comfortable bed for you in the garret." - -"Mattress?" queried the stranger with a grin. - -"Of course." - -"Pillow?" he asked additionally - -"Yes." - -The boy chuckled. - -"Say," he spoke in a half sad, half gloating way, "it's so long since I -saw such things I can hardly realize it. I suppose you want to know my -name?" - -"We'd like to," said Ben. - -"Then call me Ashley, Harry Ashley. If anybody asks what I am, just tell -them a poor lonely fellow in hard luck, but mending as fast as he can, -and not afraid to tackle any job that means pay for work." - -"That rings true," said Ben. - -Tom got busy shoving the box he had brought from the village under the -table. He had lighted a lamp. About to extinguish it, he glanced around -the room to see that everything was in shape for the night. - -"Come on, Ben, you too," directed Tom. "Blow out your candle, and we'll -make a start." - -The boy calling himself Harry Ashley limped over towards the chair -holding the candle. At that moment there was an interruption. With a -sharp tang the receiver began to pop out dots, dashes and echoing -clicks. - -"Some one on the line!" pronounced Ben quickly. - -"Yes," nodded Tom, hastening over to the instrument. "Hello!" - -Tom gave a vivid start. For over a month he had been acquiring the Morse -code alphabet. Novice as he was, he was able to translate the rapid -furious dots and dashes that sounded in the earpiece of the apparatus. - -"The spooks!" Ben gasped. - -"Yes," assented Tom quite stirred up himself--"'Donner!'" - -"What's that?" exclaimed Harry Ashley. He turned as white as a sheet, -and began trembling all over, and stood staring askance at Tom, the -instrument and Ben. - - - - -CHAPTER V--A BOY WITH A MYSTERY - - -Tom did not take much notice of the strange conduct of the refugee. He -was intent on learning what further the receiver would immediately tap -out. Ben noted particularly the excitement of their new companion. His -attention, too, was instantly diverted through his eagerness to catch -the message coming all strange and jumbled by wireless. - -"Just as Mr. Edson told us----" he began. - -"Ah!" commented Tom. - -The big distended eyes of Ben Dixon devoured the instrument with its -shining coils and connections. He stood now rooted like a statue. - -Finally the message ended. A queer smile crossed Tom's face. - -"Well," he observed, "Mr. Edson certainly described it perfectly." - -"Yes." - -"And two thousand dollars this time." - -"What else was the fellow trying to send?" - -"It was gibberish to me. Oh, we'll have to pass it up, Ben, just as Mr. -Edson said." - -"Yes," assented Ben, "it's some novice or joker or crank experimenting, -or trying to be smart. What's the matter?" challenged Ben, turning now -upon the boy calling himself Harry Ashley, hoping for some explanation -of his queer startled actions of a few minutes previous. - -But whatever the refugee had on his mind he evidently was not disposed -to impart it to his questioner. - -Harry Ashley had somewhat recovered his composure. He still looked -disturbed, but he said with assumed carelessness: - -"Oh, nothing. I get a pretty sharp twinge in my lame foot every once in -a while." - -"I see," observed Ben, drily and unbelievingly. - -The boys were soon on the ground and on their way towards the village. -Tom kept up a casual conversation. He did not ask the strange waif who -had drifted into their keeping any leading questions, however. Much as -he was interested in knowing more about Harry Ashley, there was -something in the lad's manner that repelled curiosity. Furthermore, Tom -did not wish to embarrass a comrade he had invited to become his guest. - -Ben was quite silent. He stole many a furtive look at Harry as they -proceeded on their way. He was half satisfied with the lame explanation -of his actions the boy had made in the wireless tower. He forged ahead a -few yards with Tom as they came to the road leading south towards his -home. - -"I say, Tom," he remarked in a low tone, "there's some mystery about -that fellow." - -"Well, if that's true," returned Tom, "let the future work it out. He -strikes me as a poor unfortunate who needs some help, and I'm going to -give it to him." - -"That's natural," retorted Ben, "you're always helping somebody." - -Tom rejoined Harry. The latter became more chatty now. He did not say -much about himself, but from what he did impart Tom surmised that he was -practically a tramp, picking up a living at odd jobs. - -"See here," said Harry, as Tom indicated the cheery lights of the old -Barnes homestead, "it won't put you in bad with your folks, will it?" - -"What do you mean?" - -"Lugging in a ragged stranger like me." - -"My mother will answer that," replied Tom with a smile, leading the way -around the house. - -His companion halted outside the kitchen door, as Tom sang out to a -portly bustling lady directing the operations of a hired girl. - -"Mother, I've brought some company home to supper." - -The kindly glance of the hospitable Mrs. Barnes swept the forlorn -refugee, clearly reviewed in the light streaming out across the -door-step. - -"Come right in," she said, with a genial smile of welcome. - -"It's Harry Ashley," explained Tom. "He may stay all night." - -"You arrange where he shall sleep, then, Tom. Go into the dining room, -boys. Father seems to be delayed in town, and we needn't wait for him." - -Tom did not regret the kindness he was showing to his new friend. When -he went to bed that night he felt that he had never passed a more -satisfactory evening. He had never seen a boy enjoy a meal as Harry -Ashley did that supper. It was enough to warm the heart of a stone, he -decided, to witness the happy comfort of Harry, as in the cozy sitting -room he showed the stranger his books, and some of the electrical toys -he had made for his young brother Ted. - -Harry looked around the airy attic with a smile of pleasure as he noted -a mattress filled with clean straw in one corner, a white coverlid and a -pillow. - -"Makes you think of home, doesn't it?" questioned Tom. - -"No, it doesn't," sharply, almost rudely, snapped out Harry, and then, a -slight moisture visible in his eyes, he added apologetically, "you've -touched a sore spot, Barnes." - -"I won't again," promised Tom gently. - -"That's all right," replied Harry in his usual offhand way. "When you -know me better I'll explain some things. I'll dream like a prince in a -palace to-night." - -Tom went to his own room. His head was pretty full with all the varied -and exciting events of the day. Of course wireless details predominated. -He went to sleep building in fancy the station for his friend, Ben, down -at his home. He woke up to the lively sound of whistling outside of the -house. Tom went to the window and looked out. - -Bright as a cricket, cheery and clean faced, Harry was surveying what -had been a jumbled-up mass of kindling the night before. He had piled it -up symmetrically and had swept up the last stray sliver of wood on the -ground. Over towards the vegetable beds was a five-foot heap of weeds -which his industry had collected. - -Suddenly the happy whistle ceased. Tom saw his father come out of the -house, stare at the strange boy, then at the evidence of his enterprise, -and smile grimly. Mr. Barnes hailed the boy. - -"You're the lad my wife told me about, I reckon," observed the farmer. - -"If you mean the boy she was so kind to, yes sir," promptly responded -Harry. - -"Who hired you?" demanded Mr. Barnes. - -"Who hired me?" repeated Harry in a puzzled way. - -"Yes, to do that," and Mr. Barnes' hand swept the woodpile and the weed -heap suggestively. - -"Oh, that's to pay for supper and lodging," explained Harry brightly. - -"Well, we'll count breakfast into the bargain," stipulated Mr. Barnes, -"and if you get tired doing nothing there's five hundred weight of grain -in the barn I'll pay you to grind." - -"You will?" cried Harry, his eyes sparkling. "Show it to me, will you, -please?" - -"Good for him," commented Tom. "He's the real sort, and he's got father -on his side all right." - -Kindness, attention and the prospect of work seemed to have wrought a -marvellous change in Harry. He little suggested the homeless forlorn -refuge of the previous night as he sat at the breakfast table. He was -lively and chatty, acting the pleasant chum with Tom, the grateful guest -to motherly Mrs. Barnes, and narrating comical experiences with amateur -farmers he had worked for to Mr. Barnes, keeping the latter in rare good -humor throughout the meal. - -About an hour later Ben arrived on the scene. - -"Say, Tom," was his first sprightly hail, "Father says I've been hopping -about like a chicken with her head cut off ever since I got up--and that -was five o'clock." - -"What's the trouble, Ben?" inquired Tom with a smile, guessing. - -"Fever--the wireless kind," chuckled Ben. "I've got five fellows down at -the old oak ready to give all day to helping me get the outfit in down -at my house. Say, Tom, give me the key to the tower and let me get that -box of trimmings Mr. Edson gave us, will you?" - -"I shall have to go on duty at the station soon, Ben," explained Tom, -"but here's the key. Get down to the oak right away, and I'll instruct -you how to dismantle my unfinished plant and start you in at your house. -Then at noon I'll give you another hour." - -"You'd better come right up to our house for supper, Tom," suggested -Ben, "and we can have two full working hours by daylight after you quit -work." - -"Very well," agreed Tom gladly. - -Never did a boy spend a more entrancing day than Ben Dixon. His helpers -at the blasted oak were delighted to climb like monkeys to remove the -spirals and wires from the old tree, and handle the queer contrivances -contained in the box Mr. Edson had donated. - -Harry Ashley spent the day between working about the farm, visiting the -scene of activity at the Dixon place, and limping up to the tower. - -Only some exchange test calls came to Station Z that day. Tom was -encouraged to find how quickly he could read them, and send the -necessary replies. - -Nearly every lad in the neighborhood was on hand that evening, when Tom -arrived at the Dixon place, and began to connect the various devices of -the wireless outfit. It took into the next day fully to adjust the -various parts. - -Ben was in a rare fever of excitement and expectancy the second evening -about seven o'clock, when Tom announced to him that the finishing -touches of the experiment were in process. - -"She's all there, Ben," he said triumphantly, as he drew smooth the -tinfoil tongues of the setts of the coherer. "I'll run down to Station Z -and give you a call to see if she works all right." - -Ben Dixon stood staring fixedly at the apparatus rigged up in a shed -running up to the spirals strung to tree tops near the old barn. Six -ardent watchers sat astride a bench, mouths agape and eyes bolting from -their heads, resembling lads awaiting the touching of a match to a -powder mine. - -Finally a thrill ran instantaneously from the metallic poles through the -vibrating parts of the apparatus. As one after another the boys listened -at the telephone-like receiver, they heard the tell-tale dots and -dashes. - -"Hurrah!" shouted Ben Dixon in a frenzy of wild delight. - - - - -CHAPTER VI--A TIP VIA WIRELESS - - -"This means business!" exclaimed Tom. - -What Mr. Edson had predicted had happened--a stray message that meant -something, the accidental discovery of news perhaps of vast importance -to the person for whom it was intended. - -The young wireless operator was a quick thinker. The call was for O-17. -Tom knew from hearsay where that station was located. - -Mr. Morgan had a large stock farm a little outside of a small hamlet -called Deepdale. That settlement had no telephone or telegraph service. -It was located nearly twenty miles from a railroad station and any -stranger sojourning there was temporarily outside of civilization so far -as communication with the world was concerned. - -Tom was aware of all this. He readily figured out as well why the -message had been sent per wireless to Station O-17. This was operated on -a high point of rocks directly on the coast outside of Deepdale. It was -one of a regular chain in the coast service. - -The sender in New York City had some reason for believing that Mr. -Morgan was at his stock farm and not at his home at Fernwood, near -Rockley Cove. It was imperative that he get in communication with him -within an hour. He had risked all on the message finding Mr. Morgan at -Deepdale. - -"Why, I met Mr. Morgan this morning in his automobile coming from the -direction of Deepdale," soliloquized Tom. "He must have changed his -plans. No delay now. This must be important." - -Tom trusted to his memory as to the subject matter of the wireless -message. As he hastily descended from the tower, however, he repeated it -over mentally to make sure he would not forget any salient point. - -"The message mentioned 'U. Cal.'," breathed Tom. "I can guess what that -means." - -To his way of thinking it meant "United Calcium." Only two days previous -in the Rockley Cove _Weekly Clarion_ Tom had read a bit of current -gossip about the present subject of his thoughts. - -The item had referred to some late investments of the retired -capitalist. It specifically cited the fact that "our esteemed townsman," -Mr. Walter Morgan, it was rumored, was negotiating for the control of -the stock of the United Calcium Company. The investment, it was stated, -would involve nearly a quarter of a million dollars of capital. - -Now it appeared the partner or business representative of Mr. Morgan in -New York City had discovered a flaw in the proposition, and had -anxiously and urgently wired for instructions. - -Station Z was just two miles from Fernwood, the summer home of the -Morgans. It lay directly on the ocean, and was a straight course. Tom -thought of Grace Morgan as he braced up for a vigorous walk. That was -quite natural, for they were good friends. He lamented that he was not -in very dressy shape to meet the dainty little miss, whom he would -probably find in the pink of perfection as to garb and appearance, as -she generally was. - -"Can't help it, this is business," decided Tom grimly. "Maybe I won't -meet her," he added hopefully. - -Tom undertook a big spurt of speed. As he came to Silver Creek, two -school chums getting ready to start fishing yelled at him. - -"Hey, Tom!" cried one mandatorily. - -"Yes, we want you," piped the other. - -"Can't stop," panted Tom, waving his hand, and speeding on as if he were -entered for a Marathon. - -"I've lost no time, that's sure," he decided as he passed the boathouse -at the end of the private pier belonging to Fernwood. - -Tom came to the terrace in front of the Morgan mansion. A fluttering -white dress attracted his attention from the front porch of the house, -and Grace came into view. - -"Why, Tom!" she said in a genuine friendly welcome. "Come up and sit -down. You look tired out." - -"Yes, been running hard," explained Tom, short-breathed and excited. -"Must see your father." - -"Father?" repeated Grace, quite surprised. - -"Yes, Mr. Morgan, is he at home?" - -"Why, no, Tom." - -"Where will I find him, then?" - -"Why, you are so excited, Tom!" - -"Reason to be," gulped Tom. "Please don't delay. It's important." - -"Papa just left in the automobile for Springville. There is a meeting of -bank directors there, he told me. There's the horn now." - -"Excuse me," said Tom hastily, and bolted unceremoniously around the -side of the house where the announcement from the automobile had echoed. - -Pretty Miss Morgan looked amazed, and tapped her daintily slippered foot -in a vexed way at the ungallant disappearance of her acquaintance. Tom, -however, did not wait for explanations. He had caught sight of the -Morgan automobile. It was just passing upon the roadway leading west -from the rear of the grounds. - -"Hold on--stop!" yelled Tom irrepressibly. - -The puffing of the newly-started machine apparently drowned out his -hail. The hood of the tonneau shut Tom out from sight of Mr. Morgan and -his chauffeur. - -Tom ran no farther after the rapidly-gliding car. He saw in a flash that -his only chance of stopping it was by a sharp swift dash diagonally to a -point where the circling road cut south. He speeded reckless of flower -beds and fences on his mission, flew heedless of mud and water through -an obstructing swale, and, breathless and pretty nearly exhausted, -gained the main-road. - -Honk! honk!--not a hundred yards distant the chauffeur sounded a warning -as Tom sprang into the middle of the highway, waving his arms violently -to call a halt. - -"What's this?" demanded Mr. Morgan sharply, as the chauffeur perforce -let the machine down to a dead stop. - -"I beg your pardon, Mr. Morgan----" began Tom. - -"Young Barnes?" observed the capitalist, with a surprised stare at Tom. - -"Yes, sir," hurried on Tom. "I have some important news for you." - -"Important news for me?" repeated Mr. Morgan vaguely. - -"Yes, sir." - -"Who from?" - -"Your partner, sir, or agent in New York City." - -"What?" cried Mr. Morgan. "How does it come through you?" - -"By wireless," reported Tom promptly. - -"Oh, I've heard something about your dabbling in that." - -"Can I speak before your chauffeur?" inquired Tom. - -"If you have anything to say, go ahead." - -"Well, sir," said Tom, "I caught a message sent to wireless station -O-17, up at Deepdale. It seems that the sender expected to reach you -there. His name appears to be Dunbar." - -"Yes, yes," urged Mr. Morgan impatiently, "I sent word I would be at -Deepdale until to-morrow, but changed my plans." - -"It was fortunate that I knew you were back," said Tom. "The message -seems important." - -"Out with it," ordered Mr. Morgan. - -"I think I can repeat it word for word." - -"Do so, then." - -"'Have a tip that U. Cal. cannot prove up on patents. News will be -public before night. Order your subscription cancelled before afternoon -session of Stock Exchange, or there will be a heavy loss.'" - -"Thunder!" - -Mr. Morgan jumped up fully a foot on the cushioned seat of the tonneau. -His face went white as chalk. He seemed about to spring from the -automobile. Then he jerked out his watch, fell back, and, trembling all -over, gasped out to the chauffeur: - -"Drive for your life to the telegraph office at Rockley Cove. Don't lose -a second!" - - - - -CHAPTER VII--GRACE MORGAN - - -Tom stepped aside quickly as the chauffeur set the power, and the -machine made a sharp jump. As it flashed around a curve bound townwards -Mr. Morgan leaned over the back of the tonneau. - -"I won't forget this, Barnes," he bawled loudly. - -"Good for the wireless!" exclaimed Tom, with a genuine flush of delight. - -He felt well satisfied with the exploit of the moment. He was flushed, -bedraggled and exhausted, but there was the thrill of a big action -accomplished and the utility of Station Z established. - -Tom glanced longingly in the direction of Fernwood and then at his -soaked shoes, and shook his head dolefully. - -"It won't do," he ruminated. "Grace is probably offended at me for -bolting away so unceremoniously, and I'll wait until I can make my -apologies in better trim." - -Tom kept a patch of timber between himself and the Morgan place, and -reached the beach road on a detour. He was summarily halted as he passed -the flight of steps leading up to the terrace. A silvery but peremptory -voice called out: - -"Stop there, Tom Barnes!" - -Grace Morgan came tripping down the steps a minute later. There was a -pretty pout of pettishness on her winsome face, and her eyes did not -look altogether pleased. - -"What do you mean by running away from me, sir?" she challenged, gaining -the side of Tom, and regarding him as if she was never going to forgive -him. - -"Business is my only excuse," explained Tom meekly. - -"You mean with my father?" - -"Yes----" - -"Did you overtake him?" - -"I am glad to say I did," replied Tom, "and I think your father is, -too." - -"What was it about?" - -Tom laughed evasively, - -"You must ask him that yourself." - -Miss Morgan looked mild daggers at Tom. - -"I never met such rude, unfriendly boys!" she declared. - -"Oh, there are more offenders than my poor humble self?" interrogated -Tom archly. - -"Yes, there are," declared the indignant miss. "Mart Walters has a -friend from Boston visiting him--Bert Aldrich. He made an engagement to -be here an hour ago with his gasoline launch. Gentlemen keep their -engagements!" concluded Grace with emphasis. - -Unconsciously Grace had walked along with Tom, much to his personal -pleasure. - -"Well, I'm glad," he observed. - -"Glad of what?" demanded Miss Morgan suspiciously. - -"Oh, everything," replied Tom bluntly, with a significance that caused -Grace to blush. "As to my own transgression," he went on, "as I told -you, I can't explain details, but I do not think your father would mind -my telling you that I brought him an important message from my -wireless." - -"Your wireless?" exclaimed Grace in a sprightly tone. "Oh, Tom, I heard -about that. Is it really true that you know how to telegraph all over -the world, and rescue sinking steamers, and catch fleeing criminals, -and--and all that?" - -Impetuous Miss Morgan had gone off in a rhapsody over the great -enthusiastic theme of Tom's mind, and he was truly delighted. - -"Well, hardly," he said. "You see, I haven't reached that yet. It may -come--I hope it does. That's why I'm sticking to it." - -"Can I come and see you do it?" implored Grace excitedly. "Can I come -into the tower and watch the messages come in, and see everything?" - -"I shall feel honored if you do," replied Tom proudly. "Ah, there's -another of those shells." - -Tom's foot had kicked up a pearly odd-shaped shell in the sand. He -stooped and secured it. - -"Oh, how odd and beautiful!" cried Grace. "Oh, Tom, can I have it for my -collection? I haven't one like it." - -"You certainly can," answered Tom gladly. "We call that the peach blow, -and it's pretty rare. I didn't know you were interested in shells." - -"I dote on them," declared Grace. "Oh, Tom!" - -From his pocket he had taken a handful of exquisite specimens of star -pebbles and shells he had gathered up within a week, and tendered them -for a choice to his pretty companion. - -They strolled on for nearly half a mile. Tom explained that he must get -back to the wireless station, but he could not resist lingering when -Grace sat down to rest on an upturned boat on the beach. She occupied -the time between admiring the pretty shells he had given her and -inquiring into the details of his work at the wireless tower. Tom was in -the midst of a description of some of the methods employed in sending -wireless messages, when he paused and glanced seawards. - -"There is your friend, Grace," said Tom. - -A natty gasoline launch was approaching the pier up-shore. Tom made out -two passengers, both of whom he recognized. One was Mart Walters. The -other boatman was at the wheel. Tom had seen him twice on the street of -Rockley Cove and knew who he was--young Aldrich, the friend about whom -Mart was so continually boasting. - -Grace Morgan glanced in the direction of the pier. Then, as if totally -uninterested in what was going on there, she turned her back upon it and -led an animated conversation with her companion. Tom kept facing the -pier. From the launch Aldrich finally leaped ashore, evidently made them -out, and leaving Mart in charge of the launch walked rapidly up the -beach. - -"I think I had better be getting back to the tower," said Tom, as the -newcomer neared them, - -"Don't be in a hurry, Tom," advised Grace, with a slightly malicious -twinkle in her eye. "Oh, you, Mr. Aldrich?" she added, arising with a -formal bow to the young man, who, arrayed in fancy yachting costume, was -quite a "swell" sight, indeed. - -She introduced them, but Mr. Aldrich was not inclined to make any -friendly advances towards a boy in common working clothes. He -deliberately turned his back on Tom, and began a conversation with -Grace. - -"Had we not better start out on our cruise?" he asked. - -"Why, I had forgotten all about it, quite," declared the wilful miss, -with an encouraging smile at Tom, which quite nettled the newcomer. - -"The water is very smooth," observed young Aldrich. "I am sure you will -enjoy it." - -"I regret it very much," replied Grace, "but I was ready an hour ago. It -is my time for musical practice now, and you will have to excuse me. -Don't hasten, Tom," she added, crossing over to Tom. - -"I think I had better be getting back on duty at the wireless station," -said our hero. - -"Wireless, eh?" young Aldrich condescended to observe at this juncture. -"In with that fad, eh?" - -"I am trying to make something more than a fad out of it," replied Tom -pleasantly. - -"Wire repairer or something of that sort?" intimated Bert Aldrich with a -supercilious stare at Tom's working clothes. - -"Indeed, no," flashed out Grace resentfully. "Tom is quite an expert, -aren't you, Tom? He has been telling me the most delightful and -fascinating things about the wireless. Oh, there is papa!" - -There was an abrupt lull in the conversation as the Morgan automobile -came down the beach road from the direction of Rockley Cove. Mr. Morgan -gave the chauffeur the signal to stop and leaped from the machine in an -excited way. - -The politic young Aldrich advanced to meet the capitalist, all smiles -and ceremony. Mr. Morgan almost brushed him aside, not even noticing the -extended hand. - -He went straight up to Tom, and his eyes glowed with friendly interest. -Mr. Morgan caught both of Tom's hands in his own and gave them a hearty -shake. - -"Barnes," he said, "I stopped to say just a word to you. I must get to -the city at once, but when I return I want you to come down to Fernwood. -I have something important to say to you." - -"Thank you, Mr. Morgan," bowed Tom courteously. - -"You have saved me much of my fortune," declared the capitalist in a -tremulous, grateful tone. "How shall I ever repay you? Going up to the -house, Grace?" he inquired of his daughter. - -"Yes, papa, it is my practice hour." - -With a bewitching smile for Tom and a crisp little nod to Bert Aldrich -the miss sprang airily into the car. - -"Oh, Tom," she called back to the young wireless operator, as she -mischievously noted the discomfited look on the face of young Aldrich, -"I won't be like some people--I'll be on time to-morrow to have you show -me all the wonders of that delightful wireless tower of yours." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--QUICK ACTION - - -"Whew!" - -"Some storm, Tom!" - -"I shouldn't fancy many gusts like that last one." - -Station Z quivered like an eggshell in the hand of a giant. A loose -piece of wood from the roof of the operating cabin struck a sash, -demolishing two panes of glass, and the iron framework rocked to and fro -in the heaviest wind storm that had struck Sandy Point in years. - -Tom Barnes glanced anxiously at the delicate wireless apparatus which -shared sensitively in the pervading disturbance. His companion, Harry -Ashley, was looking around for something to fasten over the broken -window to shut out the driving rain. - -It was three days after the Morgan incident, and Tom was now fairly in -the wireless harness. It had been lowering weather all day, and Tom had -been glad that the rain had held off until Grace Morgan, who, with her -music teacher, had spent a delightful hour going over the wonders of -Station Z, had gotten home before the tempest broke. - -Tom had obtained his mother's consent to his remaining all night at the -tower. It was the current conviction among all coast wireless men that a -stormy night usually brought urgent and important service. A storm -generally meant distress of some kind at sea, and Tom wanted to be on -hand in case of emergency, as he had promised Mr. Edson. - -It was agreed that Harry Ashley should remain with him, and Mrs. Barnes -had put up a fine lunch. About five o'clock when the wind began to rise -with low rumblings of thunder in the distance and fitful gusts of wind, -Tom held eye and attention close on the apparatus, ready for what might -come. - -Within an hour, however, his thoughts, as well as those of his -companion, were mainly concerned in their own immediate environment. The -storm was not accompanied by very vivid lightning, but the wind had -risen to hurricane force. - -Just before dusk a particularly severe gust broke down a large elm tree -in sight. A little later a boat shed near the beach toppled over, and -the fragments were carried like kindling wood out into the hissing, -boiling surf. - -About half an hour after dark, Harry, at the window, had sounded a quick -alarm. - -"Tom!" he had shouted, "every light in the town has shut off in a -second!" - -This meant that the storm had carried down the electric supply line from -Springville. Tom thought uneasily of the folks at home. Then the -assaults of the high breeze on their aerial perch caused him to center -his attention on their own position, and be ready to save themselves if -collapse came. - -"Here, Harry, use this," ordered Tom, as his companion picked up a coat -to stop up the hole in the broken sash. - -Harry took the square piece of matting Tom tendered. He picked a hammer -and nails to secure it across the sash. About to set it in place, -however, he interrupted proceedings with a violent: - -"Hark!" - -"What's the matter, Harry?" questioned Tom. - -Harry held up a hand, warningly. He bent his ear keenly towards the -aperture. Then he turned to Tom. - -"Did you hear it?" he demanded. - -"Hear what?" - -"That shout--a cry?" - -"Wasn't it the wind?" - -"No, I am sure not. Come here. There it is again!" - -Tom ran to the window. Both held their breath in suspense. Both started -with intelligence and certainty now. - -A fearful echoing cry rose far above the whistling, shrieking storm--the -echo of a human voice. - -"Help! help! help!" - -"That's no imagination," declared Harry. - -"No, someone is in trouble," acquiesced Tom. - -"It's right down on the road running to the beach," said Harry. - -"Come on," urged Tom definitely, "we must investigate this." - -He seized a lantern and threw open the trap door. Harry was at his heels -promptly. A gust of wind and a forceful dash of rain nearly swept them -off their feet as they reached the ground. - -"Which way?" asked Harry quickly. - -"Hark!" interrupted Tom. - -Again the cry rang out. It was fainter, less emphatic than before, but -nearer. Tom could trace the point of the compass from which it came. He -ran in that direction, holding the lantern before him. - -"There he is!" cried Harry suddenly. "Don't run over him, Tom." - -Coming to an abrupt halt, both boys stared in startled excitement at a -human being on hands and knees making his way from the side of the road. -Near to him was a tangled mass of wreckage which had been a bicycle. Its -shattered skeleton covered a big flat rock, into which it had run to be -completely demolished. - -The recent rider was bareheaded, and from a wound in his temple the -blood trickled down over his face and hands. One arm was helpless, and -doubled up under him at every futile attempt at forward progress. - -"Why," shouted Tom, swinging the lantern forward so that its rays -covered the man, "it's Mr. Barton." - -"Tom--Tom--" quavered the man, looking up through half blinded eyes, -"quick--the doctor!" - -"What's that?" Tom challenged, keenly alive to the fact that Mr. -Barton's presence and condition signified some important circumstance. - -But the man with a groan fell flat, rolled over on his side, and lay -like one dead in the road. - -"Say, Tom, what shall we do?" inquired Harry in an awesome whisper. - -"We mustn't let this man die here, exposed to the storm. He may be -seriously injured." - -"It looks that way. I suppose he ran or was blown into that big rock -yonder." - -"Yes," nodded Tom. - -"What was he doing, though, out such a night as this on a bicycle?" - -"He said something about a doctor. Help me, Harry, we must get him under -shelter." - -"We can't carry him up into the tower." - -"There's the old tool shed. Ready?" - -"Yes, Tom." - -They managed to convey the insensible man to the dilapidated structure -Tom had mentioned. Its roof was like a sieve, and several boards were -missing from its sides, but it afforded some security from the tempest. - -Tom placed a pile of old bags under the man's head and set the lantern -near. - -"Do you know him, Tom?" asked Harry. - -"Oh, yes, he is almost a neighbor of ours. He runs a small truck farm -and has quite a family. Wet this, Harry, soaking." - -Tom gave his handkerchief to his companion, who went outside and -saturated it in a deep puddle. Tom washed the dirt from the face of the -injured man and tried to staunch the flow of blood. - -He listened at his heart and to his breathing, and lifted the limb that -seemed to have lost its natural power. - -"He breathes all right," reported Tom to his anxious companion. "His arm -is sprained or broken, though.", - -"We must get him home, Tom." - -"In this storm--with no conveyance?" - -"That's so. He might die, though, if we don't get a doctor." - -"He's coming to," said Tom suddenly. "Mr. Barton! Mr. Barton!" called -Tom gently. "Don't you know me?" - -The man opened his eyes, stared vaguely, and then tried to arise. He -fell back again instantly, however, with a moan of weakness. - -"No use!" he gasped. "My head is splitting and I've got no strength left -in me at all. It was a fearful shock, a header full force, and--the -doctor!" he shouted suddenly, almost in a scream. - -"What doctor, Mr. Barton?" inquired Tom solicitously. - -"From Rockville." - -"What about him?" - -"My child--dying!" wailed the man. "Dr. Burr, the only one in Rockley -Cove, is away." - -"That's so, I remember hearing of that," assented Tom. - -"Lights in town shut off, telephone lines all down--the doctor, quick!" - -With these last words pronounced in a painful gasp, Mr. Barton succumbed -and fell back unconscious again. - -"Tom, we've got to do something!" cried Harry, greatly worked up by all -that was happening. - -Tom's face showed the greatest anxiety and concern. The situation as -revealed by the disconnected utterance of the injured man was serious -and critical. - -Tom pictured the storm-swept village in his mind's eye--the lights out, -telephone service disrupted, and a father despairingly endeavoring to -get word to the nearest doctor, five miles distant. - -"Wait here, watch him," ordered Tom sharply, making up his mind what he -would do. - -"Can you do anything?" questioned Harry eagerly. - -"I'll try," replied Tom, starting in the direction of the tower. - -"The wireless!" cried Harry, his eyes snapping animatedly. - -"Yes." - -Tom was up the ladder and through the trap door in a hurry. He had his -plan, but its success depended on two circumstances: first, if Ben Dixon -was in reach of the amateur wireless outfit at the home nest; and -second, if the telephone circuit the Dixon home was on, which belonged -to a different system to that at Rockley Cove, was in working order. - -Tom speedily gave the call to the station at the Dixon place. He did not -wait for any response. He repeated the call briskly. Then he flashed off -the message he had in mind. Then he repeated the message twice. -Then--Tom waited. - -There was a lapse of nearly ten minutes. Tom began to consider that Ben -was not on duty. Suddenly there was a spitting crackle in the receiver. - -"O.K.," came the slow message. "Telephone all right. Reached doctor. On -way to Rockley Cove now." - -"Good!" cried Tom. - - - - -CHAPTER IX--STRICTLY BUSINESS - - -Tom's face was hopeful and pleased as he descended through the trap door -to the ground with his good news. - -"How is he?" was his eager inquiry, as he stepped inside the doorway of -the old tool shed. - -"He's just begun to move again," reported Harry, "but he has been -twisting about and moaning terribly." - -"Mr. Barton! Mr. Barton!" shouted Tom in the ear of their patient, as -the eyes of the latter opened and stared wildly at him. - -"I remember now," spoke Mr. Barton weakly. "It's Tom Barnes?" - -"Yes," assented Tom. "That's better," he added, as the man sat up. -"Don't give way again, Mr. Barton, it's all right." - -"What's all right, Tom?" - -"Good news. The doctor." - -"Yes! yes!" - -"I sent word to him." - -"How could you? The telephone lines are dead." - -"By wireless, to my friend, Ben Dixon, who runs a small station. He got -my message. Their telephone service is all right. The doctor is now on -his way to your home." - -"Oh, thank you, Tom, thank you!" cried Mr. Barton fervently. - -"That's great, Tom," commented Harry heartily. - -"I noticed a light in the nearest house yonder," proceeded Tom. "The -wind has gone down a good deal. Could you make it, do you think, Harry?" - -"You mean get to the house?" - -"Yes." - -"Why, of course." - -"Take your lantern so you won't run into anything or lose your way." - -"All right. What then?" - -"An old fish peddler lives there. Tell him of the fix Mr. Barton is in." - -"I understand." - -"And ask him to hitch up and try and get him home." - -"I'll do that," said Harry promptly, as he picked up the lantern and put -for the door. - -Tom urged hope and patience on his charge. The announcement that he had -succeeded in getting a doctor started for Rockley Cove had worked a -great change in the patient. He forgot his sufferings in his joy at the -knowledge that help was on the way to his dying child at home. - -It was about ten minutes later when there was a rattle of decrepit -wheels and a resounding call: - -"Whoa!" - -"We're here," reported Harry, springing from the peddler's wagon. - -Its owner had spread some blankets on the floor of the vehicle, making a -comfortable bed for the injured man. They lifted him into the wagon box -as carefully as they could. - -"How shall I ever thank you, Tom?" asked Mr. Barton gratefully. - -"Don't try," said Tom. "Just get home and get mended up, and I hope the -doctor is in time to save your child." - -Tom, left alone, returned to the tower. He felt well satisfied with the -way affairs were progressing. He had been able to demonstrate some -practicability to Station Z, and the fact encouraged him greatly. - -The storm had subsided considerably. The rain had ceased entirely, and -the wind came only in occasional gusts, diminishing gradually in their -violence. - -It must have been an hour later when Tom, almost dozing in his chair -before the operating table, gave a great start as a cheery signal -whistle rang out from below. - -"Ben," he soliloquized, quite glad to welcome a companion in his -loneliness. - -"I've come," announced his chum, appearing through the trap opening. -"Ugh! but it was a tough fight part of the way! I was nearly blown into -the surf once or twice." - -"What brought you out such a night as this?" challenged Tom. - -"Just what is keeping you here," retorted Ben; "the chance of something -exciting happening. Say, that message of yours has just stirred me up." - -"You got it all right?" - -"The first time. I expected there might be business such a night as -this, and kept watch for it. Our 'phone was all right, and I got the -doctor at once. He said he would start without delay for Rockley Cove." - -"I hope he made it," said Tom. - -"He must have, for he had the smooth sheltered turnpike to take, and the -storm is nothing much now. Our folks were delighted to think that our -toy telegraph, as they call it, did something really useful, and they -let me come down to stay all night." - -"I'm glad of it, Ben," replied Tom. "Harry will be back soon. We've got -a lunch mother put up for us, and we can make a pleasant night of it." - -"That's just famous!" - -Ben removed his wet jacket and took up a comfortable position in a -chair. Tom told of the injured Mr. Barton and what he had done for him. - -"I say, Tom," suddenly asked Ben, during the pause after they had -discussed current topics, "heard anything from Mr. Edson lately?" - -Tom's face fell instantly, as though the remark suggested some -unpleasant and disturbing subject. He looked quite anxious. - -"Yes, Ben," he replied, "I got a letter this morning. He will be here -to-morrow." - -"How's that?" - -"It seems he has made his arrangement to go into paid service on the -North Atlantic coast." - -"And he wants his money?" questioned Ben uneasily. - -"That's about it," answered Tom in a subdued tone. - -"Too bad!" murmured Ben. "You can't reach it any way, Tom?" - -"I'm afraid not," responded Tom. "As you know, my aunt wrote me -yesterday that she had everything invested. She said that the first of -the month she had some interest money coming in, and would send me a -hundred dollars as soon as it did." - -"But that's too late to do any good." - -"Yes," admitted Tom reluctantly. - -"Then you'll have to give up the station here?" - -"I'm afraid I will," answered Tom with a sigh. "I'll tell you frankly, I -felt pretty hopeful of getting the money from another source, but I'm -disappointed in that, too." - -"What source, Tom?" - -"Mr. Morgan." - -"Oh, yes! Well," declared Ben, "he ought to." - -"I am sure he would help me if he were at home," said Tom. - -"You did a big thing for him, Tom." - -"Mr. Morgan thinks that way himself. I am sure of it, from what he -said." - -"Maybe he will return to-morrow," suggested Ben. - -"Grace says he has business in New York until the end of the week." - -"Too bad!" exclaimed Ben. - -"Well, it can't be helped," said Tom philosophically. "I'll just have to -start in a more modest way. Mr. Edson is poor, and has got to realize -right off from his investment here, he wrote me. Just think of it," -added Tom, gazing about the room with longing enthusiastic eyes, "we've -got to give it all up, maybe the chance of a lifetime, because we can't -raise the money." - -"How much do you need?" challenged a sharp voice suddenly, bringing both -boys to their feet with a shock. - - - - -CHAPTER X--A YOUNG CAPITALIST - - -Harry Ashley stuck his head up through the trap opening, and climbed -into the room with the announcement: - -"Overheard what you said, so--how much do you want?" - -Tom only smiled. The idea of a money offer from Harry was amusing. Ben -assumed a mock gravity of manner with the words: - -"Give us a check right on the spot, I suppose?" - -"About that, if you don't want too much," answered Harry seriously. - -"We won't call on you just yet, Harry," said Tom. "What about Mr. -Barton?" - -"We got him home all right." - -"And the child?" - -"You've done a big piece of work with your wireless this night, Tom -Barnes," replied Harry, his eyes brightening. "We found the doctor at -the Barton home when we arrived. He got there just in time. Said half an -hour more and the patient would have been beyond help." - -"That's grand!" voiced Ben. - -"He's fixed up Mr. Barton's bruises. Says his arm is only sprained, and -that he'll be around as well as ever in a week. I wish you'd heard that -mother speak when they told her about what you had done in saving her -child." - -"With your help, remember that." - -"H'm," said Harry with a wriggle, and blushing like a school girl. "The -peddler has gone out into the country to bring a sister of Mrs. Barton -to the house, and I wanted to get back here. Now that Ben is here, it -seems jollier than ever. I must go to the peddler's house, though, and -tell his wife that her husband won't be home for an hour or two. I -promised him I would." - -"All right, Harry," said Tom briskly. "Then we'll have a little lunch." - -But Harry tarried. About to descend the ladder, he turned around with -the pertinent query: - -"About that money that had to be paid, or you'd lose the station here." - -"You heard about it, did you?" questioned Tom. - -"Didn't I tell you I did? Come, Tom, how much do you want?" - -"Supposing you knew, what good would that do?" - -"I may help you." - -Ben looked skeptical and grinned. Then, sobering down, he said: - -"Don't make fun of us." - -"I'm not." - -"It's serious enough as it is. Tom needs a hundred dollars." - -"Does he?" exclaimed Harry with animation. "Well, he can have it." - -"Who from?" - -"Me. One hundred? Oh, that's easy--awfully easy," declared Harry, as if -very much pleased. - -"I suppose you are ready to supply the amount, cash down?" said Ben. - -"On the nail head!" cried Harry, a ring of genuine confidence in his -tone. "See here, you fellows, you've been the truest chums I ever ran -across. I've got a hundred dollars, yes, nearly double that, and all -you've got to do is to take it." - -"I only want to borrow--until my aunt collects her interest money," said -Tom, half hopeful, half doubting that unexpected good fortune was about -to materialize. - -"Six months, a year--it's all the same to me," declared Harry gaily. -"I'd give it to you outright if--if I could," he stammered rather -blunderingly. "There you are." - -Ben in his stupefaction and Tom in wonder regarded the strange boy who -had so warmly won their friendship during the brief period of their -acquaintanceship. Harry had drawn off his rather threadbare coat. Then -he reached inside the shirt he wore. - -"Well, what next?" interrogated Ben, watching the movement curiously. - -"The hundred dollars, of course," pronounced Harry. "Think I'm fooling?" - -He had been fumbling with one hand inside his shirt. Something clicked -like a snap of a buckle. Then he drew into view a long snake-like -object. - -"A belt," murmured Ben. - -"That's right," nodded Harry. - -With a clang he landed it on the table. He beckoned to Tom and Ben to -approach. - -"I made that belt myself," he went on, with some pride in his tone. -"Looks like a sectional rattlesnake, eh? It's made out of snakeskin. -See, it's got pockets. This one," and Harry unsnapped a -button--"pennies." - -A dozen cent pieces rolled out. He gave them a peep into five other -similar pockets. - -"Nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars," recited Harry. "Then this one -at the end--ten, twenty, forty, sixty, eighty, one hundred. There's your -money, Tom. I'll take your note when it's convenient." - -From a last compartment in the belt the speaker had produced a goodly -roll of banknotes. He counted off the bills with the flippancy and skill -of a bank cashier. Tom sat staring at the little heap that meant his -business salvation, fairly agape. - -"The mischief!" giggled the petrified Ben. "It's real money!" - -"Yes, and hard earned, and mine," said Harry. - -"But how, where----" - -"Did I get it?" smiled Harry. "Work, hard work, fellows," and there was -a mingled pride and fondness in Harry's voice. "That little heap means -over a year of hard knocks and close scrapings, before I had the typhoid -fever." - -A strange silence fell over the trio of chums. Harry had come into the -life of Tom and Ben in a strange way, and had won their confidence and -friendship from the start. He had become quite a fixture at the Barnes -homestead. Mr. Barnes had come to depend on him for an hour or two of -pottering around at odd tasks on the farm, and felt that his young -helper amply paid for his meals and lodging. At length Tom spoke, his -face flushed with pleasure. - -"You're a queer fellow, Harry," he said heartily, "and you are a good -fellow. You are willing to lend me this money?" - -"Willing?" repeated Harry. "Glad, honored, delighted. Is a hundred -enough?" - -"Yes, indeed." - -"All right, there it is. Don't you look at me in that leery way, Ben -Dixon," said Harry, with a chuckle. "I haven't been stealing anything. -That money is mine, all mine, and honestly mine. There is this much I -will tell you about it, though: it is a part of a certain amount I am -hoping to reach to pay a certain person." - -"Money that you owe?" ventured Ben, consumed with curiosity. - -"Yes, and no. I'm to save five hundred dollars," - -"Whew! that's a heap." - -"I'll reach it," declared Harry confidently--"in time. It's money that I -must repay." - -"That you borrowed?" - -"No." - -"Oh, that you took?" insinuated Ben, in his blunt, straightforward way. - -"No, sir! Do you take me for a thief?" cried Harry indignantly. "I'll -tell you this much more: I was living with a man I didn't like so very -much. I made up my mind to cut out from him. I wanted first to find some -papers of mine I believed he had in his possession. When he was away -from home one night, I took a lighted candle and made a tour of -investigation. I came across a pile of banknotes. A strip around them -said 'Five Hundred Dollars.' I went on searching for what I was after, -but didn't find it. When I turned around to take up the candle, the -drawer in which I had placed it was all ablaze. The banknotes were a -heap of crisp cinders." - -"Well!" ejaculated Ben. - -"I tell you I was scared," confessed Harry. "He was a close-fisted, -mysterious old fellow, and--well, I decided to get out. I left a note -telling the circumstances of the accident, and said that I would work my -finger nails off to earn that five hundred dollars and bring it back to -him, some day. I've been doing it ever since." - -"That's a remarkable story, Harry Ashley," said Ben, in earnest -admiration. - -Harry pushed the bills over to Tom, restored the belt to its place, and, -with the indifference of a millionaire, started for the trap door. - -"I must tell the peddler's wife about her husband's delay," he said. -"Glad to oblige you, Tom. I'll be back soon." - -Tom grasped the banknotes thoughtfully, and with an expression of -gladness and relief on his face. - -"What luck!" commented Ben. - -"I am awfully glad to get the money," said Tom, with deep feeling. -"Harry is a splendid fellow. It's only a loan, but think what it means -to me just at this time!" - -"There's something!" exclaimed Ben suddenly. - -"Hello!" said Tom, all attention at once to the clicks. Then his face -broke into a smile. - -"'Donner' again!" cried Ben. - -"After a lapse of two days," observed Tom. "Listen." - -The mysterious "spook" of Mr. Edson was in evidence once more. - -"He's getting along better," said Ben. - -"'Donner' tapped that out pretty fair. 'Lost boy.' What's that? 'Money' -again. Thousand dollars.' He's getting extravagant. 'Donner.' H'm!" - -There was a lapse. Tom laughed and Ben chuckled. "Donner" was a standing -joke now. - -"There, he's at it again," announced Ben a moment later. "'Donner. Lost -boy.' Yes, we've heard that before. Hello! here's something new." - -"Yes," nodded Tom, translating the message: "Lost boy named Ernest -Warren. Look out for sun, moon and stars on his left shoulder." - -"Wonder who the lost boy can be?" said Ben in a ruminative tone. - -They were soon to learn that--in a startling and unexpected manner. - - - - -CHAPTER XI--A GREAT STEP FORWARD - - -"Mr. Barnes, I believe?" - -"Yes, I am Tom Barnes," said the young wireless operator of station Z. - -Tom was in the old windmill tower, and had been tidying up generally. He -had just come from dinner, and was alone in the operating room. - -He had checked himself in the middle of a whistling tune to survey a -head and then the shoulders and body of a stranger, coming up through -the trap door. - -The intruder was a keen-eyed, sharp-featured man of about thirty, very -neatly dressed, and very erect and soldierly in his general appearance. - -He nodded briskly to Tom, crossed the room, and, uninvited, sank into -the nearest chair. - -"Glad I found you," he said, and then took a close survey of Tom and of -the furnishings of the room. "Heard about you at the town, and being -somewhat interested in these new-fangled wireless ideas, I thought you -wouldn't mind a casual visitor." - -"No, indeed," answered Tom readily. "I am only too glad to meet anybody -who is interested as to our little station here." - -"It's quite a plant," declared the stranger. "Tell me something about -it, will you?" - -An enthusiastic boy like Tom was only too ready to enter into a general -description of the parts and utilities of the apparatus. The stranger -listened intently, approbatively too, it seemed to Tom. He followed the -indication of Tom's finger as it pointed out this and that attachment of -the general operating device; and arose and looked closer as Tom -explained in detail and very clearly some intricate features of the -mechanism. - -"That's pretty interesting," voiced the man at length, "and you seem to -know your business." - -"Oh, I'm only a novice, a mere amateur," insisted Tom modestly. - -"What's that now?" inquired the visitor, reaching a careless hand very -near to the coherer. - -"Look out!" shouted Tom warningly. - -"What's the trouble?" calmly interrogated the man. - -"Danger. You'll get a hard shock if you touch that." - -"I'll be careful," pledged the stranger, and to Tom's amazement with a -deft expert touch he dislodged the cap of one of the glass tubes. "I -say, my friend," he added, gazing down into the cup critically, "you'd -get much better action if you'd mix in some fine brass filings here. The -old stuff is pretty well corroded." - -"I had noticed that," said Tom, "and have sent to the city for new -material." - -"There's another point worth your attention," resumed the man, pointing -up at the secondary circuit. "A double coil to that condenser would -strengthen your current." - -Tom stared at the speaker in a vague way. He was a good deal surprised -and also suspicious at the facility with which this avowed seeker for -information exhibited a profound knowledge of the very subject under -discussion. - -"You seem to know something about it," observed Tom. - -The man did not reply. He busied himself with a fixed and calculating -glance through the roof skylight up at the metal nets and spirals. - -"Very good," he said, half aloud, "and kept in very fair order, too." - -"I'm glad to hear you say it, Mr ----?" - -"I am expecting a friend who will introduce us," said the stranger, with -a peculiar smile. "Ah, there he is now." - -He moved to the window, and in quite a friendly fashion waved his hand -to an occupant of an automobile that had just driven up from the beach -road. - -Tom at once recognized it as the Morgan machine. Its owner alighted, and -a minute later came up the ladder. - -"Glad to see you, Barnes," he hailed cheerily, shaking hands with the -young wireless operator. "You didn't wait for me at the village as -agreed, Mr. Mason," he added, addressing Tom's guest. - -"I fancied I had better come on ahead and get an unprejudiced view of -the proposition," observed Mr. Mason. - -"Strike you all right?" intimated the magnate pleasantly. - -"Capital," answered the stranger with emphasis. - -"That's good. Barnes, this is Mr. Mason, inspector for the International -Wireless Company, of New York." - -"Oh," said Tom, a little dubiously and a trifle flustered. - -"I knew how you were interested in this wireless business, Barnes," -resumed Mr. Morgan, "and I spoke to my friend here of the independent -station you were running." - -"Which I wish to take into the service, you included," broke in Mr. -Mason in a clear, straightforward way. "I hear of some good work you -have done here. The location can be made an important one, and, if you -are ready for it, I'll talk business with you." - -"There is not much doubt about the utility of the station here," -observed Mr. Morgan. "Barnes saved me half my fortune through an -intercepted wireless. He has my unqualified recommendation and support, -Mr. Mason." - -"So you told me," returned the wireless professional in a brusque, -business-like way. "Practically you own the apparatus here, Mr. Barnes?" -he questioned. - -"Yes, sir," announced Tom. - -"Is there any lease on the site?" - -"You mean the old tower here?" - -"Yes." - -"No, sir. It belongs to the house that burned down about a year ago, and -is entirely out of commission as a windmill." - -"I see." - -"The man who owns the place gave Mr. Edson full permission to use the -old wreck free of charge as long as he liked." - -"The company would like a formal lease for two years. Do you think you -could arrange that?" - -"Oh, yes, I am sure of it," replied Tom. - -"Very well. Offer him a trifle--say fifty dollars for the term. Now -then, as to your outfit here. Would you be willing to turn over your -right and interest here to the company at a fair price, in consideration -of a contract for two years establishing you here as their accredited -operator?" - -Tom's face changed to all colors. His eye sparkled. - -"Mr. Mason," he said frankly, "you take my breath away!" - -The wireless professional smiled indulgently. Mr. Morgan rested a -friendly, encouraging hand on Tom's shoulder. - -"The equipment here," continued Mr. Mason, making a swift mental -calculation, "is not worth a great deal. The installation, however, cost -something. I shall recommend the company to offer you five hundred -dollars for the outfit." - -Tom gasped now. Business was business, and he realized that the -keen-faced man of affairs who was talking to him was too shrewd to throw -anything away or buy a bad bargain. For all that, he was fairly stunned -at the good fortune that had come to him. - -"I will be glad to do as you suggest," he said, choked up from varied -emotions. - -"Good!" cried Mr. Mason. "The papers will be sent to you soon as I can -report to headquarters. In the meantime, you can negotiate for the lease -we spoke about I will have a contract forwarded to you, accompanying -full instructions as to your duties as our representative." - -"What will you pay Barnes?" inquired Mr. Morgan, a practical business -man on all occasions. - -"Sixty dollars a month," was the reply. - -"Don't fall off your chair, Barnes!" laughed Mr. Morgan, "You're going -to reach bigger things than that in the wireless line, I predict." - -"There was one thing," said Tom a little anxiously; "I have a friend, a -chum, who knows almost as much as I do about the business." - -Mr. Mason took out his memorandum book. - -"What is his name?" he inquired. - -"Ben Dixon." - -"Very good. We'll start him with a commission as substitute and relief -man. I intended to send one of our men for the shift, but if you think -this young Dixon can do the work, I will recommend him." - -"I am sure of it," declared Tom. - -"Good-bye, Barnes," said Mr. Morgan, as he and his companion prepared to -leave the tower. "I have a little something I wish to add to your bank -account when you come up to the house again." - -"Please don't mention such a thing, Mr. Morgan," pleaded Tom. - -"And, remember, call on me as a ready friend whenever I can help you in -any way," went on the gentleman; and then he and Mr. Mason went away. - -"My!" was all Tom could say when he returned to the tower, and flung -himself into a chair in a dazed, overwhelmed way. "My! it all seems like -a dream!" - - - - -CHAPTER XII--"SUN, MOON AND STARS" - - -"The Mercedes in the lead," announced Ben Dixon. - -"All right," returned Tom Barnes. - -The buzzer was going merrily; Tom was on his professional mettle and -thoroughly enjoying himself. He was tallying off the information shouted -down in sections through the tower skylight by his faithful assistant. - -Ben, astride a cross arm beam of the old windmill, balanced an elongated -telescope seaward focussed on several yachts engaged in a race. - -It had been part of the day's instructions received that morning from -headquarters for the operators at Station Z to watch out and announce -the order in which the yachts passed Rockley Cove. The information was -wanted for newspapers and persons interested at the starting point of -the race. The names and pennant colors of the various craft had been -furnished to Tom, and Ben was able, with this basis to work from, to -report like an expert. - -"_Druid_ second," he announced sharply two minutes later. - -The entire flotilla had passed within half an hour, and Ben descended -into the operating room. - -"That was easy and pleasant," he observed. - -"Say, Tom, we've got a dandy plant here, and no mistake." - -Tom replied by nodding in a gratified way, and glancing with pride and -approval at the well-ordered equipment about him. - -Tom was now a duly authorized operator in the service of the -International Wireless Company. Mr. Mason had carried out the plans -outlined during his original talk with Tom, and that rising young -wireless operator was now working on instructions and a liberal salary, -and had over five hundred dollars in the bank. - -Mr. Morgan had insisted on Tom accepting a check for two hundred dollars -as a slight recognition of his service in respect to the United Calcium -securities. - -What pleased Tom most of all, however, was that he was given the -privilege of employing extra help when in his judgment the same was -required, and Ben was put in a way to earn many a welcome dollar. - -Station Z was not in the regular service. It was maintained by the -International Wireless Company as a sort of demonstration station. The -object was to do little commercial business, but to pick up important -messages sent in cases of emergency. The purpose of the company was to -demonstrate to the general public the chance utility of an isolated -station. - -Tom had paid Mr. Edson the hundred dollars, he had secured the lease of -the station site, had returned to Harry Ashley the money borrowed from -him, and was a happy, hopeful enthusiast, every day learning more and -more concerning the wonderful wireless. - -He sat back in his chair now, comfortable and at ease, with the -satisfaction of a person understanding his business and doing his duty. -Ben swung back luxuriously in a hammock they had rigged up in one corner -of the room. The sunshine was bright, the air balmy, the sea -refreshingly blue and cool looking, and both boys enjoyed the acme of -comfort and satisfaction. - -"I say, Tom," began Ben lazily, after a spell of indolent rest, "what -about that letter? Did you bring it?" - -"Oh yes," answered Tom, feeling in the pocket of his coat. "Here it is." - -Ben took a mussed-up envelope from the hand of his chum. It was directed -in crooked, printed letters: "mister tom barns." - -"I found it stuck under our front door last night, as I told you," -recounted Tom, and Ben perused the enclosed sheet covered with -straggling words and sentences, and read it aloud: - - "Warnin to tom barns, keep yure own turtory, - or it'l be the worst fer you and yer frens. - sined: the Black Kaps." - -"Sort of blood-curdling, eh, Ben?" mused Tom. - -"It don't scare you one little bit?" - -"Not a particle." - -"What does it mean?" - -"Why, Ben, the only way I can figure out, is that the so-called Black -Caps are in active operation again." - -"Phew!" observed Ben, and fell into a prolonged fit of musing. Both he -and Tom were quite familiar with the past operations of that sinister -concern. Like all country communities, Rockley Cove had some -undesirables. Over the village line, in fact, between it and the -residence of the Morgans, was a little community of fishermen whose -social condition was not very high. - -One particular family with numerous branches was quite notorious. The -name was Barber, and the younger members of the family constituted an -uncouth and troublesome set. They and some neighboring lads formed what -they called a secret society called the "Black Caps." They soon became -the terror of adjoining communities. - -Out of pure perversity they stole fishing nets and tackle, robbed -farmers' hen roosts, and dismantled yachts and yawls. When these -pilferings were brought home to them, they destroyed fishing outfits, -scuttled boats, and burned down several haystacks. Six of them were -finally arrested, and among the witnesses against them were Tom and Ben. -The young desperadoes, who had established a dead line over which few -Rockley Cove boys dared to venture, were locked up in the county jail -for thirty days and in addition their parents had to pay fines for them. - -All this had happened about a year before Station Z was started. The -Black Caps had been disrupted, it seemed, and Tom had heard little of -the Barbers for some time. If they continued their former marauding -course, it was in some new territory, for they neither noticed nor -molested any more Rockley Cove boys or property. - -Now, however, the old-time tactics so common in the past had been -revived, it seemed, as witness the warning note Tom had received. It was -over this that Ben was cogitating. Finally Tom expressed an opinion. - -"I can't account for any fresh antipathy on the part of the Barbers," he -said, "unless it is because they see me going down to Mr. Morgan's once -or twice a week." - -"I'll bet that's it," exclaimed Ben. "You generally take the cut inland -near the settlement, don't you, Tom?" - -"Nearly always." - -"That must be it, then. They think you are sort of watching -them--invading their territory, as they call it. I don't think, though, -they would cut up very rough with you." - -"Why not?" - -"Well, Bill Barber said before he got out of jail you had made up for -telling what you had to tell against him, by pleading with the judge to -let them off light for a first offence." - -"I shall not lose any sleep over the terrible warning," laughed Tom -lightly. - -"I'd take the beach road when I went up to see Grace Morgan, though, if -I were you," suggested Ben. "Talking of something else, Tom, have you -said anything to Harry along the 'Donner' line?" - -"Not a word. Our mysterious spook seems to have given up his erratic -messages." - -"That name, 'Donner,' struck Harry all of a heap, just the same." - -"Well, he's a fine fellow, and I'm not going to pry into his secrets." - -"I wonder what old 'Donner' was after, anyhow?" observed Ben, "with his -mysterious 'messages,' and his 'thousand dollars.'" - -"And the boy with the sun, moon and stars on his left shoulder," smiled -Tom. - -No orders had come to Station Z for work that night, and at five o'clock -the boys locked up the tower. They parted when they reached the village, -Ben taking the road south and Tom proceeding homeward alone. - -He was up in his room changing his working clothes, when his mother -appeared at the bottom of the stairs to tell him that Ben Dixon was on -the telephone. - -"Ben wants you to call him up before you go out to-night," advised Mrs. -Barnes. - -"All right," sang down Tom. - -He forgot all about Ben when he came downstairs, full of his plans for -the evening. Grace Morgan had invited him down to Fernwood, so Tom had -asked his mother to give him an early supper. Then, in the bustle of -getting a lift as far as the crossroads in a passing rig, he left the -house in a great hurry, and never thought of his chum again until he -left the wagon. - -"I won't go back," decided Tom. "It can't be anything very particular -Ben wants to see me about. I've got plenty of time, too, and can stroll -around his way before I go to see Grace." - -Tom passed down the winding road, but on the way ringing boyish shouts -beyond a thicket caused him to deviate from his course. As he came to -where a fringe of shrubbery lined the banks of Silver Brook, he nearly -ran into a man who stood peering past them at a merry group of boys -sporting in the sparkling waters of the stream. - -There was so much that was ill-favored in the face of the man, something -so sinister in his pose, that it suggested to Tom the lurker with a -purpose. Tom halted and regarded the man closely. Then he peered past -him at the group sporting in the water. - -Their leader was Harry Ashley, and he was in great evidence. At just -that moment he was giving them a specimen of rapid hand over hand water -climbing. His admiring friends cheered as Harry made a marvelous dash of -some fifty yards, described a disappearing dive with wonderful -dexterity, and, coming to the surface, landed on a rock not twenty feet -away from the observing stranger and Tom, and stood shaking the water -from hair and face. - -"Ah-h!" suddenly exclaimed the strange man, craning his neck, losing his -balance, falling flat; and then, discovering Tom, he scowled at him, and -suddenly disappeared in the underbrush. - -"The mischief!" ejaculated Tom, as he too glanced at Harry. - -The back of the latter was towards him. Tom experienced a queer thrill -as he saw what the stranger had also seen. - -Upon Harry Ashley's left shoulder, plainly tattooed, was a sun, a moon -and some stars! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--THE BLACK CAPS - - -Harry Ashley, all unconscious of the fact that he was under inspection -from others than his aquatic comrades, gave a yell and dove away from -the rock. - -"Here's something to think about!" said Tom in startled wonderment. "Ben -was right--Harry is a boy with a mystery, just as he said." - -Tom's first impulse was to advance among the noisy crowd of swimmers, or -linger under cover and intercept Harry when he started for home, and -challenge him for some explanation. - -Then it occurred to him that he had no right to pry into Harry's -secrets. At first the case looked strange and grave. At second thought, -however, it occurred to Tom that the discovery of the fact that a man -whom they called "Donner" was supposedly seeking a certain Ernest -Warren, and that Harry Ashley fitted into the affair because he had -tattooed marks on his back, was not such an important circumstance after -all. - -Presumably this wireless operator was the man whose five hundred dollars -Harry had accidentally burned up. This set Tom thinking on a new tack. - -"'Donner' is certainly very anxious to find Harry, if he really is this -Ernest Warren," mused Tom. "He seems willing to pay money to find him. -What for--to punish him? Hardly. Then something of importance may have -happened to change the face of affairs, and if this would be of any -benefit to Harry he ought to know about it. I know what I'll do--I'll -get down and tell Ben what I have discovered, and we'll decide together -what is best to do in the case." - -Tom started to leave the spot. He glanced all about for some trace of -the sinister appearing lurker he had seen watching the swimmers, but -found none. - -"Maybe I am just imagining that fellow was particularly interested in -Harry," ruminated Tom. "He is probably some strolling tramp, and was -casually watching those antics in the water." - -Tom glanced at his watch. It was two miles over to the Dixon place. It -was fast getting on to dusk. Tom calculated that he would reach the farm -by dusk, have half an hour to spare with Ben, and reach the Morgan -mansion by eight o'clock. He had changed his plans since leaving home, -his original purpose being to arrive before nightfall at the Morgan home -while there was enough daylight left to play a game of tennis with -Grace. - -It was a short cut to the Dixon place by taking a road through the -woods, and Tom kept on planning how he would utilize the moments until -he reached Fernwood, and anticipating the usual pleasant time he always -had with pretty Grace Morgan. He was just thinking how happily and -usefully life was rounding out for him, when there came an abrupt -interruption to his pleasing reverie. - -Just as he was passing a thick copse where the road turned and high -trees on either side shut the highway into dimness and obscurity, there -was a rustle in the underbrush. - -"Halt!" - -A form stepped into view suddenly. It was that of a boy. In his hand he -poised a long pole sharpened at the end. This he directed straight at -Tom. - -"Halt!" - -A second figure came quite as magically into view. Then a third, a -fourth, a fifth and sixth, and the astounded Tom stared vaguely at a -perfect circle formed about him by the sextette. - -"Why," he began, turning in a ring and discovering that each one of the -group wore a sable-lined hood over his head with slits cut in for eyes, -nose and mouth, "I understand now--the Black Caps." - -"That's right," responded a voice from behind one of the masks, -disguised into great gruffness. "March!" - -"March where?" demanded Tom, a half amused smile on his face. - -"Don't fool," spoke a second voice quickly. "Get him under cover." - -"Yes, someone may come along," spoke another of the masked crowd. - -"Now!" - -The leader of the gang gave the order. His coterie was well trained. To -a man they dropped their spears to the ground, and made a general rush -for Tom. - -"Hold on, Bill Barber!" said Tom, as he was seized by five pairs of -sturdy hands. - -"Bill Barber isn't here," declared the former gruff voice. - -"What do you want of me, whoever you are?" demanded Tom. - -"You come along and see." - -"I will not," retorted Tom. - -He struck out with his fists and laid two of his assailants low. They -were promptly on their feet. Then the united strength of the group was -exerted to seize and throw our hero down. He found his arms and feet -securely bound by strong ropes. - -"Someone is coming," spoke one of the crowd sharply. - -"Rush him," ordered the leader. - -Tom set up a loud shout. - -"The gag," came the quick command. - -Tom's outcry was hushed in an instant by the application of an elastic -band fastened to a padded stick, which was tightly pressed between his -lips. He was lifted bodily and carried away from the road just as a -wagon rattled past the spot where he had been confronted by the gang. - -The members spoke not a word as, bodily lifting their captive, they bore -him helpless on their shoulders through the woods. They proceeded a -quarter of a mile, finally halting at a low structure which Tom -recognized. - -It was the abandoned hut of a man who had passed a hermit-like existence -in the densest part of a thicket. Tom was carried inside and placed on -the broken floor of the hut, which was covered with dead leaves. - -"What's the orders, chief?" asked one of the crowd. - -A whispered reply that Tom could not over-hear led to five of the party -filing out of the hut like trained soldiers. The sixth, the leader, -remained behind for half a minute. - -"We're coming back soon," he said. "We'll bring a skull and cross bones -when we do. If you'll swear on 'em never to cross our dead line again, -maybe we'll leave you go this time. If you don't----" - -The speaker aspirated a long low hiss and ground his teeth tragically. -Then he, too, disappeared. - -Tom had ample time for reflection as he lay alone in the darkness. He -could not figure out what the Black Caps were up to. The whole -proceeding was freakish, and carried along in the most heroic style of -juvenile roysterers aping pirates and outlaws; yet Tom believed there -was some definite motive underlying it all. What it was he could not at -the moment decide. - -A half hour passed by. The Black Caps had apparently retired to a -distance. Then the crackling of dry twigs outside the hut announced the -approach of someone. - -"Hello, there, Tom Barnes!" spoke the owner of a head thrust past the -open doorway. - -Tom at once identified the tones. They belonged to Mart Walters. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV--TURNING THE TABLES - - -"This is getting interesting--I think I am beginning to understand this -affair," murmured Tom amid his helpless discomfort. - -Mart Walters stepped into the hut. He felt about with his feet, and even -groped with his hands. As one toe touched the prostrate Tom the visitor -came to a stop. - -"We'll have a little light on the subject," he observed, drawing out a -cigar lighter. Mart fancied it was "mannish" and grand to exhibit this -appurtenance when he lit a cigarette. He snapped a light and held the -flame over Tom. Then he extinguished it, and stooping unsnapped the gag -from the captive's lips, letting it drop under his chin. - -Mart had not spoken to Tom since the day of the ducking at the creek. -Twice Tom had met him in Rockley Cove, and had nodded to him pleasantly. -This courtesy had been rewarded with a malevolent scowl. It was -evidently still in the mind of our hero's enemy to "get even" with him. - -More than once Tom had seen Mart on the Fernwood pier or in the powerful -launch with the elegant young swell, Bert Aldrich. Several evenings Tom -had passed at the Morgan mansion at little social gatherings of Miss -Grace and her friends. On these occasions, however, Aldrich and his -satellite had made a point to cut Tom direct. Tom had not minded this in -the least, for Grace had laughed outright at such ridiculous manoeuvres. - -Tom now instantly made up his mind that the present episode had -something to do with his visits to Grace. Mart was not above mean -plotting, and his supercilious friend, Bert Aldrich, had always struck -Tom as an unpleasant cad. - -"There's only just about five minutes to spare, Tom Barnes," spoke Mart -smartly. - -"For what?" demanded Tom. - -"For me to save you." - -"What from?" - -"The Black Caps." - -"You train with them, do you?" interrogated Tom. - -"Who, me? No, indeed!" answered Mart. "It's this way: I'm your friend." - -"Go ahead, Mart." - -"The Barbers don't like you any too well. They think the best way they -can beat your game is to keep you from coming here." - -"Coming where?" challenged Tom specifically. - -"Well, down to the Morgan place. They don't want you sneaking around -anywhere near them." - -"Oh, that's it, is it?" observed Tom. - -"I overheard their talk. They've gone to get some tar and feathers. -They're going to muss you up bad. I know them pretty well." - -"I see you do," remarked Tom, significantly. - -"Oh, I don't mean that I chum with them, or anything like that," -corrected Mart, in a flustered manner. "But, I have--why, -well--influence, that's it, with them. Then again, I'm interested -personally." - -"How are you interested?" inquired Tom. - -"Well, I'll just be plain with you. My friend, Bert Aldrich, is sweet on -Grace Morgan, and you've spoiled it." - -"Indeed," said Tom simply. - -"He thinks you have prejudiced Grace against him, and he's mad as a -hatter about it. See here, she isn't your class. You know she -ain't--half a million, classy family. Why, you're poor. Then again, -she's going south soon, and when she gets into society she'll have to -meet Bert and his family, and take up with him again--see?" - -"Get along, Mart," railed Tom, "you're progressing finely." - -"I'll save you from the Black Caps if you'll agree to keep away from -Grace Morgan. There's the straight of it. What do you say?" - -"I say no," responded Tom promptly. - -"You won't do it?" - -"Hardly." - -"You'll be sorry." - -"All right." - -"Suppose--suppose Bert gives you fifty dollars, will you keep away?" - -"Say, Mart," observed Tom, quietly, but with force, "you're too cheap. -Grace Morgan is worth a million, if she is worth a cent. You can't scare -me off nor buy me off. She's a dear little lady, my good friend, and I -wouldn't give up her company under any circumstances as long as my -coming seems to please her." - -"Rot you!" shouted Mart, fairly infuriated at the failure of his -cherished schemes. "I've a good mind to kick you. I'll do it, yes, I -will----" - -"Stop there, you miserable scamp!" - -"Let go!" - -"Speak another word, and I'll half choke the life out of you!" - -"Ben!" murmured Tom gratefully. - -A form had flashed through the doorway. There was the sound of a -struggle, a thud, as Mart Walters' body struck the floor. - -"I'm sitting on him, Tom," announced the newcomer. "Lie still, or I'll -knock you silly. Where's that gag, Tom? I've got it." - -Tom felt the hand of his friend grope in the dark and remove the gag -from under his chin. Then, from the squirmings and splutterings of Mart, -he knew that Ben had silenced him effectually. Next, Ben whipped out his -pocket knife, and the ropes holding Tom a prisoner were severed. - -"Trim and tidy," reported the diligent Ben as he helped Tom to his feet. -"I've gagged him and tied him for keeps. Come outside." - -"Why, how in the world did you happen to come along in the nick of -time?" propounded Tom, wonderingly. - -"Never mind that now. You do just what I tell you to do. You were bound -for Morgan's?" - -"Yes." - -"Get there, then. I'll come along a little later. I've got something -else to do hereabouts." - -"But Mart, here?" - -"He'll be taken care of, never fear," retorted Ben with a chuckle. - -"And the Black Caps?" - -"You forget all about it till I see you later," insisted Ben. "There -will be quite a story to tell. Don't spoil it by hanging around here. I -know my business. Go along." - -Tom did as directed. He could guess that there was some motive in his -chum's insistence. He rearranged his disordered attire, left the spot, -and half an hour later had followed Ben's directions, having indeed -forgotten everything except that he was seated on the Morgan porch with -charming Grace as his companion. - -"What is that?" exclaimed Grace suddenly. - -Tom arose quickly to his feet at the startling inquiry. The light from -the front rooms illumined the porch, but beyond the shadows were vague -and dim. Amid these, Tom, peering, discerned some bustling forms. - -He moved towards the button controlling the electric lights at either -side of the pillars at the steps. Just as he pressed it, ear-splitting -sounds rang out. - -"The Black Caps!" exclaimed Tom, as he recognized his recent -persecutors. - -"Oh, what are they here for?" cried Grace, timidly clinging to Tom's -arm. - -"Fire him, men!" - -A struggling form in the grasp of the six young outlaws was forcibly -propelled forward, landed on the porch steps and rolled over on the -gravel walk. - -"Cut for it!" came the sharp mandate. - -The Black Caps vanished as if by magic. Tom stared hard. Grace, -trembling with excitement, gazed vaguely at the figure arising to its -feet. - -"Why," she faltered, catching sight of the terrified face of the -unwilling visitor, "it is Mart Walters!" - -It was Mart, indeed, and he was a sight. From head to foot loose -fluttering feathers waved ghost-like in the night breeze. Mart was not -bound now, but the gag was still in his mouth. He cast one appalled -glance at Grace and Tom, tore the gag loose and uttered a shrill yell of -rage and chagrin. Then, throwing his hands above his head, he, too, -disappeared. - -"What does it all mean, Tom?" quavered Grace with a bloodless face. -"There--there is somebody else!" - -She shrank back anew with the words. - -"It's all right," Tom reassured her. "It is Ben Dixon." - -Ben, smothering a laugh, came up the steps, lifting his cap and smiling, -his eyes twinkling. - -"The biter bit, the tables turned, Miss Grace," he said. - -"Ben, explain what it all means," pleaded Grace. "Tom won't." - - - [Illustration: "WHY," SHE FALTERED, "IT IS MART WALTERS!"] - - -"It's like him not to," declared Tom's staunch chum. "I got a hint from -a friend early in the evening that the Barber boys were on the rampage. -I missed Tom by 'phone and started to intercept him on his way here, -when I ran across the crowd talking with Mart Walters. I learned the -whole scheme, and followed Walters to a hut where the gang had -imprisoned Tom, and--well, I set Tom free and tied and gagged Walters in -his place." - -"What for?" questioned Grace. - -"To give him a needed lesson," answered Ben promptly. "When the crowd -returned I suppose they had arranged if Walters didn't come back to them -they were to 'fix' Tom, as they called it. Two of them carried a feather -bed. Two others carried pails of soft soap. It seemed they intended to -use tar, but couldn't get any. They ripped open the bed, deluged Walters -with the soap, mistaking him for Tom, rolled him in among the feathers, -and--you saw him. They never got onto the fact that it was the fellow -who had hired them who got the dose they intended for Tom." - -"Why did he hire them?" inquired Grace. - -"Because that Aldrich cad plotted with Walters to scare Tom away from -coming here to see you," explained Ben bluntly. - -Grace Morgan's eyes flashed. A flush of real anger came into her cheeks. - -"Mart and Mr. Aldrich did that?" she cried. "Oh, they shall never come -into this house again." And on hearing this Tom Barnes felt rewarded for -all the tribulation he had gone through that night. - - - - -CHAPTER XV--AN UNEXPECTED RESCUER - - -"Have you spoken to Harry yet, Tom?" inquired Ben, two days after the -overturning of the plots of Mart Walters and his city friend, Bert -Aldrich. - -It was the middle of the afternoon, and things wireless had been slack -at Station Z ever since morning. Tom turned from his chair at the window -where he had been dreamily surveying the open sea. - -"No, Ben," he replied a little gravely. "I came near doing it last -night, but I didn't know but it might worry him, or make him think I was -trying to pry into his personal business." - -"I tell you, Tom, I think Harry ought to be told about the mysterious -'Donner' messages, and asked to explain about the tattooed sun, moon and -stars on his left shoulder." - -"I fancy he's about through with his task in the pasture by now," said -Tom. "Supposing you go up to the house, get him down here, and we'll try -to introduce the subject so it won't frighten or bother him." - -"All right," assented Ben with alacrity, and was forthwith on his way. - -Tom resumed his place at the window. His back was to the road running up -from the beach to the village, and he was not aware of an unexpected -arrival from that direction until a man's voice sounding within the room -hailed him. - -"Hey, boy, who's in charge here?" - -"I am," answered Tom, turning to confront two men who in turn entered -the tower by way of the trap door. They were strangers in Rockley Cove, -and Tom did not at all like their looks. The man who had accosted him -had a sharp, hard eye. His companion was furtive-faced, and suggested a -person constantly on the watch. - -"We want to send a message," the former proceeded. "In cypher." - -"Where to?" inquired Tom. - -"The man pointed seawards." - -"To a ship?" - -"Yes, to the _Councillor_, bound for Canada." - -Tom shook his head discouragingly. - -"You will have to go to Station O at Deepdale. This is only a -demonstration plant, and I have no orders to take commercial business," -explained Tom. - -The man drew out a pocketbook. - -"See here," he said, "I'll give you ten dollars to send the message." - -"I'm sorry, but it's against the rules." - -"Jackson, do it yourself," spoke the other man quickly, pressing close -to his companion's side. - -"I'm out of practice." - -"Oh, you can manage it." - -"Hold on, there. I can't allow any interference with the apparatus -here," said Tom, stepping in front of the first man as he started over -towards the operating table. - -"Can't, eh?" sneered the man. "Well, you'll have to. Keep him quiet, -Griffin." - -"I've got him," announced the man addressed. - -He had caught Tom by the wrist. As the latter struggled to free himself, -his captor dragged him toward a closet in one corner of the room. - -Its door stood open. The closet was oak framed, built into the wall of -the room, and had a stout door with a small circular slit in it. Mr. -Edson had utilized it to lock up things he did not wish to leave lying -around loose, when he left the tower at night. Tom had used it as a -storeroom for surplus parts of the wireless outfit. - -It had a strong padlock. The man threw Tom in roughly, secured the -padlock, and then went up to the table. His companion was closely -inspecting the apparatus. - -"I'm at home at the regular key," he said. "I don't know whether I can -work this, though." - -"Of course you can," urged the other. "Get ready. I've got the cypher -key and the message right here," and he took two sheets of paper from -his pocket. - -Tom was helpless. He could not possibly force the heavy door of the -closet from its fastenings. Shouting would do no good. If he attempted -it, his jailers would probably treat him roughly, for they were -vicious-looking fellows. Tom hoped for the return of Ben and Harry, or -the arrival of someone else to interrupt the man at the table. Meanwhile -he was on the keen alert as to all that individual was doing. - -The minute this man got his bearings, he started in with confidence. Tom -learned that he was flashing a message to the steamer _Councillor_, -bound from New York to Halifax. In plain English, the operator on the -_Councillor_ was instructed to deliver a message to a passenger -answering to the name of Daniel Ritchie. The message itself was a lot of -private code-words, utterly unintelligible to Tom. - -The sender repeated the message and got up from the table. - -"Hit or miss, that is the best I can do," he remarked. - -"Hit or miss, you've done all that could be expected of you," remarked -his companion. "What are you going to do with him?" questioned the -speaker, with a shrug of his shoulders towards Tom's place of -imprisonment. - -"Oh, leave him where he is. We want a start, and someone will come along -to let him out. So long, son. You might have made ten dollars if you'd -saved me the trouble of showing you that I'm some wireless myself." - -Both men laughed coarsely and left the tower. Tom knew it was futile to -expect his liberty except through the accidental visit of someone. He -contented himself by trying to recall what he could remember of the -message sent. He tried also to figure out the motive for the men's -actions. - -"They have got word to someone aboard the steamer _Councillor_," mused -Tom. "The trouble they went to to do it looks suspicious and mysterious, -though. Hello!" - -Tom stared hard at the trap door opening. Through it a head was -protruded. - -"Anybody here?" its owner called out. - -"Yes, I am here," announced Tom, moving his hand through the slit in the -closet door. - -"Tom Barnes!" - -"That's right." - -And then Tom gave a start as he recognized his unexpected visitor as -Bill Barber, head of the Black Caps. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI--KIDNAPPED - - -"Let me out," said Tom, rattling the closet door. - -"Sure, how did you get in there?" asked Bill Barber. - -"I was locked in." - -"Who by?" - -"I'll tell you later. The key is in the padlock." - -"I see it." - -There was nothing belligerent or threatening in Bill's behavior. On the -contrary, he seemed anxious to please Tom and glad to do him a favor. -This was so foreign to the usual attitude of the Barber boy, that Tom -was both astonished and puzzled. - -He noticed casually that Bill seemed more tidy than usual, and there was -not so much of the hang dog look about him as in the past. - -"Queer," spoke Bill, staring perplexedly at Tom as the latter stepped -out into the room. "You didn't shut yourself up in there?" - -"No, I'll tell you how it was soon. Thank you, Bill, you've done me a -big favor in coming just when I needed help." - -"I am glad," voiced Bill, sententiously but heartily. - -"I've something to do, so just sit down till I get things to rights, -will you?" - -"I'll do that, Tom." - -Bill sat staring wonderingly at the wireless outfit. He watched Tom flit -about as might a wizard among his trick apparatus. Tom flew to the -operating table. He knew that somehow irregular work had been done by -his two recent visitors. He wondered if he could head off the design -they had in view, and was intent on getting word to headquarters. - -Just ready to flash the signal, however, Tom ran over to a corner of the -room and picked up a crumpled wad of paper. As he opened it, revealing -two sheets, and reviewed their contents, he knew that he had discovered -something worth while. - -"The cypher message and the key to it," exclaimed Tom eagerly. "Those -fellows got what they came after and carelessly dropped these. Now to -figure it out." - -Tom ran his eyes first over one sheet and then the other. The cypher -message dovetailed with words he had heard the surreptitious operator -use. With a pencil he wrote the words out with the help of the key. This -was the result: - - "Leave the steamer before arrival at Halifax, - as New York police have telegraphed there to - arrest you." - -"I see it all as clear as daylight," murmured Tom. "The two men who -imprisoned me are warning a friend, a criminal confederate. I'll block -the game." - -Tom was busy at the transmitter for the next half hour. He flashed a -message to the _Councillor_, informing the captain that the passenger, -Daniel Ritchie, had received a wireless message irregularly, and to -prevent him from leaving the ship until he reported to the police at -Halifax. - -Then Tom sent a message to headquarters explaining the entire -proceedings of the past hour, giving his construction of the episode, -and advising an immediate report to the New York police authorities. - -Pretty tired from his activities, he now sat down in a chair. He had to -smile as he observed the face of Bill Barber. The latter sat like one -entranced over the manipulation the wireless outfit had undergone. - -"Say," he bolted out in mingled awe and admiration, "you know how to do -things with that queer contrivance, don't you?" - -Tom briefly explained some of the minutiae of the wireless and had an -ardent listener. When he had concluded he intimated pleasantly: - -"And how did you chance to come along just when I needed you, Bill?" - -The Barber boy at once looked serious. A furtive embarrassed expression -came into his face. - -"That's it," he mumbled, "I came to tell you, Tom, you see?" - -"To tell me what, Bill?" asked Tom encouragingly. - -"About that tar and feather business. I had nothing to do with it, Tom, -honest Injun." - -"Who said you did, Bill?" propounded Tom, smiling. - -"I'll bet you thought it." - -"Well, wasn't it quite natural I should?" inquired Tom. - -"No, sir!" declared Bill, quite indignantly, "I wouldn't play a mean -trick like that on you, Tom Barnes. I've got nothing against you. In -fact, ever since you spoke up for me at the trial, I've--well, Tom," -stammered Bill, a little sheepishly, "I've tried to remember what you -said about giving me a chance to make a man of myself, and I--I hope I'm -doing it." - -"Good for you, Bill Barber!" cried Tom heartily. "I'm proud of you, to -hear you talk like that." - -"It was some of my old gang hired out to trim you. I've thrashed the -whole kit of them for doing it, and they won't trouble you again, never -fear." - -"You're a good friend, Bill," declared Tom. "Did you say you were -working?" - -"Yes, but not steady," answered Bill. "I get odd jobs running small -launches for the resorters down at Sea Grove. Had a trip or two for that -young Boston cad, who is hanging around with Mart Walters. Huh! he brags -about what lots of money he's got, and he hasn't paid me for my work -yet. I'll get it, though, or take it out of his hide," declared Bill, -ominously. "I say, Tom, he's a bad one, and Mart Walters is worse. Look -out for them." - -"I shall, Bill, and thank you for your good wishes and help. Any time I -can return the favor call on me as a real friend." - -Bill Barber departed with a pleased face, and Tom was not sorry for the -chance to help a fellow whom he decided had lots of good in him, if -rightly encouraged. - -In about half an hour a message came from headquarters. It had the -"sine" of the superintendent. - -"Good work," it commended. "Parties interested notified. Man on steamer -fugitive forger wanted by the Government. Probably a reward case." - -Tom felt that he was progressing finely in his work. So far, application -and straightforward devotion to duty had enabled him to perform his -duties without a censure, and to avoid snares set for his downfall. - -He was glad when Ben appeared, for Tom was full of the theme of the -hour, and his chum and assistant was a good listener. Something in Ben's -face checked the welcome rising to Tom's lips, however, and he eyed Ben -keenly. - -"Something wrong," reported Ben, looking pale and breathing hard as if -he had been running fast. - -"Where--how?" propounded Tom quickly. - -"At the farm--Harry." - -"What do you mean?" - -"Harry is in trouble of some kind. I hurried to tell you. Tom, Harry has -disappeared." - -"You don't mean for good?" exclaimed Tom seriously. - -"I don't know, but he's been kidnapped." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII--UP TO MISCHIEF - - -"Kidnapped!" repeated Tom, quite startled. - -"Yes," declared Ben. "That much is sure." - -"Did you see Harry?" - -"No, but others did. When I went after him your father told me that -Harry was grubbing out some brush in the old pasture lot. I went down -there. The hoe he had been using was lying on the ground. His coat was -hanging on the fence, but no Harry. I walked out beyond the fence to -look around for him, and near the big gate was his cap, all tramped down -in the mud. The ground looked as if there had been a scuffle." - -"This all sounds pretty strange," commented Tom. - -"I was standing wondering what next to do, when the old lady who lives -near your house came over to me. She asked me whom I was looking for, -and when I told her she said that about an hour before two men, -strangers to her, had driven up in a covered wagon. They halted outside -of the pasture lot. One of them stayed in the wagon. The other man went -up to Harry and engaged him in conversation. He seemed to induce him by -some argument or other to go out to the wagon. Once there, the woman -said, the man tried to force Harry to go with them. He must have -refused, for there was a scuffle, and the men threw Harry into the wagon -and drove off with him." - -"Did you tell my father?" inquired Tom, arising to his feet in a state -of deep anxiety and excitement. - -"I ran to a field where some men were working. They told me that your -father had gone to Westport with a load of hay. Then I ran here to tell -you about it." - -"Ben, we must do something about this at once! You must stay here in -charge." - -"I will, Tom. What do you suppose those men carried Harry away for?" - -"This is no time to lose in theorizing. I have my ideas, but never mind -them now. I will hurry home and start a chase after him." - -Tom lost no time. He gave Ben a few instructions, and then hastened -homewards on a run. Within half an hour he was mounted on a horse, and -following the main road west in the direction the kidnappers had taken. -He had made a brief explanation to one of his father's field hands, and -the man was started on horseback down the branching road. - -Tom stopped at half a dozen farm houses and made inquiries, but found no -one who had seen a wagon pass answering to his description. He reached -in turn three small settlements, met with no success in his quest, and -turned around and made for home, disappointed and concerned, but hoping -that the hired man had met with better luck. - -His messenger, however, had not returned, he found when he reached the -farm. There was an hour of anxious waiting. Finally the man rode up. - -"What news?" inquired Tom eagerly. - -"I traced the wagon five miles," reported the man, "lost it at the -crossroads, and couldn't get the trail again." - -Tom hurried to the telephone and called up every exchange within a -radius of twenty miles, explaining briefly but clearly what he wanted. - -"About all you can do is to wait, Tom," said his mother, who tried to -conceal her solicitude for the missing boy. - -"It seems to me those men cannot get through the network of people -watching out for them," spoke Tom. "I must do all I can, though, myself, -for Harry." - -Our hero started off again on horseback. He took another route this -time. It was seven o'clock when he got back home again. No trace of the -kidnappers had been reported. - -Ben had locked up at the tower, and was waiting for Tom at the Barnes' -home in a great state of impatience. Tom, after reporting to his mother, -called his chum outside. - -"Ben," he said, "I got a description of one of the men who drove the -wagon, and I know who he is." - -"You do?" exclaimed Ben. - -"Yes--the man I told you about seeing, the day Harry was in swimming, -and I discovered the tattoo marks on his shoulder." - -"You don't say so!" - -"I am pretty sure of it," declared Tom. - -"That being true, it connects with the 'Donner' business!" cried Ben. -"The sun, moon and stars message." - -"Perhaps. If Harry is really the Ernest Warren they have been -telegraphing about, someone was trying to find him." - -"And they've done it, and gotten him!" cried Ben excitedly. "We'll never -see him again, and we'll never know the mystery about him." - -"You give up too easily, Ben," said Tom, and then he hastened to meet -his father, who at that moment drove into the farm yard. - -Mr. Barnes was a peculiar man. He was wilful and went to extremes where -his likes and dislikes were involved. He had taken a great fancy to the -busy, buoyant lad he had hired, and at once manifested the deepest -interest in the particulars of the strange disappearance of Harry -Ashley. - -He turned his horses directly around and drove to the village. When he -returned, he told Tom he had got a local constable to start at once and -try to get some trace of the missing boy. - -With that move all were forced to be content. Ben stayed at Tom's house -all night, and the boys remained up late, hoping some word might come. -The captors of Harry, however, seemed to have well planned their flight, -for at the crossroads all trace of them had disappeared. - -The next day went by with no report as to the fate of Harry. Tom and Ben -took turns till late in the afternoon spelling one another in visits to -the house, anxious and eager to hear some word about their missing -comrade. - -"We'll just have to wait," concluded Ben, as they locked up the tower -that evening. "You see----" - -There Ben suddenly interrupted himself. He halted, drawing Tom also to a -dead stop. - -"What's the matter, Ben?" inquired Tom in some surprise. - -"S--sh! Ambush." - -"Don't be mysterious, Ben," began Tom. - -Then, following the indication of the pointed finger of his companion, -Tom became as much startled and interested as his chum. - -There was a dense stretch of wild rose bushes on a sandy hill about -fifty yards distant from the tower. Protruding from these, plainly -visible, was a pair of human feet. - -"Some one spying on us," declared Ben in a quivering whisper. The air -had been so full of mystery the past few days that Ben traced its -continuance in any unusual happening. - -"More like a sleepy tramp," observed Tom. - -"Find out, will you?" - -"I intend to." - -Tom picked up a heavy stick, advanced quietly to the bushes, and brought -it down with a force of a policeman's club directly across the flat -soles presented. - -"Thunder!" - -The owner of the shoes leaped to his feet with a vivid exclamation. - -"Oh, it's you, Bill?" spoke Tom instantly. "What in the world have you -got here?" - -Peering past Bill Barber, Tom observed a double-barreled shotgun where -he had been lying down. Ben looked dreadfully suspicious. Bill flushed -and stammered. - -"Oh, just hunting," he spoke evasively. - -"In that bunch of brush?" laughed Tom. - -Then, placing a rallying hand on Bill's shoulder, he added: "Out with -it, Bill, what are you up to?" - -Bill's lips came grimly together. - -"You won't interfere with me, if I tell?" - -"Why should I?" - -"Well, then, I'm watching your station here." - -"What for?" - -"Visitors." - -"Indeed?" - -"Trespassers, vandals, I had better say," went on Bill. "See here, I'm -laying for somebody, partly for you, partly because I am interested -myself. Tom Barnes, I want you to go straight home and leave me to my -own affairs. You've got enough confidence in me to believe that I -wouldn't harm you or your friends or your wireless, haven't you?" - -"There's my answer," said Tom promptly. - -As he spoke he extended the key to the trap door. - -"No," dissented Bill, "I don't need that, but thank you just the same. -The fellows I've got a tip about won't get as far as the tower." - -"You won't hurt anybody, Bill?" questioned Tom gravely, with a glance at -the shotgun. - -"No, but I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget for a long time to -come," was Bill Barber's significant reply. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII--THE TOY BALLOONS - - -"There's another one--that makes six." - -"Six what, Ben?" - -"Balloons." - -Tom walked to the window where Ben had been sitting, looked at the sky, -made out a tiny blue dot sailing aerially seawards, and observed: - -"Oh, you mean toy balloons?" - -"Yes. There must be a picnic somewhere. Funny thing, too. I noticed they -all had a card or a tag attached to the trailing strings." - -"Perhaps it is some advertising stunt," suggested Tom. - -He resumed the reading of a technical wireless book he had received from -New York, while Ben continued idly looking from the tower window. - -Affairs at Station Z had settled down to routine. They had learned no -results as yet from the mysterious appearance of Bill Barber at the -tower the evening before. Suddenly Ben broke out with the words: - -"There comes Bill Barber, now." - -Tom awaited the appearance of the former captain of the Black Caps with -some curiosity. He pointed to a chair as the Barber boy came up through -the trap door. - -"What's the news, Bill?" inquired Tom casually. - -Bill's broad mouth expanded Into a grin. He chuckled serenely. - -"Haven't heard anything about last night?" - -"Not a word." - -"You will if you go down Fernwood way." - -"Indeed?" - -"Yes, there's two fellows keeping themselves mighty scarce. When they -walk they wobble, and when they talk they squabble." - -"Do I happen to know the parties?" inquired Tom, but already guessing -their identity. - -"I reckon you do," answered Bill. "Making no bones about it, the fellows -are Mart Walters and Bert Aldrich." - -"I thought so," put in Ben. "They were up to tricks, were they?" - -"They were up to queering you fellows," replied Bill, "and I learned of -it. I knew yesterday they were coming down here after dark to wreck your -wireless plant. I owed that cad, Aldrich, something, and I reckoned to -pay off two scores at one and the same time. I lay in wait." - -"And they showed up?" inquired the interested Ben. - -"Yes, about nine o'clock. They tried to get up through the trap door, me -watching them. They couldn't make it, and then they went down to the -beach and got an armful of big flat stones. Aldrich was to go up that -tree yonder and Mart was to pass up the stones to him. He calculated to -throw through the tower windows and smash your outfit." - -"I see you didn't let them, Bill," suggested Tom. - -"Not I. Both barrels of the shotgun were loaded to the muzzle with -pepper and salt. Just as they got under the tree I let both triggers go. -It took them around the knees." - -"I hope you didn't cripple them," said Tom. - -"Oh, they could walk," replied Bill with a guffaw,--"just walk. I -understand that Aldrich has thrown up his hands and is going to call the -game closed." - -"What do you mean?" - -"He's going back to Boston some time between now and to-morrow night. I -guess Miss Morgan has turned the cold shoulder on him. Well, he's a good -one if he gets away with the eleven dollars and seventy-five cents he -owes me for work on the yacht, and good hard work at that." - -Bill Barber hung around for about an hour. He seemed to be glad of an -excuse to visit the tower. He was mightily interested in the wireless -outfit, and he seemed pleased to be in Tom's company. - -"Bill is not so bad a fellow after all," remarked Ben, as their visitor -departed. "What a shame! that Aldrich, with all the money he brags -about, cheating him out of his honest wages." - -"I think Bill is likely to get it," said Tom. "He is a determined and a -dangerous fellow, too, when he is once aroused." - -"I can see that," replied Ben. - -"He has proven himself a good friend to us," observed Tom. - -"Grace Morgan doesn't seem to have much use for Aldrich. I suppose he'll -try to break in and bid her good-by. I hear she is going away for a -month or two." - -"She has gone already," said Tom, with a conscious flush. - -"Oh, is that so?" - -"Yes, she left for Albion this morning, where her aunt resides. They -take the steamer _Olivia_ this evening down the coast. They are going to -a Virginia Summer resort." - -"You seem pretty well informed as to Miss Morgan's movements," observed -Ben with a wink. - -"Why, yes, I saw her last evening," replied Tom. "We are very good -friends, you know, and I am naturally interested in her plans." - -Tom did not tell his chum that in his breast pocket reposed a dainty -little card bearing the southern address of Grace, nor that she had made -him promise to write her often about the progress he made with "that -delightful wireless." - -"I say, there is another one of those balloons," exclaimed Ben suddenly; -"a red one this time. She's lighting. No, she isn't. Yes, she is, but in -the water. Tom, I'm curious about the tags all of those balloons seem to -have attached to them; I'm going to make a try to get one." - -Ben bolted from the tower. Tom went to the window to watch his -manoeuvres. Ben reached the shingly beach, and was reaching out into the -water with a long tree branch, trying to hook in the now exhausted -balloon without getting his feet wet. - -"He's got it," tallied Tom, keeping track of his movements. "Well," he -inquired a minute later, as Ben reappeared in the tower, "what does it -amount to?" - -"There has been some pencilled writing on the back of the tag," -explained Ben, "but the water has blurred it out." - -"Whose tag is it?" - -"Tom," said Ben, "what do you think? It's one of your own cards!" - -"Mine?" exclaimed Tom in surprise. - -"Yes--look at it." - -Tom took the soaked piece of cardboard. He regarded it in some wonder. - -"Why, Ben," he said finally, "you are quite right. This is one of the -cards I printed when I went into the amateur printing line last Summer." - -"I knew I'd seen it or its like before," observed Ben. - -"It's strange," ruminated Tom, turning the card over and over in his -hand in a puzzled way. "Say, though," he cried with a quick start, "I -gave a lot of those cards to Harry Ashley." - -"When?" asked Ben. - -"Last week. I was cleaning up my desk at the house, and threw away about -two hundred of them as useless into the waste basket. Harry picked them -up and asked for them." - -"And you gave them to him?" - -"That's it. He said one side was blank, and he liked to carry something -with him he could scribble on when he took the fancy." - -"Why, then," declared Ben, getting very much excited, "that card comes -from Harry!" - -"It looks that way," admitted Tom. - -"Of course that is it," insisted Ben. "It's Harry who has been sending -up those balloons." - -"But how could he do that?" - -"There's the mystery, like all the mysteries we've been running across -lately," said Ben. "Don't you see, Tom, he had some writing on the back -of those cards?" - -"It's all washed out now." - -"Yes, I see it is. See here, he is in trouble somewhere, and trying to -send us word. Don't you think we had better get out and try and find -some balloon that has dropped on land, or chase one and run it down?" - -"Well, that might be a good way," replied Tom slowly, as though he was -thinking deeply on some matter. "But perhaps we can do it easier." - -"How?" - -"By trying to decipher the writing on this card." - -"But you can't!" exclaimed Ben half impatiently, as he held up the -dripping pasteboard. "You can't read it. Try for yourself. Might as well -try to read in the dark." - -"I know you can't read it now," assented Tom, "for the water has about -soaked off the black marks of the pencil. But there may be a way of -bringing back the writing." - -"How? Do you think Harry used some kind of invisible ink? I've read of -prisoners sending secret messages to their friends written with some -chemical that would not show unless it was heated, or something like -that. Say!" he cried with sudden interest, "do you mean that way, Tom?" - -"Well, no, not exactly. Harry didn't use ink. He used a common lead -pencil, from all appearances, and the water has soaked the black marks -off. But you know when you use a pencil on paper, it always makes little -depressions in the surface, corresponding to the shape of the letters. -Did you ever put a piece of paper on top of another piece, and write on -the top sheet?" - -"Of course I have." - -"Then you've probably noticed that on the second sheet there would be -marks by which the writing could be read, even though the black pencil -characters did not show." - -"Of course. I see what you mean." - -"I thought you would. I mean to dry out this card, and then, in a good -light, we ought to be able to tell what the marks are. In that way we -can decipher what Harry wrote even though the black marks are gone." - -"Good! Let's do it. That's easier than chasing after a balloon. Here, -I'll dry the card." - -He reached for it, and approached the window on the sill of which the -sun just then shone brightly. - -"That's it!" cried Tom. "Meanwhile I'll get out a magnifying glass to -use on the card when it's dry. With that we ought to be able to read -what it says, even if the impressions are very faint." - -"Say, there's class to us all right," observed Ben with a laugh. "Maybe -we can get a job somewhere, reading secret messages for the government. -That would be excitement, and----" - -"Here's some new excitement," announced Tom, with a glance from the -window. - -"Wonder what's up now?" speculated Ben, as he too took a look. "It's -Bill Barber come back, and he's making for here on the run." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX--A STARTLING MESSAGE - - -"I've come back again," announced the Barber boy, bursting upon Tom and -Ben breathlessly. - -"I see you have," said Tom pleasantly. - -"Got something to show you. Maybe it's not important, but I thought it -was, so I hurried here." - -"You are doing me a lot of favors, Bill," said Tom. - -"Glad to," declared Bill. "Here it is," and he extended a wrinkled-up -object as he spoke. - -"Why," cried Ben, peering curiously, "it's another of those toy -balloons!" - -"Yes," assented Bill. "They've been flying around half the morning. -After I left here I ran across a crowd of youngsters chasing two sailing -aloft. One of the boys had a bow and arrow, and was trying to hit one -and bring it down. I'm some on shooting, and asked him for the bow. -Missed the first time. Next time, though, the arrow went through the -balloon, busted it, and sailed to the ground with it." - -"And this is it?" questioned Tom. - -"Yes. The little fellows ran after it and fought over it. I happened to -see the tag, and was kind of curious about it. By the time I got it, -though, the mob had trampled it in the mud, and their feet had torn away -half of it. Here's what's left of it. Your name is on it, Tom, and that -and the reward----" - -"What reward?" inquired Ben quickly. - -"It's on the back of the card," replied Bill. - -"Ben," said Tom inspecting it, "this is another of my old cards." - -"What's written on the back, Tom?" inquired Ben eagerly. - -Tom held the card so Ben could read it as well as himself. A part of the -card was gone, and some of the pencilled words it had originally -contained were blurred and vague. What was left of it read: - -"Take this to Tom Barnes and get ten dollars reward. Tom: I am a -prisoner--two bad men--about thirty miles--in the--at--in lion's -cage--_Harry Ashley_." - -Tom scanned the card again and again. Ben noted his serious studious -manner. Finally Tom turned to their visitor. - -"Bill," he said, "you get the reward. I haven't the money with me, but -any time to-morrow you call here and get it." - -"Oh, I don't want any reward," declared Bill. - -"You get it just the same," insisted Tom firmly. - -"I'll have to be getting along," said Bill. "I'm watching that launch -for Aldrich to put in an appearance. It's eleven dollars and -seventy-five cents or a licking for him, I can tell you." - -"I think I know where those balloons came from," said Tom to Ben, when -Bill had departed. - -"Where, Tom?" - -"A circus." - -"How so?" - -"Those fragments of sentences on the card lead me to believe that the -message should read about this way: 'I am a prisoner in the hands of two -bad men about thirty miles from Rockley Cove, in the circus at Wadhams, -shut up in the lion's cage.'" - -Ben was on his feet in a bound, his face flushed with excitement. - -"I'll bet you've solved it, Tom. And there is a circus at Wadhams just -now. Why, it's just the place where these toy balloons would be likely -to be on sale. And the mention of a lion's cage! That fits to a circus, -too! I don't understand, though, how Harry has managed to send the -balloons aloft, if he was shut up somewhere prisoner." - -"We won't try to guess that out now," said Tom. "Here is certainly a big -clue. Harry is an ingenious fellow, and somehow has managed to float -these messages. I want you to stay here alone for a spell." - -"Where are you going?" inquired Ben. - -"To report to my father instanter," replied Tom; and he was off -speedily. - -It was the middle of the afternoon before Tom returned. Ben was -anxiously awaiting him. - -"What's the program?" he asked eagerly. - -"You are to go up to the house at once, Ben. My father has the team -hitched up and is waiting for you. A hired man is going, too, and the -constable. Telephone your folks from the house that you may be away till -morning. When you do come back, report here right away." - -"All right, Tom." - -"Storm signals are out, and one of us will have to stay on duty -to-night." - -The sky had been overcast all the morning. Long before dusk the -forewarnings of a heavy storm were discoverable, and Tom realized an -impending occasion when he was expected to exercise unusual vigilance. - -At dark one of the field hands came to the tower with a warm supper sent -by Tom's mother. He chatted with Tom for half an hour and left in a wild -flurry of wind and rain. - -By eight o'clock the full fury of the gale broke on land, already -dangerous at sea, as Tom had noticed for some time previous. The wind -arose to a hurricane, the rain came in sheets, and at times the thunder -and lightning became terrific. - -Tom was in constant readiness for service. His ear was close to the -receiver. He knew from experience what these tempestuous nights meant -for those at sea. - -Suddenly there was a sharp series of sputtering, crackling sounds. Then -the receiver gave: "y-3----y-3----y-3." - -Tom thrilled. It was the first time in his experience as a wireless -operator that the signal most dreaded had come into Station Z, for the -quickly repeated letter and its accompanying numeral meant that some -vessel at sea was in dire distress. - -Tom clapped the receiver to his ear, and, even before it was in place he -noted the clicking of the diaphragm, which told that the electric -current was operating through the magnets. Then came a snap, as when a -central telephone operator accidently "rings the bell" into one's ear. -It was as though all the powerful current had concentrated itself into -the receiver. - -"Great Scott!" cried Tom. "With this storm I may get a shock if I'm not -careful!" - -He looked to his instruments, and glanced at the connections. They -seemed to be in perfect order, and he was as well safeguarded as was -possible. - -There was a silence, and then more of the pounding in the receiver. The -lad was forced to move it away from his ear, for it nearly deafened him. - -"This is fierce!" he cried, as a terrific clap of thunder, following a -vivid lightning flash, seemed fairly to shake the tower. - -The instrument acted incoherently for the minute succeeding, and Tom -could not make out the message that was coming. He sprang to the ropes -that connected a tackle with the aerials aloft and ran the netting up -into tune. - -"She's coming clear now," said Tom. - -"Y-3, off Garvey Rocks," ran the message. "Machinery broken and -drifting. Send help. Steamer _Olivia_." - -Tom recoiled with a shock. The _Olivia!_! That was the steamer upon -which Grace Morgan and her aunt were passengers! - - - - -CHAPTER XX--THE LAUNCH - - -Tom held his nerves steady, although he was somewhat shaken. His first -business was to send a response to the ship in distress. He did not know -what the facilities might be for receiving on board the steamer, but he -followed usage. He had no means of knowing what other stations had -caught the flying cry for help. The lifesaving station was twenty miles -to the north. Station Z was the nearest wireless to Garvey Rocks by some -thirty miles, and everything depended on him in the present crisis. - -Tom ran to the window and looked out at the storm. It was truly a -fearful night. The strong blast was bending the trees almost to the -ground and sending the gravel scudding along the beach like hailstones. - -Aloft the heavens were one constant glow of liquid fire, and the thunder -crashes reverberated as in a hollow vault. The sea was lashed into a -tremendous fury, the waves sweeping mountain high and breaking with a -detonating roar that added to the babel of the night. - -"I wish Ben was here," murmured Tom in deep concern. He could picture -the disabled steamer vividly in his mind's eye, the more readily because -his fond girl friend was in peril. - -"Y-3"--again the call came, less distinct this time, but more frantic -and urgent--"ship aleak and sinking." - -"Will get help to you somehow," flashed back Tom. - -He was in a tremor. Amid the strain of undue excitement Tom's thoughts -ran rapidly. Only for a moment, however, did he remain inert and -undecided. - -"Something must be done!" he cried, in an excess of frantic anxiety and -apparent helplessness. "But what? There is not a boat on the beach that -could live in those waters--except the _Beulah_!" - -The addendum was a shout. Tom sprang to his feet, electrically infused -with a sudden suggestion. - -_Beulah_ was the name of the big pretentious gasoline launch in which -Bert Aldrich had arrived in state at Rockley Cove. He had bragged -mightily concerning its possibilities. Tom had seen him do things with -it, too. The _Beulah_ was a wonder as to speed and staunchness. A -thrilling resolution fixed our hero's mind. He would arouse the people, -reach Aldrich and influence him to loan the boat for an attempted rescue -at sea. - -Tom was down the trap ladder in one reckless slide. He ran down the -shore buffeted, yet helped along by the powerful hurricane blast. Bert -Aldrich was a guest at the home of Mart Walters and that was the -prospective destination of the resolute young wireless operator. - -Tom came in sight of the pier where the _Beulah_ was moored. He could -make out her outlines dimly. She was hugging the pier fitfully, tossing -to and fro. - -"Why," exclaimed Tom with a gasp of glad discovery, "some one is on -board!" - -Only for a moment to his vision, apparently inside the cabin of the -restless tugging craft, a flicker of radiance showed. It suggested the -lighting of a match and then its extinguishment. The indication of -occupancy of the launch was enough for Tom. He diverged from the road, -lined the beach, ran down the pier, and jumped aboard the _Beulah_. - -Rounding the cabin Tom recoiled with a shock. Some one had leaped from -the covert of a deep shadow and pinned his arms behind him. - -"Got you at last, have I?" shouted a determined voice in his ears. - -"Hold on," demurred Tom struggling violently. - -"No, you don't! I've got you, Bert Aldrich, and we're going to have a -settlement of that eleven dollars and seventy-five cents right here and -now." - -"I'm not Bert Aldrich! Don't you know me, Bill?" - -"Tom Barnes!" - -"Yes." - -The Barber boy let Tom go as if he were a hot coal. - -"Say, excuse me, will you?" he stammered. - -"That's all right, Bill. What are you doing here in this storm?" - -"Waiting. Can't you guess--waiting to nail Bert Aldrich." - -"It isn't likely he will show up such a night as this." - -"He's a coward, but he'd risk a good deal to get away without meeting -me. And what are you doing here, Tom Barnes?" - -Instantly Tom was recalled to the urgency of the moment. The discovery -of Bill Barber aboard the launch suggested a change in his plans. - -"Bill," he asked quickly, "do you understand running this craft?" - -"Do I understand?" stormed Bill; "say, if anybody but you asked me that -I'd knock him down." - -"Something of an expert, are you?" - -"Do you want to try me?" - -"Just that, Bill," rejoined Tom seriously. "Listen." - -Briefly but graphically Tom recited the cause of his visit to the -launch. He had Bill literally on fire with excitement and energy by the -time he had concluded. - -"See here, Tom Barnes," cried Bill, "there's no time to lose!" - -"That is certain, Bill." - -"The steamer is in danger." - -"Just as I told you." - -"Off Garvey Rocks?" - -"Yes." - -"When we get afloat we can probably make out her lights?" - -"Probably." - -"You want me to help you get to the _Olivia_?" - -"We've got to." - -"I'm your man." - -"I suppose Aldrich will resent our appropriation of his launch." - -"Let him," said Bill with a laugh. "I'll take out that eleven dollars -and seventy-five cents in the use of the _Beulah_. See? All aboard! -Follow me!" - -The Barber boy made a dash for the engine room of the launch followed by -the young wireless operator. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI--BRAVING THE STORM - - -A violent gust of wind drove Tom up against Bill as the latter led the -way through the cabin doorway. It was with difficulty that the door was -forced shut after them. - -"Stand still--hold on to something to steady yourself," ordered Bill. -"I'll have things fixed up in a minute or two." - -Tom heard his companion grope about the room. Almost instantly a match -was flared and a lamp with a broad reflector illumined the place -brilliantly. - -"Now then!" added Bill, all vim and activity. - -He threw open a locker, and from its depths he fished out two rubber -coats and caps. - -The two boys resembled old tars in their tarpaulin trim. The excitement -of the moment was intense, but every move they made was progress, and -their nerves and courage were as steady as steel. - -"Can you manage the steering gear?" inquired Bill. - -"I've tried it on some smaller boats than this," replied Tom. - -"Well, I can do the rest--provided the storm let's us. Br--r!" - -Even at anchorage the launch was swinging like an eggshell in a tempest. -Bill set the lights. Then he pointed to the seat at the side of the -craft next to the engine. - -"She sparks automatically," he explained, touching a button, and there -was a whistling whir. "You control with the lever--understand?" - -"Perfectly," answered Tom. - -"I can pilot anywhere inside of fifty miles," boasted Bill. "Garvey -Rocks, you said?" - -"Yes." - -Bill took his place at the wheel. Tom released the shore tackle. Then he -was down in his seat firmly planted. The _Beulah_ made a leap like some -marine leviathan bounding out of captivity. - -Tom had never had much experience with a launch, but it was sufficient, -with Bill's constantly shouted directions, to enable him to run the -engine. The thought crossed his mind that he would have the indignant -ire of Bert Aldrich to face on his return. It flitted quickly as the -peril of the _Olivia_ and his loyal girl friend aboard of the steamer -recurred to him with intensified urgency. - -One plunge, obliterating all shore outlines, seemed to whirl them into a -vortex of battling, unrestrained elements. The first splash of spray, -dense and blinding, covered Bill like a veil. A great wave sent the -craft hurtling along like an arrow. Tom realized that they were bent on -a desperately dangerous venture. - -"We can't line the shore; we must get out further from land," Bill -shouted back. - -Bill, once past danger of sandbars and breakers, had turned the course -due southeast. On every calculation of knowledge of locality and -distances, this it seemed would be sure to bring them in direct range of -Garvey Rocks. For half an hour they drove ahead, neither speaking a -word. Then Tom fixed his eye on some moving lights shorewards. They -inspired a sudden thought, and setting the lever at steady speed he -crept forward on hands and knees along the slippery deck. - -"Bill!" he shouted hoarsely. - -"Hello--what's the row?" challenged Bill, amazed that Tom had deserted -his post of duty. - -"Made out any lights ahead?" - -"Not yet." - -"Neither have I. There's some ashore, though." - -"What of it?" questioned Bill. - -"They are of the coaling station at Brookville. I am sure some craft is -there." - -"Suppose so." - -"We had better advise them of our errand. It may be a big steam tug. Two -are better than one, and the _Olivia_ may be in a desperate fix." - -"If she's really on the rocks she's stove bad long before this," was the -discouraging rejoinder of Bill, sending a chill through Tom's frame. - -"We could never pull the steamer off the rocks, but a larger craft -might," suggested Tom. - -"What are you getting at?" asked Bill. - -"I think we had better make Brookville and get the boat there, whatever -it is, in service." - -"You're the boss, Tom," said Bill simply. - -Tom made his way back to his seat. Soon the launch described a circle, -which, masterly as was the manoeuvre, sent the craft careening at a -perilous angle. Then they headed straight for shore. - -They came alongside a steam tug just through coaling at the dock at -Brookville. The boat did not have steam up, and was moored safely for -the night. Men were moving about the deck with lanterns, making things -trim and safe. Tom had caught a grapnel on the rail of the tug and -secured it. Then he swung aboard the tug. - -He ran up to a man arrayed like himself in foul weather costume, who -stood steadying himself at a hawser post, and who was giving orders to -the others. The man stared strangely at Tom's sudden appearance. - -"Captain," shot out Tom tersely. - -"That's me. Where did you come from? Oh, I see," and he caught sight of -the outlines of the launch. "What's the trouble?" - -Tom briefly, rapidly explained the situation. In an instant he realized -that he was fortunate in finding just the kind of a man he needed. The -tug captain listened to him in breathless interest. When Tom had -concluded he rested his hand on his shoulder in a friendly way. - -"You're a good one, lad, whoever you are," he said. "Sorry we're shut -down, but we'll set about steaming up in a jiffy. Garvey Rocks, you, -said?" - -"Yes, sir--know them?" - -"Like a book. We'll be on your trail inside of half an hour." - -"It's all right!" shouted Tom, as he regained the launch. "Make straight -for the steamer, now, Bill." - -"No time to lose either," was the snappy response. - -The fresh start gave Bill his bearings more clearly than ever. - -"I can't miss it," he declared. "Speed her up, Tom." - -The young wireless operator gazed anxiously and eagerly ahead as they -dashed forward. No lights yet showed, but he knew that the shore line -described a circular sweep just beyond Brookville. They might not be far -enough out at sea yet to give them a clear view of the waters. His -anxiety, however, grew to dismal forebodings as ten, fifteen, twenty -minutes passed by, and the same blank unbroken blackness loomed ahead. - -Suddenly Tom, who had been watching the motor, called out to his -companion: - -"Say, Bill, you'd better come back here a minute." - -"What for? I can't leave the wheel, unless it's something important." - -"Well, it's important all right. I don't like the way this machinery is -acting. It doesn't seem to be sparking right, if I'm any judge." - -"Great Scott! I hope nothing goes wrong in this blow. Wait a second. -I'll be with you. I'll lash the wheel. I guess it will be safe for a -little while to keep on a straight course." - -Tom heard Bill tossing ropes about as he picked up some to lash the -wheel. Then he staggered into the motor room, being tossed from side to -side by the pitching of the launch. - -Hardly had he reached the side of the young wireless operator, than, -with a sigh and a moan--a sort of apologetic cough--the motor ceased -working. - -"Oh, my!" exclaimed Bill. "There she goes! I should say something _was_ -the matter." - -"What is it?" asked Tom. - -"Don't know yet. I'll have to take a look. It may be the ignition, or -the carburetor, or any of half a hundred things that can happen to a -gasoline motor. I'll have to take a look." - -"Should I have called you sooner?" asked Tom. "It was acting queer for -several minutes. First it would go fast and then slow." - -"Well, I guess coming in any sooner wouldn't have done much good. I'll -take a look now. You'd better help me. Get the lantern and bring it -closer. We won't need any one at the wheel when we aren't moving." - -The launch was now drifting about at the mercy of the wind and waves. -She fairly wallowed in the water, and it was no easy task to keep one's -footing, to say nothing of trying to get a balky motor back into -commission. But the two set about their task bravely, while the storm -raged about them. - -First Bill tested the ignition system. Something was evidently wrong -with that, for there came no responsive buzz in the coil when he threw -the fly wheel over to make the connections. - -"Maybe it's the make-and-break," he suggested. "I'll tinker with that." -Which he did, tightening and loosening the spring, separating and -bringing nearer the contact points. But it was useless. There was no -buzz. - -"Are the batteries all right?" asked Tom. - -"I'll test 'em," was the laconic answer, and in a few minutes the -announcement came: "They're good and strong. If I can get her to start -on the batteries I can swing her over onto the magneto, and we'll be all -right. But I can't get a spark." - -"How about the plugs?" asked Tom. - -"I'll try them next. Oh, there are plenty of things to try." - -"And not much time to do 'em in," added Tom grimly, as he held the -lantern where the gleam would fall best for his companion. "This is -fierce, to be delayed this way when there are men and women--yes, maybe -children, too--who need saving!" - -"Can't help it!" cried Bill. "We're doing the best we can." - -With a quick motion he unscrewed the spark plugs from the cylinder -heads. - -"Here's trouble already, Tom," he cried. "They're all sooted up. Now -I've got to soak 'em in gasoline and----" - -"Maybe there are some spare ones aboard!" suggested the young wireless -operator. "Let's take a look. It's going to be hard work to clean these -old ones in this blow. Besides, I don't like the idea of fooling with -gasoline in an open can, and with a lantern so close." - -"Neither do I. We'll see if we can't find some extra plugs." - -Together they began to rummage through the lockers of the boat. Tossed -about as they were, slammed from side to side as the waves pitched the -launch, they spent a hard fifteen minutes in the hunt. - -"I don't believe there are any," said Bill despondently. - -"Here's a box we didn't open!" cried Tom, as he saw a small one down in -the bottom of a port locker. "Let's try that!" - -In another instant he had the cover off. There, in the beams of the -lantern, he saw the gleam of white porcelain. - -"Spark plugs!" cried Tom. - -"New ones!" added Bill. "This is great. Now we'll move!" - -Quickly he adjusted the wires, but, before screwing the plugs in the top -of the cylinders he tested them to see if there was no other break in -the ignition system. - -As the wheel was swung over there came a welcome buzz from the coil, and -a tiny blue flame leaped from point to point of the spark plug, as it -lay on top of the cylinder head. - -"Hurray!" yelled Tom, above the roar of the wind. - -"That's it!" shouted Bill. "Now to see what happens!" - -The plugs were inserted, screwed tight, and then came the test. -Steadying themselves as best they could in the rocking boat they turned -the flywheel over, Tom having thrown in the battery switch. - -There was the tell-tale buzz, which told of the working of the spark -plug--a buzz and a hum, but there was no welcoming explosion. No hearty -puff from the cylinders that indicated the gasoline mixture being set -off by the spark. - -"Hum!" mused Bill, as he paused to contemplate the silent motor. - -"Something wrong, still?" asked Tom anxiously, gazing off across the -dark expanse of water for a possible sight of a flickering light that -would tell of the ill-fated _Olivia_. But he saw nothing. - -"Well, we'll try once more," exclaimed Bill. "Hold the lantern closer, -Tom, so I can see how the timer works." - -The young wireless operator obeyed. Once more the buzz and hum told of -the perfect working of the ignition system--and yet not perfect either, -for the motor was still silent, and the launch was drifting about more -helpless than ever. - -"Suppose you try, Tom," suggested Bill. "Maybe you'll have better luck -than I had." - -Tom handed his companion the lantern, and grasped the wheel, for there -was little use in trying the automatic starter in such a condition as -was the machinery now. - -But Tom had no better success, though he strained and tugged, giving the -wheel many revolutions. - -"Say!" suddenly exclaimed Bill. "The gasoline! Didn't we shut it off -when we started to see what the trouble was?" - -"We sure did," agreed Tom. - -"And we didn't turn it on again, I'll wager. Look at the tank valve." - -"That's right!" cried Tom. "Here she comes now." - -Waiting a moment for the carburetor to fill, Bill once more swung the -wheel over. They waited anxiously to see if it would continue, but with -a wheeze it gave up as soon as the muscular impetus stopped. - -"Carburetor troubles!" muttered Bill. "And that's the worst kind to have -in a storm. Well, there's no help for it. Here goes to adjust it." - -As is well known, many carburetors require a different adjustment in -rainy weather than in dry. It was so in this case. Bill screwed and -unscrewed the air valve and readjusted the butterfly automatic. He -admitted more gasoline, then less, giving a richer and then a thinner -mixture. After each adjustment he tried the motor, but it was not until -after about ten trials that, when both were on the point of giving up, -suddenly the motor started. - -"Hurray!" cried Tom. - -"It's about time," murmured Bill. "She's working better than ever now, -though," he said, as he listened to the machinery. "I'll go take the -wheel now. Watch her carefully, Tom," and he went to the helm again. -Once more they were under way, and their anxious eyes peered through the -blackness. - -The storm had been bad, but now it was worse. The swift dash of the rain -formed a kind of mist. Tom's heart sank as he heard Bill at the wheel -utter a kind of impatient groan. - -"What's amiss?" he shouted to the pilot. - -"Something's wrong--no lights, and I may have missed my course. We'll -have to strike shore again, Tom," said Bill. - -"Can't we avoid wasting the time?" inquired Tom. - -"There may be no chance for the ship to show lights," suggested Bill, in -his broad blunt way. "Maybe the _Olivia_ has gone down." - -"Oh, surely not that!" cried Tom. "There--there!" - -"Good!" chorused Bill, in a gladsome shout; "it must be the _Olivia_!" - -Directly ahead, but high up in the air, a brilliant rocket had pierced -the gloom of the tempestuous night. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII--THE RESCUE - - -Tom hailed the unmistakable signal of distress from the steamer _Olivia_ -with energy and hope. - -"I think I understand why we saw no lights," he remarked. "The steamer -must have driven into the breakers beyond what they call the North -Sentinel." - -"That must be it," assented Bill. "Now Tom, get to your lever." - -Bill tackled the wheel with renewed vigor and Tom braced up magically. -At all events, he reflected, the _Olivia_ had not yet gone down. They -would be in time for a rescue. The heavy wind, the pelting rain, the -erratic gyrations of the launch, were as nothing to him now. The thought -that he might be able to save precious human lives inspired him with -courage. - -A second rocket sailed through the mist-laden air a few minutes later. -Bill, in high animal spirits, amid his excitement kept shouting out like -a schoolboy driving a bicycle. - -"Go it! Whoop-la! There's a dive for you! Beats automobiling!" - -"Hurrah!" broke in Tom. - -"She's there," echoed Bill. - -"Yes, the _Olivia_ at last," cried Tom. - -Veering slightly to southeast, the launch came in sight of the bobbing -ship's lights. One, a bulkhead reflector, was quite clear and guiding. - -"Go cautiously now, Bill," warned our hero. - -"I'll give you speed signals," responded Bill. "One--two, slow up." - -"All right." - -Tom knew from having visited the Garvey Rocks more than once in the past -that they were nearing dangerous waters. Somehow, however, he had -confidence in his pilot. Bill was daring, and more than once the keel of -the _Beulah_ grazed some obstruction. But Bill shouted back to Tom each -time that he knew his route, and would bring about no disaster through -recklessness. - -They were now so near to the steamer that they could make out her -situation quite clearly. - -"She's stove in!" declared Bill. "Her fires are out, and there must be a -leak. Look at her now, Tom--she's rolling." - -The condition of the _Olivia_ was a precarious one--Tom discerned this -at a glance. She had fallen over slightly on one side. The lights on -deck showed a number of passengers huddled at a slanting bow, clinging -to a cable which had been strung from rail to rail, to prevent them from -falling or rolling when a particularly heavy billow would cause the once -staunch ship to quiver and topple. - -Another rocket went up. It was followed by a ringing cheer. The launch, -slowing down, came directly into the strong central focus of the -bulkhead reflector. Those working about the ship, clinging to this and -that as they moved about, paused to stare at the staunch little craft of -rescue. The passengers huddled together lost their terror and a babel of -excited, hopeful, joyous voices sounded out. - -"Oh Tom!--Tom!" - -The young wireless operator thrilled with an emotion he could not -analyze. In an instant he recognized the voice of Grace Morgan. Could -she have been thinking of him, that the recognition was so prompt; or, -despite his unusual garb and the clumsy oilcloth cap, did the powerful -reflector glow bring out his features in strong relief? - -"Ease her!" shouted Bill, and his very soul seemed centered in working -the wheel to prevent both collision and retreat. - -"Throw them a cable!" roared the trumpet tones of the captain of the -steamer. - -Tom caught the coiling end of the rope and secured it, allowing a play -of a few feet between the two craft. - -"Drop the ladder!" came the next order. - -"The women first!" shouted one of the steamer officers. "Get back, -there!" - -There was light enough for Tom to see a portly, fussy old man press -close to the rail, vehemently shouting out that he would sue the -steamship company if they did not instantly get him to dry land. He -uttered a howl of despair as he was ignominiously bundled out of the -way. - -"I can't--I won't, I shall faint!" shrieked a rasping feminine voice, as -a staunch sailor was compelled to carry her down the swaying ladder. - -She wriggled like an eel as Tom grabbed her and forced her into the -cabin of the launch, going instantly into hysterics as she landed on a -cushioned seat. - -"There are only eight of the ladies," called down the captain. - -"Hold tight, Aunt Bertha," Tom heard a familiar voice speak steadily. - -"Oh, dear, I know I shall fall and be drowned!" wailed the second of the -rescued passengers, whom Tom was sure must be the aunt in whose charge -Grace had started on the present unlucky voyage. - - - [Illustration: "YOU BRAVE GIRL!" CRIED TOM IRRESISTIBLY.] - - -"We won't let you, ma'am," assured the sailor at the rail. "Be speedy -now. There's more to follow." - -The descent of seven of the ladies was accomplished. Tom had not caught -a murmur of protest or fear from the plucky little maiden who had waited -her turn till the last. - -A shriek loud and ringing went up from the seventh lady, for just as Tom -seized her both of them were nearly hurled into the water. A fearful -gust of wind had driven the launch with a crash against the hull of the -steamer. The same terrific force gave the steamer a lurch, and she -threatened to turn turtle. As she righted, although the ladder was -flopping about like a whiplash, Grace sprang past the sailor at the -rail, slid one-half the length of the ladder, was swung out, and just -caught in Tom's arms as the captain of the steamer roared out in thunder -tones: - -"Slip the cable, you lubber, or the launch will be crushed!" - -"You brave girl!" cried Tom irresistibly. - -"Oh, Tom, can I help?" inquired Grace. - -"Yes, quiet those in the cabin." - -Bill sounded the bell at the wheel and Tom with lightning speed made a -dash for the lever. He reversed just as the giant hull of the steamer -flung down with crushing force. - -"Fire! murder! help! police!" yelled the frantic fat old man on deck, as -his fond hopes vanished with the receding launch. - -"Stand by!" shouted the captain of the steamer to Tom. "There's a dozen -passengers left yet." - -"There's room with crowding, if you can get them aboard," reported Tom. - -"Life preservers, all!" roared the captain. "One more lurch like that, -and she'll split in two! Lower the men passengers." - -"No need," shouted back Tom just then, as a dazzling light rounded the -North Sentinel. - -"The steam tug!" cried Bill. - -"That will serve us. We're all right now," declared the captain. "Get -the women passengers ashore." - -With a yell just then a great bulky form came shooting over the side of -the steamer. It was the fussy old man. Tom barely managed to grasp -something floating behind him, or the suction of the passing tug would -have drawn him under the swiftly revolving steam screw. - -"I'm drowned! I'm dead!" bawled the man, half choked with salt water, as -Tom pulled him to the deck of the launch, to find that as many as six -life preservers encumbered his bulky form. - -The steam tug had approached the _Olivia_, running her length as if to -discover the real merits of her situation. Preparing to start the launch -into the open sea away from the rocks and then to run direct for -Brookville, Tom and Bill for a moment were awed into inactivity as a -great shout went up. - -The steamer again lurched to one side. A loud crash sounded above the -howling gale, and the _Olivia_ lay a shattered wreck on the rocks. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII--"EVERY INCH A MAN" - - -"She's a-goner!" shouted Bill, at the wheel. - -"Steady!" cried Tom, at the lever. - -The sounds of excitement and alarm among the passengers still aboard the -_Olivia_ and her crew told of a state of new distress and terror. The -launch, now at a safe distance from either tug or steamer, was instantly -put about. - -"She can't hold many more," declared Bill. - -"We can't see those people drown," responded Tom, and shut off the -power, while Bill tried to hold the launch steady. - -Tom got a boathook and stood braced against the cabin, ready to give -assistance to any of three or four men he had seen leap overboard -immediately after the _Olivia_ had scuttled. His services were required, -however, only in the case of one who was driven by a wave directly up to -the launch. The others managed to swim to the steam tug, and were lifted -aboard readily by the crew over its low sides. - -The captain of the _Olivia_ shouted out some quick orders. A cable came -whirling across the deck of the tug. It was caught fast at both ends, a -pulleyed davit was rigged, and the remaining passengers of the steamer -slid along this. When the captain came last, Tom knew that the steamer -had been abandoned to her fate. - -"It's all right," he called to Bill. - -"Nobody lost?" - -"I think not." - -"Then it's Brookville for us." - -"Yes, quick as you can make it, Bill." - -The storm had somewhat subsided. The _Beulah_ struck a straight course -shorewards. Tom, glancing through the cabin window, observed that the -lady passengers grouped there seemed quieted down and coherent. - -The bulky man passenger with the life preservers had crawled to the -shelter of the stern platform, and, wedging himself in between two rods, -only occasionally shouted out some mad threat of a suit against the -steamship company. - -The dock at Brookville was crowded by residents of the little town as -the _Beulah_ drove into comparatively smooth water in the coaling slip. -Men with lanterns, and some women too, had braved the rain and wind, -alarmed, and anxious to be helpful when the rumor had spread that a -steamer was aground on Garvey Rocks. - -Tom expressed a great sigh of relief as willing hands caught the cable -he threw to the dock. He shut off the power, and as he passed Bill, grim -and business-like at his post of duty, he bestowed a hearty smack -between the shoulders. - -"Good boy!" he cried exuberantly. - -Bill chuckled. - -"Mean that?" he propounded. - -"I certainly do." - -"Some good, then, ain't I?" - -"Bill Barber," cried Tom with genuine feeling, "you're pure gold all -through, and every inch a man!" - -The Barber boy thrust out his rough paw of a hand to grasp that of his -comrade in a hearty grip. - -"Tom Barnes," he said, choking up, and yet with the echo of a glad cheer -in his tones, "I'd rather hear you say that than--than--yes, than even -get that eleven dollars and seventy-five cents Bert Aldrich owes me." - -The door of the cabin opened, and Grace Morgan stood on its threshold. - -"Have we landed, Tom?" she asked. - -"Yes, Grace, safe and sound." - -"Oh, how glad Aunt Bertha will be! What are we to do now, Tom?" - -"You are to be taken in charge by a lot of kind people, it looks to me," -responded Tom. - -"I will find out their plans, and let you know at once. Tell the ladies -there is no need of their coming out in the rain until arrangements are -made for their comfort." - -Tom clambered up to the dock. He had to answer a dozen questions in one -breath for as many excited persons eager for news. - -Tom allayed the general suspense by expressing the conviction that all -hands had been saved from the wreck. Then he gave full attention to a -big man in a raincoat who seemed to be the spokesman of the community. - -"Get the ladies to shelter," this individual ordered those at his side. -"We can find room for a couple of them up at our house." - -"I'll go and get the covered 'bus," suggested one of his assistants. - -"A good idea." - -In two minutes' time the proffers of shelter exceeded the demand of the -occasion. - -A fog whistle in the distance out at sea came floating in on the strong -breeze. - -"That is the steam tug with the other passengers aboard," said the big -man. - -"Yes, sir," responded Tom. - -"How many, do you think?" - -"Perhaps fifteen or twenty." - -"They must be provided for," said the man. "There's the hotel. It's old -and rickety and don't accommodate half a dozen comfortably; but it'll -give them a roof, some kind of a shakedown, and a warm meal to brace -them up." - -"How much the cost?" broke in a sudden voice, and the fat man with the -life preservers trundled into view. - -"How much for what?" demanded the other, staring in astonishment at the -odd figure the stout passenger made with his armor of cork life -preservers. - -"For lodging and meals. I won't pay much. Look at my clothes! All -soaked,--and what of my baggage back on that pesky steamer? I won't be -robbed! I'll sue everybody! I shan't pay a cent!" - -"You won't have to," assured the man. "The hospitality of this town -comes free, gratis, for nothing, on such an occasion as this." - -Tom told Bill of the arrangements in order, and then reported to Grace. -He had never admired the little lady as much as now, as he noted her -kindly soothing treatment of her nervously-unstrung aunt, her pretty -obliging ways in seeing to the care of an old lady with a crutch and a -young woman with a frightened child in her arms, as the 'bus drove up. - -"Aunt Bertha is dreadfully nervous," she said to Tom. "She says she will -abandon the trip entirely now, will never venture on the water again, -and wants to get to Fernwood right away, for she knows she is going to -be ill." - -"It is quite a trip to your home from here, Grace," explained Tom. "I -might get a vehicle somewhere, but the roads must be almost impassable -in places, and the storm isn't over yet. If I were you, I would try and -induce your aunt to remain at Brookville till morning. I know you will -both be taken care of by these good people." - -"I will try and console her to your opinion," responded Grace. She gave -him a bright look. "Oh, Tom," she cried, bursting girl-like into tears -of mingled pride and joy, "you have acted just--splendid!" - -She seized both his hands in her own and smiled in grateful friendship -at him, as he helped her into the 'bus. Just then those on the dock -broke out into ringing cheers. - -"The steam tug!" said Tom, noticing the craft approach. - -There was the excitement of a new landing, eager questioning, rapid -explanations; and Bill, who had left the launch and mingled with the -crowd, approached Tom, smiling with good nature, his hands in his -pockets, a certain element of pride and exaltation in his stride. - -"Not a person lost," he reported in glad tones. - -"The captain of the _Olivia_ is looking for you, and----" - -"That's the lad," sounded the voice of the tug captain, and the man with -him who wore a cap with an official band of gold braid around it, seized -Tom as if he feared he might run away from him. - -"I want you," he said, his hearty grip catching Tom's arm. "Hey, where's -that hotel you're going to stow us in?" he hailed to a villager. - -"I'll pilot you there," was the prompt reply, and passengers and crew of -the _Olivia_ followed the speaker from the dock over to an old -dilapidated building that had been in its palmy days the hotel of the -place. - -It was well lighted up, and warmed by two red hot iron stoves. It had an -immense dining room, and into this the crowd was ushered, and gathered -shiveringly about the great heater in the center of the room. Adjoining -it was a small apartment which at one time had been an office. It had a -light on a table and some chairs. - -"Sit down," said the steamer captain. "My friend," he added, taking out -a memorandum book and a pencil, "do you realize what you have done for -my passengers and crew to-night?" - -"How about my comrade, plucky Bill Barber?" inquired Tom, trying to -evade the direct compliment. - -"We'll come to him in the final settlement, don't fret about that," -observed the captain definitely. "You got the message, you started the -grand old ball rolling that saved twenty lives!" exclaimed the excited -captain. "So the tug officer tells me. Now, then, a few questions. -Name?" - -Tom gave it, and replied in detail to other inquiries of his companion. -In fact, before the captain had concluded the inquisition he had -gathered from Tom and jotted down the main facts of a pretty -circumstantial account of the start and finish of the rescue. - -"I shall telegraph the outlines of the case at once to headquarters," -said the steamer captain. "I shall follow it up with the written report -of your share in the affair. You will hear from the company in a very -substantial way, count on that, young man. Wait here a few minutes." - -The speaker left Tom and went into the big room beyond where the rescued -male passengers and crew of the _Olivia_ were gathered. He closed the -door after him, but Tom caught the echo of many voices in animated -discussion. He even made out the cackling, complaining tones of the man -with the life preservers. - -When the captain came out he placed in Tom's hands a roll of banknotes. - -"Hold on----" began Tom. - -"No, you do the holding on, young man," interrupted the captain -cheerfully. "That's a little heart-to-heart acknowledgment from the -crowd in there, who wanted to cheer you, but they might scare the -natives. Oh, by the way--I came near cheating you. Here's a part of the -contribution." - -The speaker burst into a rollicking roar of laughter as he placed in -Tom's hand a nickel. Tom smiled inquiringly. - -"From the old fat fellow with the life preservers," explained the -captain. - -"Oh," said Tom, amused, "I understand." - -"Good-by, Barnes," said the captain, grasping Tom's hand till he winced. -"I wish I had a boy like you." - -"You will thank those gentlemen for their kindness?" asked Tom. - -"Oh, they're the grateful ones," declared the captain of the _Olivia_. -"I say, Barnes," he shouted, after waving adieu to Tom from the door of -the hotel, "look out for that nickel. It may be real." - -Tom hurried to the dock. He found Bill getting the launch ready for the -return trip. The storm had almost passed over by this time. - -"Is it home, Tom?" inquired Bill. - -"Right away," assented the young wireless operator, "and the sooner the -better. I have some work at the tower before me." - -"They are going to start back with the tug for Garvey rocks, I heard -them say," remarked Bill, as the _Beulah_ got under way. "They may be -able to do something with her, at least save something." - -Tom did not talk much on the journey back to the pier. His mind and his -heart were both full. He had so much to commend his loyal comrade for, -that he did not wish to spoil it by not choosing just the right time, -and saying just the right words to impress Bill with a sense of his -unaffected worthiness. - -Bill insisted on taking him clear down to Sandy Point. When Tom landed, -he remarked: - -"If you're not going home, Bill, I'd like to see you at the station for -a little while." - -"Oh, I'm not going home," responded the Barber boy. "There's that eleven -dollars and seventy-five cents to get from that measly cad, Bert -Aldrich, you know; and I'm going to stick till I catch him." - -"Forget that, Bill," advised Tom. "We have about taken out that eleven -dollars and seventy-five cents in use of the _Beulah_. You come down to -the tower, as I say. I've got something better than eleven dollars and -seventy-five cents to interest you in." - -"Have?" propounded Bill, in his rough blunt way. "What is it, now?" - -"You come and see." - -"All right." - -"That fellow has a grand streak in him," ruminated Tom, as the _Beulah_ -sped on its course and he made for the station. "He doesn't seem to have -the least conception of his heroic bravery, and never thinks of reward. -I'll give him a surprise." - -Tom set at work the minute he reached the tower. He sent messages to the -life-saving station, briefly detailing the event of the night, and a -routine report to headquarters. Then he took out the roll of bills the -captain of the _Olivia_ had given him. - -"One hundred and ninety dollars," counted Tom,--"and five cents. There, -that's Bill's share," and he set aside one hundred dollars. "The nickel -we'll nail up on the wall." - -"Why, what's all that money?" inquired the Barber boy, when he came into -the tower an hour later. - -"This little heap," replied Tom, placing in Bill's lap a pile of -banknotes, "is yours." - -"Mine?" exclaimed Bill in a gasp, staring at the money in wonder. - -"Yours--one hundred dollars! It is your share of a testimonial given us -by the passengers and crew of the _Olivia_," and Tom explained the -incident of his interview with the steamer captain at the Brookville -hotel. - -A pathetic look came into Bill Barber's eyes. He looked at the money and -gasped. He glanced up at Tom and his lips twitched. - -"One hundred dollars!" he said slowly, impressively; "a whole one -hundred dollars, and mine! I can get a new suit--why, Tom, I can buy a -bulldog now, a real bulldog. Oh, crackey!" - -Bill looked again at Tom. His tone changed, a queer longing expression -came into his face. His voice broke. - -"Tom Barnes," he said huskily, "it's a heap of a fortune to me, but, -more than the money is what you said to-night--that I was pure gold, -that I was--was every inch a man! Tom, it's too much--oh, it, it's all -come on me like a burst of glory!" - -And Bill Barber broke down utterly, and bawled like a baby. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV--THE KIDNAPPED BOY - - -"Well, I see you have made it, Tom?" - -"Made what, Dr. Burr?" - -"A brave record. I compliment you on it, my boy. You deserve all they -say about you." - -"I don't understand what you are talking about, doctor." - -"That will tell you, then," and with a friendly smile the Rockley Cove -physician pressed upon Tom a newspaper he had been carrying when he met -his young friend. - -Tom was in a great hurry. He told the doctor so and hastened homewards. -It was the morning after the rescue of those aboard the _Olivia_. Tom -had remained on duty at Station Z all night, and Bill Barber had -insisted on keeping him company. - -There had been little of real business to attend to, but Tom had -concluded it was the right time to look out for disasters, as witness -the lucky reception of the wireless from the ill-fated _Olivia_. - -Bill had relieved Tom in watching and sleeping, and Tom had dozed enough -to keep him from feeling done out, despite the rigorous experience of -the early evening hours. - -Just an hour previous Ben Dixon had put in a dejected and disconsolate -appearance at the tower. The minute Tom caught sight of his face he knew -that his chum had failed in his search for the missing Harry Ashley. - -"No use, Tom," was Ben's blunt report. "Your father and I reached -Wadhams and visited the circus, but we were too late." - -"How too late, Ben?" inquired Tom. - -"Harry was gone." - -"Then he had been there?" - -"We found that out all right. Twelve hours earlier, and we would have -reached him. There were two kidnappers, all right, and one of them -answered the description of the fellow you noticed spying on Harry the -day he was in swimming with the boys." - -"Were they holding Harry a prisoner?" - -"A safe and sound one. The men had been circus peddlers once. They took -Harry to an open, roofless canvas where a lot of truck was stored. It -seems that an old friend of theirs had charge of it. From all your -father could get this man to say, Brady and Casey--those are the names -of Tom's kidnappers--made him believe he was a bad runaway boy they were -authorized and paid for to return to his friends. I don't believe that -myself. I think the three men were in cahoots, and that the circus -tender was in on the scheme, whatever it is. Anyhow, in the roofless -tent was a lion's cage. Its occupant had died a few days before Harry's -arrival. It was a safe place to shut the lad in, and they did it. They -sort of partitioned the cage off by itself, and kept close watch on -Harry, so he wouldn't raise a rumpus. Brady was away for two days, I -found out, so their plot was working." - -"And what about the toy balloons?" inquired Tom. - -"Why, the way I got it was that one of the circus peddlers who had a lot -of them for sale, kept his surplus stock in the storage tent. In some -way Harry must have been struck with the idea of using them as -messengers to tell of his captivity. Anyhow, he managed to reach them -with a stick or string, or in some ingenious way, and had all night to -equip them with the cards. Brady and Casey let Harry out of the cage, -and took him away in an automobile night before last." - -"You couldn't find out their destination?" - -"The circus keeper declared that he didn't know. Your father inquired -around of others, though, and from what he heard he thinks they were -headed for Springville. We weren't sure. We decided that Harry would be -kept in closer hiding than ever, and we sort of got discouraged and gave -it up." - -"I won't give it up!" cried Tom, his eyes snapping; and preparing to -leave the tower at once. "I'll find the man I saw at the river if I have -to chase him all over the state." - -"Well, you see, you'd know him by sight, and we wouldn't," submitted -Ben. - -"I feel it my duty to do all I can to find Harry," proceeded Tom. "At -any rate, I am going to try. You stay on duty at the station, Ben. It -simply isn't in me to remain quiet where we don't know what fate may -threaten that poor boy." - -Now, after leaving the tower, Tom had met Dr. Burr, and hurried -homewards. He took a look at the newspaper the physician had given him. -Its heading told that it was a daily print from a nearby city, received -at Rockley Cove by a few residents early in the morning. - -Tom, as has been said, was in urgent haste, but one glance at the -printed sheet halted him as suddenly as if it had been a warrant -presented unexpectedly by an officer of the law. - -In glaring headlines the feature of the news of the day, the rescue of -the passengers of the _Olivia_, was indicated. In bold, broad type his -name stood out as the hero of a grand occasion. Tom's eye lit up as in -the same glaring type he read also the name of his loyal adherent, Bill -Barber. It was "William Barber," the dignified way the paper put it, and -Tom was unutterably glad. - -He merely skimmed the three columns of details that followed. Then he -crumpled up the paper and started on a run for home with the breathless -exclamation: - -"It's wonderful!" - -Tom did not mean that the chronicled rescue was wonderful. He was too -modest for that. What stirred and startled him were the remarkable -evidences of journalistic ability displayed by the newspaper. He decided -that after he and Bill had left Brookville the captain of the Olivia -must have got in immediate connection with New York and other places by -telegraph. - -"He must have had a busy time of it, giving all those details," -ruminated Tom. "They have made a big thing of it, sure enough. Well, it -will please father and mother, and as for myself--I hope I deserve all -they say about me." - -Tom reached the house to find that the news of his part in the rescue of -the _Olivia_ had preceded him. When the newspaper was discovered, every -member of the family, even the hired men, crowded about to stare in -wonder at the printed page over the shoulder of Ted Barnes, who began to -read in a tragic, breathless tone. - -Mr. Barnes looked considerably stirred up, and there was a new respect -for the "new-fangled" wireless in his mind, Tom felt certain. His mother -tremulously clung close to him as she asked solicitous questions, to be -sure that he had not suffered in limb or health from his hard battle -with the waves. - -As soon as things had quieted down somewhat, Tom took his father aside. -He told his parents of his resolve to go in search of Harry Ashley, and -his father encouraged him. - -A hired man was to drive our hero over to Wadhams in the farm gig. Tom -reached that town about noon. He went at once to the circus, to find it -in confusion. They were dismantling the show to exhibit in another town, -and the man who knew Brady and Casey had gone forward with the first -contingent. - -About to follow, Tom paused. A sudden thought came to his mind. The two -kidnappers had left Wadhams with Harry in an automobile. It was scarcely -probable that the machine was their own. - -"They must have borrowed or hired it," reflected Tom, "most likely the -latter. It's worth while trying to find out." - -Tom made due inquiries in regard to the location of public livery -garages in the town. There were three, he ascertained, and he started in -to visit them in turn. - -At the first garage he received no encouragement; at the second one the -result was more satisfactory. The call book of the garage showed that a -machine had been sent to the circus two nights before, and had made a -run to Springville. - -"That's the one," decided Harry; and questioning the garage owner, he -was soon in touch with the chauffeur who had made the run. - -"I'm the man, and that's the bunch," declared the chauffeur, as soon as -Tom had told the object of his mission. - -"Where did you take them?" inquired Tom--"I mean where in Springville?" - -"To the edge of a little city park," replied the chauffeur. "They made -me stop there to hide all later trace, I surmised; but it was none of my -business as long as I got my pay." - -"Didn't you notice the boy they had with them?" - -"I did," answered the chauffeur. "He was quite stupid like, as if he'd -been doped. I suspected things weren't all straight and regular, but the -man I heard called Brady kept telling me he was a runaway lad who had -made all kinds of trouble and disgrace for his people." - -Tom thanked the man for the information he had imparted, and at once -took the trolley for Springville, which was about twenty miles distant. -When he arrived he had no definite plan of action outside of going -straight to the local police in an effort to interest them in his story. - -"I'll look around a bit first, though," Tom decided. "I may accidentally -run across some hint or clew that may help me." - -Tom strolled about the place, his eye on the alert. He had a faithful -mental picture of the ill-favored fellow he had caught spying on Harry -Ashley at Rockley Cove, and was sure he would recognize the rascal on -sight. - -He put in two hours in a stroll into such parts of the city which he -fancied a man like Brady would choose in seeking a refuge. He chased -down two or three persons a view of whose backs suggested the man for -whom he was looking. He had paused at a street corner as a great -jangling of bells and the shouts and hurryings of the crowds suggested -some pending excitement. - -"It's a fire," someone shouted, and pointed at dense volumes of smoke a -few blocks away. - -Tom started to cross the street in that direction. - -Just ahead of him he casually noticed the hurrying figure of a bulky -clumsy-limbed man carrying a big, old-fashioned carpet bag. - -"Hi! Out of the way, there!" shouted a sharp warning voice, as a fire -engine turned the corner suddenly, bearing directly down upon the -awkward pedestrian. - -The man got flustered and made a forward spring. The satchel he carried -slipped from his grasp. He ran back to rescue it. - -The ponderous rushing fire vehicle was fairly upon him. Tom instantly -saw his peril. There was only one thing to do, and our hero did it -promptly and effectively. - -Making a forward dash at top speed, Tom fairly bunted into the stooping -man. With all his force he struck him, sending him sliding head over -heels into the gutter. - -The feet of one of the horses attached to the fire engine just grazed -Tom's heel, and, striking the carpet bag, lifted it ten feet in the air. -It landed at the curb broken open, its contents scattering far and wide. - -Tom slid against the prostrate owner of the satchel, picked himself up, -and turned to ascertain the possible injuries of the man whose life he -had certainly saved. - -There was, however, no gratified expression in the face of the man. In -utter concern and disgust he stared at his scattered possessions, wildly -threw up his hands in a frantic despairing gesture, and bolted out the -echoing word: - -"Donner! Donner!" - - - - -CHAPTER XXV--TOM ON THE TRAIL--CONCLUSION - - -"Donneer! Donner!" - -At the mention of that startling word, Tom Barnes was instantly -convinced that he had made a great discovery; in fact, he was satisfied -that he had at last discovered one of the "spooks" of Station Z. - -Donner had been a mystery. The owner of the satchel was quite mysterious -in appearance. As Tom tried to help him to his feet, he noticed that the -man wore a wig and enormous whiskers. They were false, for the fall had -sent them quite awry. - -"Donner," Tom had learned, was quite a common word in Germany. It was -equivalent to our own "Thunder!" Tom, however, had never heard the word -used outside of his wireless experience. To hear it used now by a -suspicious individual in the very city where Harry Ashley was supposed -to be, suggested strangely to Tom that the odd individual before him -might be the erratic amateur operator, who had been sending out messages -referring to a runaway boy, one Ernest Warren, with "sun, moon and stars -tattooed on his left shoulder." - -"Are you hurt, sir?" inquired Tom. - -The man who had so narrowly escaped destruction seemed to be more -frightened than grateful. He hurriedly adjusted his facial disguise and -looked about him to see if he was especially observed. Then he shouted -hoarsely, with a despairing look at the scattered contents of the -satchel: - -"My baggage--quick, get it!" - -Tom hurriedly collected the articles. He was amazed at their oddness and -variety. There were one or two articles of clothing, and besides these, -two old-fashioned horse pistols, an ancient dirk, four or five wigs, and -as many false beards and moustaches. The odd collection suggested an -actor with a limited stage outfit. - -The minute Tom handed the satchel to the man with its contents restored, -the latter made a wild dash down the street. Tom was bound that he would -not lose sight of him, and followed fast on his heels. - -He came upon the fugitive posted in a doorway and anxiously gazing -beyond its shadows along the street. Tom paused near to him. - -"Can I be of any use to you, sir?" he asked, eager to keep up an -acquaintance he felt sure would lead to some definite results. - -"Is anyone following me or watching me?" inquired the man breathlessly. - -"Not at all," responded Tom reassuringly. "Everybody is running to the -fire." - -"Ah, that is good, most good!" exclaimed the man in a relieved tone. -"The troubles--all at once. I am all turned around. You are a good -honest boy," he added, scanning Tom critically. "You would not bring -troubles to a poor old man?" - -"Not I," declared Tom. - -"You would help him?" - -"I would be glad to," said Tom, delighted at getting more closely into -the confidence of his companion. - -"Then you shall earn a dollar. See, I am a stranger in the city. You -must direct me--to that address." - -The speaker fumbled in a pocket and produced a card which he handed to -Tom. It bore an address, and below it the words: "Go to section 4. Wait -for Brady." - -"What luck!" breathed Tom ardently. "This man is certainly the -mysterious operator, and he is going to see one of the men who kidnapped -Harry Ashley." - -It took about twenty minutes to reach the address indicated on the card. -Tom pointed out the restaurant to his companion, who gave him a dollar -bill. Then with a brusque nod and a searching glance all about him, he -entered the restaurant. - -Tom crossed the street and reached a sheltering doorway. His eyes were -fixed on the restaurant. What should he do next? He had almost decided -to recross the street, enter the place and attempt to get nearer to the -object of his interest, when a man came around the corner. - -"It's Brady--it is the man I saw at Rockley Cove," declared Tom. - -Brady wore a hat pulled well down over his face. His manner was hurried -and furtive, like that of a person suspicious of every passer-by. He -bolted quickly into the restaurant. - -"I must do something now--something worth while," breathed Tom -hurriedly. "There can be no doubt in the world that those two men have -met here to do something about Harry. They may go away by some other -exit. I'll do it." - -These last words announced a definite decision on the part of Tom, as -his eye fell upon a policeman in uniform standing at the nearest street -corner. Tom approached him, full of his plan. - -"Officer," he said politely, "do you ever arrest a person without a -warrant?" - -"I'd arrest me own brother on suspicions if he deserved it," announced -the man in uniform bluntly. - -"I am in trouble," said Tom rapidly, "and I wish you would help me." - -"Spake out, me lad," directed the big bustling officer. - -"A friend of mine, a boy, has been kidnapped. One of the men who carried -him away is in that restaurant yonder. If you will only take him and the -man with him to the police station, I am sure I can convince you that -they both deserve arrest." - -Tom briefly narrated the story of the kidnapping. - -"Come on, me lad," ordered the policeman. "It's a case for the captain. -Sure I'll take them in the act. This'll get in the newspapers, and -Officer Lahey's name along with it. Show me the rascals, me young -friend, and I'll do the rest." - -Tom entered the restaurant, the officer following him. At one side of -the place there were half a dozen partitioned-off compartments. As they -neared the fourth one of the tier Tom heard the man he had brought there -speak out: - -"I will only pay the five hundred, as I promised." - -"It's five thousand, or you never see the boy again." - -"I arrest both of yez!" here announced the policeman, stalking into the -compartment, and placing a hand on the shoulder of each of the two men, -who arose in alarm to their feet. - -"What's this?" snapped out Brady. - -"Resisting an officer of the law, are yez?" shouted the policeman, as -Brady tried to escape his clutch, and he shaking the culprit till his -teeth chattered, - -"Donner! I am lost!" gasped the other prisoner. - -"I say----" protested Brady anew. - -"Shut up!" ordered the policeman. "You'll have a chance to explain to -the captain at headquarters." - -"Aha!" hissed Brady, as, pulled out into the main room, he for the first -time observed Tom. Evidently he recognized him, for a sullen, surly look -came into his crafty face. - -At the door of the restaurant the policeman paused. - -"Go to the second corner, lad," he directed Tom, "and tell officer Moore -his partner needs his assistance." - -Tom did as directed, and five minutes later the prisoners were led down -the street, each in the charge of a stalwart guardian of the law. - -When the party reached the station, the first policeman beckoned to Tom -and led him to the office of the police captain. Tom told his story in a -simple direct way. The captain came out and looked first at the -grotesque figure and affrighted face of the big man, and then at Brady. - -"Ah, it's you, is it?" exclaimed the police official, with a start of -recognition. "Circus Jake." - -"I think you are mistaken," muttered Brady, in a surly tone. - -"Oh, no, I'm not. If you think so, I'll just send for your picture from -the Rogues' Gallery, and go over a few records. Lahey, keep your eye -close on this fellow till I need him. You two come with me." - -The speaker led Tom and the man with the big satchel into his private -office, and beckoned both of them to seats after closing the door. - -"Now then, young man," he directed Tom, "tell your story before this -man." - -Tom began at the commencement of the Donner incident, and followed it up -to its present climax. All through the recital, as reference was made to -Harry Ashley, the old man started, ejaculated, grimaced and groaned. - -"Ah, he was not Harry Ashley, he was Ernest Warren, the son of my -benefactor, my friend! Did he ever say that I, Blennerhassett, abused -him?" - -"He never said anything about you, for we did not know that he was -Ernest Warren," explained Tom. - -"Now, then, for your story, Mr. Blennerhassett, if that is your name," -spoke the police captain. - -The old man looked flustered and frightened. He cast an apprehensive -glance out at the street, an appealing one at the captain. - -"The Czar of Russia shall not be told?" he at length articulated. - -"The Czar of Russia?" repeated the official, with a mystified stare. -"What has he got to do with it?" - -"Everything," declared Blennerhassett, with a groan. "You will not -advise the spies of foreign governments?" he persisted, very seriously. - -The captain evidently concluded that he was dealing with a lunatic, for -he said indulgently: - -"Surely not." - -"And no notoriety in the newspapers, so that I might be trailed down by -assassins?" - -"Not a word, provided you tell the truth." - -The old man began his story, which was an interesting one. It seemed he -had been a Russian spy, and a price was set on his head. A fugitive, he -chanced to meet in Germany the father of Ernest Warren. The latter was -very kind to him. Mr. Warren was a civil engineer engaged on some large -public work. He took sick and died. He had learned to trust -Blennerhassett as a loyal friend, and had given him all his money with -directions to repair to the United States and take personal charge of -Ernest. - -The latter, it seemed, was one of the heirs to an estate in litigation. -It was to the interest of others after the fortune to have him -disappear. Not only to protect Ernest, but also because he was fearful -the Russian government might hunt him down personally, Blennerhassett -had made his new home in an isolated old house about fifty miles up the -coast from Rockley Cove. - -He never explained to Ernest the cause of this seclusion and mystery. -The lad had rebelled against such a solitary life, had run away after -accidentally destroying five hundred dollars by fire, and -Blennerhassett, not daring to come out openly, had surreptitiously -visited a nearby wireless station when its operator was absent, and -under cover had tried to communicate with the outside world. - -He had incidentally come across Brady, and had started him on a search -for the runaway, promising a five hundred dollar reward for finding him. -The day before the present one a demand had come from Brady for five -thousand dollars to be brought to Springville at once, or the boy would -never be returned. - -"The five hundred dollars Ernest burned up was his own money," explained -Blennerhassett. "I love him as my own son. All I ask is that I find -him." - -The police captain opened the door of his office and called out into the -station main room. - -"Bring that man in here," he directed; and Brady slouched into the -private office. - -"Now then," said the captain, "short and sweet's the word for you. Think -we don't know you, eh? I suppose you're not the man who advertised a set -of parlor furniture by mail for fifty cents, and a yard of silk for a -quarter, and a plan to save your gas bills for a dollar, and how to kill -cockroaches for a dime?" - -"That's old," growled the discomfited Brady. - -"Why," explained the police official, "he sent a toy set of furniture to -investors, and a yard of sewing silk, told them to save their gas bills -on a file, and advised them to get a board and a club and whack the -roaches. Now, sharp and brisk. You've kidnapped this man's charge. I'll -send two officers with you to your partner to give him up. Produce him, -and you go free. Otherwise I'll telegraph all over the country to find -out your latest schemes, and lock you up for abduction and extortion in -the meanwhile." - -"I've done my work for this old man," blurted out Brady. - -"Yes," assented Blennerhassett, "and the price was to be five hundred -dollars, not five thousand dollars. I'll pay the five hundred." - -"All right," muttered Brady, "I'll give in." - -"And I'll go with him to see that the boy is all right," said -Blennerhassett. - -Brady was released later, for the old man returned to the police station -within an hour. Harry Ashley, or Ernest Warren, as his real name was, -came in his company. - -There was a joyful meeting between Tom and his friend. It was made still -more happy when Ernest was informed that the estate in which he was -interested had been settled, and his share was some twenty thousand -dollars. - -The guardian and his ward accompanied Tom back to Rockley Cove as guests -at the Barnes homestead. Tom at once repaired to the wireless station. -He put his excitable chum in transports of delight when he announced the -success of his search for the stolen Harry Ashley. - -"Had some visitors here this afternoon," announced Ben. "Mart Walters -and young Aldrich came along. Aldrich was hot and furious to know if you -had used his launch. Just as I explained to them that you had, and -thereby saved Grace Morgan's life, and they toned down a little, along -came Grace herself. She overheard their squabbling, and turned her back -on them and wouldn't speak to them. They sneaked away." - -"Oh, Grace was here?" said Tom, trying to look only ordinarily -interested. - -"She was," replied Ben sprightly, "and spent a pleasant hour. She made -me tell her all about the way we telegraph. She even made me teach her -certain dots and dashes. Hello! why, there's a call from my home -wireless outfit." - -The receiver began to buzz and click. Tom looked suspiciously at his -comrade. - -"T-o-m B-a-r-n-e-s, y-o-u a-r-e m-z m-x m-y h-e-r-o. A-u-n-t B-e-r-t-h-a -w-a-n-t-s t-o s-e-e y-o-u. G-r-a-c-e," came the message. - -"H-m," commented Tom, flushing as his chum chuckled audibly. "Up to -tricks, are you? What are you laughing at?" - -"Why," smiled Ben seriously, "I was just thinking what a whole lot the -Morgan family think of you, Tom!" - -It took two full weeks for Rockley Cove and its vicinity to get over the -courageous exploit of Tom Barnes in saving the passengers and crew of -the _Olivia_. - -Bill Barber shared in the general commendation. He appeared on the -streets of the village, chipper, ambitious and well dressed, with the -great desire of his life, a full-blooded bulldog, at his heels. - -He boasted proudly that he had given Bert Aldrich a receipt in full for -the eleven dollars and seventy-five cents, in lieu of the use of the -_Beulah_ the night of the big storm. - -"I told him I could loan him a few dollars if he was so hard up he -couldn't get along," chuckled Bill, jingling some coins in his pocket. - -The steamship company sent a substantial reward to both Tom and Bill, -and offered the latter a good position on their line, which he accepted -promptly. - -Bert Aldrich sneaked away from Rockley Cove with his crack launch, -without being even permitted to say good-by to Grace; and Mart Walters -remained in the back of the books of that offended little lady for a -long time to come. - -Tom became a regular visitor at the Morgan home. His ability as a -wireless operator had attracted the attention of headquarters, where he -was offered a good position. - -Even his parents were willing that he should accept it, and for two -years Tom worked his way up to an inspectorship, taking a technical -evening course in a college at New York City. - -A new expert operator was put in charge at Station Z, but Ben was still -retained as a helper. Ernest and old Blennerhassett settled down at -Rockley Cove, and after a year at school the old Harry Ashley got an -appointment as a regular man at the tower. Blennerhassett gradually -worked out of his foolish fears of foreign enemies. - -Both Ben and Ernest were fascinated with the wireless business, and the -frequent visits of Tom along the circuit encouraged them. - -Tom spent nearly half his time at Rockley Cove. He was a regular visitor -at the Morgan home. One morning Ben came into the tower with a happy -smile on his face. He went at once to the instrument and called -headquarters. - -"Why so cheerful, Ben?" inquired Ernest. - -"Message." - -"Yes, I know, but what is its purport?" - -"Mr. Morgan wishes me to send a society announcement to the New York -press." - -"Indeed?" - -"Exactly--the engagement of our sweet little friend, Grace, to our old -time chum, Tom Barnes, the young wireless operator of Rockley Cove." - -THE END - - - - -THE WEBSTER SERIES - -By FRANK V. WEBSTER - -Mr. Webster's style is very much like that of the boys' favorite author, -the late lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales are thoroughly -up-to-date. - -Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. Stamped in various -colors. - -Price per volume, 50 cents, postpaid. - -Only A Farm Boy - _or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life_ - -The Boy From The Ranch - _or Roy Bradner's City Experiences_ - -The Young Treasure Hunter - _or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska_ - -The Boy Pilot of the Lakes - _or Nat Morton's Perils_ - -Tom The Telephone Boy - _or The Mystery of a Message_ - -Bob The Castaway - _or The Wreck of the Eagle_ - -The Newsboy Partners - _or Who Was Dick Box?_ - -Two Boy Gold Miners - _or Lost in the Mountains_ - -The Young Firemen of Lakeville - _or Herbert Dare's Pluck_ - -The Boys of Bellwood School - _or Frank Jordan's Triumph_ - -Jack the Runaway - _or On the Road with a Circus_ - -Bob Chester's Grit - _or From Ranch to Riches_ - -Airship Andy - _or The Luck of a Brave Boy_ - -High School Rivals - _or Fred Markham's Struggles_ - -Darry The Life Saver - _or The Heroes of the Coast_ - -Dick The Bank Boy - _or A Missing Fortune_ - -Ben Hardy's Flying Machine - _or Making a Record for Himself_ - -Harry Watson's High School Days - _or The Rivals of Rivertown_ - -Comrades of the Saddle - _or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_ - -Tom Taylor at West Point - _or The Old Army Officer's Secret_ - -The Boy Scouts of Lennox - _or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_ - -The Boys of the Wireless - _or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_ - -Cowboy Dave - _or The Round-up at Rolling River_ - -Jack of the Pony Express - _or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail_ - -The Boys of the Battleship - _or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_ - -CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - -THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES - -By CAPTAIN JAMES CARSON - -12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 50 cents, postpaid. - -All lads who love life in the open air and a good steed, will want to -peruse these books. Captain Carson knows his subject thoroughly, and his -stories are as pleasing as they are healthful and instructive. - -THE SADDLE BOYS OF THE ROCKIES - _or Lost on Thunder Mountain_ - -Telling how the lads started out to solve the mystery of a great noise -in the mountains--how they got lost--and of the things they discovered. - -THE SADDLE BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON - _or The Hermit of the Cave_ - -A weird and wonderful story of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, told in -a most absorbing manner. The Saddle Boys are to the front in a manner to -please all young readers. - -THE SADDLE BOYS ON THE PLAINS - _or After a Treasure of Gold_ - -In this story the scene is shifted to the great plains of the southwest -and then to the Mexican border. There is a stirring struggle for gold, -told as only Captain Carson can tell it. - -THE SADDLE BOYS AT CIRCLE RANCH - _or In at the Grand Round-up_ - -Here we have lively times at the ranch, and likewise the particulars of -a grand round-up of cattle and encounters with wild animals and also -cattle thieves. A story that breathes the very air of the plains. - -THE SADDLE BOYS ON MEXICAN TRAILS - _or In the Hands of the Enemy_ - -The scene is shifted in this volume to Mexico. The boys go on an -important errand, and are caught between the lines of the Mexican -soldiers. They are captured and for a while things look black for them; -but all ends happily. - -CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOYS OF THE WIRELESS *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35044 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a -registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, -unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything -for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may -use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative -works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and -printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public -domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, -especially commercial redistribution. - - - -The Full Project Gutenberg License - - -_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ - -To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or -any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at -http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic works - - -*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the -terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all -copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If -you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things -that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even -without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph -1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of -Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works -in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you -from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating -derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project -Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the -Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic -works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with -the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name -associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this -agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full -Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with -others. - -*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with - almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away - or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License - included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org - -*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating -that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can -be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying -any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a -work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on -the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs -1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is -posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and -distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and -any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted -with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of -this work. - -*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project -Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a -part of this work or any other work associated with Project -Gutenberg(tm). - -*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) License. - -*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site -(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or -expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a -means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include -the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works -provided that - - - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - - - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) - works. - - - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - - - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. - - -*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. - -*1.F.* - -*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. -Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the -medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but -not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription -errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a -defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer -codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. - -*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. -YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, -BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN -PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND -ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR -ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES -EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. - -*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain -freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and -permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To -learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and -how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the -Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state -of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue -Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is -64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the -Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the -full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 -North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page -at http://www.pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - - -Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where -we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state -visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any -statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside -the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways -including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, -please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic -works. - - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless -a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks -in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook -number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, -compressed (zipped), HTML and others. - -Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over -the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. -_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving -new filenames and etext numbers. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |