WALTER AND THE WIRELESS

By Sara Ware Bassett

_The Invention Series_

PAUL AND THE PRINTING PRESSSTEVE AND THE STEAM ENGINETED AND THE TELEPHONEWALTER AND THE WIRELESS

[Illustration: "K Y W Chicago, Illinois. Stand by fifteen minutesfor----. " FRONTISPIECE. _See page_ 208. ]

The Invention Series

WALTER ANDTHE WIRELESS

BYSARA WARE BASSETT

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BYWILLIAM F. STECHER

BOSTONLITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY1923

_Copyright, 1923_, BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. 

_All rights reserved_

Published March, 1923

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

ToPAUL MARBLEAND HIS COLLIE BOBS, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELYDEDICATED

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

 I HIS HIGHNESS 1

 II THE NEW JOB 17

 III WHAT WORRIED MRS. KING 36

 IV WALTER MAKES HIS BOW TO HIS EMPLOYER 50

 V THE CONQUEST OF ACHILLES 64

 VI HIS HIGHNESS IN A NEW ROLE 75

 VII THE PURSUIT OF LOLA 92

 VIII A BLUNDER AND WHAT CAME OF IT 104

 IX MORE CLUES 116

 X BOB 127

 XI THE DECISION 138

 XII LESSONS 147

 XIII INFORMATION FROM A NEW SOURCE 162

 XIV BOB AS PEDAGOGUE 169

 XV TIDINGS 183

 XVI MIRACLES 197

 XVII THE LAWS OF THE AIR 210

XVIII THE NET TIGHTENS 228

 XIX WALTER STEPS INTO THE BREACH 238

 XX THE RETURN OF THE WANDERERS 248

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

"K Y W CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. STAND BY FIFTEEN MINUTES FOR----" _Frontispiece_

 PAGE

THE TWO BOYS WOULD DISCUSS BOATS, FISHING AND KINDRED INTERESTS 76

"YOU WILL GET ALL THE WIRELESS COMING TO YOU, THAT'S ALL. TAKE IT FROM ME" 154

CLEARLY AND EVENLY THE MESSAGE TICKED ITSELF OFF. THEN THERE WAS SILENCE 240

WALTER AND THE WIRELESS

CHAPTER I

HIS HIGHNESS

His Highness came by the nickname honestly enough and yet those whoheard it for the first time had difficulty in repressing a smile atthe incongruity of the title. In fact perhaps no term could have beenfound that would have been less appropriate. For Walter King possessedneither dignity of rank nor of stature. On the contrary he was ashort, snub-nosed boy of fifteen, the epitome of good humor anddemocracy. 

His hair was red and towsled, his face spangled with great goldenfreckles which sea winds and sunshine had multiplied until there wasscarce room for another on his beaming countenance. Hands and armswere freckled too, for when one lives in a bathing suit six months ofthe year and is either in the water or on it most of the time the skinfails to retain its pristine whiteness of hue. But His Highness didnot care a fig for that. He was far too busy baiting eel and lobstertraps, mending fish nets, untangling lines, and painting boats to givea thought to his personal beauty. 

Indeed his mother often bewailed the fact that he was not moreinterested in his appearance and there were times when it seemed as ifshe were right. Certainly when her son ambled home at dusk with everyrebellious hair standing upended upon his head and a string offlounders dripping salt from the tips of their slimy tails she wasjustified to a degree in wishing he had more regard for the nicetiesof life. 

"Look at the mess you're making!" she would pipe indignantly. "I'vejust mopped this floor, Walter. "

"You have? Now isn't that the dickens! Well, no matter, Ma; I'll swabthe place down again when I've finished cleaning these fish. They'rebeauties, aren't they? A batch of them fried won't go bad for supperto-night. I'm hungry as a bear. Shouldn't think I'd eaten anything inten years. Say, Ma, what do you s'pose? Dave Corbett was out in the_Nancy_ three hours and never got a bite. What do you think of that?The wind died down, his engine got stalled, and he and Hosey Talbothad to row home from the Bell Reef Shoals. Haw, haw! Maybe I didn'troar when I saw them come pulling in against the tide, mad as twoman-eating sharks. Fit to harpoon the first person they met, theywere. I sung out and asked them were they practicing for the Harvardand Yale boat race and Dave was that peeved he shied an oarlock afterme. Haw, haw, haw!"

"You ought not to provoke Dave, Walter. "

"Provoke him? But he was provoked already, Ma. There's no harmputting an extra stick on the fire when it's burning, anyhow. Besides, Dave is never in earnest when he bawls me out. He just likes to hearhimself scold. "

"He has a terrible temper. "

"Oh, I know half the town is scart to death of him. But he always willtake a jolly from me. We understand each other, Dave and I. Say, Ma, these rubber boots leak. Did you know that? Yes, siree! They leak likesieves. I might as well be without 'em. "

Mrs. King sighed. 

"I don't see, " murmured she, "how you manage to go through everythingyou have so quickly, Walter. Nothing you wear lasts you more than aweek. "

"Oh, I say, make it a month. Do, now!"

He saw his mother smile faintly. 

"Well, a month then. "

"You couldn't stretch it to two?"

"Not possibly. Four weeks seems to be your limit. "

The sharpness of her tone, however, had weakened. 

"Four weeks, eh? I did think I'd had these rubber boots longer thanthat. It is amazing how attached you can get to things even in alittle while. "

Holding aloft the knife with which he was preparing to behead theunlucky flounders, His Highness gazed reflectively down at his feet. 

"It's awful that I have to keep having so many things, isn't it? Ihate to be costing you money all the time. Now if you'd only let meship for the Grand Banks when the _Katie B. _ goes out----"

"Walter! What is the use of digging up that old bone again? I nevershall let you ship for the Grand Banks or any other Banks so long as Ilive. We've had this out hundreds of times before. You know you andBob are all I've got in the world. Do you suppose I want you lost in afog and never heard from again?"

"Oh, Great Scott, Ma! They don't lose fishing boats now as they usedto. They carry wireless, and the fleet keeps in touch every minute. "

"The dories have no wireless aboard them, " observed Mrs. King grimly. 

"I suppose not, no, probably they don't, " His Highness admittedreluctantly. 

"Anyway, wireless or no wireless, you are not going on a fishingcruise to the Grand Banks. "

"I hear you, Ma, " grinned the boy. 

"There is plenty of work right here on the land if you're looking forit. Why must you always be wanting to go to sea to earn money?"

"Faith, Mother, I don't know, " laughed Walter. "I expect it's becauseI see chores to do when I'm afloat that I can't see ashore. It is theway I was born. "

"A poor way. "

"Maybe it is. At any rate I can't help it. "

"I'm afraid you do not try to help it very hard. "

The lad shrugged his shoulders. 

"There's that chance you have to hire out at the Crowninshields' forthe summer. "

"Those snobs. "

"Beggars cannot be choosers. Besides, they may not be snobs at all. What makes you think they are?"

"Oh, I don't mind the lugs they put on, " protested Walter, evading theissue. "I suppose all New York swells do that. It's what they want mefor that gets my goat. " Again the knife he held was tragicallyupraised. "How would you like to be nursemaid to six or eightbrainless little pups no bigger than rats? Not but what I like dogs. I'd like nothing better than to own a fine dog of some spirit. Butthose imitations! Why, before a week was out, I'd have their neckswrung. "

"Mr. Crowninshield promised to pay you well. "

"What's money if all the kids in town are going to josh you?"

"Money is a good deal when you need it. " His mother shook her headgravely. "Have you ever considered how badly we are in want of money, Walter?"

"What do you mean, Ma?" The boy wheeled about, startled. 

"I haven't said anything about it, dear, because I could not bear tohave you boys bothered, " was the quiet answer. "But lately things havenot been going well and I have been pretty much worried. The moneyyour Uncle Henry invested for us isn't paying any dividends; thereseems to be something the matter with the company's affairs. As foryour Uncle Mark Miller, I've heard nothing from him in months. Hisship was to put in at Shanghai for cargo and I ought to have had aletter by now; but none has come and I am afraid something must be thetrouble. He is a good brother and never fails to send me money. I canill afford to be without help now when the mortgage is coming due andI have so many bills to meet. It takes a deal of money to livenowadays. You boys do not realize that. "

"Why, I had no idea you were fussed, Mother, and I'm sure Bob hadn'teither, " declared Walter soberly. 

"Then I have done better than I thought I had, " returned his mother, with the shadow of a smile. "I wanted to keep it secret if I could. "

"But you shouldn't have tried to keep it a secret, Mater dear, " Walterreplied. "I'm sure we'd rather know--at least I would. "

"But what use is it?"

"Use? Why, all the use in the world, Ma. I shall go ahead and take Mr. Crowninshield's job for one thing. "

"But you said----"

"Shucks! I was only fooling about the dogs, Mother. I shan't reallymind exercising and taking care of them at all. Of course, I won'tdeny I'd rather they were Great Danes or police dogs; I'd even preferAiredales or Cockers. Still I suppose these little mopsey Pekingesemust have some brains or the Lord would not have made them. No doubt Ishall get used to them in time. "

"It is only for the summer vacation anyway, you know, " ventured hismother. "The Crowninshields go back to New York in October. "

"I certainly ought to be able to bear up a few months, " laughedWalter, with a ludicrously wry twist of his mouth. "I hate to thinkyou've been bothered and have been keeping it all to yourself. "

"Misery does like company, " Mrs. King returned with an unsteady laugh. "I believe I feel better already for having told you. But you must notworry, dear. We shall pull through all right, I guess. How I came tospeak of it I don't know. It was only that it seemed such a pity totoss the Crowninshield offer aside without even considering it. Nobodyknows where it might end. The village people say Mr. Crowninshield isa very generous man, especially if he takes a fancy to anybody. "

"But he may not take a fancy to me. "

"He must have done so already to be asking you to help with the dogs. "

"Nonsense, Ma! Did you think Mr. Crowninshield picked me out himself?Why, he's never laid eyes on me. That great privilege is still instore for him. No, he simply told Jerry Thomas, the caretaker, to findsomebody for the job before the family arrived. He doesn't care a darnwho it is so long as he has a person who can be trusted with hispriceless pups. Why, I heard the other day that a dealer from New Yorkhad offered five thousand dollars for the smallest one. "

"Walter!"

"Straight goods!"

"Five thousand dollars for a dog!" gasped Mrs. King. 

Her son chuckled at her incredulity. 

"Sure!"

"But it's a fortune, " murmured she. "I had no idea there was a dog onearth worth that much. "

"All of them are not. "

"But five thousand dollars!" she repeated. "Why, Walter, I wouldn'thave you responsible for a creature like that for anything in theworld. You might as well attempt to be custodian of a lot of goldbonds. I shouldn't have a happy moment or sleep a wink thinking of it. Suppose some of the little wretches were to run away and get lost? Orsuppose they were to be stolen? Or they might get sick and die on yourhands. "

"That is why they want a responsible person to keep an eye on them. "

His Highness squared his shoulders and threw out his chest. 

"But you are not a responsible person, " burst out Mrs. King withunflattering candor. 

"Mother!"

"Well--are you?" she insisted. 

The boy's figure shriveled. 

"No, " he confessed frankly, "I'm afraid I'm not. "

"Of course you're not, " continued his mother with the same brutaltruthfulness. "It isn't that you do not mean to be, sonny, " added shekindly. "But your mind wanders off on all sorts of things instead ofthe thing you're doing. That is why you do not get on better inschool. All your teachers say you are bright enough if you only hadsome concentration to back it up. What you can be thinking of all thetime I cannot imagine; but certainly it isn't your lessons. "

"I know, " nodded Walter without resentment. "My mind does flop aboutlike a kite. I think of everything but what I ought to. It's a rottenhabit. "

"Well, all I can say is you'd be an almighty poor one to look after alot of valuable dogs, " sniffed his mother. 

"I'll bet I could do it if I set out to. "

"But would you set out to--that is the question? Would you really putyour entire attention on those dogs so that other people could dropthem from their minds? That is what taking care means. "

"I couldn't promise. I could only try. "

"I should never dare to have you undertake it. "

"That settles it, Ma, " announced His Highness. "I've evidently got toprove to you that you are wrong. I'm going up to Crowninshields' thisminute to tell Jerry he can count on me from July until October. "

"You're crazy. "

"Wait and see. "

"I know what I'll see, " was the sharp retort. "I shall see all thosepuppies kicking up their heels and racing off to Provincetown, and Mr. Crowninshield insisting that you either find them and bring them backor pay him what they cost him. "

"Don't you believe it. "

"That is what will happen, " was the solemn prophecy. 

"But you were keen for me to take the job. "

"That was before I knew what the little rats were worth. "

"You just thought it was a cheap sort of a position and that I was torace round and make it pleasant for a lot of ordinary curs, didn'tyou?" interrogated the lad with mock indignation. 

In spite of herself his mother smiled. 

"Well, you see you were wrong, " went on Walter. "It is not that sortof thing at all. It is a job for a trustworthy man, Jerry Thomas said, and will bring in good wages. "

"It ought to, " replied his mother sarcastically, "if a person mustspend every day for three months sitting with his eyes glued on thosemites watching every breath they draw. "

"It isn't just days, Mother; I'd have to be there nights as well. "

"_What!_"

"That's what Jerry told me. I'd have to sleep on the place. Mr. Crowninshield wants some one there all the time. "

"But Walter----!" Mrs. King broke off in dismay. 

"I know that would mean leaving you alone now that Bob has a regularposition at the Seaver Bay Wireless station. Still, why should youmind? I have always been gone all day, anyhow; and at night I sleep sosoundly that you yourself have often said burglars might carry awaythe bed from under me and I not know it. "

"You are not much protection, that's a fact, " confessed Mrs. King. "Fortunately, though, I am not a timid person. It is not that I amafraid to stay here alone. My chief objection is that it seems foolishto run a great house like this simply for myself. "

"Couldn't you get some one to come and keep you company?"

"Who, I should like to know?"

"Why--why--well, I haven't thought about it. Of course there's AuntMarcia King. "

"Mercy on us!" exclaimed his mother, instantly flaring up. "I'd rathersee the evil one himself put in an appearance than your Aunt Marcia. Of all the fault-finding, critical, sharp-tongued creatures in theworld she is the worst. Why, I'd let burglars carry away every stickand stone I possess and myself thrown in before I would ask her hereto board. "

"My, Mother! I'd no idea you had such a temper. You're as bad as DaveCorbett, " asserted Walter teasingly. 

His mother tossed her head but he saw her flush uncomfortably. 

"I suppose you wouldn't want a regular boarder, " suggested the boy inorder to turn the conversation. 

"A _boarder_!" There was less disapproval than surprise in theejaculation, however. 

"Lots of people in the town do take summer boarders, " added he. 

"The thought never entered my head before, " reflected his motheraloud. "There certainly is plenty of room in the house, and we have aroyal view of the water. Besides, there's the garden. Strangers arealways coming here in vacation time and asking if they may look at itor sketch it. It never seemed anything very remarkable to me for mostof the flowers have sown themselves and grow like weeds, but of coursethere's no denying the hollyhocks, poppies, and larkspur are pretty. But visitors always call it wonderful. "

"Most likely you could get a big price if you were to rent rooms. "

"I'm sure I could, " replied Mrs. King thoughtfully. "It would helptoward the mortgage and the other bills, too. I've half a mind to tryit, Walter. "

"It would mean extra work for you. "

"Pooh! What do I care for that? Not a fig! In fact, with both of youboys away I'd rather be busy than not, " was the quick retort. 

"Do you suppose Bob would mind?"

"Bob? Why, he's seldom at home nowadays. Why should he care?"

"Aunt Marcia might think----" began the boy mischievously. But thecomment was cut short. 

"Oh, I know what your Aunt Marcia would say, " broke in Mrs. King. "She'd hold up her hands in horror and announce that it was beneaththe dignity of the family to take boarders. "

They both laughed. 

"I believe the very notion of scandalizing her will be what willdecide me, " concluded his mother with finality. "I'll put anadvertisement in the Boston paper to-morrow and see what luck I have. If the right people do not turn up, why I don't have to take them. "

"Sure you don't. "

"It's a good plan, a splendid plan, Walter. Boarders will give mecompany and money too. I wonder it never occurred to me to do itbefore. " Then she patted the lad's shoulder, adding playfully, "Iguess if you have brains in one direction you must have them inanother. Still, as I said before, I do not fancy your beingresponsible for those dogs. "

"Pooh! You quit worrying, Ma, or I shall be sorry I told you they wereblue ribbon pups. "

"I should have heard of it, never fear. You hear of everything in thistown. You can't help it. Like as not everybody in the place will knowby to-morrow morning that I am going to take boarders. Luckily I don'tcare--that's one good thing. And as to the dogs, if you are resolvedto accept that position all I can say is that you must keep a head onyour shoulders. You cannot hire out for a job unless you are preparedto give a full return for the money paid you. It is not honest. Sothink carefully what you mean to do before you embark. And remember, if you get into some careless scrape you cannot come back on me formoney for I haven't any to hand over. "

"I shall shoulder my own blame, " responded Walter, drawing in hischin. 

"Well and good then. If you are ready to do that, it is your affairand I have nothing more to say, " announced Mrs. King, preparing toleave the room. 

But Walter stayed her on the threshold. 

"I don't see, " he began, "why you always seem to expect I'm going toget into a scrape. You are never looking for trouble with Bob. "

"Bob! Bless your heart I never have to! You know that as well as I do. Any one could trust Bob until the Day of Judgment. He never forgets aword you tell him. Ask him to do an errand and it is as good as done. You can drop it from your mind. From a little child he was dependablelike that. His teachers couldn't say enough about him. Wasn't healways at the head of his class? The way he's turned out is nosurprise. Think of his picking up wireless enough outside school hoursto get a radio job during the war, and afterward that fine position atSeaver Bay! Few lads his age could have done it. And think of themessages he's entrusted with--government work, and sinking ships, andgoodness knows what not!"

The proud mother ceased for lack of breath. 

"I wish I was like Bob, " sighed Walter gloomily. 

"Nonsense!" was the instant exclamation. "You're yourself, andscatter-brain as you are, I'd want you no different. You're but a ladyet. When you are Bob's age you may be like him. Who knows?"

"I'm afraid not, " came dismally from Walter. "I haven't started out asBob did. "

"What if you haven't? There's time enough to catch up if you hurry. And anyway, I do not want my children all alike. Variety is the spiceof life. I wouldn't have you patterned after Bob if I could speak theword. "

"You wouldn't?" the boy brightened. 

"Indeed I wouldn't! Who would I be patching torn trousers or darningripped sweaters for if you were like Bob, I'd like to know? Who'd bepestering me to hunt up his cap and mittens? And who would I be fryingclams for?"

"Bob never could abide clam fritters, could he?" put in the youngerbrother. 

"Bob never had any frivolities, " mused Mrs. King, shaking her head. "Sometimes I've almost wished he had if only to keep the rest of us incountenance. Many's the time I've feared lest he was going to die hewas that near perfect. "

"Well, Ma, you haven't had to lie awake worrying because I was toogood for this world, have you?" chuckled His Highness, breaking into agrin. 

His mother regarded him affectionately. 

"Oh, you'll make your way too, sonny, some day. It won't be as Bob hasdone it; but you'll make it nevertheless. Folks are going to do thingsfor you simply because they cannot help it. "

The boy studied her with a puzzled expression. 

"What do you mean, Mater?"

As if coming out of a reverie Mrs. King started, the mistiness thathad softened her eyes vanishing. 

"There! Look at the way you've splashed up my nice clean sink!"complained she tartly. "Did any one ever see such a child--alwaysmessing up everything! Come, clear out of here and take your fish withyou. It does seem as if you needed four nursemaids and a valet at yourheels to pick up after you. Be off this minute. "

With a cloth in one hand and a bar of soap in the other, she elbowedhim away from the dishpan. 

"You'll fry these flounders for supper, won't you, Ma?" called the ladas he disappeared into the shed. 

"Fry 'em? I reckon I'll have to. It's wicked to catch fish and not use'em. "

But he saw his mother's eyes twinkle and her grumbling assent did nottrouble him. 

CHAPTER II

THE NEW JOB

May at Lovell's Harbor was one of the most beautiful seasons of theyear. In fact the inhabitants of the town often remarked that they putup with the winters the small isolated village offered for the sake ofits springs and summers. Certain it was that when easterly stormsswept the marshes and lashed the harbor into foam; when every boatthat struggled out of the channel returned whitened to the gunwalewith ice, there was little to induce anybody to take up residence inthe hamlet. How cold and blue the water looked! How the surf boomed upon the lonely beach and the winds howled and whined around the eavesof the low cottages!

One buttoned himself tightly into a greatcoat then, twisted a mufflermany times about his neck, pulled his cap over his ears, and rushedfor school with a velocity that almost equaled the scudding schoonerswhose sails billowed large against the horizon. At least that was whatHis Highness, Walter King, invariably did. 

But from the instant the breath of spring stole into the air, --ah, then Lovell's Harbor became a different place altogether. The stems ofthe willows fringing the small fresh-water ponds mellowed to bronzebefore one's very eyes; the dull reaches of salt grass turned emerald;the steely tint of the sea softened to azure and glinted golden in thesun. How shrill sounded the cries of the redwings in the marsh! Howjolly the frogs' twilight chorus!

The miracle went on with amazing rapidity. Soon you were scouring thehollows in the woods for arbutus or splashing bare-legged into thebogs for cowslips. You even ventured knee-deep into the sea whichalthough still chill was no longer frigid. And then, before you knewit, you were hauling out your fishing tackle and looking over yourflies; inspecting the old dory and calking her seams with a coat offresh paint. Then came the raking of the leaves, the uncovering of thehollyhocks, and the burning of brush; and through the mists of smokethat rose high in air you could hear the resonant chee-ee of theblackbirds swinging on the reeds along the margin of the creek. 

And afterward, when summer had really made its appearance, what daysof blue and gold followed! Was ever sky so cloudless, grass so vividlygreen, or ocean so sparkling? Ah, a boy never lacked amusement now! Hewriggled into his bathing suit directly after breakfast and was off tothe shore to swim, fish, or sail, or do any of the thousand-and-onealluring things that turned up. And things always did turn up in thatsmall horseshoe where the boats made in. It was the club of Lovell'sHarbor. 

Here all the men of the village congregated daily to smoke, swapjokes, and heckle those who worked. 

"That's no way to mend a net, Eph, " one of the spectators wouldprotest. "Where was you fetched up, man? Tote the durn thing over hereand I'll show you how they do it off the Horn. "

Or another member of the audience would call:

"Was you reckonin' you'd have enough paint in that keg to finish youryawl, Eddie? Never in the world! What are you so scrimpin' of it for?Slither it on good and thick and let it trickle down into the cracks. 'Twill keep 'em tight. "

Oh, one learned to curb his temper and bend to the higher criticism ifhe carried his work down to the beach. He got an abundance of advicewhether he asked for it or not and for the most part the counsel wassound and helpful. There you heard also tales of tempests, wrecks, strange ports, and sea serpents, --weird tales that chilled your blood;and sometimes the piping note of an old chanty was raised by one whosesailing days were now only a memory. 

What marvel that to be a boy at Lovell's Harbor was a boon to becoveted even if along with the distinction went a throng of homelytasks such as shucking clams, cleaning cod, baiting lobster pots, andrunning errands? No cake is all frosting and no chowder all broth. Youhad to take the bad along with the good if you lived at Lovell'sHarbor. And while you were sandwiching in work and fun what aneducation you got! Why, it was better than a dozen schools. Not onlydid you learn to swim like a spaniel, pull a strong oar, hoist a sail, and gain an understanding of winds and tides, but also you came tohandle tools with an ease no manual training school could teach you. You made a wooden pin do if you had no nail; and a bit of rope serveif the whittled pin were lacking. Instead of hurrying to a shop topurchase new you patched up the old, and the triumph of doing itafforded a satisfaction very pleasant to experience. 

Moreover, as a result, you had more pennies in your pocket and morebrains in your head. Both Bob and Walter King, as well as most of theother village lads, outranked the town-bred boy in all-round practicalskill. They may not have cut such a fine figure at golf or dancing;perhaps they did not excel at Latin or French; but they had at thetips of their tongues numberless useful facts which they had tried outand proven workable and which no city dweller could possibly havegleaned. 

His Highness might be freckled and towsled and, as his motheraffirmed, forgetful and careless, but like a sponge his active youngmind had soaked up a deal no books could have given him. You wouldbest beware how you jollied Walter King or put him down for a "Rube. "More than likely you would later regret your snap judgment. 

No doubt it was this realization that had stimulated Jerry Thomas toask him to come to Surfside, the Crowninshields' big summer estate, and look after the dogs. Jerry was an old resident of Lovell's Harbor, and having watched the boy grow up, he unquestionably knew what hewas about. That there were plenty of other boys at the Harbor tochoose from was certain. If the honor descended to His Highness restassured it was not without reason. 

Hence Jerry was not only pleased but immensely gratified when on themorning following Walter rounded the corner of the great barn andappeared in the doorway. 

"I've come to say Yes to that job you offered me the other day, "announced he, without wasting words on preliminaries. 

"Good, youngster!"

"When shall you want me?"

"When can you come?" grinned Jerry. 

He was a lank, sharp-featured man with china blue eyes that narrowedto a mere slit when he smiled, and from the corners of whichcrowsfeet, like fan-shaped streaks of light from the rising sun, radiated across his temples. His skin was tanned to the hue of oldhickory and deep down in its furrows were lines of white. He had a bignose that was always sunburned, powerful hands with a reddish fuzz ontheir backs, and gnarled fingers that bore the scars of innumerablenautical disasters. But the chief glory he possessed was a neatlytattooed schooner that sailed under full canvas upon his forearm andbore beneath it the inscription:

 The Mollie D. The finest ship afloat. 

The words had been intended as a tribute rather than a challenge forJerry was a peaceful soul, but unfortunately they had provedprovocative of many a brawl, and had the truth been known a certainodd slant of Jerry's chin could have been traced back to thisapparently harmless assertion. Possibly had this mate of the _MollieD. _ foreseen into what straits his boast was to lead him he might nothave expressed it so baldly in all the naked glory of blue ink; butwith the sentiment once immortalized what choice had he but to defendit? Therefore, being no coward but a sturdy seaman with a swingingundercut, he had in times past delivered many a blow in order touphold the _Mollie D. 's_ nautical reputation, after which encountershis challengers were wont to emerge with a more profound respect notonly for the bark but for Jerry Thomas as well. 

All that, however, was long ago. Since the great storm of 1890 when somany ships had perished and the _Mollie D. _, bound from Norfolk toFairhaven, had gone down with the rest, Jerry had abandoned the sea. It was not the perils of the deep, nevertheless, that had driven himlandward, or the fear of future disasters; it was only that since hisfirst love was lost he could not bring himself to ship on any othervessel. 

Accordingly he took to the shore and for a time a very strange misfithe was there. How he fumed and fidgeted and roamed from one place toanother, searching for some spot in which his restless spirit wouldfind peace! And then one day he had wandered into Lovell's Harbor andthere he had stayed ever since. For several seasons he had taken outsailing parties of summer boarders or piloted amateur fishermen out tothe Ledges; but the timidity and lack of sophistication of these citypatrons at length so rasped his nerves that he gave up the task andwas about to betake himself to pastures new when he fell beneath theeye of Mr. Glenmore Archibald Crowninshield, a New York banker, whohad bought the strip of land forming one arm of the bay and was on thepoint of erecting there a diminutive summer palace. 

From that instant Jerry's fortune was made. Mr. Crowninshield was akeen student of human nature and was immediately attracted to thesailor with his ambling gait and twinkling blue eyes. Moreover, theNew Yorker happened to be in search of just such a man to look out forhis interests when he was not at Lovell's Harbor. Hence Jerry waselevated to the post of caretaker and delegated to keep guard over theedifice that was about to be erected. 

In view of the fact that up to the moment Jerry had been the mostcare-free mortal alive and had never from day to day been able toremember the whereabouts of his sou'wester or his rubber boots, hisensuing transformation was nothing short of a miracle. Promptlysettling down with doglike fidelity he began mildly to urge on thelagging carpenters; but presently, magnificent in his wrath, he roseabove them, whiplash in hand, and drove them forward. His watery blueeyes followed every stick of timber, every foot of piping, every nailthat was placed. There was no escaping his watchfulness. If cornerswere not true or moldings did not meet he saw and called attention toit. Many a time a slipshod workman was ready to throw him over thecliff into the sea and perhaps might have done so had he not beenconscious of the justice of the criticism. 

In consequence the Crowninshield house was built on honor; and whenthe bills began to come in and showed a marked falling off inmagnitude the owner of the mansion could not but express gratitude. Jerry, however, did not covet thanks. Instead he tagged along at hisemployer's heels, proudly calling notice first to one skillful bit ofwork and then to another. The house and all that concerned it becamehis hobby. It was to him what the _Mollie D. _ had been, the primaryinterest of his life. He knew every inch of plumbing; where everyshut-off, valve, ventilator, and stopcock was located. Moreover, hecould have told, had not his jaws been clamped together tightly as ascallop shell, exactly how much every article in the mansion cost. 

Later he superintended the grading of the lawns, the laying out oftennis courts, and the building of garages, boathouses, andbathhouses. By this time Mr. Crowninshield would willingly havetrusted him with every farthing he possessed so complete was hisconfidence in his man Friday. 

Jerry, however, was modest. He declared he had only done his duty andinsisted that it go at that. But having set this high standard offidelity for himself it followed that he demanded a like faithfulnessin others; and if he were not merciful to those who came under hisdictatorship at least no one of them could deny that he was just. Hence Walter King did not shrink from the prospect of working withhim, stern though he was reputed to be. One can only do one's best andthat the boy was determined to do. Therefore he smiled up into Jerry'smisty blue eyes and answered:

"I could begin work when school closes toward the end of June. "

"Humph! I wish you could make it earlier. Well, we must put up withthat since it is the best you can do. Goodness knows I'd be the lastone to discourage learning in the young. I got all too little of itwhen I was a shaver. Not a day goes by that I don't wish I'd had mychance. I shipped to sea when I was only twelve--would go--nothingwould stop me--and I've been knocking round ever since, picking uphere and there what scraps of knowledge I could get. Don't letanything tempt you to sea till you're full-grown, sonny, for you'lllive to regret it, sure as my name is Jerry Taylor. "

Walter flushed guiltily, wondering as he did so whether Jerry's littleblue eyes had bored their way into his skull and read there hisaspirations. 

"Nope!" went on the sailor. "Take it from me, seafaring is a man'sjob. You much better stay ashore and----" he stopped as if at a lossand then smiling broadly added, "play governess to a pack of dogs. "

"I figure that is about what I'm going to do, " replied His Highnesswith a comic air of resignation. 

"Well, what's the matter with that?" inquired Jerry sharply. "You'llbe getting paid for it, won't you--well paid? And you'll have cozyquarters all to yourself, and three good meals a day. Land alive! Somefolks want the earth! Why, when I was your age, I was swung up in ahammock between decks with not an inch of space that I could call myown. If I wanted to stow away anything I hadn't a place to put itwhere it wasn't common property. As for meals I took what I could getand was thankful that I didn't starve. And here you come along andtilt up your freckled pug nose at a room and board and ten a week. Bah! What's come over this generation anyway?"

"I wasn't turning up my nose, " Walter ventured to protest. "It turnsup anyhow. "

"Then you need to be careful how you make it go higher, " grinnedJerry. 

"And--and--I had no idea you meant to pay me that much. "

"What do you think we are up here?" bristled Jerry. "A sweatshop? Nosiree! We stand for the square deal every time, we do. Only you've gotto understand, young one, that it's to be square on both sides. You'reto do no shirking; if you do you'll get fired so quick you'll wonderwhat hit you. But if you do your part you need have no worries. Nowthink good and plenty before you embark on the cruise. "

"I have thought. "

"All right then. We'll haul up anchor and be off the latter part ofJune. "

"You'll have to tell me exactly what you want me to do. "

"Oh, I'll tell you right 'nough, " drawled Jerry, with a humorous twistof his lips. "You'll get a chart to sail by. Still, it won't whollycover your duties. The thing for you to do is to keep your eyes peeledand look alive. Watch out and see where there's a hole an' be in thathole so it won't be empty. That's the best recipe I know for beinguseful. "

"I'll try. "

"If you honestly do that I reckon there'll be no cause for you toworry, " observed the caretaker kindly. "Towards the end of June, then, I'll be on the lookout for you. Your quarters will be all ready, shipshape and trim as a liner's cabin. "

"Where will they be?" inquired Walter. 

"Want to see 'em?"

"I'd like to, yes. "

"I s'pose you would, " nodded Jerry. "You can as well as not; only theyain't fixed up as they'll be later. Look kinder dismal. "

"Oh, I shan't mind. "

The big man smiled at the eagerness of the boy's tone. 

"Likely you ain't never been away from home before, son, " said he, ashe took a key out of a glass case on the wall of the barn and slippedit into his pocket. 

"No--that is, not to stay. "

"Quite some adventure, eh?"

The lad shot a bright glance toward him. 

"Yes. "

"Well, well! Count yourself lucky, youngster, that you've had a goodhome and a good mother up to now; and bless your stars, too, thatsince you are going to start branching out you're coming to a placelike Surfside rather'n somewhere else. "

His voice was gentle and his misty eyes mistier than ever. 

Striding ahead he crossed the lawn, unlocked a low building, andmounting the stairs, stopped before a door in the hall above. With aturn of the key it swung open, disclosing a small sheathed roomcontaining a white iron bed, bureau, table, chairs, and bookshelves. 

"Think this will suit your Highness?" grinned he. 

"It's--it's corking!" stammered Walter, almost too delighted to reply. 

"'Tain't bad, " admitted Jerry, strolling over to one of the windowsthat faced the sea and looking out. "Mr. Crowninshield makes it a rulenever to stow away other folks where he wouldn't be stowed himself. Itisn't a bad principle, either. You'll have a couple of the chauffeursfor company. " With his thumb he motioned to other rooms flanking thenarrow hall. "They may josh you some at first. That's part of startingout in the world. Keep a civil tongue in your head and if you don'tmind 'em they'll soon quit. If they don't it's up to you to find theway to get on with 'em. Half of life is learning to shy round thecorners of the folks about you. And old Tim, who used to be gardenerfor Mr. Crowninshield's father and has been in the family 'most half acentury, bides here, too. A rare soul, Tim. You'll like him. Everybodydoes. Simple as a child, he is, and so gentle that it well-nigh breakshis heart to kill a potato bug. You can count on Tim standing yourfriend no matter what the rest may do, so cheer up. "

"And the dogs?"

"Oh, the kennels, you mean? They're close by where you'll get the fullbenefit of the pups' barking in the early morning, " said Jerry, with atwinkle. "'Twill give you a pleasant feeling to be certain yourcharges are alive. Most often, though, they do no yammering untilabout six, and goodness knows all Christians ought to be up at thathour. You'll find the dogs fitted out comfortable as the rest of us. They've a fine enclosure to stay in when they want to be out of doors;a big airy room if it's better to have 'em under cover; steam heatwhen it's cold; and blankets and brushes without end. Sometimes Lola, the pet of 'em all, sleeps up at the big house; but mostly she's herewith the rest. There's too big a caravan of 'em to have the lot livewith the family. Besides, the folks like to sleep late in the morningand not be disturbed by the noise of a pack of puppies. Then there'sguests here off and on. So take it all in all, the dogs are best bythemselves. "

"But I don't know anything about taking care of dogs, " falteredWalter. 

"I thought you'd had a dog yourself. "

"So I had once. But he wasn't like any of these. He was just a dog. All you had to do was to chuck him a bone. "

"Well, you'll have a darn sight more to do for these critters thanthat, " announced Jerry. 

"But how'll I know----" began the boy, alarmed by the prospect beforehim. 

"Oh, you'll get your instructions from the Madam, most likely--get 'emall written down in black and white along with the history of everydog. She'll tell you just what every one of 'em is to eat, and howmuch; and where they're all to sleep. And if she don't Miss Nancy orMr. Dick will. You'll get yards and yards of directions before you'rethrough, " chuckled Jerry. "You want to listen well to every word youhear too, son, for these dogs ain't like your Towser--or whatever hisname was; a crumb of food too much might kill 'em. Or a blast of air. "

"Scott!"

"Oh, there's no use getting panicky at the outset, " declared Jerrycomfortably. "Follow orders and use your brains; and remember that ifyou get addled you can always consult Tim. Tim has a world of commonsense and a heap of knowledge of odd sorts. And more than that, he'snever swept off his feet by the cost of things. Having been brought upin the company of Rolls-Royce cars, and diamond rings, andthousand-dollar dogs they don't move him an inch. He just treats 'emsame's he would anything else and often it's the best plan. Insteadof losing his head, and standing wringing his hands 'cause the prizeroses have got bugs on 'em he sets to work and kills the bugs; spraysthe plants same's he would ordinary bushes, and they go to growingagain like any other civilized flowers. An orchid ain't no more to himthan a buttercup. He's too used to 'em. He's used to dogs as well, andwith the shifting fashions he's seen during his fifty years with thefamily he's had experience with most every kind of dog that ever was. For there's fashions in dogs, you know, as well as in coats and hats. So turn to Tim when you're in a tight place. He'll help you, neverfear. "

"I hope he will, " sighed His Highness ruefully. "I shall need him. "

"Nonsense! Why, Mr. Dick has often cared for the pups when there wasno one else; and certainly you ought to have as many brains as he. "

"Tell me about him. "

"Richard? You've seen him round town lots of times--you must have. Atthe village and other places. "

"Oh, of course I've seen him, " agreed Walter quickly. "In the summerhe drives past our house almost every day in his car. But I don't knowhim any. "

"You will now, " asserted Jerry. "He's a great chap, Mr. Dick is! Aboutyour age, too, I guess. Quite a mechanic and always tinkering withtools and machinery. If there's anything wrong with the motor boat hecan usually fix her up all right. As for mending a car, he beats allthe chauffeurs out. They know it and have to say so. Likely you'veseen him fluking through the main street in his racer. She's a trimlittle thing and could go like the wind if his Pa hadn't forbiddenletting out the engine. I reckon Mr. Crowninshield is afraid he'lleither kill himself or somebody else, and I will own the thing ain'tno proper toy for a lad his age. Still, city folks ain't content withwhat would please you or me. They must have the biggest, the fastest, the most expensive article there is or 'tain't good for nothin'. Themere knowin' it's the biggest, fastest, and cost the most seems tomake 'em happy somehow. Funny, ain't it?"

His Highness did not reply. He was thinking. 

"And Miss Nancy?" interrogated he presently. 

"Ha! There's a girl for you!" ejaculated Jerry with enthusiasm. "She'll be either seventeen or eighteen come June. Swims like a fish. In fact, I ain't sure she couldn't outdistance some of 'em. And suchan oar as she pulls! It's strong and steady as any man's. Besidesthat, she can beat the crowd at tennis, golf, and those other foolgames such folks play. Has a runabout of her own, too, and drives itneat as a pin. "

"She's better at sports than Mr. Dick, then. "

"Oh, she can wipe the ground up with him, " sniffed Jerry. "She canswim overhand to the raft and get back almost before her brother hasstarted. By Guy! I never saw a woman swim as she does! Dick getskinder peeved with her sometimes when she jollies him. But let her carplay a prank and he has her, for she's no more idea what to do withan engine than the man in the moon. She treats brother Richard withproper respect then, I can tell you. "

Walter smiled. 

"And Mrs. Crowninshield?"

"She? She's all right! You'll like her and she'll like you--that is, if you get on with the pups. Dogs are her hobby. What she don't knowabout raisin' 'em ain't worth knowin'. But I just warn you not tothink that because she's so pleasant she's easy goin', 'cause sheain't. Slip up on your job and she'll be down on you like a thousandof brick. She's a fair-weather sailin' craft--that's what she is;floats along nice as anything until something goes wrong and then--mysoul--but she kicks up a sea. Yet with all that you'll like her. Weall do. Almost everybody on the place would get down and let her walkon 'em. She has a kind of way with her that makes you itch to pleaseher. Tim would let her cut his head clean off if she wanted to and Iain't sure I wouldn't. Have a smart sore throat once and see thethings she'll do for you. And she'll do 'em herself, too--not setother people on the job. I believe that woman has the biggest heart inthe world. "

"And--and--Mr. Crowninshield?" ventured Walter. 

"The boss?" Jerry cleared his throat and for the first time hesitated. "You've got to understand the boss, my son, " said he earnestly. "Heain't like other men. And in order that you may, I better give you apointer or two for it will most probably save you trouble. The bossis something like a big dog that barks fit to murder you and don'tmean a thing by it. You've seen the kind. To hear him go on when he'sroused you'd believe he was going to have your blood. My, how he doesorate!" Jerry smiled and shook his head indulgently. "I've seen themen stand up before him with their knees shaking until you'd expect'em to give way every second. And the master would rage and ragebecause they'd done something he didn't want done. And then, like ahurricane that's blown itself out, he'll calm down and the next youknow he's given you a smile that's made you forget all the rest of it. That's him all over. Learn not to be afraid of him, that's the onlything to do. He wouldn't hurt a fly really. He just gets to blusterin'and tearin' round from force of habit. It don't mean nothin'--not athing in the world. And with all his money he ain't a mite cocky. Tosee him you'd scarce dream he had a copper in his pocket. Yet he couldpaper the house with thousand-dollar bills was he so minded. There'sno end to his money, seems to me. Just the same, you don't want to gowastin' it for him on that account. Remember you ain't got the rightto, not havin' earned it. If he chooses to splash it round that's hishunt. He made it. But it ain't yours or mine to slosh away. Jot thatdown in your log. It may help you later. "

Jerry paused. 

"You deal square and honorable with the boss, standing up to whatyou've done like you was a trooper at your gun, and he'll deal squareand honorable with you. But go to hoodwinking and imposing on him andinstead of a lamb you'll find you've got a rattlesnake at your heels. Now you have an idea, I guess, what you're going to be up againsthere, " concluded the caretaker, taking out his pipe and cramming itwith tobacco. "If there's anything else you want to know now's yourchance, for after to-day I am never going to open my lips again aboutany of the Crowninshield family. You'll be one of the employees andyour job will be to hold your tongue on them and their affairs, and beloyal to 'em. Their bread will be feeding you and 'twill be onlydecent. After you once have got your place the keeping of it will restwith you. That's fair, ain't it?"

Walter nodded. 

Yet he turned slowly toward home, depressed by a throng of misgivings. Suppose he was not able to hold the job at Surfside once it was his?What then?

CHAPTER III

WHAT WORRIED MRS. KING

By the middle of May Lovell's Harbor had fully awakened from itswinter's sleep. Freshly painted dories were slipped into the water;newly rigged yawls and knockabouts were anchored in the bay; the floatwas equipped with renovated bumpers, and a general air of anticipationpervaded the community. 

Yes, hot weather was really on the way. Already the summer cottageswere being opened, aired, and put in order, and even some of thehouses had gayly figured hangings at the windows and a film of smokecould be seen issuing from the chimneys. 

At Surfside workmen bustled about, hurrying across the lawn withboards, paint pots, and hammers. Tim Cavenough and his little host ofhelpers scurried to uncover the flower beds, and from morning to nighttrudged back and forth from the greenhouses bearing shallow boxes ofseedlings which they transplanted to the gardens. Shutters wereremoved and stored away, piazza chairs brought out, awnings put up, and lawns and tennis courts rolled and cut. 

As far as one could see a spangled expanse of ocean dazzled the eyeand the tiny salt creeks that meandered across the meadows were likewinding ribbons of blue. Certainly it was no weather to be shut up inschool and boys and girls went hither with reluctant feet, checkingoff the days on their fingers and even counting the hours that mustdrag by before they would be free to roam at will amid this panoramaof beauty. 

To Walter King it seemed as if the closing period of his captivitywould never be at an end. He studied rebelliously, and with only ahalf--nay, rather a quarter--of his mind on his lessons. All histhought was centered around Surfside and the novel experiences thatbeckoned him there. So impatient was he to begin his new duties thathe found it impossible to settle down to anything. 

"You'll be failing in your last examinations, Walter, if you don'twatch what you're doing, " cautioned his mother. "And should you dothat, little profit would it be that you are hired out to Mr. Crowninshield for the summer. In the fall you'd have to stay behindyour class, and think of the disgrace of that! Why, I'd be ready tohide my head with shame! Money or no money, you must buck up and putthe Crowninshields and their doings out of your head. To lose a yearnow would mean just that much longer before you could graduate andtake a regular job. I almost wish Jerry Thomas had never asked you tocome up there, I do indeed. "

"Oh, don't go getting all fussed up, Ma, " returned His Highness, irritated because he recognized the truth of his mother's words. "I'mgoing to buckle down until the term is over, honest I am. It is hard, though, with the weather so fine. It seems as if I must be out. It'slike being on a leash. "

"You're thinking of those dogs again!"

The lad flushed sheepishly. 

"No, I wasn't. "

"But you were--whether you realized it or not. It is all you talk ofnowadays--_dogs_! What it will be after they get here and you're up atSurfside living with them I don't know. Whatever else you do, though, you must not fail in your lessons and at the last moment spoil yourwhole year's record. School is your first duty now and you have nomoral right to put anything else in its place. "

"I know it, Ma, " Walter agreed. 

"Of course you know it, " was the tart response. "Just see that you donot forget it, that's all. "

With this final admonition Mrs. King whisked about and taking up hercake of Sapolio and pail of steaming water ascended the stairs. Likethe rest of Lovell's Harbor she was busy as a bee in clovertime. Shehad rented all her rooms and had so many things to do in preparationfor her expected guests that she had not a second to waste. 

After she had gone Walter loitered in the kitchen, whistling absentlyand at the same time winding a piece of string aimlessly over hisfingers. His mother's words had stirred a vague, uncomfortablepossibility in his mind. What if he were to fail in those final exams?It would be terrible. Such a disaster did not seem real. It couldn'thappen--actually happen--to him. It would be too awful. Nevertheless, try as he would to banish them, visions of Surfside with its myriadfascinations would dance in his head. 

He had never been away from home for more than a night before and totake up residence elsewhere for an entire season was in itself anovelty. Then there were the tennis courts, the golf links, theautomobiles, motor boats, and the yacht! Why, it would be likefairyland! The next instant, however, his spirits drooped. It wasabsurd to imagine for a moment that he was to have any part in thosemagic amusements. He was not going to Surfside for recreation but forwork. Notwithstanding that fact, though, it was beyond his power toforget that all these many activities would be going on about him andthere was the chance, the bare chance, that an occasion might arisewhen he would be invited to participate in some of them. 

Fancy spinning over the sandy roads of the Cape in that wonderfulracing car! Or sailing the blue waters of the harbor in one of thosesnowy motor boats! As for the yacht, with its trimmings of glisteningbrass and spotless decks, had he not dreamed of going aboard it eversince the day it had first steamed into the bay two summers ago?People said there was every imaginable contrivance aboard: ice-makingmachines, electric lights, and electric piano, goodness only knewwhat! Simply to see such things would be wonderful. And if it evershould come about (of course it never would and it was absurd topicture it--ridiculous) but if it ever _did_ that he should go sailingout of the bay on that mystic craft what a miracle that would be!

With such visions floating through his mind what marvel that it waswell-nigh out of the question for Walter King to focus his attentionon algebra, Latin, history, and physics. X + Y seemed of very littleconsequence, and as for the Punic Wars they were so far away as to behazy beyond any reality at all. 

Possibly, although she was quite unconscious of it, some of the faultwas his mother's for she kept the topic of his departure to theCrowninshields' ever before him. 

"I have your new shirts almost finished, son, " she would assert withsatisfaction, "and they're as neat and well made as any New Yorktailor could make them, if I do say it; and you've three pairs ofkhaki trousers besides your old woolen ones and corduroys. With yourSunday suit of blue serge and those fresh ties and cap you'll havenothing to be ashamed of. Then you've those denim overalls, and yourslicker, and Bob's outgrown pea-coat. I can't see but what you haveeverything you can possibly need. Do be watchful of your shoes and usethem carefully, won't you, for they cost a mint of money? And rememberwhenever you can to work in your old duds and save your others. Youcan just as well as not if you only think of it. Your washing you'llbring home and don't forget that I want you to keep neat and clean. Rich folks notice those things a lot. So scrub your hands and neckand clean your nails, even if I'm not there to tell you to. Justbecause you are going to traipse round with the dogs is no excuse forlooking like 'em, " concluded she. 

"I'll remember, Ma, " returned His Highness patiently. 

"And if you eat with the chauffeurs and a pack of men, don't gostuffing yourself with food until you're sick. There's a time to stop, you know. Don't wait until you've got past it and are so crammed thatyou can't swallow another mouthful. "

"I won't, Ma, " was the meek response. 

"Brush your teeth faithfully, too. I've spent too much money on themto have them go to waste now. "

"Yes, " came wearily from Walter. 

"Of course there's no call for me to talk to a person your age aboutsmoking, " continued his mother. "When you've got your full growth andcan earn money enough to pay for such foolishness you've a right toindulge in it if you see fit; but until then don't start a habit thatwill do you no good and may make a pigmy of you for life. "

"I promise you right now, Ma, that I----"

"No, don't promise. A promise is a sacred thing and one that it is asacrilege to break. Never make a promise lightly. But just remember, laddie, that I'd far rather you didn't smoke for a few years yet. Butshould you feel you must why come and tell me, that's all. "

"I will, Ma, " answered the boy soberly. Somehow going away from homesuddenly seemed a very solemn business. 

"I guess that's the end of my cautions, " smiled Mrs. King, "the end, except to say that I hope you won't like Surfside so well that you'llforget to come home now and then and tell me how you are making out. Of course I'll have my boarders and work same's you; still, there'llbe times when we won't be busy and can see each other, " her voicetrembled a little. "Nobody will be more anxious to hear of your doingsthan I--remember that. I shall miss you, sonny. It's the first timeyou've been away from me and I can't but feel it's a sort ofmilestone. You'll be getting grown up and leaving home for good nowbefore I know it, same as Bob has. "

Her eyes glistened and for an instant she turned her head aside. 

"Oh, I shan't be branching out to make my fortune yet, Mother, "protested Walter gayly. "I don't know enough. I'm not clever likeBob--you said so yourself only the other day. "

"You're clever as is good for you, " was the ambiguous retort. "I'mglad you're no different. "

"Think of the money I'd be handing in if I could only earn as much asBob. "

"The money? Aye, there's no denying it would be a help. However, withwhat you and Bob and I are going to earn this summer we should makeout very well, even if your Uncle Mark Miller has left us in the lurchand your Uncle Henry King's investments have gone bad on us. I'll beturning a tidy penny with my boarders, thanks to you. And for a ladyour age ten dollars a week is not to be sneezed at. Why, we'll havequite a little fortune between us!"

He saw her face brighten. 

"Now if Bob could only be near at hand like you I believe I should beentirely happy, " she sighed. "I hate to think of him way out there onthat spit of sand with the sea booming all around him and nothing forcompany but the other fellow, who's asleep whenever he's awake, andthat clicking wireless instrument. Imagine the loneliness of it! Thesolitude would drive me crazy inside a week--I know it would. "

"Bob doesn't mind. "

"He's not the lad to say so if he did, " replied the mother grimly. "Nobody'd be any the wiser for what Bob thinks. Often at night I fallto wondering what he'd do was he to be taken sick. "

"Oh, he'd be all right, Mother, " answered His Highness cheerfully. "O'Connel is there, you know. "

"And what kind of a nurse would he be, do you think, with his ear tothat switchboard from daylight until dark?"

"Not quite that. Mother. "

"Well, almost that, anyhow. It is all well enough for you to say sojauntily that Bob doesn't mind being off there with the wind howlinground him and nothing to do but listen to it. "

"Nothing to do!" repeated Walter. "Why, Ma, he's busy all the time. "

"Tinkering with those wires, you mean?" was the indignant question. "Yes, I grant he has plenty of that, especially in bad weather. But Imean pleasures----"

"Moving pictures, church sociables, strawberry festivals, " interruptedthe lad mischievously. 

"Yes, I do, " maintained Mrs. King stoutly. "Folks must have somethingto brighten up their lives. Bob doesn't have a thing. "

"He often has days that are lively enough, according to his stories. "

"When there's wrecks, you mean?" She shook her head gravely. "It isn'tthose that I'm talking about. It's sitting day after day and listeningto the meaningless taps and buzzings that come whining through thatinstrument. "

"They're not meaningless to him. "

"No-o, I suppose not, " sighed the woman. For a moment she paused onlyto resume her complaints. "Then there's the responsibility of it. Inever did like to think of that. Should he tap once too much or toolittle when sending one of those dot and dash messages, think what itmight mean! And suppose he heard a dot too much and didn't get thething the other fellow was trying to tell him straight?"

"But he has been trained so he does not make mistakes. "

"All human clay makes mistakes, " was the tragic answer, "although Iwill say Bob makes fewer than most. And then the thunder storms--I'malways worried about those. "

"Yes, I'll confess there is some danger from lightning, " owned Walterunwillingly. "And of course there is danger from the current at alltimes if one is not careful. Even then accidents sometimes happen. However, Bob explained once that accidental shocks seldom resultfatally unless the person is left too long without help. The man incharge of the radio outfit would almost never get the full force ofthe current, because part of it would be carried off through the wiresand ground. Such accidents are mainly due to the temporary and faultycontact of the conductors. "

"I can't help what they're due to, " sniffed Mrs. King. "The point isthat Bob might get knocked out and die. "

"Nonsense, Mother. You would not worry if you understood more aboutit. Besides, should a man get a shock, if you go promptly to work overhim and keep at it long enough, you can almost always bring him backto consciousness. They do just about the same things to restore himthat they do for a person that's been drowned. The aim is to make himbreathe. If you can get him to, he will probably live. Of course, though, you have to break the circuit first. "

"The circuit?"

"Stop the current that is going through his body, " explained Walter. 

"But how can you?"

"Bob told me how. He saw a chap knocked out once and helped fix himup. You had to be awfully careful about moving him away from theapparatus, Bob said, or you might get a shock yourself. They took adry stick because it was a nonconductor of electricity, you know, androlled the man over to one side, so he was out of reach of the wires. Had you covered your hands with dry cloth you could have moved him, too; rubber gloves are best but Bob did not happen to have any handyat the minute. So they poked the fellow out of the way with the stick, turned him over on his back, loosened his collar and clothing, andwent to work on him. You know how they always roll up a coat orsomething and stuff it under drowned persons' shoulders to throw theirhead backward? Well, they did that; and afterward they began to movehis arms up and down to make him breathe. The idea is to depress andexpand the chest. We learned it in our 'first aid' class. Of coursethere are lots of things you have to do besides, and if you can get adoctor he will know of others that are better still. But Bob said thechief point was not to get discouraged and give up. Sometimes peopledie just because the folks fussing over them do not keep at it longenough. They get tired and when they see no results they decide it isno use and stop trying. You ought to work an hour anyhow, repeatingthe exercises at the rate of sixteen times a minute, Bob said. Then, if the poor chap does not come to, you can at least feel you have doneall you can. "

"Ugh! It makes me shiver to think of it!"

"You didn't shiver when Minnie Carlton fell off the float and almostgot drowned, " remarked Walter significantly. 

"I had too much to think of, " was Mrs. King's laconic reply. 

"It was the fussing you did over her that saved her life. "

"They said so. "

"You know it was. "

"Mebbe it was, " admitted his mother modestly. "But it wasn't anycredit to me. I've always lived near the water and I feel at home withdrowned people. "

"These electric accidents are much the same--easier, if anything, because the lungs are not filled with water. "

"I hadn't thought of that. "

"This is just a straight case of making a man breathe. You did thatfor Minnie. "

"I contrived to, yes. "

"Well, this stunt is the same. Bob said if you once got that throughyour head and kept in mind what you were driving at instead of flyingoff the handle you would get on all right. "

"Perhaps he's right. He generally is, " sighed Mrs. King. "Still it isa worrisome business having him tinkering with those wires all thetime. I am thankful you are not doing it. I'd rather you tended dogs. "

"But you've forgotten what they're worth, " put in His Highness. 

"So I had. Oh, dear! I don't see but what I've got to worry about bothof you. "

"Pooh, Ma! Don't be foolish. Think of the money we'll have by fall, the three of us. Why, we'll be rich!"

"Not rich, with that last payment on the mortgage looming ahead. "

"But it _is_ the last--think of that! We won't ever have another tomake. "

A radiant smile flitted over Mrs. King's face but a moment later itwas eclipsed by a cloud. 

"There'll be other things to pay; there always are, " fretted she. 

"Oh, shucks, Ma! Why borrow trouble? It's always hanging round wantingto be borrowed. Why gratify it?"

"I know. It is a foolish habit, isn't it? Still, it was always my wayto be prepared for the worst. I've done it all my life. "

"Then why not whiffle round now and just for a change be prepared forthe best?"

In spite of herself his mother laughed. 

"I expect that if I was as young as you and as happy-go-lucky I'dnever worry, " she answered not unkindly. "But since I'm made with aworrying disposition and bound to worry anyhow, at least I've gotsomething perfectly legitimate to worry about this summer, and youcan't deny it. With one son liable to be electrocuted by wireless andthe other likely to be run into jail for losing a million-dollar dog Ishall have plenty to occupy my mind, not to mention all thoseboarders that are coming. "

"Now, Ma, you know you are actually looking forward to the boarders, "Walter declared. "Already you are simply itching to see them and findout what they are like. "

"And if I am, what then?" admitted his mother flushing that she shouldhave been read so accurately. "Seeing them isn't all there is to it bya good sight. There is feeding them, and to keep them filled up inthis bracing climate is no small matter. "

"Did you ever know any one to go hungry in this house?"

"Well, no; I can't say I ever did. "

"Do you imagine boarders will eat more than Bob or I?"

"Mercy on us! I hope not. "

"Well, you always gave us enough to eat. I guess if you contrived todo that you needn't worry about your boarders, " chuckled His Highness. 

CHAPTER IV

WALTER MAKES HIS BOW TO HIS EMPLOYER

The last day of June dawned dismal and foggy. A grim gray veilenshrouded Lovell's Harbor, rendering it cold and dreary. Had one beenvisiting it for the first time he would probably have turned his backon its forlornity and never have come again. The sea was wrapped in amist so dense that its vast reach of waves was as complete a secret asif they had been actually curtained off from the land. On every leaftrembled beads of moisture and from the eaves of the sodden houses thewater dripped with a melancholy trickle. 

It was wretched weather for the Crowninshields to be coming toSurfside and yet that they were already on the way the janglingtelephone attested. 

"I wouldn't have had 'em put in an appearance a day like this for theworld!" fretted Jerry Taylor, who for some unaccountable reason seemedto hold himself responsible for the general dampness and discomfort. "Fog ain't nothin' to us folks who are used to it. We've lived by theocean long enough to love it no matter how it behaves. But for it togo actin' up this way for strangers is a pity. It gives 'em a badimpression same's a ill-behaved child does. "

"But you can't help it, " ventured Walter, who had just come intosight. 

"N-o. Still, somehow, I'm always that anxious for the place to lookit's prettiest that I feel to blame when it doesn't. "

The boy nodded sympathetically. Deep down within him lay aninarticulate affection for the hamlet in which he had been born andthe great throbbing sea that lapped its shores. He thereforeunderstood Jerry's attitude and shared in it far more than he would, perhaps, have been willing to admit. Nevertheless he merely knockedthe drops from his rubber hat, muttered that it was a rotten day, andloitered awkwardly about, wondering just what to do. 

At last school was at an end. He had squeaked through the examinationswith safety if not with glory, and having wheeled his small trunk upto Surfside on a wheelbarrow and deposited it in his room hespeculated as to what to do next. There was plenty he might have done. There was no question about that. He might at the very moment havebeen unpacking his possessions, hanging his clothes in the closet, andstowing away his undergarments in the chest of drawers provided forthe purpose. Moreover, there were books to tuck into place on hisbookshelves and other minor duties relative to the settling of his newquarters. 

Oh, there were a score of things he might have done. His Highness, however, was in much too agitated a frame of mind to turn hisattention to such humdrum tasks. Furthermore, since he had pledgedhimself to bear a hand wherever it was needed, he felt he should be onthe spot and within call. And if beneath this worthy motive lurked acertain desire to see whatever there was to be seen, who can say hiscuriosity was not pardonable? One does not set forth every day to makehis fortune. The adventure was very alluring to him who had nevertried it. 

Possibly Jerry Taylor had enough of the boy in him to understand this. However that might be, he did not hurry the lad indoors to unpack eventhough he sensed full well that precious time was being wasted;instead, as he started across the lawn he called back over hisshoulder:

"If you've nothing better to do, sonny, than to stand shivering in thebarn, come along up to the house with me and help bring up some wood;I'm going to start fires burning in the rooms to cheer the folks upand dry 'em off when they get here. To my mind there ain't nothin'like an open fire to right you if you're out of sorts. And likely theywill be out of sorts. Mr. Crowninshield will, that's sure. Now Imyself don't mind a gray day off and on. It's sorter restful andcalming. But these city people can't see it that way. My eye, no! Theybegin to groan so you can hear 'em a mile away the minute the sun isclouded over; and by the second day of a good northeaster they aredone for. You'd think to listen to 'em that the end of the world hadcome. No motoring! No golf! No tennis! Why, they might as well bedead. They begin to wonder why they ever came here anyway and talk ofnothing but how nice it is in New York. Why, you would split yoursides laughing to hear Mr. Crowninshield moan for Wall Street andFifth Avenue. Three days of fog is his limit. After that ropescouldn't tie him here. He tumbles his traps into a suitcase and off hegoes to the city. "

"Great Scott!" Walter ejaculated. 

"Oh, 'tain't a bad thing to have him go, take it by and large. Heain't much addition here when he's fidgeting round, poking intoeverything and suggesting it better be done some other way. He's muchbetter off somewhere else--he's happier and so are we. By and by hecomes back again cheerful as if nothing had happened. Mebbe it's aswell you should be told what's in store for you in foggy weather, "concluded Jerry, with a touch of humor, "for you'll come in for yourshare together with the rest of us. Everybody gets it. Most likelyyou'll hear that an egg-beater is a much better thing to smooth down adog's hair with than a brush; that all the world knows that and onlyan idiot uses anything else. Don't smile or venture a yip in reply. Just say you'll be glad to use the egg-beater if he prefers it. Remarkthat, in fact, you quite hanker to try the egg-beater. To agree withhim always takes the wind out of his sails quicker'n anything else. He'll calm down soon as he sees you aren't ruffled and go off and huntup somebody else to reform. And when the fog blows out to sea histemper will go with it and he will forget he ever suggested anegg-beater. Oh, we understand the boss. He's all right! If you onlyknow how to take him you'll never have a mite of trouble with him. "

By this time they had reached the house and having removed rubbers anddripping coats they entered the basement door and proceeded to thecellar. It was not the sort of cellar with which His Highness wasfamiliar although his mother's cellar was clean, as cellars go. Thisone was immaculate. Indeed it seemed, on glancing about, that onemight have done far worse than live in the Crowninshields' cellar. Every inch of the interior was light, dry, and spotless withwhitewash, paint, and tiling. Even the coal that filled the bins hadtaken on a borrowed glory and shone as if polished. 

"This is my kingdom!" announced Jerry proudly. "You could eat off thefloor were you so minded. "

"I should say you could!"

"When once you've set out it's no more work to keep things shipshapethan to let 'em go helter-skelter. Now here's a basket. Load into itas many of those birch logs as you can carry and bring 'em upstairs. I've kindlings there already. "

While Walter was obeying these instructions Jerry himself was pilingup on his lank arm a pyramid of wood, and together the two ascendedthe stairway and tiptoed through the kitchen. As they went the boycaught a glimpse of gleaming porcelain walls; ebon-hued stovesresplendent with nickel trimmings; a blue and white tiled floor; andsmart little window hangings that matched it. 

"They don't cook here!" he gasped. 

"Everything in the house is electric, " explained Jerry, as if he wereconducting a sight-seeing party through the Louvre. "All the baking, washing, ironing, bread-making, and cleaning is done by electricity. There's even an electric sewing-machine to sew with, and an electricbreeze to keep you cool while you're doing it. If I hadn't seen thething with my own eyes I'd never have believed it. "

He paused to watch the effect of his words. 

"'Tain't much like the way you and me are used to, " he grinned. 

"No. "

"I suppose in time you get so nothing knocks the breath out of you. I'm just coming to looking round here without feeling all of aflutter. The place did used to turn me endwise at first, it was sowhite and awesome. I actually hated to set foot within its walls. Seems 's if my fingers was always all thumbs every time I come insidethe room. Still, I had to come in though; there were things I had todo here. So I schooled myself to forget the whiteness, and theblueness, and all the silvery glisten and call it just a kitchen. Besides, I found that grand as it is, it ain't a patch on some of theother things in the house. My eye! It's like the Arabian Nights!"

The Cape Codder stopped quite speechless from retailing these marvels. 

"Yes, " he went on presently, "they've got almost everything theelectric market has to offer. Last year, though, Mr. Dick got ahankerin' for a wireless set. It appears that you can buy an outfitthat will make you hear concerts, sermons, speeches, and abouteverything that's going on; at least that's what Mr. Crowninshieldundertook to tell me, though whether he was fooling or not I couldn'tquite make out. Still, it may be true. After what I've seen in thishouse I'm ready to believe about anything. Was he to say you could putyour eye to a hole in the wall and see the Chinese eating rice inHongkong it wouldn't astonish me. "

Walter laughed. 

"You _can_ hear music and such things. My brother, who is awireless operator, told me so. They broadcast all sorts ofentertainments--songs, band-playing, sermons, and stories so thatthose who have amateur apparatus can listen in. "

"Broadcast? Listen in?" repeated Jerry vaguely. 

"Broadcasting means sending out stuff of a specified wave length froma central station so that amateurs with a range of from two hundred tothree hundred meters can pick it up. "

Jerry halted midway in the passage. 

"Do you mean to say, " inquired he, "that a person can sling a song offthe top of a wire into the air and tell it to stop when it's gone twohundred meters?"

"Something like that, " chuckled Walter, amused. 

"I don't believe it!" declared Jerry bluntly. 

"But it can be done; really it can. "

"No doubt you think you are speaking the truth, youngster, " returnedthe skeptic mildly. "Somebody's stuffed you, though. Such a thingcouldn't be, any way in the world. "

As if that were the end of the matter Jerry opened a door confrontinghim and stepped into the great hall, the splendor of which instantlyblotted every other thought from Walter King's mind. 

Not only was the interior spacious and imposing but it wasbewilderingly beautiful and contained marvel after marvel that the ladlonged to examine. The large tiger-skin rugs that covered the floorpiqued his interest, so did the chiming clock, and a fountain thatwelled up and splashed into a marble pool filled with goldfish. Why, he could have entertained himself for an hour with this latter wonderalone!

There was, however, no leisure for loitering for on hearing thecadence of the chimes Jerry ejaculated in consternation:

"Eleven o'clock already! Land alive! We'll have to get the firesblazing lively. Why, the folks may be here any minute now. Here, handme one of those long sticks you've got, sonny; or rather--wait! Youknow how to lay a fire, don't you?"

"I reckon I've done such a thing once or twice in my lifetime, " wasthe dry response. 

"Then go ahead. You build this fire while I go upstairs and start theothers, " said Jerry. "After you've got this one going you can make onein the library, that red room through those curtains. "

"All right. "

"Step lively! Don't take all day about it. "

With awkward gesture Jerry swooped up some of the logs with his longarm and disappeared into the hall above. 

As for Walter, he had built too many fires in his mother's kitchenstove and started too many blazes of driftwood on the beach to be at aloss as to how to proceed. Almost in a twinkling scarlet flames wereroaring up the wide-throated chimneys and he had placed fenders beforethem to keep in captivity any straying sparks. While he looked aboutfor a spot in which to deposit the remaining birch sticks there was asound of horns, a crunching of gravel, and Jerry's scurrying feet camepattering down the stairs. 

"It's the folks!" he announced excitedly. "We warn't a minute toosoon. Tuck those logs into the brass box; pick up your cap, laddie, and light out of here quick. "

The order, alas, came too late. His Highness had only time enough tohurry the birch wood into the box and bang down the cover beforeflying footsteps filled the house, maids appeared from every door, andthere was a blast of wind, a babel of voices, and the discomfited boyfound himself face to face with his employers. 

His first impression of Mr. Crowninshield, muffled to the chin in aheavy motor coat, was of a large, red-cheeked man who, although hemoved with little apparent stir, nevertheless in an incredibly shortinterval had shaken hands with most of the servants, directed whereeach piece of luggage was to be put, commented on a new lock on thefront door, and noticed that the clock was two minutes slow. Hismoving eye had also been caught by the roses on the table and heturned to ask from which garden they came. 

"All this he did, Ma, " explained Walter to his mother afterward, "before you could say Jack Robinson. And in between he was scoldingall the time about the weather and saying how idiotic it was to leavea warm, comfortable city like New York and come to a damp hole likethe Cape. "

"Is this the best day you could manage to get together, Jerry?"growled he. "Pretty beastly, I call it. "

"It certainly is wet, sir. "

"Wet! I should say it was! It's infernally wet! How long is it goingto keep up like this?"

"I can't say, sir. "

"Well, you have the sun out to-morrow or I shall go straight backwhere I came from. Little old New York is good enough for me when theplace looks like this. "

At that instant he espied His Highness lurking near a distant window. 

"Who are you, young man?" he called. 

"Walter King, sir. "

"Oh, the young chap who is going to look after the dogs?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Humph! Like dogs?"

"I--yes, sir, " answered the lad at a warning glance from Jerry. 

Ruthlessly the hawklike eyes devoured him. 

"So you think you can take care of a lot of prize pups, do you?"

"I am going to try, " was the modest reply. 

"You can't stop with trying, my son. You've got to do it, " announcedthe man sharply. 

"I shall do my best. "

"That is all I shall ask. "

A sudden smile melted the stern countenance into geniality and themaster held out a hand. 

"So King is your name. "

"Yes, sir. "

"It is a royal one and gives you something to live up to. "

As the boy did not know what to answer he was silent. 

"And you like dogs?" said the inquisitor more kindly. 

"I like all animals, " returned Walter evasively, "and I am sure Ishall like your dogs because you always like anything you take careof. "

"So you do! I remember when I was about your age I tamed an old brownweasel. He was a wretch of a creature with scarcely a virtue--cruel, deceitful, cold-blooded; and yet I grew to love that brute as much asif he had had the gentleness of a dove. You know how it is. "

Walter nodded. For the moment the two came together on a plane of realcontact and sympathy, and the smile the elder gave him bound the ladto his new employer as no spoken words could possibly have done. 

But a second later Mr. Crowninshield's mood had changed and he wasstorming at Mary, the waitress, and demanding whether she meant tofreeze them all by leaving the outside door open. Walter could see thegirl flush red and as he leaped forward to close the door she flashedhim a grateful, tremulous smile. Then Mr. Crowninshield turned towardhis wife. 

"Mollie, " he replied, "this is Walter King who is going to look afteryour dogs. Come and speak to him. "

The mistress of the house came. She was wearing a long blue travelingcoat and a jaunty little hat against which the gold of her hair wasresplendent as sunshine. Tucked under her arm was a wee dog with softbrown fur and sharp little eyes. Mrs. Crowninshield was very pretty, especially when she spoke. As Walter looked into her face he found itso amazingly youthful that it was difficult for him to believe she wasactually the mother of a grown son and daughter. 

"So it is you who are to be master of the kennels?" smiled she, showing her even white teeth. 

"Yes, Mrs. Crowninshield, " faltered His Highness, a trifle overcome bythis new title. 

From head to foot her glance swept over him. 

"Well, " said she at length, "if you keep the puppies as tidy as youkeep yourself I fancy we shall get on nicely together. "

A flood of color mounted to the lad's forehead. He had not anticipatedsuch close inspection and instinctively he began to fumble with thecorner of his sweater and look nervously down at his hands. They mustbe very dirty from making the fires. And he had been actually greetingMr. And Mrs. Crowninshield with paws like those! The horror of itchilled his blood. 

Apparently the woman, with swift intuition, read his thought for shedimpled at him in friendly fashion. 

"Do not worry about your hands, my boy, " said she. "You have beendoing useful things to soil them, things to bid us welcome and make usmore comfortable. I can see you started out clean. I have a boy of myown, you know. Richard, " she went on, turning to a tall youth who wasbending over the luggage, "this is Walter King who is coming to lookafter the kennels. He must be about your age. "

The boys stared at each other awkwardly. 

"I am fifteen, " announced Walter for the lack of something morebrilliant to say. 

"I beat you by a year, " was the shy retort of the other boy. "I amsixteen. "

Then Nancy interrupted them with her breezy comment. 

"Fifteen, are you?" she put in. "My, I should not have thought it! Youmust be pretty crazy about dogs to give up all your summer vacation tothem. "

"My mother needs the money, " was the simple answer. 

"Oh!"

He saw her blush as if regretting her thoughtless remark. 

"It is nice of you to help your mother, " she observed quickly. "I amsure you will not find the place so bad. We shall try to make youhappy. "

With that she was gone but she left behind her a memory of sweetnessand appealing kindliness. 

"You might run out to the garage now, sonny, " declared Jerry with adesire to help the lad make his escape. "They will be landing the pupsthere soon, and you may as well be on hand. "

Only too glad to beat a retreat His Highness picked up his cap andslipping from the room raced across the lawn in the direction of hisown quarters. 

CHAPTER V

THE CONQUEST OF ACHILLES

Jerry's prediction proved to be quite true for as His Highness nearedthe garage a hum of activity pervaded it. Four mud-caked cars stood inthe driveway and chauffeurs in their shirt sleeves hurried in and outthe building, shouting to one another and carrying in their handsgrimy rags and cans of oil. A short half hour had transformed thequiet spot to a beehive of noise and bustle. The rush seemedcontagious for wherever one looked moving figures could be seen. Somecrossed the lawn bearing belated satchels or traveling wraps which inthe confusion had found their way into the wrong place; some strodetoward the boathouse, some toward the garden, some to the stables. Menappeared to have risen through the earth so quickly had their numbersmultiplied. 

No longer was there the leisurely loitering and smoking that hadmarked the week before. A spirit of activity was infused into the airuntil even those who had no cause to hurry scrambled with the rest. 

As Walter approached the garage he was waylaid by a young chauffeurwith rosy cheeks and a crisp, pleasant voice:

"Say, youngster, don't you want to lend a hand with these cushions?"interrogated he, beaming ingratiatingly. "They have got to be beatenand brushed before they can go back in the car. Chuck them over on thefloor for me, won't you?"

"Sure!" was the ready answer. "I'll beat them for you if you like. "

"You're a good-natured little cuss, " grinned the man. "I'm not askingyou to do that, though. "

"But I'd be glad to. "

"Suit yourself. But in my opinion you are a fool to take on jobs youare not hired to do and get no money for. "

"Oh, I don't care about the money. "

"You don't, eh?" chimed in the derisive note of another chauffeur whohad at the instant come out of the doorway. "Say, who are you, anyway?One of the Vanderbilts?"

"Quit heckling the young one, Peters, " put in the chauffeur of the redcheeks. "He's a good sort, all right. "

"Ha, ha, Wheeler! You think that because you've jollied him into doingyour work for you, you old shirk. "

"I didn't jolly him into anything. He offered. "

"A likely story. "

"But he did. "

"Then you should have told him better, " sniffed the other. "You knowwell enough it isn't etiquette round here to do a stroke of work foranybody else or accept a stroke. _Every man for himself_ is themotto. "

"But that's a rotten way!" Walter ejaculated impulsively. "I'd hate tolive like that--never being willing to help anybody or ask them tohelp me. "

The man called Peters gave him a contemptuous stare. 

"You'll find there's no whining or asking help of other people here, "announced he, with a sneer. "Those that are darn fools enough to getinto holes get out of them as best they can. It's their hunt. "

Spitting emphatically on the ground he proceeded to go into the garagewith the tire he was carrying. 

Walter took up a stick he saw lying near by. 

"What are you going to do?" demanded the red-cheeked man, regardinghim with unconcealed surprise. 

"Beat the cushions. "

"But--but--heavens, sonny! Didn't you hear what Peters said?"

"Of course I heard. I don't have to sign up to a creed like that, though, if I don't want to, do I?"

"We all do. We agree neither to borrow, lend, nor ask favors. "

"I'm afraid I shan't make one of the gang then, " observed Walter, witha smile so good-humored that the words could not offend. 

"Then the more fool you, that is all I can say, " laughed Wheeler. "Bythe end of a month you won't have so much as a collar button to yourname. Everything you own will be gone, especially your tools. We're alot of pirates. I give you fair warning. "

"I'm not afraid you'll want much that I've got, " grinned Walter. 

The upraised stick descended in a series of rhythmic blows, sendinginto the air a cloud of dust. 

"Where's the brush?" panted the boy, when he had beaten until his armached. 

"Say, kid, I'm not going to have you breaking your back over my job, "asserted Wheeler in a friendly tone. 

"I'm not breaking my back. "

"But what on earth are you doing it _for_?" questioned the man, hiseyes narrowing with curiosity. 

"I don't know myself, " returned the lad shyly. "It was just the way Iwas brought up, I guess. "

For an interval only the sweeping of the brush broke the stillness. 

"I was brought up to be decent, too, " observed Wheeler slowly, "butsomehow since I've been knocking round I've got to be an awful brute. There isn't any very high standard among the crowd I mix in. Still, I'm afraid that isn't much of an excuse for shifting back into asavage. " He paused thoughtfully, then added, "I'm much obliged to you, sonny, for your help, and just to show you I don't forget it, sometimewhen you are hard put hunt me up and ask me to give you a lift. I'm ahuman being though you may not think so. "

With a little glow at his heart Walter moved away toward the kennels. 

He had made a friend, and in this new environment where he wasconscious of being very much of an outsider the consciousness broughthim a sense of comradeship and happiness. 

It was fortunate, however, that his altruism had detained him nolonger for before he reached the spot where the dogs were to bequartered he heard a chorus of sharp yelps and saw what appeared to bea dozen dogs coming across the lawn accompanied by Mrs. Crowninshieldand two of the stablemen. Some of the pack were being led, whileothers, wild with joy at finding themselves unconfined, leaped andcapered wildly about their mistress. A great police dog, straining atthe leash, gave Walter a thrill of mingled admiration and timidity. Hewas a huge creature with mottled coat and mighty jaws, and within hisopen mouth, from which lolled his red tongue, were cruel white teeththat could do unthinkable things. His wide brown eyes, his pointingtail, his upright ears moving with every sound, his alert poise allbespoke keenness and intelligence. A dog one would far rather have foran ally than an enemy, thought the boy. 

Beside pranced two Airedales and a white Sealyham and to their babelof barking was added the shrill, sympathetic note of five or sixPekingese, one of which Mrs. Crowninshield carried under her arm. 

"Hush, Achilles!" she cried. "Hush, all of you! Stop your racket thisinstant! They are excited at being together again, " explained she toWalter who had approached. "The Belgian and Airedales have beenboarded out during the winter and have not seen the others for months. So, you see, this is a sort of reunion for them and they have to barkto show their delight. Moreover, they have had a long trip and aretired and hungry. I am going to feed them now and this meal will lastmost of them until to-morrow at the same hour. "

"Are they fed only once a day?" gasped Walter. 

"That is all. You see you will not have many meals to prepare, "laughed Mrs. Crowninshield. "Only the Peeks have breakfast, but onlypart of a square of puppy biscuit or some bread; so it is very simple. Dinner, however, is much more complicated and later I shall give youyour directions as to just what every dog must have; to-night we areto treat the lot to some raw meat, toast, and spinach. "

"You'll let me help you, " pleaded Walter. 

"Certainly. That is why I came out. I want you to feed the dogs andlearn their names. In order to get on with them you must getacquainted with them and understand the peculiarities of each one. They are just persons, you know, and have their little whims andqueernesses. But kindness will win them to you very quickly. It is farbetter than a whip. So is feeding. A dog usually obeys the person whofeeds him. He is afraid not to. "

As she spoke she entered the wired enclosure and putting the smallerdogs in half of it and shutting the wicket gate upon them she told themen to slip the leashes from the collars of the others. In a secondthe Belgian, Airedales, and the fluffy Sealyham were bounding abouther. Then she beckoned to Walter. 

"This is Achilles, " went on she, with her hand on the head of thegreat monster. "He is as gentle and kind as a kitten, although he doeslook as if he could swallow us alive. Don't touch him but stand stilland let him sniff you all over. It is his way of getting acquainted. "

Obediently the boy remained motionless while the panting jaws andmoist black nose of the dog came nearer. He could feel the creature'shot breath on his hands, face, and hair. Then over his clothing movedthe quivering nostrils. At length the brown eyes met his and hewhispered softly:

"Achilles!"

The dog wagged his tail. 

"You have nothing to fear from him now, " announced Mrs. Crowninshield. "The Airedales are Jack Horner and Boy Blue. And the Sealyham, MissNancy's dog, is called Rags. "

Sensing that he was being talked about, the dog blinked with friendlyeyes at Walter through its mop of coarse white hair. 

"In the other pen, " continued Mrs. Crowninshield, "are the Pekingesepups and I shall expect you to take the best of care of them. They aresensitive little creatures and very valuable. I myself, however, carevery little for the money value of a dog. It is the lovable traits ithas that interest me. I should adore wee Lola, here, if she were notworth a cent. But Mr. Crowninshield likes to own blue ribbon dogs andenter them at the shows and therefore I will caution you that Lola, Mimi, and Fifi, " as she spoke she pointed out the dogs in question, "cost quite a fortune and their loss or illness would be a greatcalamity. So you must follow the directions concerning them mostcarefully. And should any question arise about them come at once tome. "

As she spoke she occasionally glanced at the boy beside her with aquick, bright smile. 

"I shall have the menu for each dog sent you every day--at least forthe present--together with directions as to how to prepare the meal asit should be prepared. The meat for the small dogs must be put througha meat chopper and no gristle allowed to get into it; the larger dogscan have bigger pieces, and Achilles a bone. You will find in the roominside an ice chest in which to keep such foods as spoil. There arealso glassed-in shelves where tins of various kinds of dog bread andpuppy biscuit will be stored that they may be out of the dampness. Youare not to trouble the servants at the big house for anything. They donot like to be interfered with. All your supplies will be here, andyou can warm whatever it is necessary to heat on your small electricstove. Be sure to scald out the dishes after they have been used; andalso never forget to keep the bowls filled with plenty of freshwater. "

"I will, ma'am. "

"I am sure you will, " returned Mrs. Crowninshield kindly. "And do notworry if it takes a little time to win all the dogs over to yourauthority. Dogs are like children when they change masters. They willtry to play it on you at first. Just be firm with them and soon youwill have them tagging at your heels, docile as lambs. "

The task of preparing the food was soon completed and the mistresslooked on and encouraged while Walter doled it out to the famishedanimals. 

How daintily the wee dogs coquetted with what was given them! And howgreedily the larger ones gobbled down their allowance and lapped theplate for more! Achilles, crouched on the lawn with his bone, crunchedit with terrifying zeal, cracking the big joint between his jaws as ifit were made of paper. His dinner devoured he ambled over towardWalter, once more sniffed his shoes and clothing, at last nestled hismoist nose against the boy's hand. 

"I think you have won Achilles to your colors already, " said Mrs. Crowninshield. 

"He does seem friendly, " returned His Highness, more pleased by thedog's good will than he would have been willing to own. 

"Achilles can be very friendly when he chooses, " retorted his owner. "He can also be quite the reverse. You should see him sometime when heis on the scent of a foe. Last summer when a man broke into theboathouse it transformed Achilles into a lion. I was certain he wouldkill the fellow; as it was he mauled him badly before we could coaxhim off. The thief almost died of fright and I do not wonder. He didnot need any further punishment. "

She unfastened the gate to go back to the house. 

Immediately there was a rush. 

"No, you can't come, not one of you, " declared she, addressing theyelping pack through the netting. "I have far too much to do to bebothered with any of you. Be good and take a nap. You're tired enoughto rest. "

Still the animals barked, rebellious at their captivity. 

"When I am out of sight you can let Achilles out, " called she, as shemoved away. "He can be trusted to roam the place and always does whenwe're here. The Airedales and the Sealyham can also run about alone assoon as they get used to obeying you. But the little dogs must neverbe let off the leash unless they are watched every instant, forsomething might happen to them. "

"I'll be careful. "

"That's right; do. "

The woman gave him a pleasant nod of farewell and walked withspringing step back in the direction of the house. As she went Waltersaw her halt and speak to old Tim, who was at work in the rose garden, and beheld the gardener leap proudly forward to cut for her a blossomshe had evidently admired. 

It was even as Jerry had said. She was the idol of Surfside. 

After she had disappeared he opened the wicket and stepped out, letting Achilles follow him. 

Instantly the great creature put his nose to the ground and with ajoyous bark he was gone in search of his mistress. 

It was now or never with the new master of the hounds. 

The lad whistled but the dog did not turn. Again he gave a quick call. This time the rushing beast paused, looked round, and then slackeninghis pace, continued to jog along on his way. 

Helplessly the boy saw him go farther and farther out of reach. 

He must compel obedience somehow. 

"Achilles!" shouted he sternly. "Achilles! Back, sir!"

Although he uttered the words he had not the slightest faith theywould have any effect and was amazed to see the dog waver in histracks. 

"Achilles, come here!" repeated he sharply. 

With reluctance the dog turned and looked at him. 

"Here, sir!" called Walter, with coaxing cadence. 

The dog continued to regard him intently but he did not move. Thensuddenly there was a rush and with panting jaws widespread the Belgiancame bounding toward him. It was not until he was close at hand thathe abated his speed. Then he came to the side of his new master andgently laid his cold nose on his sleeve. 

Walter patted the great head affectionately. 

The battle was won. He had conquered Achilles. 

CHAPTER VI

HIS HIGHNESS IN A NEW ROLE

Before a week had passed the strangeness of living at Surfside had toa certain extent abated and Walter found himself not only content inhis new position but enjoying it. He rose early, feeding the dogs, exercising them, and making fresh their quarters before he breakfastedhimself. Afterward, despite the score of odd duties with which themorning was filled, he contrived to do many little kindnesses forJerry, Tim, Wheeler, and the other men. He was always willing to do afavor and amid an atmosphere where generosity was rare the virtue ofaiding others rendered him immensely popular. 

In the meantime he had made such headway in the affections of Achillesthat the big Belgian not only tagged at his heels everywhere he went, but at night insisted upon extending his giant frame before the boy'sdoorsill from which vantage ground neither threats nor persuasionscould stir him. In consequence the lonely hours the lad might haveexperienced were put to rout by the companionship of this silentcomrade. 

The Airedales, on the other hand, were less successfully won over to anew allegiance. Although Richard, who owned them, took not thesmallest care of them and serenely passed them over to some one elseto be ministered unto, nevertheless they apparently sensed thearrangement was one of convenience and returned scant gratitude forwhat was done for them. They were polite, tolerant, but neverwhole-heartedly cordial. Dick was their master and they would have noother. 

Fortunately Miss Nancy's Sealyham, Rags, was more responsive;nevertheless, although she frolicked about Walter's feet and acceptedfood from his hand it was more because she loved to play and washungry than because her affection for the boy went very deep. 

As for the troupe of Pekingese, with aristocratic noses tilted high inair, they submitted to being washed, brushed, and fed by Walter muchas they would have accepted the services of any other maid or valet. They seemed to be conscious of their pedigree and claim attention astheir right. An occasional wag of the tail or the rare passage of arough little tongue across one's hand was all the gratitude HisHighness ever received from them. 

With the Crowninshield family, however, the boy made better progressand as he and Dick became acquainted many a pleasant hour did theyspend together. Not infrequently, when the eager yelps of the dogsheralded the fact that they were off for their afternoon run, the NewYork lad would join the party and while the animals raced this way andthat the two boys would discuss boats, fishing, and kindredinterests. 

[Illustration: The two boys would discuss boats, fishing, and kindredinterests. _Page_ 76. ]

"Do you happen to know anything about wireless?" inquired Richard oneday when, with Achilles prancing far ahead and Boy Blue, Jack Horner, and Rags dashing to keep up with him, the group strode along thebeach. 

"I ought to, " was Walter's smiling response. "I've a brother who is anoperator at the Seaver Bay station. "

"No! Really?" The exclamations voiced both surprise and admiration. "How old is he?"

"Twenty-two or three. "

"Gee! And he can really send and receive messages?"

"He sure can. "

"How did he learn?"

"Oh, he first got interested in wireless through the papers and pickedup quite a lot of information that way. Later he and his chum BillyHicks bought a manual and with the help of the physics teacher at theHigh School they rigged up a homemade receiving apparatus on Billy'sgrandfather's barn. For a while it wouldn't work for a cent, althoughthey tinkered with it night and day. Then one evening they didsomething to it and caught their first message. You should have seenBob! He was crazy and came rushing straight home to make Ma dropeverything she was doing and go down to Hicks's. Now Mother waselbow-deep in bread and declared she couldn't spoil her biscuit forany wireless on earth. Besides, she had never had any faith in thething. You see, Bob had teased her for wireless money and she had toldhim time and time again it was dollars thrown into a hole. My fatherused to joke her about not having a scientific mind and I guess shehasn't one. At any rate, whenever Bob would read her the wonderfulthings being done with wireless, all she would say was that it wasn'tlikely folks could send speeches and music loose through the air. Those who pretended to hear them were either fibbing or were genuinelymistaken. So when Bob did get a broadcast you can imagine how wild hewas to convince her it wasn't all bluff. "

"And did he?" asked Dick with interest. 

"Well, after a fashion, " replied Walter, smiling at some amusingmemory. 

"Like enough I shouldn't have known much about it, either, if Bob hadnot told me, " continued Walter. "Bob, however, talked nothing elsemorning, noon, and night. Often I would drop asleep while he waschattering of induction coils, wave lengths, and antenna. It makes meyawn now to think of it. My goodness, weren't Ma and I sick to deathof hearing nothing but radio! Bob would rush into the house atmealtime, swallow his food whole, and tear off to Hicks's with a pieceof pie in his hand, leaving all the chores to me. I got pretty sore, Ican tell you. " He gave a short laugh. 

"Between Mother begrudging the poor chap every cent he spent forbatteries and wire, and me pitching into him for forgetting to chopthe kindlings, I'm afraid his early wireless career wasn't a verypleasant one. "

Once more the lad laughed, this time with comic ruefulness. 

"Even when the apparatus actually did begin to work and Bob and Billywere able to get a concert or lecture now and then, Ma insisted theywere bluffing her. She listened in but wasn't convinced, declaringthey had fastened a victrola to the receivers and that such soundsnever could come through the air. Finally they did succeed in gettingher to half believe they were telling her the truth and were not justworking her for money. But when they tried to explain the outfit toher in detail, she put her hands over her ears, protesting that theywere wasting their breath to tell her of damped and undamped waves, detectors, and generators. With that they gave up further attempts toeducate her. "

Both boys chuckled. 

"But she must be proud of your brother now, " asserted Dick. 

"Oh, she is--tremendously, although what she chiefly thinks about isthe danger Bob is in of getting struck by lightning or electrocuted. "

Achilles, who had been pursuing some sandpipers along the rim of thesurf and sent them circling into the air, now raced back to hisfriends with a sharp bark of salutation and Dick bent to pat theshaggy head. 

"So really, " reflected he, "your brother taught himself wireless. "

"Not wholly. He simply laid a foundation, " the other boy explained. "He could never have taken a job on what he had picked up because, you see, he knew nothing of sending messages, was ignorant of all therules an operator has to have at his tongue's end, and had no verythorough knowledge of electricity. It was not like a completetraining, by any means. The war gave him that. When it broke out heenlisted in the navy, and because he was partially equipped in radiothey sent him off posthaste to a wireless school. At the time he wascrazy because his dream was to get across and be in the fighting. Tosit at home studying was the last thing he wanted to do. Later, though, when he began to see what a big part wireless was playing inthe scrimmage, he commenced to be more resigned to his lot. Besides hegot his chance before long, for he worked into being a crackerjack atspeed and passed his exams so well that he had no trouble in winninghis first-class operator's certificate. 

"There are grades of radio men, you know, just as there are grades ofeverything else. There are the sharks, or first-class chaps, who areable to pass every sort of test on the adjustment of apparatus and howto use it; who can both send and receive messages at the rate of atleast twenty words a minute, and who can often go much faster; and whohave all the rules governing the exchange of radio messages stowedaway in their heads. They are the A1 men and every first-class ship isobliged by law to have aboard it two of them. Then there are thesecond-class certificate fellows who practically have as much radiobut cannot hit such a gait, and can only manage to send betweentwelve and nineteen words a minute. They can go on first-class shipsprovided more skilled operators are aboard. Sometimes, even, theysubstitute for them under supervision. Their chief jobs, however, areon ships that use wireless only for their personal benefit; that is, to talk with their own crews. Often a fishing fleet, for instance, will carry a man of this class to communicate with its other vessels. They can talk, too, with shore stations when it is necessary. But thelaw does not allow them to take positions where there is a great rushof business and general responsibility. They must have the topnotchersfor such work. "

"I had no idea there were so many rules about radio, " mused Dick. 

"There are--strict ones, too, " replied his companion. "Moreover, thegovernment keeps tabs on all radio people to see they obey the rules. Every wireless man is examined, classified, and given a license justas an automobile driver is. He has to keep it handy, too, and be readyto trot it out on request. You can't get by with bluffing. If anoperator is found to be unfamiliar with the rules, or is discoveredbreaking any of them, his certificate can be withdrawn. No chap wantsto risk that, especially if he is trying to earn his living bywireless. And if a ship, and not its radio operator, is found to bebreaking the rules, the coastal stations may be notified not to haveanything to do with her. In other words she is boycotted and the landoperators told neither to receive her messages nor answer them. "

"That would be some boycott!"

"The shipboard radio stations, you see, come under the authority ofthe commanding officer of the ship. It has to be so, because in caseof accident he would be the person responsible for sending outdistress calls and answering them. The radio man couldn't just grabthe power. There has to be one boss of every job. "

"I can see that, " nodded Dick. "But why such a network of otherrules?"

"There have to be. It all has to be charted in black and white orthere would be terrible mix-ups. "

"And do foreign ships have to fall into line and do as our ships dowhen they come here?"

"They are expected to, Bob said, " answered Walter. "In case they donot, however, they cannot be meddled with by underlings. Instead theyare immediately reported to the government and the two countriesinvolved settle their dispute by arbitration. It is too delicate amatter for others to butt in on, for some blunderer might offendanother country and get us into war just through being stupid. Conversely, when our ships are in foreign waters they must keep thenaval rules of the nation they are visiting. "

"That's fair. "

"It sure is, " agreed Walter. "Besides that, all the shipboard radiostations have to carry with them their license to prove that they areauthorized by their countries to operate a wireless outfit, and thatthey fulfil the requirements of the government whose flag they fly. Should any trouble arise when they are in a foreign port they can beasked to produce this license; and if the foreign authorities whomthey are visiting have reason to suspect they are not meeting thestandards the license demands they can complain to the government thatis responsible for the ship. "

"But suppose the government didn't know anything about such a ship?"

"Great Scott! But it does, man, " ejaculated Walter. "There are liststhat contain not only the name and nationality of all ships but eventhe names and addresses of its radio operators. There is no getting bythat. "

"So the ships themselves are not allowed to take up their own quarrelif they are challenged?" commented Dick. 

"No. They simply have to stay perfectly polite and keep their mouthsshut, no matter how mad they are, " grinned His Highness. "Otherwisethere would be squabbles all the time, for there are alwaysmisunderstandings and grudges, and people who enjoy picking on oneanother. All the ships would be fighting and the countries that ownedthem, too, if everybody rolled up his sleeves and pitched into theother fellow when things went wrong. Governments are supposed to bemore slow-moving, fair, and impartial. And anyhow, it is their job tolook out for their own citizens and see they are squarely treated. Bobsays it is a more dignified way than for individuals to fight outtheir own quarrels. It certainly carries more weight. Nobody is goingto bully a ship and make trouble for its crew if a big nation standsbehind it. It serves as a check on the men, too, Bob told me, for whenthey are in other countries and have shore leave they have to rememberthat they must behave themselves and not disgrace their governments. "

"You can't sail out of reach of Uncle Sam, eh? Apparently he knows ina general way just how you are conducting yourself all the time, "smiled Dick. 

"That's about it, " acquiesced Walter. 

Whistling to the dogs, they turned about. 

"What a pile you know about all this, " Dick presently observed. 

"Shucks! No, I don't, " blushed His Highness. "I am only repeating whatBob spieled off to me. He likes to talk when he's home and I like tolisten. It's interesting--at least I think so. Besides, I'm proud ofBob knowing such a lot. I wish I did. "

The lad dug his heel into the moist sand and watched the hole fillwith water. 

"Somehow I'm an awful boob at books, " he suddenly confessed. "I hateso to study that Ma fairly has to haul me along by the hair or I'dnever go to school. I barely skinned through this year. Up to the verylast minute we all had cold chills for fear I wouldn't. "

Dick shot the offender a sympathetic glance. 

"I don't like reading about things myself so well as doing them, " heconfided. "I'm crazy about machinery. It's fun to tinker withit--take it to pieces and put it together again. I like nothing betterthan to overhaul an engine. "

He held up two grease-stained hands. 

"It horrifies my mother, " he continued, "but my father doesn't seem tomind if I am all black with oil from my car or the motor boats. What Iwant now is a wireless outfit. I'm going to strike Dad for one mybirthday. It comes the last of this month and he might as well give methat as anything else. Do you suppose if he got it we could rig it uptogether?"

Walter's eyes opened at the casualness of the observation. 

In his family a birthday was an occasion for a chocolate cake, someneckties, and perhaps a pair of rubber boots or a similar useful gift. Or it sometimes brought with it a book and a box of candy. Never byany chance did its felicitations expand into a gift so colossal as awireless apparatus. The breach between the two lads, which during theexchange of confidences had narrowed into nothingness, widenedabruptly. 

"A good set would be some present, " he commented, thinking, perhaps, the other boy might be ignorant of its value. 

"Oh, I guess it would not break Dad, " smiled Dick serenely. "He gaveme my car last year, and the year before--let me think--oh, the pups!"He pointed to the Airedales, a streak of buff against the green of thedistant marsh. "Wireless couldn't cost much more. "

"N--o, I don't believe it would, " His Highness admitted slowly, thecontrast in their financial standards seeping in on him. 

"Oh, I imagine I could have a set all right if I said the word, "continued Dick, with the indifference of one to whom such presentsbrought no agitation. "The question is, could we set it up if we hadit?"

"I couldn't, " came promptly from Walter. "I think, though, that if Bobwas home on leave he might help us. "

"Your brother? I had forgotten him. So he is at home sometimes?"

"Oh, yes. He gets off for a day now and then. "

"It must be a whole lot of a bore to be tied down in a wirelessstation listening for messages all the time, " observed Dickcarelessly. 

"Operators do not have to sit with their ears glued to the receiversevery second, man, " declared the village lad. "The men are relieved atregular hours. Besides, all stations both on shore and on shipboardare divided into classes and have their hours carefully mapped out forthem. There are three different varieties of shipboard stations, forexample. Some have constant service; that is, operators are alwayslistening while the ship is underway. Then there is a second sortwhere the operator listens in only during specified hours when theoffice is open for business. A third class has no fixed hours at all, the radio man just listening the first ten minutes of each hour. "

"So the men just suit themselves, eh?"

"Suit themselves! You bet they don't, " laughed Walter. "The governmentdefines their hours when their license is issued. The class they areput in decides it. "

"That's news to me, " said Dick. "And the shore stations?"

"The shore stations are a chapter in themselves, " Walter replied. "There are several different kinds and each kind has its own rules. "

"You don't propose to tell me about them, then, " retorted the NewYorker mischievously. 

"It's too long a yarn, " answered the other. "Besides, I might not getit straight. Sometime, though, if you want me to, I'll pass on what Iknow. But to-day I guess we ought to be hiking back. It is close ontothe time the pack is fed and I may have them yelping at my throat if Idon't hurry. "

Quickening their pace the boys whistled to the dogs who came dashingthrough the clumps of bayberry that dotted the field. They werepanting with thirst and only too ready to turn homeward. Across thesandy hillocks, through pine-shaded stretches of woods, along the roadwalled in with June roses they raced and chased, stopping now andagain to look back and make certain that their masters were following. When the spit of sand narrowed to a ribbon and the entrance toSurfside was reached they halted, lying down to cool off in the freshsea breeze until they should be overtaken. At the gate Dick and Walterparted. 

It was amusing to see the Airedales waver, then lured by hunger, desert their owner and pursue Walter and Achilles. 

They came up with lolling tongues at the kennels just as His Highnesswas unlocking the door. 

While he fumbled with the latch he noticed they sniffed excitedlyabout and that Achilles barked. 

"You're starved, poor old chaps!" remarked he aloud. "Well, no matter. You shall have your dinner right off now. "

Coaxing them in he banged the wicket behind him and passed throughinto the pen where the Pekingese, clamoring for their food, cameyelping to meet him. 

Instinctively he scanned the fluffy-coated group. Lola was not there. 

The discovery, however, caused him no concern for often Mrs. Crowninshield carried the prize-winner up to the big house or took herfor a ride in the car. Therefore, although her bright eyes weremissing he did not worry, but fed the other dogs and gave them freshwater. 

The task completed, he sauntered toward the garage. 

How still it was everywhere. With the exception of Dick's racer everycar was gone and all the chauffeurs with them. Even Jerry was nowhereabout; and the gardeners were far down on the south slope where hecould just detect the clip of their shears as they trimmed the privethedge. 

The grounds were as deserted as if the earth had swallowed up everyinhabitant. Surfside, deprived of its accustomed hum and bustle, wasactually lonely. With uncertain step the boy loitered in the sun, glancing at the expanse of sea and at a knockabout that heeleddangerously in the rising wind. Thinking he might find Jerry and thusbanish solitude he meandered up the avenue toward the house. 

Jerry, however, was nowhere to be seen but the silence was broken bythe siren horns of approaching motors and the Crowninshield cars camerolling in through the broad entrance. 

Since he chanced to be on the spot he may as well go up to theveranda, meet the family, and bring Lola back with him to be fed andtucked up for the night. 

Accordingly he hurried along and was at the steps almost as soon asthe automobiles came to a stop. 

Together with a company of laughing guests, Nancy and Mr. And Mrs. Crowninshield alighted. 

"Such a beautiful ride as we've had, Dick!" called Mrs. Crowninshieldto her son. "We've been over to Harwich and picked up the Davenports, you see, and brought them home for the evening. I think, Mrs. Davenport, you remember my son, Richard. Nancy, take Janet and Mariein with you so they can leave their wraps. You young people will havejust about time for a set of tennis before dinner. "

The cars had shot away and she was about to go indoors when themistress of the house espied Walter. 

"Did you wish to see me?" she called. 

"I thought I'd take Lola down to the kennels. "

"Lola! Is she here?"

"I thought you had her. "

"No, indeed. "

"But she must be here at the house. "

"No, she isn't. I never leave her with the maids. She is at thekennels. "

"I've just come from there. "

"And she wasn't there?"

"No, ma'am. "

"Are you sure?"

"Positive!"

"But my dear boy, didn't you leave her there?"

"Yes. But I thought you took her when you went to drive. You have akey. "

"I didn't. "

"And you did not give the key to any of the maids?"

"Of course not. "

"Well, she isn't there, " announced Walter, a tremor of trepidationpassing over him. 

"Nonsense! She must be. Where else could she be?"

"I don't know. "

"Oh, you haven't half looked, " smiled Mrs. Crowninshield reassuringly. "Lola is such a tiny dog she often gets hidden away out of sight. I'llcome and find her for you. "

Excusing herself to her guests she followed Walter across the grassand in silence they unfastened the wire gate that led into theenclosure where the Pekingese were kept. But search as they would theyfailed to discover the missing dog. Lola was gone! _Gone!_

CHAPTER VII

THE PURSUIT OF LOLA

Yes, Lola was gone; there could be no question about that. 

Had not Walter scented trouble he would soon have been made aware ofit by the excitement that prevailed in the Peeks' kennels. Every dogof the lot was barking furiously and with gleaming eyes and tail erectstriving to communicate tidings of importance. Yet bark as they might, the message they sought to voice remained, alas, untold. 

"If they could only speak we should soon know what has happened, "bewailed the lad to Mrs. Crowninshield, as for the hundredth time theysearched every nook and corner for a clue to the mystery. 

"Yes, they know--poor little things, " their mistress agreed. "They aretrying their best to tell the story, too. I'd give worlds to know whatit is. "

"And I. "

"You are certain you locked everything up when you took the other dogsout. "

"Positive. Dick was with me and we both tried the gate before westarted. "

"Nothing seems to be disturbed. "

"No. That is the strange part of it. "

Mrs. Crowninshield stopped, hot and breathless from her search. 

"I cannot believe but that the mite will turn up. Have you asked Jerryor Tim?"

"They were nowhere about when I got back, " Walter replied. "The wholeplace was still as the grave. I was just going to hunt up Jerry when Isaw the cars coming up the avenue. "

"Well, I must not delay any longer now, " announced Mrs. Crowninshield. "The Davenports will be wondering what has become of me and so willeverybody else. Just find Jerry and Tim and quietly make sure theyhave not taken the dog. In the meantime I will inquire of the maids atthe house. We will not, however, make too much talk about it, and sendout an alarm until we are certain there is a real tragedy. If I cankeep Mr. Crowninshield in ignorance of the matter until our guestshave gone I shall be glad. He will be dreadfully upset for he tookgreat pride in his possession of Lola and has declined numberlessoffers to sell her. "

"I know it, " groaned Walter. "If it were only one of the other dogsthat was missing!"

"The fact that it isn't is what alarms me, " returned the woman. "Lolais a quiet little thing and has been petted so much that it would notbe like her to run away. Some of the other dogs might but shewouldn't. She is far too timid. "

"How could she run away, even if she had a mind to, with the gatelocked?"

"I know. That is another ominous fact. " Mrs. Crowninshield shook herhead. "I'm afraid----"

"What?"

"That she has been stolen. "

"Stolen!" gasped Walter. "But how could she with--with everybodyaround?"

"But you yourself just said that nobody was around. "

"Jove! That's true. Still somebody must have been here some timeduring the afternoon. It is not likely Jerry, Tim, and all the restwere out of hearing all the time I was gone. "

"That is what we must find out. "

"I'll go and hunt up Jerry now. "

"Do. But work quietly; do not make a fuss. It will be time enough toget everybody up in arms when we have to. I dread to think what Mr. Crowninshield will say. He will be furious, simply furious. "

With this dubious prediction his wife walked away. 

She herself was upset. It was easy enough to see that. She strove, however, to be calm, clinging desperately to the hope that the dogmight be discovered in the care of some of the men or maids. Sheidolized Lola and although she did not admit it, His Highness knewonly too well that if it really proved that her pet was gone she, too, would be furious. 

"A nice mess!" commented the lad to himself as he hurried across thelawn in search of Jerry. "A nice hole I am in the very first thing!Between them they will tear me to pieces. And Ma--Ma will say, '_Itold you so!_' That's all the sympathy I'll get from her. She'll haveto know, of course, for Mr. Crowninshield will fire me bag andbaggage. I must expect that. Jerry as good as told me so when I came. I sha'n't have a chance to defend myself. They will just believe Ileft the gate of the kennels unlocked when I went out and that Lolamade off as fast as her four small feet could carry her. They willeither think that, or they will think--" he stopped aghast at thepossibility that had taken possession of his mind. "They couldn'tthink I left it open on purpose for some one to get in and _take_Lola! They couldn't think that! But suppose Mr. Crowninshield diddecide I was an accomplice what proof have I but my word that Iwasn't. It does look bad--my being gone and taking Achilles and theother dogs with me. Still, I've done it every day since I've beenhere. And anyway, they would know I could not entice Jerry and Timaway even if I had wanted to. "

The boy took courage. 

"No, of course they couldn't think _I_ had anything to do with Lolabeing gone, " he murmured. 

By this time he had overtaken Tim and his fellow workers who werestill busy clipping the hedge. 

"Tim!" he called. 

There was no answer but the crisp snip, snip of the shears. 

"Tim!"

"Did you call?"

"Yes. You haven't seen Lola, have you?"

"Lola? Indeed I haven't. What would she be doing round here, I'd liketo know?"

His Highness struggled to smile. 

"Oh, I just thought you might have seen her. "

"She's not at the kennels?"

"No. "

"Oh, then the mistress took her up to the house. She often does. Sheis clean daffy over that dog. Give yourself no concern, sonny; the pupis with the master and missis, being shown off to company, mostlikely. "

"Probably she is. So you and the men have been here all theafternoon?"

"That we have. A hot job, the cutting of this hedge. "

"It looks fine, " declared Walter, turning away. 

"It ought to, " Tim growled. "Goodness knows it's trouble enough! Aprivet hedge is the devil to keep even. "

Walter, however, did not wait to hear the virtues and vices of privethedges discussed. He was in too much of a hurry. Furthermore, he hadsecured the information which he had come to seek. Tim and his hostknew nothing of the whereabouts of Lola. Nothing else mattered. Infact, bewildered, anxious, and excited, it seemed at the moment as ifnothing else would ever matter again. He must find that dog--he_must_!

Nevertheless he remembered he must not appear agitated and therefore, instead of racing across the lawn and shouting for Jerry as would havebeen his inclination, he walked decorously along the path until hecame to the boathouse from which door Jerry was at that instantissuing. 

"You haven't seen Lola, have you, Jerry?" he asked as indifferently ashe could. 

"Lola? No. Why?"

"It--it is just her dinner time, " stammered the lad, "and I wanted tofind her. "

"She'll be up at the house, most likely, if she isn't at the kennels, "announced Jerry. "There's visitors and Lola will be on deck to see'em. She's a vain little lady and likes to be shown off. "

Walter greeted the remark with a sickly grin. 

"What have you been doing?" inquired he idly. 

"Me? Why, I was just starting to fix that hasp on the gate to thechicken coop when Minnie came running down from the house to saysomebody wanted to speak to me on the telephone. It was along-distance call and kept me there most half an hour; and what itwas all about I don't know now. Some feller I never heard of kepttalking and talking, and I couldn't make head nor tail out of anythinghe said. Finally I told him so and hung up the receiver. I can'timagine who he was. Nobody ever telephones me. "

"So you didn't get the hasp fixed on the hen yard. "

"I would have hadn't the cook held me up just as I was leaving andwanted I should put a new washer on the kitchen faucet. I saw itneeded it the worst way. In fact, I had planned to do it before thefolks came and it had slipped my mind. So I tinkered with that andgot nothing else done. I'm just after mending a hinge on the boathousedoor. A profitless afternoon, I call it. "

"So you haven't been back to your diggings since noon. "

"Not a once. Why? Did you want me?"

"N--o. Oh, no. "

"That's lucky. Apparently everybody else did, " concluded Jerry grimly. 

So went Walter's quest! Nobody had seen Lola. Nobody knew anythingabout her. Question as he would, not the faintest trace of the missingdog could be obtained; and when the Davenports rolled down the drivethe lad faced the awful moment when his secret must be divulged andthe alarm sounded that Lola, the Crowninshields' most valuedpossession, was missing. Rapidly he turned the prospect of the comingstorm over in his mind. 

Since the dog had been left in his charge the only manly thing to do, he argued, was to go directly to Mr. Crowninshield and himselfacquaint him with the direful tidings. It would be cowardly to shuntthis wretched task off on somebody else. It was his duty and hisalone. Nevertheless, as he stood for a moment summoning his courage, he would have given all he possessed to escape the interview thatawaited him. 

He would be scolded, blamed, discharged--that he knew--and he mustbear bravely censure for something which he could not feel was hisfault. Yet notwithstanding the fact that his conscience exoneratedhim it made the coming scene no less dreadful to anticipate. 

If Bob were only at hand to offer him his advice and sympathy. Bob wassuch a bully comforter. He never jumped on a man when he was down. Besides, he had a level head and always knew exactly what to do in anemergency. The instant this awful talk with Mr. Crowninshield was overand he was actually "fired" he should call Bob on the telephone andtell him the whole story. He must tell somebody, and Bob wouldunderstand better than anyone else just how everything had happened. 

In the meantime there was nothing to be gained by further delay. 

Pulling himself together, His Highness (a very meek bit of royaltynow) dragged himself up the flower-bordered path toward Surfside. Ashe went it seemed as if every pansy flanking the walk stared out athim and whispered, "Aha, young man! You're in for it now!"

Alas, he did not need to be told that! He knew it only too well. Hecleared his throat, wondering how he should begin his confession. 

"Mr. Crowninshield, I have some very sad news to impart to you--etc. ";or "Mr. Crowninshield, I regret to say a very terrible thing hashappened. " Such an introduction was easily delivered. It was the nextsentence that appalled him. He could not get it off his tongue. "_Lolahas disappeared!_" He could see now the great man's face as itflushed with anger and surprise. What would _he_ say--that was thequestion?

Probably his reply would be something like this. 

"Young fellow, when I hired you, you undertook to look out for my dogsand see that nothing happened to them. I agreed to pay you good wagesto perform that service and you, on your part, promised to do itsatisfactorily. How have you kept that promise? You knew Lola's valueand you should have looked out for her. It's up to you. You musteither produce that dog or you must pay for her. "

He had by this time reached the house and like a criminal who facesexecution and mounts the scaffold steps he climbed the broad flightleading to the front door. Mr. Crowninshield was on the veranda, sitting quietly in a big wicker chair, looking out toward the sea. Hewas thinking so intently on some imagining of his own that he did nothear the lad's footfall and Walter was obliged to address him twicebefore he answered. Then he started suddenly, as if annoyed at beingdisturbed. 

"Well?" interrogated he. 

The fine introduction that His Highness had planned to utter, togetherwith everything else he had arranged to say, fled from his memory andhe stood speechless before his employer. 

"You wish to see me?" Mr. Crowninshield repeated in a less sharp tone. 

"I--yes, sir. "

Nevertheless, despite the heavy pause the words the boy sought wouldnot come. Instead a plaintive jumble of phrases tumbled incoherentlyforth, astounding the lad himself almost as much as they did theperson to whom they were addressed:

"Oh, sir, I've lost your dog, Lola! I didn't mean to and I didn'treally lose her. She was gone when I got back from my walk withAchilles and the others. I left her locked in all right--I know I did. Where she is or how she got out I've no idea. I'm terribly sorry. Ican't possibly pay for her, and you'll just have to put me in prison. It's the only way, I guess. Don't blame my mother or Bob, please, orJerry either, because I've turned out to be such a duffer. It isn'ttheir fault. And perhaps I better go straight home. I suppose youwon't want me round here any more. "

A great gasp strangled any further utterance and only the lad'ssobbing breath broke the stillness. 

Nerved to receive a scourge of maledictions or a blow the culpritwaited. But nothing came--neither vindictives nor chastisement. Heventured to raise his head and confront his judge. 

Mr. Crowninshield was sitting looking far out to sea exactly as beforeand Walter actually began to wonder whether he had been turned tostone or had been stricken with deafness. 

"Mr. Crowninshield!" he at last ejaculated when the silence had becomeintolerable. 

"Yes. "

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes, sonny. "

"Well--well--what are you going to do with me?"

"Nothing, my boy. "

"_What?_"

"This job about Lola is nothing to do with you, my son. It hasevidently been planned for a long time and carefully executed byprofessionals. Had you been on the spot they would have contrived tocircumvent you just as they did Jerry. A gang have beaten us, that'sall. But I will show them I am not to be beaten so easily. I'll havethat dog back if it takes every dollar I have in the world. And I'llland those chaps behind the bars, every one of them, or my name isn'tCrowninshield. "

A tide of angry color surged over the face of the speaker and he roseabruptly, as if forgetting the lad's presence. 

"Yes, sir!" he continued. "I'll round up those thieves. They needn'tput me down for such an ass. Of course it's Daly and that New Yorkbunch that set them on. They have always wanted Lola and been mad ashatters that I refused to sell her. Only the last time I saw Jake Dalyhe said, 'What I can't get by fair means I sometimes get by foul, Crowninshield, so you'd better look out for your precious dog. ' I didnot heed the threat at the time, attributing it to temper. Butevidently he meant just what he said. He intended to have the dog, whether or no. But by thunder, " Mr. Crowninshield brought down hisfist on the piazza rail, "he won't win out in the deal! I'll jail himand all his tribe--see if I don't!"

Walter, watching, hardly knew whether to go or stay. The man's ragewas terrible and he thanked his lucky stars that it was not directedtoward himself. 

"Is--is--there anything I can do, Mr. Crowninshield?" he at lastmanaged to stammer after the master had ceased his pacing of theveranda and at length became conscious of his presence. 

"Not a thing, little chap, " returned his employer, flashing him one ofhis rare smiles. "You have been mighty white about this, though. Iguess it took some nerve to come up here and tell me this, didn't it?"

"Yes, sir, it did. "

"I wondered what you'd do. "

"Wondered?"

"Yes. Mrs. Crowninshield told me about Lola the minute the Davenportswent. I saw the affair had nothing to do with you. Nevertheless, Iwasn't sorry to try you out and see how much of the man was in you. You're all right, boy. Cheer up! Nobody is going to pack you home toyour mother, so don't worry. And far from blaming you, if I want helpabout finding Lola, I'll add you to my detective force. You may beuseful, who knows?"

The words, designed merely to be comforting, were idly, kindly spoken, and carried little real weight. Had the master of the house reallysuspected how true they were to prove he would have been astonished. 

CHAPTER VIII

A BLUNDER AND WHAT CAME OF IT

As if a weight had been removed from his soul Walter moved away. Thewhole world had suddenly become a different place. Although thecalamity of Lola's disappearance was none the less distressing atleast on his own particular horizon there no longer loomed the spectreof discharge and all the disgrace that accompanied it. He could havetossed his cap into the air for very joy and gratitude. In his reliefhe was bursting to talk to somebody, and as he had permission to usethe telephone in order to keep in touch with his family it occurred tohim that now was the moment to call up Bob and impart the excitingtidings of the afternoon. Bob was always off duty at this hour and ifhe had the good luck to find him at the station just the sound of hisvoice would be infinitely comforting. 

Hastening in the side door he glanced into the wee telephone closet. 

No one was there, and he took down the receiver and called the SeaverBay station. In another instant Bob's _Hello_ came cheerily over thewire. 

"It's Walter, Bob. "

"Anything the matter, kid?"

"N--o. Yes. That is, something _was_ the matter but it is all overnow. I just wanted to talk to you. "

"Well, fire ahead. What do you want to say?"

"Oh, a lot. I hardly know how to start. " The boy laughed nervously. 

"You're not sick?"

"Oh, no. "

"Well, we can't hold this line forever, son, so break away and tellyour tale as fast as you can. "

"I'll try to, Bob. "

Incoherently the lad poured out his story. Once launched it camereadily from his tongue and he continued to the end of it withoutinterruption from his distant listener. When, however, he hadfinished, Bob's crisp tones came singing over the wire:

"You went out to walk about three, you say?"

"Yes. "

"And returned?"

"It must have been half-past four or five, I guess. "

"And there was nobody about the place all that time?"

"The men were all busy somewhere else. Strangely enough even Jerry, who usually is on deck, had a telephone call and had to go up to thebig house. "

"Oh, he did!"

"Yes. It was funny, too, because it was somebody he didn't know at alland he couldn't find out what the fellow wanted. "

"What's that?" The interrogation was sharp and tense. 

"Jerry just said it was some man up in Brockton whom he didn't knowand as he couldn't make head nor tail out of the message he hung upthe receiver. Nobody ever telephones to Jerry. It was queer theyshould do it to-day, wasn't it?"

"Very. Did you tell Mr. Crowninshield about it?"

"Oh, no, indeed. He was too busy about Lola to think of anythingelse. "

"Nevertheless, I would tell him. "

"What for? It wouldn't interest him. "

"I think it might--a good deal. You tell him. Do you know whether hehas done anything yet or not?"

"No, I don't. I didn't dare ask him what he was going to do. "

"I suppose not. Well, I'm glad you got out of this snarl so well, kid. It's a pity they've lost the dog. You take mighty good care of therest of the pups and don't let any more of them disappear. "

"I'll try. And Bob----"

"I can't stop to talk any longer now, old chap. So long! If they get aline on the thief you might ring me up again. I shall be interested. Good-by. "

"Good-by, Bob. "

How fair Bob always was, reflected the boy, as he emerged into theopen and made his way back to the kennels. Some brothers wouldprobably have blurted out, "That's you all over!" or "Trust you to getinto a mess!" But Bob never enjoyed seeing somebody else miserable. Instead he always tried to make everybody's troubles smaller than theyreally were. One could confess one's sins to Bob, knowing that hewould be merciful. 

So thought Walter as he sped down the gravel path to greet theclamoring pack of animals that hungrily awaited his coming. 

"Well, old sports!" called he as he turned the key in the lock, "Iguess you are ready for your supper. Wondering where your boss was, eh? I'm not very late. Only a quarter of an hour. It isn't late enoughto warrant your making such a fuss. Down, Achilles! What's the matterwith you? Anybody'd think you were crazy to see you jumping up andwhining this way. What's got you, old man? Down, I say!"

He pushed the dog from him and started to enter the room where thefood was kept; but again Achilles was in his path. 

"Get out of my way, you beggar!" smiled Walter, playfully attemptingto shake the creature off. "What is it? Are you clean starved? If youare you must stand out of the way so I can get you something to eat. "

But the dog refused to move. 

Planting himself squarely in the lad's pathway he began to barkfuriously. 

Then he raced to the gate, sniffed, and struggled to get out. 

"What on earth has struck you, you giant?" inquired Walter, regardingthe great creature in bewilderment. "Don't you want your dinner?"

It was plain in an instant that no matter what the lure of a bonemight ordinarily be to-day, it held no charms for the big police dog. He had one wish and only one, and that was to be released from thewire enclosure in which he was penned and left free to follow someplan of his own which evidently absorbed him. So insistent was hisdemand that it was not to be denied and Walter slipped the bolt andallowed him to race away. Then the boy turned his attention to feedingthe other dogs. 

"Achilles probably has a bone buried somewhere, " he muttered tohimself, "and is going to dig it up. Just why he prefers stale food tofresh I can't see; but apparently he does. "

Nevertheless His Highness had scarcely finished giving the dogs theirdinner before Achilles was back again, and with no bone, either. Onthe contrary he was hot, breathless, and panting from what hadobviously been a long run through the woods. Pine needles clinging tohis furry coat attested that he had been over in the grove thatflanked the estate on the west. 

"Couldn't find your hidden treasure, eh, old boy?" commented Walter. "Gone, was it? Some other dog taken it?"

But Achilles failed to accept the jest with the cordiality such jokescommonly evoked. He neither wagged his tail nor stretched his jawsinto a grin. Instead he began to yelp and bound back and forth uponthe lawn. 

"You act possessed. What on earth is the matter?" asked the boy, coming toward the gate and starting to open it. 

No sooner was his hand on the latch, however, than the Belgian racedup with sharp barks of delight. 

"Want me to come out, do you? Got something to show me?"

Again Achilles barked joyfully. 

"Aren't you the tyrant, though?" remarked Walter. "I've just been towalk and am tired as the deuce. What do I wish to go tramping over thecountry again for?"

Nevertheless, despite his grudging protest, nothing else would satisfythe dog and at length, curious to see what caused the creature'sexcitement, he slipped the lock and stepped outside on to the turf. Instantly an exultant bark came from Achilles and he dashed away, onlyto return and take the lead through the woods, his nose to the groundand his ears erect. The boy followed. It was a race to keep up withthe rapidly running vanguard. Now the chase skirted the lawn, nowdipped into the pine woods. On and on went the dog, and in pursuit ofhim on and on went Walter. 

They floundered along the slippery matting of copper, stumbling thisway and that, and presently emerged where the land dropped down to theshore. The lad paused. He had no mind to scramble through the tallsalt grass or sink ankle deep in the stretch of sand that adjoined it. But Achilles compelled. It was now no longer a matter of choice. Thebeast approached and catching the corner of the lad's sweater in hismouth tugged at it resolutely, even angrily. 

Walter dared not resist. He let himself down over the edge of the bankinto the sharp-edged grass, and wading through it reached the sand. Here Achilles halted. The end of their pilgrimage had, then, beenreached. What was it all about? For a moment dog and man faced oneanother. Then, glancing about, His Highness gave a little cry. Therewere footprints in the sand, --deep footprints that the moisture hadkept indelible. A train of them came and went toward a ribbon ofautomobile tracks that narrowed away up the beach and were finallylost in the confusion of a much traveled wood road. 

Walter's heart leaped within him as the significance of the discoveryrose before his imagination. This was the way Lola had gone. 

A thief, familiar with the country and knowing the isolation of thissequestered cove, had driven through the wood road, left the carbehind the dunes, and skulking through the woods, had successfullycarried out a daring robbery. Perhaps he had been lingering concealedabout the gardens all day or even many days. Who could tell? At anyrate, he had chosen a propitious moment, provided himself with askeleton key, and carried Lola away in the waiting motor car. Wherethey were now, who could tell? A car travels fast and a long distancecould be covered in the two hours that had elapsed. Certainly no moretime must be wasted. 

With Achilles leaping before him Walter raced back to Surfside. Mr. Crowninshield, irritable and excited, was just coming out of thehouse. 

"May I speak to you a moment, sir?" panted the boy. 

"Yes, if it is important. I'm in a rush so do not delay me. "

"But it's about Lola. "

"Lola! Go ahead, then, if you have anything to say. "

The lad told his story. 

"Ha! Well done, Achilles!" exclaimed the financier when the tale wastold. "Well done, old fellow! And well done you too, little shaver!Between you you have given us a big boost toward catching the thief. Now just one thing, sonny. I meant to caution you before you left butforgot it. You are not to speak of this affair to any one--not to anyone at all. Do you understand? A false move on our part might undoeverything and ruin our cause. Nobody is going to be caught red-handedwith that dog in his possession. Rather than be trapped he would killher. We mustn't let that happen. We shall follow up our man quietlywithout letting him suspect that he is being watched. That is the onlyway we can hope to get the pup back again. So mind you hold yourtongue. Not a word to anybody on your life. Not a syllable. Be dumb asthe grave and let me see how capable you are of keeping your owncounsel. The trouble with most people is they blab everything. Theycan't wait to tell it. Let anything happen and they are off to confideit to some one before you can say Jack Robinson. Now don't you dothat--at least not this time. Hold your tongue. This isn't yoursecret; it's mine. "

In terror Walter hung his head. Should he confess that he had alreadytelephoned Bob or should he keep silent. 

Of course Bob wouldn't tell. There wouldn't be anybody to tell way offthere at Seaver Bay. Besides, he himself could ring him up and cautionhim not to. Why need Mr. Crowninshield know anything about it?

But suppose Bob had told already and harm was done? Certainly it wouldbe more honest to speak. 

The boy took a big swallow. 

"I'm afraid, sir, that I have already told some one, " he blurted outmiserably. "I didn't know it would do any harm and so I called up mybrother and----"

"You young idiot!" burst out Mr. Crowninshield indignantly. "Why inthunder couldn't you keep still? We're in a nice mess now! If thestory gets about and the police start to track down the thief it isgood-by to Lola. Why did you have to run hot-footed to the telephonethe first thing? Jove!"

"I'm very sorry, sir. I had no idea it would do any harm. "

"But you have an idea of it now, haven't you?" inquired the mastergrimly. 

"Yes. I see what you mean. "

Mr. Crowninshield heaved an exasperated sigh. 

"The game's up now, I guess, " he muttered. 

"But my brother lives off by himself in a very lonely place, " the ladexplained desperately. "Just he and another fellow have a house out ona point of land a long way off from everywhere. They couldn't tellanybody about Lola if they wanted to, especially if I call them rightup and ask them not to. "

"Where is it?"

"Seaver Bay. "

"Never heard of it--or, stop a minute, isn't there a wireless stationthere or something?"

"Yes, sir. My brother----"

"Well, no matter about your brother now. You go into the house andcall him up. When you get the line let me know and I will speak withhim. "

"Yes, sir. " Nevertheless the lad lingered. "I'm--I'm awfully sorry, "repeated he. 

"There, there, go along. You meant no harm. You just blundered. Butblunders are expensive things sometimes and this one may prove sounless we can prevent it. "

Still His Highness did not go. 

"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked his employer impatiently. 

"My brother told me to tell you that Jerry had a telephone messagethis afternoon. "

"A telephone message? What has that got to do with it?" burst out Mr. Crowninshield at the end of his patience. 

"I don't know. Bob just said to tell you. "

"Go ahead then. "

Hurriedly the boy related the facts of the mysterious communication. 

"So! Your brother has some brains if you haven't, " said Mr. Crowninshield on hearing the story, and Walter saw him smile. "Thatwas neat of them, very! They took the precaution to get Jerry, who isunfailingly about, out of the way. "

"They?"

"The thieves, youngster. It was a Brockton call, you say. "

"That was what Jerry told me. "

"Good! That gives us another clue. "

It was evident the information had put the master in rare good humor. 

"Trot along, now, and call up this brother of yours. I shall be gladto talk with him, for he sounds as if he might be worth talking to. Asfor you, son, cheer up! No milk is spilled yet and perhaps it won't beif you have as wise a big brother as it appears. I might never haveknown of Jerry's message but for him. Jerry himself would not haveplaced enough importance on it to tell me, I am sure--or you, either, for that matter. So perhaps, after all, you did a good thing to enlistyour brother in our behalf. "

"I hope so, sir. I meant no harm; really I didn't. "

"There, there, don't think of it again, " said Mr. Crowninshieldkindly. "I should have remembered you are not a man's age and cannotbe expected to have the judgment that goes with fifty or sixty yearsof living. Even old codgers like myself blunder sometimes. "

His eyes twinkled and in the radiance of his smile Walter saw the lastcloud of wrath roll from his brow. Truly, as Jerry had affirmed, Mr. Crowninshield's rages were like thunderstorms--awesome while theylasted but unfailingly followed by sunshine. 

CHAPTER IX

MORE CLUES

Notwithstanding Mr. Crowninshield's comforting words, however, Waltercould not shake off the consciousness that take it all in all he hadblundered desperately throughout the entire train of events connectedwith Lola and his vanity was sadly hurt. If any good had come out ofwhat he had done it was more by chance than as a result of wisecalculation. He had meant well, that was all that could be said, andthe patronage these words implied was by no means flattering to oneanxious to make himself valuable to his employer. 

What a boob he was; what a blunderer! The name Mr. Crowninshield hadso wrathfully bestowed on him was unquestionably deserved. It fittedhim like a glove. The fact that the great man had afterward sought topalliate the sting of the term did not actually help matters any. Whathe had thought in the beginning and so spontaneously declared was whathe really believed, and as his dispirited retainer observed tohimself, who could blame him?

He couldn't have made a worse start at a job had he tried. In hisdepression he almost wished he had never seen Surfside, theCrowninshields, or anything belonging to them. 

Nor was his melancholy lightened when he found on entering the housethat the telephone line was busy and that some one was calling Mr. Crowninshield. Goodness only knew how long it might be now before thewire would be free for the master to reach and warn Bob to keep secretthe tidings his brother had tattled to him. Wasn't it infernal luck toencounter this delay? If he had only held his tongue in the firstplace! Well, it had taught him a lesson. The next time he got mixed upin somebody else's affairs he would keep them to himself. 

Meandering aimlessly outdoors he sat down on the steps to wait untilthe owner of the house should finish his conversation. 

For a time he remained quite quiet; but when the minutes lengthenedinto a quarter of an hour he began to fidget. Would the talkers neverstop? Why, their chattering seemed to be endless? Even through thedoor he could hear Mr. Crowninshield's curt tones and the eager riseand fall of his voice. Once he laughed as if pleased, and twice Walterheard a cry of "_Good!_" When he did appear on the piazza his face waswreathed in smiles. 

"That brother of yours is a Jim Dandy!" he exclaimed, rubbing hishands. "You did a mighty clever thing, young one, to get him on thejob. We never can thank you enough. "

"Me?"

"Certainly you! Why didn't you tell me more about this family paragonof yours? I didn't take in he was a radio operator. "

"I--I--I don't know, " replied Walter, bewildered. 

"Well, his quick action has helped us no end--that is all I can say, "announced the owner of Surfside triumphantly. "The instant he got yourmessage he went to work with his wireless outfit. He flashed messagesto all the stations in the outlying cities or else telephoned, andinside of half an hour every road to Boston and to New York waswatched. You see a man with a little dog had stopped at his stationfor water. The wood road skirting our shore goes right by Seaver Bayand probably the thief reasoned that no one would be on the lookoutfor him on such an out-of-the-way thoroughfare. At any rate he had tohave water for his engine and he took a chance. He told your brotherhe was touring the Cape, and had you not called Bob up he would havethought no more of the happening. But when you told him about Lolaimmediately he pricked up his ears. The dog tallied perfectly withwhat you had previously told him and the fact that it was a Pekingesemade him suspicious. Leaping at the possibility that his visitor wasin reality the man wanted, he sent out a broadcast describing theculprit. 

"With an accurate description of the man, car, and dog we cannot failto get tidings soon. And at any rate we have something definite towork on. We know what the thief looks like, what he had on, the makeof his car and all about him. Unquestionably he will be stopped eitherbetween here and Boston or between here and New York, --for he isprobably aiming for one of those cities. I myself rather think he willgo straight through to Boston. He would not venture to try New Yorkuntil later because he would be well aware that the authorities therewould be waiting for him. He isn't going to be trapped. So he will tryto do the thing he figures I will not calculate upon. " Mr. Crowninshield rubbed his hands and laughed. "Little does he know wehave him down cold already! And it has all been so quietly andpromptly done. That is the beauty of it. You must have got home fromyour walk very soon after the wretch had left. Therefore the loss wasdiscovered sooner than he had planned. Doubtless he was delayed byJerry's being about and had to wait until his accomplice up inBrockton called him off. I presume they had agreed upon some hour whenthey would summon the unsuspecting caretaker to the telephone. " As thescheme of the robbery began to unfold, Walter mirrored his employer'ssmile. 

"And if the other chap is in Brockton doesn't that indicate that thisfellow who was here will most likely expect to pass through there andpick him up?" he ventured, feeling very much of a personage to be thustaken into Mr. Crowninshield's confidence. 

"Exactly!"

His Highness glowed with satisfaction. Some of his self-esteem wasreturning. 

"Fortunately your brother had the good sense to warn his allies to actcarefully and not alarm the thief, so that the life of the dog mightnot be jeopardized. He seems to have thought of everything, thisbrother Bob of yours. If we get Lola back it will be largely hisdoing--and yours. I sha'n't forget the fact, either. "

Walter flushed under the great man's praise. 

"It was just a happen, " murmured he. "I thought I had blundered. "

He saw Mr. Crowninshield color at having his own word hurled back athim. 

"Some of the most fortunate strokes in our lives are achieved bychance, " replied he, laughing. "See how capable I am of shifting myphilosophy, " he added with good humor. "Nevertheless, although thisindiscretion of yours has turned out well I still maintain that, generally speaking, a silent tongue is a great asset. In nine casesout of ten keeping still does far less harm than talking. Jerry is ashining example of my creed. In all the years he has been here he hasnever let his tongue outrun his solid judgment. And yet, " concluded hewith a twinkle, "had we trusted to Jerry, we should never have heardof his Brockton telephone communication. So there you are! Which isthe better way? It seems to be a toss up in this case. "

"I guess the better way is never to make a mistake, " smiled Walter. 

"Do you know the infallible person who can boast such a record?" camewhimsically from Mr. Crowninshield. 

"N--o, sir. "

"Nor I. "

A pause fell between them and Walter rose to go. 

"Do you suppose you will hear anything more to-night?" questioned heshyly. 

"There is no telling. We may have news at any moment; or again we mayhear nothing until into the night or till morning. "

"I'm crazy to get tidings, aren't you?" In his earnestness the lad hadforgotten that they were not of an age or quite of the same station. 

The master smiled indulgently. 

"I'm every bit as crazy to hear as you are, " said he, quite as if Lolawere their joint possession. 

"Do you think you'll get any message before I go to bed?"

Once more Mr. Crowninshield regarded him with friendly comradeship. 

"That depends on what time you turn in. "

"At home Ma makes me go at nine o'clock. I've done it pretty much, too, since I've been here. She wanted I should. "

"You are a sensible fellow. Nine o'clock is late enough for anybody tosit up, although I will admit, " the man chuckled mischievously, "thatin New York we occasionally sit up later than that. "

But Walter ignored the jest. 

"Do you think you will hear by nine?" persisted he. 

"There is no way of knowing, sonny, " was the kind answer. "The bestthing for you to do, however, is to go to bed as you usually do. Youare tired out with excitement. I can see that. "

"No I'm not, " contradicted the boy, his eyes very wide open. 

"But you are--a deal more fagged than you realize. I am myself. NowI'll tell you what we'll do. I'll go to bed and you go to bed; and ifany message comes I'll tell them to waken me and then I'll waken you. I can call you on the wire that goes from the house down to yourquarters. How will that do?"

"But suppose I shouldn't hear it?" objected the lad. 

"Somebody will. The chauffeurs do not go to sleep as early as you do, I rather fancy. I will give orders for one of them to tell you if acall comes. "

"I'd much prefer to sit up, sir. Why couldn't I just sit here on thepiazza? It wouldn't disturb anybody and I should be on the spot. "

"You might sit here all night and catch your death of cold, and notidings come until morning, sonny. No, my plan is much the better one. You trot along to bed. I'll fulfill my part of the contract and goalso. And if there is anything to tell before morning you shall hearit. "

Reluctantly the lad moved away. 

He was not in the least sleepy. Nevertheless because he had given hisword he dragged himself across the lawn, mounted the stairs to hisroom, and began to undress. His spirits were very high. Within an houror two--three hours at the very most--the telephone would ring andMr. Crowninshield would announce to him the glad tidings that thethief had been caught. Then some one would motor to Barnstable, Brockton, or wherever it was, recapture Lola, and bring her back, andthe events of the past few hours would be only a nightmare. And itwould be Bob--he and Bob--who brought about this glorious climax to aday of catastrophes. And if such a result was accomplished had not theowner of Surfside promised that he would never forget the service?

For his own part Walter wanted nothing. If Lola could only be foundhis happiness would be complete. But if only Mr. Crowninshield woulddo something wonderful for Bob! Perhaps he might give him a big sum ofmoney; he could well afford to. Or maybe he would put him in the wayof earning it. There was no telling what Aladdin-like feats he mightperform. Such a man was all powerful. Why, he could send Bob to Europeif he chose! Or pay the mortgage on the house. He could make Bob'sfortune. 

The younger boy thrilled at the thought. 

With these optimistic and intriguing fancies in mind he slipped intobed and soon dozed off into dreams wilder and even more extravagant. He slept soundly and awoke with a bewildered cry when a knock came atthe door. 

"It's I--Wheeler, shaver! The boss wants you on the telephone. "

Up scrambled Walter, his stupor banished by the agitation of themoment. 

He did not wait to don his clothes but in his pajamas took the stairstwo at a time and soon had his ear to the receiver. 

"Walter?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, we have some news, such as it is. " Mr. Crowninshield's voicesounded dubious and discouraged. "They tracked the car we were afterto Buzzard's Bay and found it there empty; its occupants haddisappeared. "

"Disappeared!" repeated the astounded boy. 

"Yes, they're gone! Vanished in thin air! Not a trace of them is to befound. The abandoned automobile with its number removed, wasdiscovered on a side road. "

"The man must be hiding somewhere in the vicinity then. "

"That does not follow, son; I wish it did. "

"What else could he do?"

"His accomplice from Brockton could meet him with another car, for onething. "

"A different car, and throw us off the scent!"

"Precisely. "

For a second neither of them spoke. Walter was too nonplussed and hisemployer too disheartened. 

"Isn't that the limit!" the lad presently gathered indignation enoughto ejaculate. 

"I expected something of the sort, " was the reply. "We are up againstprofessionals, you see, and not amateurs. This gang is being paid bigmoney and does not intend either to fail in what it has undertaken orbe trapped. We had it too easy at the beginning and were too muchelated by our initial success. "

"What are you going to do now?"

"I've wired New York for detectives. I ought to have followed my firstimpulse and done it immediately, and I should have had we not seemedon the high road to success without help. The plain-clothes men willprobably be miffed at being called in now that we have meddled withthe case and messed it all up. "

"But I don't see how we have done any harm, " retorted His Highness, feeling it a little ungrateful of Mr. Crowninshield to veer so quicklyfrom commendation to censure. 

"Oh, untrained people never can compete with skilled ones in anyline, " was the sharp answer. "I ought to have remembered it. Doubtlessin our zeal we betrayed ourselves somehow and our man becamesuspicious and adopted other tactics in consequence. "

"I don't believe so, " Walter maintained stoutly. "I'll bet this isjust what he had arranged to do anyway. "

"Well, perhaps it was. We cannot tell about that, " yawned the man atthe other end of the wire. "The result, however, is the same. Insteadof netting our catch we have allowed it to slip through our fingers. "

There was an edge of exasperation in the tone. 

"Maybe we'll have better luck than you think, " ventured the lad, notknowing what else to say, and unwilling to betray his chagrin. 

"We'll have neither good luck nor bad in future, " responded the mastercurtly. "After this we keep our hands off and the detectives managethe affair. There have been blunders enough. "

With this ungracious comment the great man hung up the receiver andstumbling through the darkness His Highness felt his way upstairs anddropped into bed. 

Like a house of cards his roseate dreams for the future had suddenlycollapsed. There would be now no wonderful career for Bob, no bag ofgold, no fairy fortune! Instead of being a hero he had again become amere duffer, a blunderer, had played the fool. 

Since failure had come in place of the coveted success Mr. Crowninshield would most likely blame it all to him. 

Fleeting, indeed, was the favor and gratitude of princes!

CHAPTER X

BOB

By late afternoon of the following day the New York detectives arrivedand Wheeler drove their dusty and travel-stained car around to thegarage. 

"Must have speeded up some!" commented he, on viewing the throbbingmachine. "Left New York at midnight, " they said. "Some friends of themaster's likely, come to play golf. "

Ever given to frankness it was on the tip of Walter's tongue todeclare the real identity of the strangers, but fortunately hebethought him in time to halt the words. 

"What did they look like?" inquired he, eager to know and yet anxiousnot to appear inquisitive. 

"Look like? Like any other dusty, muddy guys, " grumbled Wheeler, eyeing with disdain the grimy automobile which he knew he would beexpected to clean. 

"Old or young?" persisted His Highness. 

"Old enough to know better than to heat up an engine this way, butyoung enough to do it, " snapped Wheeler. "Shouldn't think their carhad seen water in years, it's that filthy. A rum job for me!"

Walter, however, did not reply. He was not in the least interested inthe mud-caked car. It was its occupants that aroused his curiosity. Inall his life he had never seen a genuine detective and he was allimpatience for a peep at persons allied with such an intriguingprofession. While his reason told him they must, of course, lookprecisely like other men, nevertheless the hope would persist thatperhaps, after all, they didn't. And even if they did appear likeordinary mortals were there not their myriad disguises? He hoped withall his heart they would wear some of these, that the exigencies ofthe case would compel it. 

Very great, then, was his surprise and disappointment when on beingsummoned to the big house soon after the arrival of these interestingcreatures he was presented to two commonplace beings who, althoughcharming gentlemen, were not in the least different from anybody else. Mr. Dacie, the younger of the men, was a pleasant, blond-haired fellowwho instantly ingratiated himself in the boy's affections by askinghim if he collected stamps and bestowing on him two rare ones fromChina. In fact he seemed to like everything a boy liked and appearedto be almost a boy himself. 

Mr. Lyman was older but he, too, when he was not being stern andbusiness-like, was very jolly. No one could possibly be afraid ofeither one of them and then and there His Highness's faith in theultimate success of Mr. Crowninshield's cause dwindled and died. Theyweren't disguised at all; and if they had pistols they must have hadthem well concealed for the only suspicious articles produced fromtheir pockets were notebooks and pencils. He had expected to be quiteawed by their presence but on the contrary he found, when he startedout to show them the kennels and the place where he had seen theautomobile tracks, that he was chattering away to both of them quiteas if he had known them all his life. 

Mr. Dacie was particularly friendly, and as they walked along hetalked much of sports, dogs, and fishing. Furthermore he was intenselyinterested in Bob and listened attentively to all that was told himabout this remarkable big brother. He had a bully brother himself, hesaid. In short, before a half hour had passed His Highness had notonly decided to become a detective but to become one exactly like Mr. Dacie. 

And yet as he thought it over afterward the hero of his suddenadoration had not uttered one syllable about jails, criminals, robberies, or crimes of any sort. In fact he had talked really verylittle. What he had done had been to smile, nod, and let the otherfellow babble. It had, to be sure, been a delightful experience tofind yourself a lion, and everything you did of interest to yourlistener; but you did not learn much about the business of being adetective, reflected Walter, a bit mortified by his discovery. Well, the next time he was with Mr. Dacie he would ask him some questionsand let him relate everything about his mysterious calling. 

Strange to say, however, the moment for such disclosures neverappeared to come right. There was always so much else to talk of. Mr. Dacie wanted most terribly to catch some flounders and wondered ifthere were any to be found; and of course as Walter knew of threesecret places where flounders were sure to lurk he eagerly told hisnew friend about them. And then he had to talk swimming andschool--and how he hated it! Why, there were endless things to tellMr. Dacie. The visit of the two men was, moreover, surprisingly short. They remained at Surfside only one night and the next morning, together with Mr. Crowninshield, who led the way in his car, theydisappeared leaving His Highness none the wiser and regretfullymourning his lost opportunity to be initiated into the gruesomemysteries of a detective's career. 

The realization that in exchange for telling everything he knew orever had thought Mr. Dacie had told him nothing suddenly caused thelad to speculate as to whether after all both Mr. Dacie and hisassociate, Mr. Lyman, were not cleverer than they looked to be. 

It seemed incredible to recall, now that they were gone, that he hadnot once asked them what they thought about Lola and whether they hadany idea where the man who had taken her had gone. How much better itwould have been had he made that inquiry instead of chattering abouthis own affairs. But somehow when there had been a lull in theconversation they had always been busy measuring footprints orautomobile ruts, and writing down these unending dimensions. Moreover, something which he was unable to explain always halted thequestions. 

Well, it was useless to regret his vanished opportunities. Thedetectives were now far beyond his reach and probably he would neversee them again. He might as well go about his work and put them, together with Lola and her baffling disappearance, out of his mind. This he tried valiantly to do, but in spite of his utmost endeavor histhought constantly reverted to the missing dog, and when toward duskMr. Crowninshield's car came whirling up the avenue His Highness hadall he could do not to rush out and demand of the master whether hehad secured any further information. 

To remember that he must keep constantly in the background was, infact, one of the most difficult aspects of Walter's job. As ademocratic young American who had always mingled in the best societyLovell's Harbor had to offer he had been free to give a hail toanybody he desired to greet. But at Surfside everything was different. He must stifle his natural impulses and curb his tongue, a role veryhard for one who had had no previous experience with classdistinctions. Difficult as it had been he had made up his mind tobeing excluded from the gayety that went on about him. It was, to besure, no fun to view automobile loads of young people roll out of thedrive bent on a day of pleasure; to look on while motor boats pulledup anchor and puffed across the blue of the bay. And how he would haveadored to try his hand at a set of tennis on that fine dirt court!Ah, there were moments when to a normal, healthy boy the worldappeared a very unfair place; and the lot of one who worked for aliving a wretched one. 

And then, when his spirits had reached their lowest ebb, he wouldresolutely take himself to task. Was there not his pay envelope tocompensate him? He was not at Surfside to have a good time; he wasthere to earn his daily bread and very fortunate was he to have sogood a place. Having read himself this lecture he was wont to turn tohis duties with lighter heart, closing his ears to the laughter andhis eyes to the merriment that made up the days of the idle. But whathe never could get used to was the fact that he must not ask questionsor voice his opinions. In a free country where one man was as good asanother the mandate seemed absurd. But it wasn't done. That was allthere was about it. Jerry said so and so did Tim. 

Instead of piping, "Hi, Mr. Crowninshield, did you find out anything?"one awaited the information until it was voluntarily imparted. 

In this particular case, as good fortune would have it, His Highness'simpatience had seethed and bubbled only a half hour before who shouldcome strolling down to the kennels but the very gentleman the lad wasfeverish to interrogate. 

Arrayed in a cool Palm Beach suit and a soft hat of white felt hesauntered up as indifferently as if the boy's curiosity were not atthe boiling point and said, "Good evening, " in a perfectly calm, self-possessed tone. 

"Good evening, sir, " Walter replied. 

"Dogs all right?"

"Yes, sir. "

"No more of them missing?"

"Not on your--no, sir. "

The great man turned away to conceal a smile. 

"I've been seeing your brother to-day, " remarked he. 

"_Bob?_"

Mr. Crowninshield nodded. 

"Yes. We went over to the Seaver Bay wireless station. "

The lad waited. 

"You have a very fine brother, youngster, and one whom you may well beproud of. "

"Yes, sir. "

(What was the use of telling him that? His Highness knew what a corkerBob was without being told. Much better tell him what had happened atSeaver Bay, what the detectives said, and whether Lola had beenfound!)

"We had, in fact, quite a talk with your brother. "

"Yes, sir. " The reply came automatically. 

"He was able to furnish us with much information regarding the man weare chasing up. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Yes, " ruminated Mr. Crowninshield with evident satisfaction, "we havethe thief sketched in quite clearly. "

"Yes, sir. "

"With the details your brother gave us Dacie and Lyman have a mostencouraging foundation on which to work. "

"Have they found out anything yet, sir?"

The question would out despite all Walter could do to stop it. He knewthe instant it had left his tongue that he shouldn't have asked it andhe stood there hot and embarrassed at his own audacity. 

Much to his surprise, however, Mr. Crowninshield did not appear to bein the least offended. On the contrary he seemed pleased by the lad'seager interest and smiled at him kindly. 

"Yes, we've found out something, " said he, "but it is not very goodnews, I am sorry to say. Dacie and Lyman traced the car that carriedLola as far as Buzzard's Bay and discovered that there----"

"Yes?" interrupted Walter, so intent on the story that he wasunconscious of interrupting. 

"There, " repeated Mr. Crowninshield, "the thieves embarked on aprivate yacht that awaited their coming; steamed through the Canal, and----"

"Don't say they are gone, sir!" cried the boy. 

"I'm afraid so, sonny. "

"Well, if that isn't the limit!"

"It is, indeed, " rejoined the elder man heartily. 

His Highness had staggered back against the door in consternation. IfMr. Crowninshield had affirmed that the thieves had taken flight in anaeroplane he could not have been more astonished than by the turnaffairs had taken. 

"What do you suppose they'll do now?" demanded he. 

"We've no idea. They may make for New York, Boston, or some other portwhere they think they will be safe. There is no way of knowing. Or itmay be that the person who hired them to get Lola is on the yacht andhaving now secured what he has been in search of he may simply cruiseabout and not land at all for months. Anything is possible. "

"Could they get the name of the boat?"

"Yes, she's called the _Siren_. "

"Then I should think it would be easy enough to track her down, boardher, and bring Lola away, " said Walter. 

"It sounds simple, doesn't it?" Mr. Crowninshield returned. "But I amafraid it is not going to be as easy as that. We have no way ofproving that Lola is aboard the yacht, in the first place. Moreover, even did we know that she was there, there are a thousand and oneplaces where she could be hidden and defy discovery. And were thevillains actually cornered nothing would be less difficult than towring the puppie's neck and throw her overboard so that nothing wouldremain to identify the wretches with their crime. "

"Scott!"

"You see now that to recover Lola is not such an easy matter. "

"I'm afraid not, sir, " was the dispirited response. 

Mr. Crowninshield glanced at the dejected figure before him. 

"We mustn't give up beaten yet, however, " affirmed he, struggling tobe cheerful. "The game isn't up, you know. Dacie and Lyman are clevermen and I have given them a free rein as to money. If there isanything to be done they ought to be able to accomplish it. "

Nevertheless optimistic as the words were it was plain to see that Mr. Crowninshield was not really as sanguine as he would have Walterthink. There was a pucker of annoyance about the corners of his mouth, and his eyes looked dull and discouraged. Say what he might HisHighness knew without being told that deep down in his heart of heartsLola's master had resigned himself to never seeing her again. 

For a few seconds the capitalist lingered, musing. Then he broke thestillness, hurling a bomb into the air with the words:

"By the by, I have made your brother an offer. I've suggested that heleave Seaver Bay and come here. I am going to give Dick a radio setfor his birthday and I should like the aid of an expert in rigging itup. Besides, last season I installed a wireless on my yacht and shallneed some one to operate it. This Bob of yours is precisely the sortof chap I want. "

"Oh, Mr. Crowninshield!" was all Walter could stammer. 

"You'd like having him here then?"

"You bet your--yes, sir, I would, " gasped His Highness, making a dashafter his manners. 

"That's good, " remarked the financier, much amused. "I hope he'lldecide to come. You must use your influence to persuade him. "

This time Walter did not forget his etiquette. 

"I will, sir, " replied he meekly. 

CHAPTER XI

THE DECISION

That night when his day's duties had been discharged and he was free, the first thing His Highness did was to pen a much blotted andsomewhat incoherent note to Seaver Bay. Almost every sentence of itwas underlined and some of the persuasive adjectives and verbs wereeven emphasized in red pencil. Certainly what the epistle lacked inneatness and beauty of appearance was compensated for in sincerity andearnestness. This document mailed and reinforced by an ardent appealover the telephone, there was nothing to do but possess one's soul ofpatience until Bob decided what it was best for him to do. 

To throw up a government job with practically assured employment for aprivate venture which might be of short duration seemed madness andthe young radio man with his level head and sober judgment was not oneto leap at a decision. Carefully he weighed the pros and cons andwhile he did so Walter, and even Mr. Crowninshield himself, fidgeted. His Highness would not have hesitated a moment; and that any oneshould do so appeared to him incomprehensible. As for the master ofSurfside who was accustomed to having his business offers snapped upthe instant they were made, the younger man's deliberation piqued hisinterest and respect as almost nothing else could have done. He hadthought the terms suggested very generous and had expected them to beseized with avidity. It was something new to have a penniless youthwaver as to whether to accept or reject them. 

In the meantime while the days passed no tidings came from the NewYork detectives and the dwellers at Surfside were compelled to settledown to their customary routine and put Lola's disappearance out oftheir minds. Gardeners toiled, flowers blossomed, Jerry mugged aboutwith his misty blue eyes following every seed that was planted, everyturn the lawn mower made; they followed, too, what Walter was doingand saw to it that the dogs were well cared for and that his youngprotégé neglected nothing. 

Walter saw little of Dick now, for the house was filled with guestsand the place humming with laughter and the rush of unending sportsand picnics. There were tennis tournaments, golf matches, swimmingraces, regattas when small fleets of knockabouts maneuvered in thebay. In the midst of such a whirl of merriment it taxed all one'sforbearance to be nothing more than the boy who cared for the dogs. 

On one particularly fine, bracing June morning after the lad hadreturned from a solitary cross-country tramp with Achilles and therest of the pack, his lot seemed to him especially unenviable. Therewas evidently to be a ball game. College boys with crimson H's ontheir shirts; men with a blue Y; together with a group ofshort-sleeved players not yet honored with insignia from theiruniversities were hurrying out to the lawn with bats, balls, andcatcher's mitts. 

"You must pitch for the Blues, Dabney, " called one fellow to another. 

"Who's going to catch for the Crimson team?" piped another. 

"I choose to play for Yale, " came shrilly from another man who waslounging across the grass in immaculate white flannels. 

"Come on and help Harvard along, Cheever, " put in a strident voice. 

"Not on your sweet life!" bawled Cheever, with a vehemence that madeeverybody laugh. "Goodness knows she needs help; but I'm not going tobe the one to offer it. "

Again there was a good-humored shout from the bustling throng. 

"I'll line up with Yale to beat you though, " Cheever added with achuckle. 

"You can line up, you shrimp, but we're going to do the beating, "retorted an ardent Harvard supporter. 

So the banter went on while the nines were being organized. 

At length, however, there was a shout of dismay. 

"We're lacking one man, " announced the captain of the Crimsons, withsudden consternation. "Haven't you another chap who can play, Dick?"

"Nobody, I'm afraid, unless you want to haul in some of thechauffeurs, " Dick answered idly. 

"Jove! That's hard luck. We've got to have a shortstop. What are wegoing to do?"

"Wasn't there a boy around here somewhere this morning with the dogs?It seems to me I saw somebody--a stocky little chap with a snub nose. "

The description was not flattering and Walter winced. 

"Oh, that was King, who has charge of the kennels, " replied Dickquickly. "I'm afraid he hasn't come back with the bunch of poodlesyet. "

"Yes, he has. I saw him skulking round the garage just now. Can't wedrum him up?"

"Sure, if you can find him. "

"There he is!" cried Cheever. "I say, you master of the hounds, comeon over here. We want you. "

Blushing red His Highness approached the noisy group. 

"Did you ever play baseball, kid?" inquired the captain of the Harvardteam. 

"I believe so--once or twice, " answered Walter soberly. 

"Want to come in with us as shortstop?"

"Sure!"

"I've a glove that will fit him, " put in a man called Richardson. 

With scant ceremony His Highness was hustled into it and before hesensed what he was doing he was yelling with the rest, and head overears in as exciting a game of ball as he had ever participated in. 

There were excellent players on both teams and the scoring ran so eventhat it was a toss-up who would win. From jest the game dropped intodeadly earnestness. 

"It's your turn at the bat, Stubby, " asserted Richardson to Walterunceremoniously. "Now remember who you're playing for. Don't hand Yalethe game if you can help it. "

"I'll do my best, " was the modest reply as the lad gripped the bat, then rubbed his hands in the dirt to make his hold more certain. 

The pitcher twirled a ball. 

"One strike!" droned the umpire. 

Again the leather disc spun through the air. 

"Two strikes, " called the warning voice. 

"Great Scott, Stubbie, look out. Don't waste strokes like that, youboob. Let the things go by if they don't suit you. You don't _have_ tohit them. "

Once more the ball spun through the air. A smart crack followed and upinto the blue leaped the ball, defying the pursuit of catcher orbaseman. 

"Beat it into home plate, George!" coached the captain excitedly. "Move along, you fellows! It's a run for Stubbie! Slide in, Stubbie!Pick up your heels and sprint! Go it! Go it! Keep out of the way, youchaps. Hurray! Bully for you, kid! A beauty! _Harvard! Harvard!Harvard!_ Rah, rah, rah! Rah, rah, rah! Rah, rah, rah, _Harvard_!" Thefamiliar cheer echoed loud above the shouting. 

"That lays them out! They're dead men!" cried Richardsontriumphantly. "Where did you learn to play ball, young one?"

"It's no fair borrowing a professional, " the Yale leader objected, trying to make a joke of his defeat. 

"Jove, but that was a pretty hit!" Dick said quietly to Walter. "Apeach!"

"You're all right son!" affirmed the Harvard catcher. "Any time youare out of a job I'll recommend you to the Braves. "

A general laugh went up. 

Altogether the morning was a glorious day of comradeship, nor did itlessen His Highness's happiness when he returned to his quarters tosee disembarking from Mr. Crowninshield's motor car the familiar formof Bob. 

"I brought your brother back from Seaver Bay with me, " explained thefinancier. "It took him so long to make up his mind whether he'd comehere or not that I went over there to-day to find out whether he wasdead or alive. "

Mr. Crowninshield was plainly enjoying Walter's amazement. 

"And you've come to stay?" His Highness, all delight and confusion, contrived to stammer. 

"So they tell me, " Bob laughed. 

He was a tall, handsome fellow with a grave mouth and thoughtful browneyes; and when he spoke it was in a voice low and pleasing to the ear. 

"Oh, Bob and I have lots of secrets we haven't let you into, littlechap, " affirmed the master of Surfside gaily. 

"I never was so surprised!" gasped Walter. 

"We meant you should be. Your brother settled everything up over thetelephone a day or two ago. "

"But, Bob, I don't see how you managed to get away from Seaver Bay sosoon. You said it would probably be weeks before they could act onyour resignation, even should you send it in, and afterward they wouldhave to find some one to take your place. "

"Luck came my way, " Bob replied. "The government was closing the BellReef station and they simply shifted the two men who were there overto our place. "

"Did you and O'Connel both decide to leave?"

Bob's eyes twinkled. 

"O'Connel has just answered an advertisement as operator aboard aprivate yacht, " said he, exchanging a glance with Mr. Crowninshield. Evidently there was some jest between them that amused them vastly. 

Curiously Walter looked from one to the other. 

"Better tell him, Bob, " murmured the New Yorker in a low tone. 

"Why you see, kid, O'Connel had a chance to go as wireless man aboardthe _Siren_. "

"Not--not the yacht that has Lola on it!"

"The very same--at least we hope it has Lola. "

"But--but--I don't understand, " muttered His Highness as if dazed. 

"Evidently, so far as we can make it out, the _Siren_ passed throughthe Canal and not daring to land, cruised along the coast where shemust have met with rough weather. Of course that is purely surmise onthe detective's part. Anyhow, her radio operator broke his arm and hadto be replaced by another man so they advertised for some one. LuckilyDacie saw the item in the want column of the New York paper and setO'Connel on the job. The arrangements have all been by letter throughthe general mail delivery of New York so we still have no notion as towhere the _Siren_ is. On Tuesday, however, O'Connel is to go over toNew York, an agent is to meet him, and he is to be told where to go. "

"And I suppose Mr. Dacie or Mr. Lyman will be on hand and go along tooto nail their man!" cried the delighted Walter. 

"Not so fast, son, " returned Mr. Crowninshield. "We are not going totrack them down so close and scare them off at the outset. No, wesha'n't send any one with O'Connel. He'll go and meet the agent andfollow up directions precisely as if he knew nothing about Lola. WithBob here operating a wireless and O'Connel in constant communicationwith him, we will have all the inside information we're after. O'Connel can soon let us know where the yacht is; whether Lola isaboard of her; and exactly when and where the owners of the _Siren_are proposing to land. They can't make a move which we shall not knowabout in a flash. A pretty neat arrangement, I call it!" The New Yorkmagnate rubbed his hands together softly. 

"Gee! Well, Mr. Lyman and Mr. Dacie have sure been busy!" was Walter'scomment. 

"You do not mention that I, too, have been busy, " chuckled Mr. Crowninshield. "While you have been chasing the dogs over the fieldsand playing baseball, " he winked at Bob, "I have been telephoning tothe city for a radio set--a corking fine one--for Dick's birthday. Bob, here, is going to install it with the aid of some New Yorkelectricians. It should be all in place inside a few days. Then ifO'Connel has any messages for us we shall be ready for him. In themeantime Bob is going to break in you youngsters so that you or Dickcan listen in and get any news that may come when he is off duty oraboard the yacht. If those fellows who bagged Lola think themselves soall-fired clever they will find they are mistaken. I did not go intothis game to be beaten. " Mr. Crowninshield squared his jaw withbulldog resolution. 

"Now you and Bob trot off and have a visit together. Show him wherehis quarters will be. There is a room beside you where Jerry says hecan bunk, " continued the master of the estate. "Until the apparatusarrives from New York there won't be much he can do, so you bettertake the chance to go home and see your mother to-night--both of you. By to-morrow or the next day at the latest the electricians should behere with their stuff. Then things will hum!"

With a jaunty wave of his hand Mr. Crowninshield wheeled about and Boband Walter were left alone. 

CHAPTER XII

LESSONS

The joy of Mrs. King when she was informed that both her sons were tobe all summer at Surfside cannot be pictured. 

"Why, it is like a dream or an answer to prayer!" ejaculated she. "Think of having you so near! Now were Bob to be electrocuted, I couldget to him within half an hour. "

The fact evidently caused her profound satisfaction and each of hersons laughed. 

"I'm not planning to end my days by electrocution, " smiled Bob. 

"Few do plan to, " was the grim retort. "But anyway, whether or no, itis wonderful to have you so close at hand. I shall feel as if I had agreat prop behind me. "

"I hope so, Mater, " Bob said affectionately. 

"I suppose you'll not have much time to be spending at home, though, "mused the mother presently. "Your work, likely, will keep you busy. "

"I expect it will, especially during the next fortnight, " Bobanswered. "There will be all the apparatus to set up and get intoworking order; and in addition the equipment aboard the yacht must beoverhauled. I want both wireless outfits in perfect condition formuch depends on their being trim and tight. "

"It isn't probable you'll have much to handle that is important, "declared Mrs. King. "It won't be like dealing with government messagesor wrecks. " The two boys exchanged a glance. Much as they wished tothey dared not initiate their mother into the secrets of Surfside. 

"You never can tell what messages you'll catch by wireless, " Bobreturned ambiguously. "Besides, Mr. Crowninshield intends to have someof his business relayed to him from New York. "

"Oh!"

"I guess I shall find plenty to do, " the elder boy remarked. 

"Well, I reckon you will at that rate. But do be careful, won't you?And don't let Walter go dabbling with those evil wires. "

"I'll look out for him. "

The evasive answer did not, however, satisfy the woman. 

"Surely you don't mean to start Walter in learning about wireless, doyou?"

"I may give him a few lessons, yes. "

"Now don't you do it, " retorted Mrs. King in spirited protest. "He wasalways a blunderer and were he to go messing about with electricalcurrents I should not have a happy moment. It is bad enough to haveone of you in constant danger without two. "

"But it isn't dangerous, " Walter interrupted. 

"Much you know about it, " declared his mother, wheeling on him withscorn. "What experience have you had with radio, pray?"

Meekly the lad closed his lips. 

"I am going to give some lessons to Mr. Crowninshield's son, Mater, and it seemed to me it was a good chance for Walter to learnsomething, too, " Bob responded gently. "Sometime the kid might find ituseful to have such knowledge. You never can tell. Nothing we learn isever wasted. "

"No, I suppose not, " was the grudging reply. "Well, just stand overhim and see that he doesn't kill himself. "

"I've no desire to have him killed. "

"No more you have. Of course not, " Mrs. King smiled. "But you know ifthere is any way of crossing the wires he'll do it. He's made thatway. Still, unlucky as he is, I'd not care to lose him. "

Fondly she beamed on the ill-starred Walter. 

"I'll keep at his elbow, Mother, " said Bob soothingly. 

"I know you will. You were ever good to your brother. " She patted thebig fellow's hand. "And mind the pair of you come to see me when youcan. You'll be busy, I know; but you mustn't forget your mother. "

"We'll not do that, " cried the boys in chorus. 

Nevertheless in spite of the promise there were few opportunitiesduring the next few days for either of them to go a-visiting. The NewYork electricians arrived and with them came aerials, generators, detectors, tuners, insulators, amplifiers, and all the hundred and oneparts necessary for a perfectly equipped radio station. Mr. Crowninshield had indulged in no cheap outfit. On the contrary he hadpurchased the best there was to be had and as the coils of copperwire, glistening wire rope, and spotless porcelain insulators wereunpacked Bob's eyes sparkled with anticipation. With the touch of aconnoisseur he handled the materials, examining the quality of each. What was Greek to the others was familiar ground to him. 

A low building adjoining the boathouse had been hurriedly constructedand it was here, where the new station was to be situated, that aninterested audience congregated daily. Perched on an overturnedpacking case Mr. Crowninshield surveyed the installment of the noveltoy which was not only to gratify Dick's birthday longings but also, he hoped, bring to him the information he coveted concerning Lola. 

Much as he knew about stocks and bonds he was as much of a novice inthe presence of things electrical as were either his son or WalterKing, and therefore to their avalanche of questions he added stillothers, gratefully accepting the information Bob offered with theeagerness of one who is not too superior to learn. 

"What is that thing they are putting in place now?" inquired he. "Andwhat is it for?"

"Oh, even I can answer that, Dad!" cried the delighted Dick. "That isthe aerial or antenna and it catches the wireless waves as they travelthrough the air. The higher and longer it is the better, so far asmessages are concerned--that is, within certain limits. "

His father's eyes twinkled. 

"Where did you pick up so much knowledge?" chuckled he. 

"Bob told me. "

"I'll be bound he did, " sniffed the man. "I wasn't asking about theantenna, though. Green as I am I recognized that. It was that otherwire that interested me. "

"The lead in?" asked Bob quickly. 

"I guess so, although I never was introduced to it by name before. "

Everybody laughed at the naive reply. 

"The lead in, sir, is the conductor that carries the wireless wavesfrom the aerial into the house. The idea is not to have it too long. It must run as directly as possible and be very carefully insulatedfrom any buildings, trees, or masts because of the current. "

"I see. And that other thing?"

"That is the lightning arrester. It can be fastened inside or outsidethe station, as is most convenient; but it is compulsory to have it tosatisfy the insurance companies. The antenna is secured to it and bymeans of a ground wire any electrical discharges will in a greatmeasure pass off through the earth. "

"Mater should see that, " murmured Walter mischievously to Bob. 

The elder brother nodded humorously. 

"The ground helps a lot in radio work, " continued he. "In fact wereit not for good old Mother Earth furnishing her aid, we should have nowireless at all. One side of our circuit passes through the ground andthe other half, which completes it, goes through the air between theaerials of the different stations. Therefore you can readily see thatit is most important to make sure of a good earth connection. Oftencity water pipes are resorted to, the contact being made by solderinga wire to the water faucet. Down here on the Cape, however, wherethere are only wells and windmills we shall have to sink some metalplates in the ground and connect the wires with these. "

"And that is all that goes outside the building?"

"Yes, sir. The lead in brings the wires into the station and they arethen connected up with the receiver. Sometimes there are separateantennĉ for sending and receiving messages. Of course the big stationsalways have two. But for a place this size and doing such a smallamount of business we can send and receive from the same wire. With atuner, which can be tuned to bring you into the same key with thestation you are listening to; a detector to catch the signal after thepersons talking have been brought into tune; and an amplifier thatintensifies or increases the sound you have your receiving outfit. Batteries you know about without my telling you; and the head 'phonestoo, which you have of course seen telephone operators wear hundredsof times. "

"Yes, I believe I should recognize one of those, " laughed Mr. Crowninshield. "So that is all there is to it, eh?"

"That is about all there is to receiving, yes. "

"The sending part of the machine is more complicated, is it?"

"Yes, sir. And so is the job, " smiled Bob. 

"I mean to learn to transmit as well as receive, " put in Dick. 

His Highness grinned derisively. 

"Do you indeed!" said he. "Well, there is nothing like aiming high. But I guess for the present you'll be pretty well content if you getso you can take down the Morse code as it comes in. "

"Is it so hard?"

"That depends on how good you are at memorizing dots and dashes. French verbs are nothing compared to it. "

"I hadn't thought of learning to read code. "

"You have to, son, if you are going into wireless. With a tutor hereon the spot, it should not be difficult. Besides, that is half thefun. I want you to learn this thing intelligently and not just make aplaything of it. I've done my part by buying you the best outfit therewas to be had. The rest is up to you. "

"That's square, Dick, " chimed in Walter. 

"Sure it is. I'll go to it and do my darndest, too, Dad, " returned theboy. 

"That's the proper spirit!" exclaimed his father. 

His Highness smiled with ironic satisfaction. 

"If Bob is to tutor you you will study harder than you ever did inyour precious life, " whispered he. "I know Bob. He can be stiff as anycollege professor. He tutored me in Latin once to pull me through myexams and I barely lived. I don't envy you, old man. "

"Gee! Will it be that bad?"

"You will get all the wireless coming to you, that's all. Take it fromme, " was the teasing rejoinder. 

"Oh, I hope he won't bone down as hard as that, " wailed Dickdolefully. "I want to get some sport out of this thing. I wasn'tplanning to be turned into a galley slave during hot weather. "

Seeing that he had his victim thoroughly terrified Walter thought ittime to shift the jest. 

"Don't fret. I was only jollying, old chap, " declared he. "Bob won'treally stand over you with a whip. He is the best fellow alive. Still, he will expect you to work if you set out to do so. He is alwaysterribly in earnest about whatever he undertakes. I suppose that iswhy he has got on so well and never failed to make a success of whathe has tried to do. You can count on him to duff into this job withthe same spirit. You'll get your money's worth of instruction, you maybe sure, if he has been hired to give it. "

Dick shrugged his shoulders. 

"Well, I guess I can stand it if he is not too rough on me, " respondedhe. "I do not mind studying so much if it is about a subject I like;and I am crazy about wireless. "

[Illustration: "You will get all the wireless coming to you, that'sall. Take it from me. " _Page_ 154. ]

"Oh, it isn't the wireless part I object to, " drawled His Highness. "It is that dot and dash code that gets me. I never could learn it ifI tried ten years; and as for taking twenty words a minute in anylanguage--well, they could have the whole outfit before I'd do it. "

"I shall be interested to see what speed I can make, " mused Dick. 

"Speed! You won't make any speed at all--at least not at first, so donot hope or expect to. If you even get the words correctly you will begoing some, " sniffed Walter. "Still, I guess you need not worry forthe present about receiving or sending messages for Bob will give youa lot to think about before that. As for the Morse code, you may notmeet it for weeks. "

"What do you mean?" Dick inquired. 

"Oh, Bob will get right down to brass tacks at the start and find outwhat you know about electricity and wireless anyway. That is the wayhe did to me when he tutored me in Latin. He wasn't content with justtranslating Caesar but must needs splash right into Roman history andmake me hunt up everything I could find about the Goths and the restof those heathen tribes. Gee, but he made me sweat! He will do thatwith you and your wireless. If you think you are going to begin takingmessages in code you don't know Bob. "

Having delivered himself of these brotherly appreciations His Highnesswalked away, leaving Dick to ponder on the joyous prospects theycontained. His sinister prediction Richard Crowninshield soon found tobe true. Thorough was no name for Bob King. Before a week had passedDick whimsically remarked to his father that it must be a task to Bobto swim on the top of the sea without diving down with a spy glass andexamining every particle that was on the ocean's bottom. The fact thatthe new tutor never dipped into any subject but instead explored itgreatly delighted Mr. Crowninshield. 

"I shouldn't mind letting that young chap tutor me a little, " observedhe half jestingly to his wife. "I am as vague as a fog when it comesto this wireless business. I should get a lot of information if Ilistened in on Dick's lessons. "

The words, idly spoken, much to the amusement of all became a reality. After drifting in to the first talk Mr. Crowninshield came to thesecond lesson and from then on he became a regular pupil. 

"You needn't be afraid I have come here to criticize, " explained hewith appealing simplicity. "I'm green as grass and have come tolearn. "

"It is just that you have not had the time to take up radio, sir, " wasBob's modest answer. "We all have our specialties. "

"That's right, " agreed the capitalist. "Sometimes I fall to wonderingwhether it is better to know something about everything or everythingabout something. "

"To know something about everything would be spreading it pretty thin, I am afraid, " was Bob's characteristic reply. 

"That wouldn't do for you, eh?" remarked Mr. Crowninshield with achuckle. 

"It would not satisfy me; no, sir. As it is I cannot begin to masterwhat there is to be known concerning this one branch of science. Weremy head to be filled with a little of everything I should feel as ifit were a grab bag. "

"Many heads are, " was the laughing retort. "Still, with eachsuccessive generation rolling up its accumulation of knowledge theintellectual snowball is getting to be of ponderous size. History'sremedy for this malady has always been to knock the whole structure topieces every now and then and begin again. Perhaps we shall have tohave another period of the Dark Ages and another Renaissance to set usright. "

Thoughtfully he puffed his cigar. 

"This wireless now--think of the new fields it has opened up. Not onlyare our ships equipped so that they can send and receive all sorts ofmessages, get their location, be informed concerning harbor entrancesand coast lines; set their compasses and clocks but soon wirelesstelephones will be installed in the staterooms of all passengersteamers so that those crossing the ocean can talk with their friendsashore any time they may elect to do so. Of course there are timeswhen such a thing might have its advantages; but for tiredpeople--doctors and the like--who are trying to get to a spot wherethey cannot be reached by business cares it will be a negative sort ofblessing. I, myself, for example, always count on my stay on shipboardas a sort of vacation, an interval when nobody can bother me withoffice matters. But if in future I must have a wireless telephone atmy bedside I shall be no more isolated than I should have been had Iremained at home. Pretty soon there will be no place under the sunwhere a man can go and get peace and quiet. The Maine woods will befull of radio outfits and the tops of distant mountains in touch withthe stock market. Even an aeroplane carries its wireless. It ishideous to contemplate!" he sighed. "As for city life, we shall bebeset wherever we go. And if the fashion set by some of our citypolice of having wires tucked away in uniforms and a wireless receivercarried in the pocket prevails in due time even when we walk thestreets we shall all be in constant touch with our particularheadquarters. "

At his rueful expression Bob could not but laugh. 

"There certainly is no question that a great day for wireless iscoming, " replied he. "Whether we like it or not the thing has come tostay and as yet we have only half discovered what can be done with it. It is undoubtedly rough on those who want isolation. But most peopledon't. They are glad to feel, for instance, that the ocean is so smallthey can talk with their friends while they are crossing it. Besides, you must not forget how much good ship surgeons and doctors can now dofor those who otherwise would have no aid at hand. Remote lighthousesand small ships that need medical service often signal the big linersnow and ask advice of the ship's doctor. I heard a little while ago ofa lighthouse keeper whose leg was amputated under the wirelessdirection of one of our great surgeons. Had instructions not beenavailable the man would probably have died of blood poison. And manytimes there is sickness aboard small vessels that are out to sea. Theysignal the symptoms of their patients and the doctor hundreds of milesaway replies with a remedy. As all boats carry medicine chests thedistant physician can easily designate what dose to give. "

"That is a fine idea!" nodded Mr. Crowninshield. "I hadn't thought oftreating illness by radio. A bit tough on the doctor, though. It mustkeep him busy. "

"I am afraid it does. In fact some of the ship's surgeons aredemanding higher pay because of the rush of work put on them. To havethe health of a large ship under one's supervision is task enoughwithout treating all the people sailing the ocean. They say somedoctors are all in after a trip simply because of the extra calls thatpour in from outside ships and stations. It keeps them hopping day andnight, for of course no decent doctor will ever refuse aid to thosewho are suffering. "

"Humph! That is quite a new phase of wireless. "

"It proves it can save life not only at a time of shipwreck but inother crises as well, " Bob responded with enthusiasm. "Now all thatremains is for some clever fellow to come along who shall find aremedy for the difficulties that baffle the radio man. Then thescience will come into its own. We must get rid of staticinterference--our greatest bugbear. "

"Come, come, son! You must not spring any of your technical terms onme. Remember that while I am old in years I am still young in radioknowledge. Before you go slipping those phrases jauntily off yourtongue you have got to begin at the very beginning and tell us thelaws on which the radio telephone is based. "

"That is a rather big order, sir, " Bob replied modestly. "However, Iam willing to try to fill it. I can at least pass on to you all that Iknow myself. "

"That will satisfy me, " affirmed the capitalist. "I see no reason, either, why your young brother cannot arrange his work so that he canjoin our class. The more the merrier. I even propose to drag in mywife and daughter. If in future we are to have wireless apparatuswherever we go it will be unintelligent not to know something aboutit. "

"I am afraid it is going to pursue us pretty much to every corner ofthe earth, " smiled Bob gravely. "You see, one of its great advantagesis that it can go where the telephone with its myriad wires and polescannot. It would be out of the question, for example, to stringtelephone wires through densely wooded sections and to the tops ofhigh mountains, and even if the impossible could be accomplished theexpense of keeping such lines in proper repair would be so great thatno one could afford to shoulder it. Poles rot and wires rust out withwear and exposure to weather. Then there is the damage from gales, ice-storms, and falling timber. Even under the best of conditionslinemen would be kept busy all the time repairing the equipment. Andas if these difficulties were not great enough in times of peace thinkof the added burden of protecting miles and miles of telephone wiresin time of war. Contrast with this the small district to be protectedwhen it comes to a wireless station. Instead of having soldiersscattered through miles of territory the few needed can beconcentrated within easy reach of provisions and reinforcements. Andthe same advantages that the radio telephone has on land prevail aswell at sea for transmission of messages by cable is a frightfullyexpensive thing. Not only is the laying of such a line difficult, dangerous, and costly, but to maintain it is expensive and hard aswell. In time of war it is particularly at a disadvantage since thecable can be cut and all communication with the outside world easilysevered. Wireless, on the other hand, is not dependent on any suchextravagant equipment. It finds its own way through air, water, andearth with very little help from us; and if it has its defects we mustnot forget that the first telephones were far from perfect, and thatboth telephone and cable have also their disadvantages. "

CHAPTER XIII

INFORMATION FROM A NEW SOURCE

During the interval when the new radio station was being put in orderand the parts of the outfit assembled Bob King and the two cityelectricians toiled early and late. They scarcely stopped to eat, sofeverish was their haste. Mr. Crowninshield had let it be known thatif the wireless apparatus was in condition to send and receivemessages within a week he would add to the regular wages of themechanics a generous bonus and this incentive was sufficient to causethe avaricious workmen to transgress the laws of the labor unions andforget any fatigue they may have experienced. 

As for Bob he was far too eager to get into touch with O'Connel andthe _Siren_ to covet extra pay for rushing through the installment ofthe new service. A private signal had been agreed upon between him andhis former associate and also an hour set when each day the operatoraboard the yacht was to call him. O'Connel was to allow seven days forthe work at Surfside to be finished and then his messages were tobegin and both Mr. Crowninshield and his alert employee meant to beready for him. 

Hence Bob whipped on his helpers, using every ray of daylight thatcould be turned to the purpose and much of the night. Even aftereverything was placed and connected up there would yet remain a greatdeal of testing out and tinkering before the set would be in perfectworking condition and it was for this delay he was preparing. 

Much to his surprise, however, the parts went together withastonishingly little trouble. They had been well made and fittedperfectly. Everything needed was at hand and in consequence there wasno sending to the city for materials and waiting until they could beshipped. Therefore as the allotted time sped by the job thataccompanied it moved rapidly to its end. 

"We are going to make it, sir, " ejaculated Bob with shining eyes, beaming enthusiastically on the master of the estate. "She will be allset up and working by Saturday. That is the day O'Connel was to makehis first try to get into communication with us. I can hardly wait tohear what he has to say. "

"I am pretty anxious to know myself, " returned the elder man. "If hecan get a message through we should then find out where the yacht isand whether Lola is aboard her. "

"I'm crazy to learn what has become of the villains who pinched thedog, " added Bob. "Do you take it they are still cruising with theboat?"

"Oh, they must have been paid off and landed somewhere, " was theanswer. "There would be no sense in detaining the thieves on the shipuntil now. It would only mean paying them and having them to feed;besides one does not care to make two rascals members of a houseparty. "

"You think they have escaped us then. "

"If by escaping you mean getting to the city yes, " nodded Mr. Crowninshield. "But I do not feel at all sure with Dacie and Lyman ontheir track that they will be entirely safe and unmolested in town. Those detectives are like bloodhounds and will run them down no matterwhere they may be hiding. The mere fact that they have got to New Yorkor Boston will not be much protection. "

"You intend to get them then as well as to recover Lola. "

"I certainly do, " retorted Mr. Crowninshield with emphasis. "I amgoing to recover my property, jail the thieves, and bring the peoplewho received the stolen goods to justice. "

"They have a week's start of us, " Bob observed doubtfully. 

"But we have not been idle all that time, man, Dacie and Lyman havebeen working; O'Connel has been using his eyes and ears--I hope; andwe have this wireless set up. "

"Yes, we have certainly accomplished something, " admitted Bob. 

"Accomplished something! I should say we had! Besides, this is not thesort of case one need hurry on. Nothing is going to be done suddenly, "explained the financier. "Having got the dog the people on the yachtwill move at their leisure. They do not fear that any one is at theirheels chasing them up. Furthermore the sea offers unendingconcealment for their crime should they be pursued and trapped. It isthe thieves themselves who are the scapegoats and the ones in danger, according to their reckoning. "

"I suppose so, " agreed Bob. "Still, I cannot help wishing we mighthave got after them without even these few days intervening. "

"You forget, my son, that our wireless is going to cover space soquickly that hereafter we shall have our information very quickly andshall be exactly as well off as most detectives used to be in doublethe time. "

"Yes, that is so. "

"Once we are in touch with O'Connel we can know every thought theythink aboard the _Siren_ as soon as they have thought it. "

The uncertainties that clouded the younger man's face vanished. 

"That's right, " smiled he. "From now on we should be able to checkmatethem pretty neatly. "

Mr. Crowninshield put his finger to his lips significantly. The twocity electricians were approaching. 

"Well, sir, " began the foreman, "I guess your wireless tests outpretty near right; we've signalled our home company and got a replyfrom New York clear as a bell. With this chap at hand, " he motioned toBob, "you won't be needing us much longer, I reckon. "

"Have you got to rush back to another job?" questioned the financier. 

"Well, there is always plenty to do, " grinned the man good-humoredly. 

"You couldn't remain over a few days and overhaul my yacht, could you?She is anchored out in the bay close at hand. If you could betightening things aboard her and seeing everything is right I wouldkeep this young man at this shore station. "

"Why--" the mechanic hesitated, fingering the roll of bills thatstuffed his pocket. "Why, " repeated he, "I imagine we could fix thingsup with the boss and stick round until whatever you wanted done wascompleted, sir. "

"Arrange it then. Get the yacht into condition quickly so we can putto sea any day now that we choose. "

"We'll do that, Mr. Crowninshield, " responded the men in chorus. "Unless there is a lot to do to the outfit--"

"There isn't. It was all new in the fall; and we have been in Floridathis winter too, so the ship has been in commission and constantlytaken care of. "

"In that case there will probably be little repairing, " nodded thespokesman. "Maybe tightening and oiling, and a few small parts to bereplaced. "

"That is about it. "

"Couldn't I--" Bob began but Mr. Crowninshield held up a cautioningfinger. 

"I'd rather have you on shore, " announced he quietly. Then turning tothe electricians he added, "I suppose the radio aboard the yacht doesnot differ much from this set. There will be nothing but what you canhandle. "

"Nothing, sir; nothing at all, " was the answer. "Besides, we are quitefamiliar with shipboard equipment. We do a lot of such work. Justbefore we came down here we went down to Long Island and put the_Siren_, a very fine steam yacht, into shape. "

"The _Siren_, eh?" repeated Mr. Crowninshield as indifferently as hecould. 

"Yes, sir. Perhaps you know the boat, sir. "

"I've never been aboard her, " replied the capitalist slowly. "Shebelongs to----"

"To Mr. Daly, sir. As fine a yacht as was ever in the water. "

Daly! At the name both Bob and his employer started. It was the veryman Mr. Crowninshield had suspected. 

"So Daly has a place down on Long Island, has he?" drawled he. 

"Oh, no, sir. Mr. Daly's place is on an island off the Maine coast. Hehad just put in at the Long Island port for some minor repairs. Hesaid he was going to cruise a while this summer and wanted to be sureeverything was shipshape before going to Maine. The mate told me theywere waiting to pick up some people at Buzzard's Bay. "

"Going to take the yacht through the Canal?"

"Yes. "

"An interesting trip, " observed Mr. Crowninshield slowly. "That Canalis quite a time saver for New Yorkers. " He yawned and started to moveaway. Bob held his breath, waiting. 

"I suppose you don't know where Daly was going for his cruise, "inquired he over his shoulder. 

"No, sir, I don't, " was the response of the workman who seemedflattered at having aroused this degree of interest in his story. "Ibelieve, though, that before they started they were to put intoNewport for provisions. "

Newport! Then it was doubtless Newport where O'Connel was to be takenaboard! Bob dared not raise his eyes lest the excitement that dancedin them be detected. 

"And after provisioning up there Daly was to cruise, eh?" called Mr. Crowninshield. "Well, the Atlantic is wide and he will have plenty ofroom. "

"That's right, sir, " chuckled the mechanic, delighted by thecondescension of the great man whom all New Yorkers knew byreputation. Think of hobnobbing in this pleasant fashion with one ofthe big financiers of Wall Street!

"How simple and kind a gentleman Mr. Crowninshield is!" commented hepatronizingly after the capitalist was out of hearing. "And soartless!"

Bob struggled not to smile. 

Kind Mr. Crowninshield might be but hardly simple. Certainly notartless. What a rare lot of amusing incidents the world contained!

CHAPTER XIV

BOB AS PEDAGOGUE

The wireless was now in commission and the next morning, after havingwaited until the hour designated for O'Connel's signal and received nomessage, Bob and his pupils assembled for their first lesson, not in astuffy room but on the broad, well-shaded veranda of Surfside. A coolbreeze rippled the water, stirring it into tiny waves and as Dickdropped into one of the big wicker chairs he fidgeted to be out in thefreshly-painted knockabout that bobbed invitingly at the float. 

His father intercepted his yearning glance and instantly interpretedit. 

"Come, now!" said he half playfully. "Quit making sheep's eyes at thatboat, son. An hour's wireless lesson isn't going to cut your morningvery short or prevent you from having plenty of time to sail, swim, ormotor. Whether it does or not you've got to endure it. Your summerholiday is long enough in all conscience. If I had until October withnothing more arduous to do than put up with an hour's instructionearly each day I should think myself almighty lucky. "

"I am lucky, Dad, " conceded Dick quickly, "only----"

"Lucky! I should say you were! You don't know what work means. Well, it was you who wanted this radio outfit. You were all for it and----"

"I am for it still, Dad, " interrupted Dick eagerly. 

"Then go to it and master it, " retorted his father. "If you do notrelish the lessons swallow them down for the sake of the fun you aregoing to have later; for if you are intelligent enough to handle yourwireless with some brain and understanding you are going to enjoy it ahundred per cent. More in the end. "

"I know I shall, " Dick agreed. "It is only that I am crazy to get atthe thing itself. "

The boy's father shook his head. 

"You are like all your generation, " said he severely. "Eager to leapthe preliminaries and land at the top of the ladder with the firstbound. It is an impatient age and the vice extends to the old as wellas the young. Nobody wants to fit himself for anything nowadays. In myyouth men expected to serve apprenticeships and did not hope toachieve a position until they had learned how to fill it. But noweverybody leaps at the big job and the big salary that goes with itand blunders along, taking out his ignorance and lack of experience onthe general public. As for you youngsters, you covet at fifteeneverything that those who are fifty have. You want automobiles, boats, victrolas and radio telephones before you know how to run them, muchless pay for them. Look at Bob, here. He is worth two of you for hecan earn what he has. Often I tell myself I am a fool to indulge youand Nancy as I do. I ought by rights to make you do without what youwant until you can foot the bill for it. " Mr. Crowninshield took a fewhasty paces across the piazza. "Still, " added he, his voice softening, "I fancy that scheme would be a sight harder on me than on you, for Ilike nothing better than to get you what you want. "

For a moment he paused, looking fondly at his son. Then as if afraidof himself he bristled and continued: "But to return to thiswireless--remember that if you do not learn something about it and howto use it I shall take it away. I mean it, mind!"

"Yes, Dad, " was the timid answer. 

With this awful alternative looming like a specter in his path was itto be wondered at that Dick resolutely turned his gaze from theallurements of the harbor and settled himself in the big chair withall his attention focussed on Bob King's radio lesson. Moreover, humannature is selfish enough to like company in its misery and were nothis mother, Nancy and Walter consigned to the same fate as himself?

Therefore the initial lesson began gayly. 

At first Bob, seated in the chair of state facing his class, was shyand embarrassed; but soon he forgot himself in his subject and losinghis hesitancy he spoke with the authority of one who has mastered hisart. 

"I am going to begin, " said he, "just as they began with me at theradio station for I think if you get the principles of wireless at theoutset you will find it much easier to understand it. And to do thiswe shall not start with wires, generators, detectors, or anything ofthat sort; instead we must go back of them all to the earth and theair, and learn how it is possible for sound to travel without the aidof human devices. For in reality there is something that takes theplace of man-made wires. This is the ether. Surrounding the earthmoves the air we breathe; and as we go higher this air becomes thinnerand thinner until, by and by, a height is reached where the air givesplace to ether, a sort of radiant energy that bridges the zone betweenthe air space that encircles the earth and the sun, and brings to usits heat. This great sea of ether is made up of particles that arenever still and which are so small that they get between everysubstance they encounter, thereby becoming a universal medium fortransmitting light, heat, color and many other things to our earth. Without this body of ether, there would be no agency to pass on to us(as well as to the many other planets of our solar system and thoseoutside it) the energy the sun generates, which is the thing thatkeeps us alive. "

Bob waited a moment to make sure that his point was clear and thenproceeded:

"Now this energy as it moves through the ether takes the form ofwaves; and these waves go out not in a single train but since theether is continually disturbed by the sun, in series of wave trainsthat vary in frequency. Such waves are electromagnetic in character, and light, heat, sound, and the waves carrying wireless messages areall of a similar type, differing only in their relative rates ofvibration. If unobstructed, and moving through free ether, all of themtravel at practically the same velocity, that is about one hundredeighty-six thousand miles a second. When, however, they encounterother substances, as they are continually bound to do, this rate ofvelocity changes. The waves of sound, for example, sent out by thewireless telephone are very slow compared with the high-ratevibrations that produce waves resulting in light. "

Again the youthful teacher paused. 

"Now this constant turmoil in the ether which creates the magneticarea explains why the magnetized needle of a compass unfailinglypoints north and south. This one simple fact is a certain proof of itsexistence. And once granting a magnetic field to be there it is lessdifficult to understand how wireless waves are produced in thiscongenial medium and find their way through it, following in theirjourney the curve of the earth's surface. "

Bob smiled at his audience encouragingly. 

"If you can once get this wave law through your heads the rest is nothard, " asserted he, "for the whole wireless system is based on wavemotion. "

"With an ocean spread out before us we ought to be able to understandwaves, " interpolated Nancy. 

"We ought, " nodded Bob. "And yet better than using the ocean as anillustration imagine a small pond. Think, instead, of a nice quietlittle round pond if you can. Now when you chuck a stick or a pebbleinto that still water you know how the ripples will at once go out. There will be rings of them, and the bigger they get the fainter theywill be. In other words, as the area widens the strength of the wavesdecreases; and as this same principle applies to radio you can seethat it takes a lot of energy from a wireless station to reach areceiver a great distance away. "

"I've got that!" cried Dick with such spontaneity that every onelaughed. 

"Wave lengths, however, have nothing to do with actual distance, " wenton Bob quickly. "Of course we think of the wave length as the distancebetween one ridge of water and another. There is, though, no law thatwould make it possible to translate these spaces into our scale ofmiles, for sometimes they are near together, sometimes far apart. Distance, therefore, depends on the speed with which the wave travelsand the frequency with which the water is disturbed. If you keeptossing things in quick succession into the water you will get acorrespondingly quick succession of waves. The law governing wirelesswaves is exactly the same. Their length depends on the velocity of thewave and the frequency of the oscillations that cause it. Or to put itanother way, in order to reckon a wave length you must determine itsvelocity (which is not impossible when you remember that sound travelsabout one thousand one hundred and twenty feet every second) and thenumber of vibrations the particular note causing the wave is makingper second. Now science has been able to compute just how manycomplete vibrations a certain note, key, or pitch as you may please tocall it, makes each second, or how many times the particles of airvibrate back and forth when that especial note is sent out. 

"Suppose, for example, a note makes 240 complete vibrations a secondwhile traveling 1, 120 feet; if we divide 1, 120 by 240 we shall get4. 66 as the wave length of this note. So it is the pitch to which anote is keyed that helps determine its distance; and the forceemployed to start the note sent out through the magnetic field. Thatis why a message projected into the ether from a high-power stationcarries a greater distance than one sent from a station where thepower is weaker. It is by power and pitch, then, not by length that wegauge wireless waves. Do you see that?"

A chorus of assent greeted the question. 

"That's bully!" Bob announced boyishly; then blushed at theundignified ejaculation. 

"Don't you be fussed, young man, " smiled Mr. Crowninshield. "We're allof an age here. "

"I quite forgot, " apologized the tutor. 

"That is exactly what I want you to do, " returned the master ofSurfside. "Ignore us old people. We are only listening in, anyway, andhave no earthly right to be here. "

"Still, I wish to treat you with----"

"It's all right, Bob. We understand, " put in Mrs. Crowninshieldreassuringly. 

"Well, then, if you will excuse me I'm off again, " replied the boy. "And now that we've got wave lengths settled to our satisfaction wemust remember some other things. One is that sound travels not onlythrough the air but through the water. In fact, sounds are louderunder water than they are above it. Water is not only a better mediumfor carrying sound but also, since it contains fewer obstructions, sound waves travel farther through it. Another thing which we must notforget is that our ears do not hear all the sounds that go on aboutus. The merciful Lord has arranged that when there are less thantwenty-four vibrations a second, or more than forty thousand theyescape us. But a wireless instrument, on the contrary is sparednothing, having attached to it a detector that catches every sound andan amplifier that magnifies it and makes it discernible to our ears. When you listen in on a wireless telephone you will be uncontestablyconscious of this. Also you must take into consideration that thewaves sent out by a radio transmitter are not choppy, irregular onessuch as you get when a stone is tossed into the water; wireless wavesgo out in regular, well-formed relays that neither overlap nor obscureone another. Were this not so the signals made would be jumbledtogether and utterly unintelligible. "

"Sure they would!" Bob's young brother nodded. 

"Now to insure these several results we are compelled to resort to thehelp of scientific apparatus. Therefore at every receiving station wehave devices that will intercept the waves as they come in;retransform them into electrical oscillations; and catching the weakoscillations make them strong enough to be read. Hence we use sometype of induction coil by means of which a battery current of such lowpressure and diffused flow as scarcely to be felt will be transformedor concentrated into a pressure that is very powerful. In order toform wireless waves we must have a frequency of at least one hundredthousand vibrations a second; and as it is out of the question toproduce these by mechanical means we employ a group of Leyden jars. Such jars you have of course seen. They have in them two pieces oftinfoil separated by glass, which is a nonconductor of electriccurrents, and various other acids and minerals. When you connect anumber of these small jars together you have a battery as powerful asthat of a large single jar. "

"I never saw jars like those, " objected Dick. 

Bob beamed at the intelligence of the demurrer. 

"When I say jar, " explained he, "it does not necessarily mean thatthese jars are of the round, cylindrical shape that comes to mind whenyou mention the word; on the contrary Leyden jars are often flatbecause such a form makes them more compact. That is also why we useseveral little ones instead of one big one. But whatever their shapethe principle involved is always the same. When the terminals areconnected with a current the jar will not only receive but will retaina charge equal in pressure to that of the device sending the current. And when you go even farther and bring the terminals near together, the quick discharge that takes place creates an electric spark whichis in reality a series of alternating flashes that come so fast as tobe blurred into what appears to be one. Could we separate theseflashes we should find that each of them lasts less than a thousandthpart of a second. The frequency of such oscillations is regulated bywhat is technically termed capacity, that is the size of the Leydenjar. The smaller the capacity the greater the frequency of theflashes. 

"Now this spark, or oscillatory discharge emitted from the Leyden jar, does not result from a single traveling of the current all in onedirection; instead the electricity moves back and forth, oralternates, and the space where the discharge takes place (and which, by the way, can be lengthened or decreased as pleases the operator) isknown as the spark gap. "

"But I should think this explosion of the spark would make a noise, "commented Walter. 

"Bully for you, little brother!" returned Bob, smiling at HisHighness. "You are quite an electrician. If the current is strong, or, in other words, if the discharge is a high frequency one, it does. Hence something has to be used to deaden the sound just as a muffleris used on a motor boat. It is important, however, that this mufflershould not prevent the operator from watching the condition of hisspark for otherwise he could not keep track of his battery or knowwhether it was on the job or not. So you will find little peepholesof mica or glass in the sides of the muffler. "

"Windows, " murmured Nancy grasping the idea and translating it intothe vernacular. 

"Exactly, " Bob agreed. Evidently his audience were understanding whathe was trying to make clear to them. 

"Now we have our high frequency oscillations occurring in the sparkdischarged from the Leyden jar and jumping the spark gap; neverthelessthey would not do us any good were there not some way to use andregulate them. This brings us to the induction coil of which I spoke asecond ago. "

"It sounds very terrible, " smiled Mrs. Crowninshield. 

"It isn't, though, " answered Bob, returning the smile. "In fact it isa very simple device--nothing more than a dozen or so twists of copperwire reeled about a wooden frame exactly as strands of thread might bewound round a spool. One end of the inductance is connectedpermanently with the ground and from the other end two movable wiresgo out, one of which can be connected with the spark gap and the otherwith the antenna that goes into the air and catches the sound waves. There isn't anything very terrible about that, you see. "

"Antenna is what butterflies have, " suggested Nancy vaguely. 

"Quite right!" assented the wireless man. "Only radio antennĉ are notto feel with--at least not in the same way. Nevertheless they do reachout and capture the sound. On all wireless stations you will noticethe masts that support them. Sometimes there is one wire, sometimes agroup. It is the wires themselves, remember, not the masts, which arethe antennĉ. Nowadays, however, you will occasionally see an indooraerial used in connection with small, low-power outfits. It does awaywith the masts and outside equipment and frequently serves the samepurpose quite satisfactorily. But most persons prefer the older methodand for long-distance work it has, up to date proved to beindispensable. Now the antenna has both electrical capacity andinductance, and when connected up with the apparatus a wirelessoperator can at will cause it to disturb the magnetic fieldssurrounding the earth. "

"You didn't say how high these masts had to be, Bob, " put in Mr. Crowninshield. "Are they always the same length?"

"Oh, no, indeed, sir, " was the prompt response. "Their length variesaccording to the type of service required of them. I'm glad you askedthe question. Sometimes the masts are about two hundred feet high;again they may approximate four hundred and eighteen feet. Andsometimes in emergencies you will discover no masts at all, the wiresbeing fastened instead to captive balloons or kites which hold them inplace long enough to send or receive hasty messages. This lattermethod is usually resorted to in wartime or during army or navymaneuvers. There are also compact radio sets to be had that can becarried on mule-back and set up and taken down on a hurried armymarch. On shipboard the ordinary masts of the vessel serve, ofcourse, to support the antenna. "

"Thank you, Bob. That is exactly what I wanted to know, " said Mr. Crowninshield. 

"I'm glad, sir. Now you'd think by this time we had everythingnecessary to produce our wireless waves and yet we haven't. There isstill one thing almost more important than all the rest that we havenot yet spoken of. "

"What's that, Bob?" piped Walter. 

"The tuner. You recall that at the beginning I mentioned the pitch, note, or key of the sound produced or received?"

"Yes, " returned the class in chorus. 

"Well, it is in that tune or pitch, or whatever you prefer to call it, that a large measure of the secret of wireless lies. To be successfulin getting and sending messages we must tune the oscillations, or keythe signals caused by the discharge of the battery in our Leyden jar, so that they will be in harmony (or at precisely the same pitch) withthe antenna circuit. That is, the parts of the instrument mustsynchronize, just as two persons who would talk together must speak inthe same language. This adjustment is made in the inductance coilbecause although both the Leyden jar where the spark is generated thatcauses the oscillations and the antenna can be regulated independentlyof each other a few turns of the inductance coil affects each circuit. After the two circuits have been adjusted to the same frequency theyare said to synchronize. Often to reach this result a device is usedthat states precisely the wave length, and after the frequency of onecircuit has been ascertained the other can easily be adjusted tocorrespond with it. The length of the wave is, you see, dependent onthe largeness of the antenna and the capacity, or strength of current, of the Leyden jar. Just as a child uses a big stone to produce thelargest splash and greatest waves so we must have a powerful forcebehind our wave lengths to make them carry most successfully. Inaccordance with this law, generally speaking, we find short wavelengths used for low power, short-distance outfits; and long wavelengths for high-power circuits whose aim is to traverse continentsand oceans. "

Bob pushed back his chair. 

"I think, " said he, "we have now come to a good stopping place and wewill call the lesson off for to-day. If you digest all I have toldyou, you will have had an ample radio starter. "

"You haven't said much about sending messages, " complained Dick. 

"That is quite another story, " smiled the boy's tutor, "and such along one that were I to tell it to you now it would mean you would getno sailing or swimming to-day. "

Instantly Dick was on his feet, Leyden jars and inductance coilsforgotten. 

"We'll cut it out then, " he laughed. "Who is for a swim? I'll race anyman to the bath-house!" And off he went at top speed. 

CHAPTER XV

TIDINGS

Two days later O'Connel's first signal came. 

Bob was at his early morning task of oiling and tightening up hisapparatus and cleaning it, and both Dick and Walter were hoveringnear, watching him and learning all they could concerning the propercare of the equipment. Having made everything shipshape the youngradio operator slipped the double head receiver over his forehead andprepared to listen in for his customary interval. Suddenly the boyssaw him start excitedly and motion them to stop talking. With facealight he was leaning forward eagerly. Then came the sharp click ofthe Morse code and after an interval with radiant face the elder ladwriggled out of his trappings. 

"What is it? What is it?" cried his two companions, hardly able tocontain their curiosity. 

"It was O'Connel. "

"What did he say? Is the dog there? Where was the yacht?"

Breathlessly the questions tumbled one over the other. 

"The _Siren_ is anchored off Gloucester and bound north, probably toBar Harbor. A dog they call Trixie, but which O'Connel thinks isLola, is aboard the boat. The description we gave him seems to fither. He says she isn't very well--won't eat and seems either homesickor seasick. Mr. Daly is quite worried about her. "

"For goodness' sake don't tell Dad or Mother that. They'll have afit, " Dick cried. "Should Lola die I believe my father would shootDaly down. "

"But I've got to give him the message. "

"You needn't repeat all of it, need you?"

"Oh, I think you ought to tell them, " Walter put in. "They wouldrather know, I'm sure. "

"Dad will storm fit to raise the dead. "

"We can't help it, " answered His Highness. 

"I am of the kid's opinion, " Bob replied slowly. "I think we shouldtell your father and mother the whole truth just as O'Connel has sentit. "

"Prepare for a nice, pleasant tornado, then, " said Dick, "for you willget it all right. "

"I wish I could have talked with O'Connel, " declared Bob thoughtfully. "I did all I dared. You see, until our license comes I am not expectedto transmit messages from this station. We have to get from thegovernment both an operator's license and a permit for the station;and although I put in the application promptly there is so much redtape about it that it seems as if the inspector would never show up. If I had been caught sending a message this morning without theseblooming papers there would have been the deuce of a row. However, Itook a chance because I felt the emergency demanded it, and becausebeing one of Uncle Sam's own men he couldn't very well put up the kickthat I was not competent to handle a wireless outfit. Still, I shan'tdare do it again. "

"Isn't there anything we can do to hustle up the inspector?" inquiredDick. 

"I'm afraid not, son. Government inspectors are not a hurrying race, "was Bob's whimsical reply. "However, I telephoned our local manyesterday and something may happen to-day. He and I used to be onquite good terms when he occasionally dropped in at Seaver Bay. I toldhim that if I could not get a station license pretty soon our wholeoutfit would be no good to us this season. He promised he would takeup the matter at once. With that I had to be satisfied. Whether hedoes anything or not remains to be seen. "

"I suppose O'Connel understands this difficulty, doesn't he?" musedDick. 

"Oh, he knows, all right, why I can't answer him. I've assured himthat his tidings have come through and that is all he wants to know, "Bob answered. "He has dealt with the government himself and isfamiliar with its deliberate habits. Besides, there really isn't muchwe can say. "

"Maybe you think that, " grinned Dick, "but wait until you tell Dadthat Lola is sick and hear him sputter. You will believe then thatthere is quite a bit that can be said. And if you get my mother to addher comments you will have plenty to relay over the wire. "

The prophecy was indeed true, as Bob King proved after he had racedacross the grass and overtaken Mr. And Mrs. Crowninshield on a tour ofinspection to the rose gardens. 

"News, Bob?" questioned the capitalist, wheeling about to meet theflying figure. "What is it? Let us have it quickly. "

Carefully the message was repeated. 

"Off Gloucester, eh, and bound north? Humph! And they've re-christenedthe poor little pupsie Trixie! Hang them! O'Connel thinks she isn'twell? Of course she isn't seasick. Lola has been out on our yacht ahundred times. The reason she won't eat is because she islonesome--misses her home and family. The wretches! I wish I had Dalyhere! I'd wring his neck, " blustered Mr. Crowninshield. 

"Isn't there anything we can do, Archibald? We simply must get thatdog back before she dies. Poor little Lola! She was such a dependentlittle creature. It is terrible, terrible!"

"There, there, my dear! Don't go all to pieces over it. Aren't wedoing all we can? Do you want Daly to smell a rat and toss his stolenproperty into the sea? Dacie says to give him rope enough and in timehe will hang himself, and I am inclined to think the advice wise. Still, that does not prevent me from wishing I could lay hands onDaly. I'd like nothing better than to thrash the life out of him. "

"I suppose you will telephone the detective the news we've received, "suggested Bob, in order to quell the rising storm and divert Mr. Crowninshield's attention. 

"Yes, I'll get New York on the wire right away. It is as well Lymanand his pal should know Lola is sick and that they can't dally roundforever. "

"Shall you be back for the wireless lesson?" called Bob, uncertainwhether to ask the question or not. 

"Oh, sure! It won't help matters for us to sit around and wail thewhole morning. We'll be on deck for your radio talk at the usualtime. "

"All right, sir. "

True to their agreement, at the appointed hour both Mr. And Mrs. Crowninshield made their appearance on the piazza and joined the groupof young people who awaited their coming. They had, as Bob expressedit, cooled off a bit and were no longer in such an agitated frame ofmind; nevertheless anxiety had left its mark by keying the master'svoice to a sharper note, and shadowing the lady's brow with a frown ofannoyance. 

"I suppose you let out on O'Connel, didn't you, after he got throughtalking this morning?" was the first remark of the owner of Surfside. 

"I couldn't say more than a word. Our license hasn't come yet, youknow. "

"That's so, darn it! I never saw anything in all my born life with somany rules attached to it as this wireless business. It is one tangleof rules, rules, rules! You might as well be tied up in a net, "fretted the man. 

"There do seem to be a good many rules at first glance, " returned Bobpleasantly. "However, when you examine them most of them are bothnecessary and wise. And after all when each radio operator knows inblack and white what he can do and what he can't it is far simpler. "

"I suppose so, " grumbled Mr. Crowninshield. 

"Besides, there are always slackers at every job, " continued Bob. "Rules help to keep such persons up to the mark and preventcarelessness and accidents. "

"Yes, I fancy that is so, " came more graciously from the still irategentleman. 

"Then all stations are not alike. That compass station at Bell Reef, for example, that you were asking me about yesterday; the governmentlays out specific duties and makes special rules for such a station, as in fact it does for all radio stations. Some of these rules relateto the care of the place and the cleaning and general overhauling ofapparatus at stated intervals. There are, you see, certain instrumentswhich must be cleaned and readjusted every day; certain others everyweek, others every month, and some every six months. It simply meansmaking sure that your outfit is in the pink of condition with everypart functioning as it should. There are, of course, operators whowould see that this was done anyway, rules or no rules; but like everyother profession there might be men who, off on an isolated spot withno one to keep them up to the mark, would grow careless and slovenly. Too much depends on wireless stations to run the risk of errorsthrough imperfections in the equipment. "

"I can understand all that; but aren't there a score of otherregulations?"

"You mean about what they shall and shall not do?"

"Yes. "

"There certainly are. There have to be because we have severaldifferent types of land stations. Just as the shipboard stations havetheir special kinds of work so do those on shore. For example, thereare two different classes of radio compass stations, --those thatoperate independently and are located with a view to giving goodcross-bearings to vessels that are from fifty to a hundred miles outto sea; and those known as harbor stations which are governed by acentral control station and designed to inform ships within thirtymiles of the entrance to outer channels of their position. Thefunction of each of these stations is, as you can see, quite differentand therefore each of them is obliged to have its own set of rules. "

"I never knew anything about radio compass stations before, " announcedDick. 

"That is because you never sailed the seas and had to call on one foraid, " smiled Bob. "If you did you would be very thankful, I guess, that the government has so carefully provided some one to answer justthe sort of question you wished answered. I try to remember this whenI get hot under the collar because the license for our station doesnot arrive. Uncle Sam can't help it if his men are slow. The plan atthe top is all right. There must be rules to govern wireless stations, be they governmental, commercial, or private; rules to regulate thewave lengths each may use; rules to make sure the operators who havecharge of them know their job; and inspectors to make sure that everysuch rule is obeyed. "

"Who has the big chore of following up all these people and makingcertain that they are conforming to the law?" questioned Mr. Crowninshield. 

"The Department of Commerce issues the licenses for all private andcommercial stations and sends its inspectors to keep an eye onwhatever comes under their control. It is this department that willhave jurisdiction over Surfside if the license is granted. Governmentradio stations on the other hand, not only the high-power class butthe coastal stations and everything that pertains to their relationswith commercial stations afloat or ashore, whether in the UnitedStates or in foreign lands are entirely under the control of theDirector of Naval Communications of the Navy Department. "

"I wish you'd tell us something more about compass stations, " Dicksaid. "Were you ever stationed at one?"

"Yes, for a little while I was on an island off the coast, " repliedBob. "But I did not like it very well and applied for a transfer. "

"It must have been lonely as the dickens on an island; worse, even, than being at Seaver Bay. Why in goodness did they build the stationthere?"

"Why, you see, a compass station that operates independently as thatone did is usually situated on a lightship or an island because thatlocation is best suited to the sort of work it has to do. "

"And that is?"

"To give ships their positions when they sing out to ask exactly wherethey are, " replied Bob. "Since the station is fairly well out to seaitself, it is able to furnish excellent cross-bearings and set thevessel on her course in case she is off it. Ships have been known tomiss their way, you know, especially in a fog; and if they have notmissed it they are often very grateful to be assured they have not andthat their own calculations were correct. So the rule is that anoperator must always be listening in for at least three minutes atten, twenty-five, forty, and fifty-five minutes past the hour and beready to answer a Q T E when he hears it. "

"What's a Q T E?" inquired both Dick and Walter simultaneously. 

"Those particular letters mean: _What is my true bearing?_ It takesless time to send the letters than to spell out the entire sentenceand therefore a simple code which means the same in all languages isused. When such a call is received the operator replies: Q T S(meaning: Your true bearing is) and then follows it with the number ofdegrees from his radio post stated in words, and also the name of thestation responding to the message. It is a general rule, by-the-by, that all numerals used in any wireless communication must be spelledout to make sure of their being perfectly understood. "

"What a bother!" ejaculated Walter. 

"It prevents mistakes, brother; and if it does that it is certainlyworth the trouble. "

"I suppose so, " answered His Highness a trifle crestfallen. 

"Then what do you say next?" interrupted Dick, who was much interestedin the subject in hand. 

"Well, after you have given the true bearing the ship wires: Q T F. "

"And that means?"

"_What is my position?_"

"And you have to repeat those words before giving it just as you didbefore?" asked Dick. 

"Always, " nodded Bob. "Every question asked is always repeated by theoperator answering it to make sure that each party fully understandswhat is being talked about. You can't risk having a ship complain:'Oh, I thought those figures you sent me were so-and-so. ' No, indeed. Everything must be so explicit that there will be no room forblunders. So after you have repeated the question you send thelatitude and longitude _in words_. "

"I guess there is sense in the rules after all, " smiled Mrs. Crowninshield. "Thus far we have not discovered any which, on beingexamined, were not both reasonable and wise. "

"That's the way I feel, " Bob rejoined. "After being in radio work andseeing the opportunities there are for mistakes I have decidedoperators cannot be too careful. You see it is not like talking witha person face to face. Those you are communicating with are usuallymiles and miles away. Such stations as I have been telling you aboutare on the lookout for any six-hundred-meter calls and they answer inthis tune. After communication with a ship is established, however, the tune shifts to seven hundred and fifty-six meters if a Navy vesselshould be talking; if not, the six-hundred-meter wave length assignedis used. This leaves the shorter range waves to commercial vessels andgreatly simplifies matters. "

"That is a good rule, too, " chimed in Mr. Crowninshield. 

"And now about the harbor stations, " suggested Dick. 

The young tutor smiled. 

"I had not intended to give you all this stuff this morning, "protested he, "but since you are interested in it we may as well go onwith the subject. The task of the harbor stations, then, is to listenboth on a six-hundred-meter range, and one of nine hundred andfifty-two--the first wave length for commercial and the latter forNavy ship's calls. Then in response to inquiry the operator directsthe vessel how to enter that particular harbor, stating just where theentrance buoys are and where the channel lies. If the man at the wheelis new to the port this aid is invaluable. "

"Not much like the navigation of the old days, is it?" mused Mr. Crowninshield. "I should think such stations would put pilots out ofbusiness. "

"They do to some extent, " was the reply. "There are, however, alwaysships that cannot make a landing under their own steam, ships thathave to be towed. So the pilots still find something to do. "

"And are these harbor stations on islands too?" questioned Nancy. 

"Many of them are. A small proportion of them, though, are inlighthouses. It all depends on which place has the more favorablelocation. "

"But do not the land stations that send messages sometimes interferewith these stations?" queried Mr. Crowninshield. 

"There are rules to prevent _that_, " laughed Bob. "Of course thedifference in wave length to which the various types of stations arelimited solves a part of this difficulty. As I told you commercialstations have their own particular wave length and must stick to it;and private stations such as this one here have their range of twohundred meters in which to operate and are confined to not more thanone kilowatt for sending messages. You cannot use more than thiswithout special permission from the Secretary of Labor. Should you doso you are liable to a fine of one hundred dollars if your offense isdeliberate; if, however, it is proved that your apparatus was out ofadjustment and overreached itself you may get off with atwenty-five-dollar fine. In that case you must see at once that yourradio error is corrected and your outfit set right. "

"But sometimes along the coast aren't there big government stationsbelonging to the army or navy? I should think these, with their pressof business, would butt in on the smaller ones and raise havoc withthem, " ventured Mr. Crowninshield. 

"Where there are such mix-ups and private or commercial stationsinterfere with important government outfits the smaller ones are notallowed to send messages during the first fifteen minutes of eachhour, such time being reserved for government business. Thegovernment, on the other hand, must respect the rights of the littlerchap and use this particular interval for transmitting. In fact, whenlicenses are issued this condition is made with private owners and thestation is so listed. Of course, however, should an S O S call come, all rules go by the boards and the distress call has the right of wayin every case. "

Mrs. Crowninshield, smiling mischievously, rose from her chair. 

"There is an S O S coming in right now for a lemonade, " said she, fanning herself with her filmy handkerchief. "Who will join me?"

A chorus of "I!" "I!" greeted the question. 

She touched a bell. 

"Bring lemonade for six, Emelie, " said she. "Put in some slices oforange, some strawberries, and plenty of cracked ice. What a warm dayit is! I am glad I am not out on some hot, sun-baked island answeringradio calls. "

"You probably would not be hot if you were on an island out to sea, mydear, " her husband returned playfully. "However, I'll agree that thisveranda is good enough for me on a July day. "

The tinkling of ice cut short the conversation. Far away through thehouse its distant cadence sounded. 

"The first and tallest lemonade must be for Bob, " Nancy announced. "Hehas certainly earned it. "

CHAPTER XVI

MIRACLES

Although throughout the day Mr. Crowninshield did not wander far fromthe telephone no word came from the New York detectives and eveningsaw him quite discouraged. 

"I cannot imagine what those fellows are up to, " fretted he. "Now thatthey know where the yacht is and have had all day to do somethingabout it, it is beyond my comprehension why they haven't. Lola will bedead before they get round to moving on Daly. "

"I don't believe they are sitting idle, " Bob declared in an effort tocheer his patron. "Probably there will be news to-morrow. "

"Maybe, " sighed the financier. "But if something does not happen byto-morrow, I shall start myself in my own yacht to chase up Daly. "

"I doubt if that would do any good, sir, " protested Bob. "It mightsimply, as you said yourself, precipitate a crisis. "

"Well, a crisis is better than having nothing done, " fumed the manirritably. 

"You must not forget there is O'Connel. "

"Much good he is doing. We have only heard from him once and as wehave no license you can't talk to him. "

"Nevertheless, he is on the job at his end of the line, " Bob answered. "He has a lot of common sense, too. You can trust him to keep tabs onhow things are moving. "

"Maybe I can. I hope so, " was the dismal retort. 

Evening, however, saw no improvement in Mr. Crowninshield's mood. "Nota yip of any sort from those chaps in New York. One would think theywere dead, " he growled. "Well, I'll give them one more day and then ifthey haven't something to show I will send them to blazes and take upthe case myself. I almost wish I had done it in the first place. HereI am paying a small fortune and getting no results. "

Again Bob struggled to soothe the perturbed mind and raise thecapitalist's spirits. 

"Oh, we'll hear something to-morrow, I guess, " said he with anoptimism he did not altogether feel. "Maybe my license will come; orthe inspector may appear; or O'Connel may send tidings; or news maycome from New York. Something is sure to happen. Why don't we all goover to the station and listen in on the broadcasting to-night. We aresure to get something that will be interesting and now that the 'loudspeaker' is in position we shall be able to hear without usingindividual receivers. You haven't any of you really heard what ourwireless can do. "

"I know it, " acknowledged the gentleman. "You see, just about everynight during broadcasting hours we have either had company or I havebeen busy. "

"But are you to be busy to-night?" inquired Bob. 

"No, I fancy we're not. Mrs. Crowninshield said there was nothing on. "

"Then why don't we light up the boathouse, and all of us listen towhat is going on in the world, " Bob suggested. "I wish, too, Jerrymight come. He has not had a chance to see the outfit at all, muchless hear it. If it would not annoy you and the ladies just to let himsit at the back of the room he could hear everything now that the hornis on. " Bob hesitated. "He has been so kind about helping us----"

"Sure! Ask him by all means, " Mr. Crowninshield assented heartily. "Orbetter yet, I will ask him myself. I am glad you reminded me of it. Jerry is my right-hand man and I like to give him pleasure when I can. What time will your show begin?"

"Oh, from seven o'clock on there is usually something doing, sir. Butthe most interesting part of the program begins at eight. "

"We'll be on hand, then. "

This promise won Bob imparted the tidings to Dick and Walter and thetwo assistants, as they dubbed themselves, hastened to prepare the newradio building for the reception of guests. Comfortable chairs and gaycushions were brought from the house and in his enthusiasm Dick evenwent so far as to drape a flag over the entrance of the low room. 

"We might have hung out bunting if we'd known sooner they werecoming, " said he. 

"I guess they won't care about the bunting once they are inside theplace, " Walter asserted in a comforting tone. 

"Don't you hope the outfit will show up well? I do, " declared Dick. "It would be just our luck to have something act up so we couldn'thear anything. Then Dad, who is feeling pretty much on edge anyway, would announce that a wireless was simply money thrown in a hole. "

"We're not responsible for the conditions, " laughed Bob. "If static isbothersome it is not our fault. "

"Nevertheless, Dad wouldn't understand that. He would just think wedid not know how to operate the thing. "

"Well, we'll pray for moderate quiet, " smiled Bob. "Of course I'd likethe apparatus to show off at its best. But like a child, it probablywon't. We shall have to take our luck; and if we do not getsatisfactory results to-night why the audience will have to come againto-morrow or some other time. "

"Maybe it won't--at least maybe Dad won't, " Dick answeredincoherently. "If he starts off in the yacht to-morrow----"

"Oh, he won't set off to chase Daly to-morrow, don't you fret, " put inHis Highness. "He was only sputtering. What good could he do? Hewouldn't have any right to search the _Siren_ even if he overtook her;nor could he arrest the criminals aboard her. Daly would pitch Lolaover the side of the boat before he would stand by and let your fatherboard his yacht and he knows it. "

"Maybe he does, " admitted Dick. "Still, he was tremendously in earnestthis afternoon. "

"He has calmed down some now, " His Highness replied. 

"I hope he'll stay calmed, " Dick smiled. "Perhaps, unless our showgoes wrong and he gets irate at the radio company, he will. "

In fact had the three young wireless operators been willing to admitit they were far more perturbed when they heard the invited companyapproaching than they would have been willing to confess. In the heartof each of them was the same thought: the new radiophone must justifyitself and prove that it was worth all the money that had beenexpended upon it. 

"Well, here we are! And here's Jerry, too. He said he couldn'tpossibly come--tried to make me believe he was too busy, the rascal. But I labored with him and finally got him here, " announced the mastertriumphantly. 

Very hot and very uncomfortable under the general banter Jerryblushed. 

"Now where do you wish to put us, Dick?" inquired the boy's mother. "We are under your orders to-night--yours and Bob's. "

"I think you will be able to hear in any of these chairs--that is, ifwe hear at all, " Dick responded nervously. 

"What do you mean by _able to hear at all_?" put in his fathersharply. 

"Why--eh--sometimes conditions vary, " was the ambiguous answer. "Onedoes not always hear equally well. " It seemed wiser to prepare hisfather's mind for possible disappointment. 

In the meantime Bob was tinkering with the plugs. 

"Everybody ready?" he asked. 

"All on deck!" came from Mr. Crowninshield whose depression, it wasplain to be seen, had momentarily vanished. 

"Then here goes!" cried Bob. 

Instantly the quiet of the room was transformed into a chaos of sound. There was a shrill piping as of a singing wind, and a wail that echoedhauntingly through the air as the tuner revolved. 

"What in the name of goodness----?" began Mr. Crowninshield. 

"Hush, Dad! It is always like that, " explained Dick hastily. 

"But it's horrible. "

"Yes, I know. But wait. "

"Isn't something out of order?"

"No. " Dick smiled patronizingly. 

"My soul and body, " whispered Jerry from his corner, "did anybody everhear such a sound? Ain't it the wind outside. Seems as if a gale musthave come up--a hurricane, tornado, or something. If a storm's comingI can't sit round here. I'll have to be seeing to the awnings orthey'll be ripped to pieces. " He half rose from his chair. 

"Don't worry, Jerry; everything's all right outside, " interruptedWalter reassuringly. 

"You mean to say it's just in here?" murmured the bewildered Jerry. Enjoying the old man's confusion, Walter nodded. 

"What you hear is the rise of our pitch, " explained Dick. 

"I should think it was the rise of something, " grumbled Mr. Crowninshield. 

"We are running up our meters in order to catch the higher tunedwaves, " Bob added. "That is part of the bedlam. "

"And the rest?"

"It is static interference. "

"What's that?"

"Well, static is the big bugbear of radio, " answered Bob, pausing amoment in regulating his tuner and detector. "It is caused by straywaves moving in various directions through the atmosphere, and byelectrical conditions. It is the defect all wireless people have tofight. Sometimes it is worse than others and unfortunately to-night itpromises to be pretty bad. You see it has been a close, heavy day andno doubt thunderstorms are in the air. A thunderstorm will kick up noend of a rumpus with wireless. "

"But we haven't had any thunderstorm, " Nancy called above the hubbub. 

"No, but somebody else's thunderstorm would bother us almost asmuch, " Bob explained good-humoredly. 

"Never mind the thunderstorms now, " put in Mr. Crowninshield. "Aren'twe going to hear anything but this whistling and groaning? Whee! Thereit goes again. It is for all the world like a chorus of cats. "

"It is more like a siren horn tooting up and down, " laughed Nancy. 

A spluttering crackle blotted out the wail. 

"You would think they were frying doughnuts, " grinned Dick, "wouldn'tyou?"

"And you really believe a thunderstorm would cause a noise like this?"queried Mrs. Crowninshield incredulously. 

"It might. We have no way of knowing exactly what is raising thetrouble. "

"Do you mean to say that a storm that wasn't round here at allcould----" burst out Jerry, then stopped embarrassed. 

"Indeed it could, " replied Bob, answering the unfinished question. "You see thunderstorms cause powerful electrical waves that affectapparatus miles and miles distant. Of course such waves vary in lengthbut nevertheless they act on all aerials to a greater or less degree. Then, too, the atmospheric conditions are never quite identical, changing with the hour of the day, the season of the year, and localweather disturbances. Fortunately, since the air is positivelyelectrified and the earth negatively, certain of these differences areremedied by the aerial that connects the two, the current dischargespartially seeping off through the ground. Sometimes, however, in spiteof every device used, such currents are strong enough to cause a roarin the receiver. In addition there is the interference from otherradio stations which are busy transmitting messages, and althoughthere are rules that aim to reduce this annoyance, it is, to a certainextent, always to be reckoned with. "

"I should think somebody ought to invent something to prevent suchtroubles, " declared Nancy. 

"Why don't you, Sis?" asked Dick wickedly. 

"But it is terrible to have the air so full of noise, " continued thegirl, as she made a little face at her brother. "I've always thoughtof the air as being still. "

"It is still in a general sense, " smiled Bob. "It is only when theamplifier of the wireless magnifies the sounds that we realize howmany of them our ears fail to hear. "

"It's a downright mercy they do!" exclaimed Jerry. 

"You're right there, Jerry!" agreed Mr. Crowninshield. 

"But how do messages come through such a chaos?" Dick inquired. 

"Sometimes they don't, " laughed Bob. "But nine cases out of ten theydo because there are ways of combating static interference. You can, for instance, tune your apparatus to a higher or lower pitch andthereby escape from the zone where the noise is. That whine you hearis produced by my turning the tuning knob and increasing our range ofmeters. Already with the higher vibration you will notice the hubbubhas lessened. "

"Yes, things are ever so much clearer, " agreed a chorus of voices. 

"That is one way, then, out of the difficulty. There are, in addition, other mechanical means that can be resorted to when you learn moreabout handling the outfit. Suffice it to say that in a general waywhatever tends toward inertia, or a lack of electrical activity, decreases static interference. "

There was a pause in which above the crackling and the wailing of theinstrument a faint sound became audible. 

"Gee! Did you hear that?" cried Walter. 

"Hush!"

"But I heard a voice quite distinctly. "

"Keep still, can't you?" Dick remarked unceremoniously. 

Then plainly into the room came the words:

"Station (WGI) Amrad Medford Hillside, Mass. 360 meters. Stand by forBoston Police reports. "

"That is the police news, " whispered Dick to Nancy. "Among otherthings it gives the automobiles that are lost, their numbers, and adescription of each. "

"Want to hear it?" asked Bob of his audience. 

"Not unless they can tell us they have found Lola, " responded Mr. Crowninshield promptly. 

"Oh, no, " his wife hastened to add, "let's not listen to a longstring of crimes. Goodness knows there are enough of them to read inthe papers. "

She shook her head warningly at Bob and motioned toward her husband. 

"I'd rather hear some music, " put in Nancy. "Can't we?"

There was an ascending wail from the tuner. 

"Ain't that a band?" cried Jerry excitedly. 

"It's an orchestra!" Nancy ejaculated in the same breath. 

"It's gone!"

"We'll get it again, " was Bob's confident answer as he twirled theknobs of both tuner and detector. 

"There it is!" burst out Jerry. "It's a brass band, as I live!"

"Where do you suppose it is?" speculated Mrs. Crowninshield. 

"Pittsburgh or Chicago; or perhaps Newark. "

"Not Chicago--out West! You're fooling, " observed Jerry with scorn. 

"Indeed I'm not. Wait and you'll hear in a few moments exactly who itwas. "

"I'll not believe it unless I do, " the old man announced, with a zestthat provoked a general laugh. 

"What time is it? Can any one tell?" asked Bob. 

"What difference does that make, " Walter inquired. 

"It will give us a cue as to who it is, " was the explanation. "Allthese broadcasting stations have certain hours for their programs. "

"I've seen those lists published in the papers, but I never took anystock in them, " growled Jerry. 

"You'll have to now, Jerry, " said Nancy mischievously. 

She saw him scratch his head. 

"Well, I dunno, " was his laconic reply. "The whole thing beats me. Ifthat band was in Chicago----"

"Hush!"

The crash of instruments had come to an end and over the wire inaccents unmistakably distinct came the words:

"Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company KYW Chicago, Illinois. Stand by fifteen minutes for----" but the rest of thesentence was lost, for with a mighty slap of his knees Jerry roared:

"It was in Chicago--that band! Well, I'll be buttered!"

Overwhelmed the Cape Codder had risen to his feet. 

"Chicago! Pittsburgh! Medford! My eye, but this will do me to talkabout until the day of my death. It don't seem possible; I'm beat ifit does. "

Helplessly he dropped back into his chair again, silenced by verywonder. 

In the meantime out of the wailing and whining and piping the sharp, clear-cut click of a telegraph instrument could be discerned. 

"That's the Morse code, " explained Bob. "Some commercial station issending a message. It seems to be about a shipment of lumber andisn't particularly interesting. "

"I suppose you can read it, " said Dick enviously. 

"Naturally. That is part of my job, you know. "

"What is a commercial station?" inquired the still bewildered Jerry. 

"A station that sends only messages for the general public. Probablythis load of lumber started out of port without the captain of theship having the least idea in the world where he was to market it. Inthe interval since it left, however, the company's shore agents havesecured a customer for it, perhaps in New Bedford, Boston, Providence, or some other coast city and they are now notifying the ship where todeliver it. Such an arrangement is quite common nowadays. Were thecaptain obliged to hold his cargo in port until he had a purchaser, aswas the usual rule in the past, he would be wasting much precioustime. By this method he can set forth the moment the vessel is loadedand during his voyage let his managers search for buyers. In allprobability by the time he nears New England harbors his wares will besold and orders sent him where to deposit them. "

"That's a neat little scheme!" observed Walter. 

But poor Jerry was too much overcome by the marvels he had witnessedto comment on this added miracle. All he could do was to reiteratefeebly: "It beats me--hanged if it don't!"

CHAPTER XVII

THE LAWS OF THE AIR

Morning found Mr. Crowninshield in no more tractable a mood. Evenbefore Bob could reach his post at the wireless station and adjust hisdouble head receiver to his ears his employer came briskly across thegrass with his after-breakfast cigar between his lips. 

"Well, " began he, when he was within calling distance, "any news yet?"

"I'm afraid not yet, sir. It is still early. "

The great man took out his watch. 

"Isn't it almost time for O'Connel to signal?"

"It is nearing the time. "

"I wonder if he will have any tidings for us?"

"I certainly hope so. " The wish was uttered with deep sincerity. Aspeculation was forming in the young operator's mind as to how he wasgoing to pacify the irascible gentleman before him should no tidingscome. 

"Since I'm here I believe I'll drop down and wait until you get intotouch with the _Siren_. "

"It is liable to be quite a little while. Sometimes there is delay. "

"No matter. I've nothing especial to do to-day. "

With sinking heart Bob turned away and began to fuss with his oil canand a bit of cotton waste. 

"As you will, sir, " was all he said. 

"You think, don't you, that we will hear something definite thismorning?"

"There is no telling. "

"No, of course not. Nevertheless O'Connel can at least let us knowwhether Lola is worse or better. "

"Yes, we ought to ascertain that. "

"He wouldn't be such an idiot as to stand by and see the dog die, would he?"

"One never can predict just what another person will do. However, Ifeel sure you can trust O'Connel. I never knew him to bungle anythingyet. "

With that comfort Mr. Crowninshield was obliged to content himself. 

Notwithstanding it, however, he began to pace nervously back andforth, and every time there was a sound in the room he would whiskabout with the quick remark:

"Didn't you hear something?"

But although he fretted and fumed, strolled out the door and in again, no amount of impatience appeared to hurry matters. 

Even Bob began to lose his poise and fear no message was coming whensuddenly the well-known signal came and the familiar clockwork beganto be clicked off. 

"Is it he?" demanded Mr. Crowninshield in a tense whisper. 

Bob nodded. 

On clicked the code. Then suddenly it stopped and the man who waswatching saw the operator raise the discs of rubber from his ears andshake himself free of his metal trappings. 

"Well?" inquired Mr. Crowninshield in quick staccato. 

"It was O'Connel. All he said was: _Wait developments. _"

"Not a word about Lola?"

"No, sir. "

"Not a reference of any sort?"

"That was all. "

"But that is no kind of a message, " announced the exasperated owner ofSurfside. "Why, it might mean almost anything. "

"It sounds hopeful to me. "

"I don't see any hope in it, " was the despondent answer. 

"It least it gives us to understand that something is brewing. "

"But why couldn't he have told us more?"

"Perhaps he did not dare to. They may have begun to suspect he wassending private messages. "

"Humph! I had not thought of that. "

"Or possibly he may have been in a rush. He sent the letters at atremendous pace--so fast that I had to race him. It seemed as if hewas afraid he might not be able to get the message through. "

"You didn't answer anything, I suppose. "

"Only my signal to let him know I was listening. "

"Then you think there is nothing more to be done at present but sitright here and see what happens?"

"I do not see how we can do anything else. "

"It's frightfully annoying. "

"Yes. Nevertheless it is our only course. "

"You've no inkling whether the developments he mentioned are to besoon or not?"

"Not the ghost of an idea. "

"Then there is nothing for it but to hold on right here a whilelonger, I'm afraid. And since we are all to be tied to the spot youmay as well come up to the house later and give Dick his usual radiolesson. "

"Very well, sir. "

With a curt nod the financier went out the door and after seeing thateverything was right Bob locked up the building and followed him. 

He found the little group assembled in the lee of the awnings waitingfor him. Mr. Crowninshield was there, too, gnawing fiercely at a freshcigar. 

"I hear you have had a message, Bob, " Mrs. Crowninshield said as heapproached. 

"Yes; a rather hopeful one, I think. "

"I'm so excited! We all are. What do you suppose is in the wind?"

"I've no idea. Something good, I hope. "

"Is that Morse code hard to learn?" inquired Nancy. 

"The Morse Continental? That depends on what you consider hard, "smiled Bob. "If your memory is good and you are quick at catchingsounds it ought not to be very awful. Numberless persons do learn it. "

"Of course sending messages after you have the code learned cannot beso bad, for you can take your own time, " Dick put in. "It is receivingthem that would fuss me. "

"We'll fix you up with a buzzer and let you and Walter practice laterif you want a try. "

"Could you?" asked Dick eagerly. 

"Sure! Moreover, there are phonograph records made on purpose to beused by beginners. Perhaps your father will get you some of those. Itis a fine way to learn, training your ear to the sounds and giving youlots of practice. "

"What a bully scheme!"

"It is a good proof of how one science can help another, isn't it?"observed Mrs. Crowninshield. 

"I suppose transmitting is a great deal harder than receiving anyhow, isn't it?" pursued Dick. 

"Well, of course there is more to it. In the rough it is merely thereverse of receiving; but in reality to project a message through theair requires a more elaborate outfit. "

"But you said our wireless would send as well as receive. "

"Oh, it will. It was made with both ends of the service in view. Yourapparatus would first have to be adjusted and tuned until it was atthe same frequency as the station with which you were talking. Thatyou have to do anyhow, whether you are sending or receiving. And Itold you, you remember, how to regulate that. Your antenna isconnected through an adjustable induction coil, and moreover you havea small condenser which together with it forms a closed circuit. It issimple enough when you understand the principle to adjust thevibratory motion in the antenna by moving the connection. Thefrequency of the closed circuit can be adjusted, too. Tuning isnothing more than putting these two circuits into accord with thewaves you receive. Your detector does a good part of the work for you, for it responds to every oscillation set up in the receiver. When, however, you are transmitting a message, you must take care to cut outyour receiver by turning on the switch. Never forget that. You won'tbe likely to, either, when you are told why. You see it requires powerto send out transmission waves and therefore to do it you have toemploy a high-pressure current. Receiving, on the other hand, demandsdelicately adjusted instruments which are equipped to catch everyfaint, incoming wave. Should you let the strong charge of electricityused for transmission pass through your fragile receiving apparatusyou would ruin it in no time. "

"I can see that, " replied Dick. 

"Grasp that notion and you have one big principle of the differencebetween sending messages and receiving them, " said Bob. "Skill inlearning to take messages either in code or cipher comes withpractice. The more you work at it the faster you can go. You have akeyboard all installed and the only thing standing between you and anexpert operator is patience. Speed comes sooner than you think, too, if you practice persistently every day. As for the Morse code youpress the key lever down quickly and instantly release it to make adot. A dash is equal to three dots; the space between the parts of thesame letters is equal to a dot; that between two letters to threedots; and between two words to five dots. You must train your earuntil the span of these intervals becomes unmistakable. When you getsome skill and are ready to try out what you can do, you will findthat there are several ways of getting wider practice. There are, forexample, local clubs that broadcast in code and send messages limitedin speed to an amateur's capacity. Such centers are considerate enoughto transmit at the rate of not more than five or ten words to theminute. It is persistence and a willingness to go slowly and carefullythat win out in the end. A moderately delivered message that iswithout errors is worth a dozen fast, inaccurate ones; for when youblunder and have to go back and repeat, you not only waste your timeand that of the man at the other end of the line but you annoy andusually confuse him. You will never gain anything if you are contentwith being a sloppy operator since above everything else radiomessages must be correct. That is their chief value. Therefore, ifafter trying with all your might you find you cannot qualify as atopnotch, high-speed man be content to drop into the class below andbe an accurate, slower operator. There are always certain things wedo better than others. Speed may not be one of your gifts. That is nosign you have not other talents, however. Face the fact and go intothe class where you belong. You won't get so nervous and fussed up, and by and by you may surprise yourself by finding that with time andexperience the desired speed will come. "

"I am not aiming to be a crackerjack like you, " grinned Dick. "If Ican take down and send any messages at all I shall feel pretty cocky. "

"You think that now, " returned Bob, ignoring the flattery contained inthe observation. "But by and by you will find yourself discontentedand as crazy to make time as you are in an automobile. There is afascination about it. "

"Doesn't the Morse Continental bother you a bit?" inquired Mr. Crowninshield. 

"Not a particle. In fact, it has come to be almost as easy reading asstraight English, " answered Bob. "The thing that does fuss mesometimes though is to send and receive in cipher. "

"Mercy! Do they do that too?" gasped Mrs. Crowninshield. 

"Certainly. Often both in time of war and times of peace confidentialmessages which it is not desirable all the world should know have tobe transmitted. Sometimes these are government communications;sometimes business or personal ones. At any rate, their senders wishthem kept private and hence they are sent in cipher. Many of them arequeer enough, too, when they come in. "

"Can you understand them yourself?" asked Nancy. 

"Certainly not. It is not intended that any one except the person forwhom they are intended shall know what they mean. "

"But I should think since they make no sense you would wonder whetheryou had them right, " commented Dick. 

"I do wonder sometimes, " admitted Bob honestly. "When you get asequence of queer words or combinations of letters you cannot helpwondering. However, there is not much chance for a mistake, either inthe transmission or in the delivery of such messages, for the operatoris always obliged to send them slower than he does ordinary stuff, spacing the letters or groups of letters with unusual care. Furthermore, code words are always repeated once. This gives the manreceiving them a chance to print the letters by hand rather than writethem, a precaution that does much to prevent mistakes. The address andsignature must also be very carefully transmitted. With suchwatchfulness at each end of the line it would be only a colossallystupid person who would blunder. "

"But suppose the operator who is transmitting went faster than youcould?" murmured Walter. 

"He doesn't as a general rule. It isn't wireless ethics. And evenshould he be a more skillful radio man he knows he would gain nothingby hustling the chap at the other end for he would only lose time byhaving to go back and repeat. "

"Is all the general transmission of messages given such care?"inquired Mr. Crowninshield. 

"Of course cipher communications are fussier, " Bob said. "Neverthelessthe rules are pretty strict for all messages. And since accuracy isthe keynote of radio and to get it your outfit must be in A1condition, every care must be taken to have strong, clear, andeffective sending and receiving power. That means you must constantlyclean your apparatus and tighten it up; test out your detector by thebuzzer intended for the purpose and make sure that it is in sensitivecondition; and assure yourself that every part of your set is OK. Moreover, an operator who is on duty listening in is expected to wearthe double head receiver all the time, so no sound, however faint, mayget by him. He must also see that his detector is adjusted to itsgreatest degree of sensibility and his tuner to the proper wavelength. If your station happens to be near another, or if you are oneof a group of ships and other vessels near yours are sending, you mustwatch out and either weaken the coupling of your detector or open yourswitch and cut it out altogether when those around you are usingpowerful currents for transmission; else you will wreck this delicatepart of your instrument. "

"Gee, but there are things to remember!" ejaculated Dick. 

"Not so many, really, if you use ordinary brains, " Bob returned. "Youjust have to think, that is all. A few big principles hold throughout. The other _don'ts_ are simply to make your own work and the otherfellow's smoother; prevent mistakes; do away with as much interferenceas possible; and protect your outfit. For example, I found I couldoften lessen the interference by loosening the coupling of myreceiving set after I had heard a call and reduce the sound to a pointwhere it was just readable. You get your message all right but you donot get so much else with it. Then you can save wear and tear if youonly run your generator while you are sending messages. That youcannot transmit at the hours reserved for naval radio stations to sendout the time signals by which navigators set their chronometers, orwhen operators are broadcasting, goes without saying. Any dunce wouldknow that. "

"I had no idea there were hours for sending out the time, " confessedDick. 

"Indeed there are. It is very important, too, that ships know thecorrect time to prevent disasters. There are shore stations whose soleduty it is to supply to ships the time and their location. Don't yourecall my mentioning such coastal stations?"

"Oh, yes; I guess I do remember now, " returned Dick, a trifleconfused. 

"What happens if you call a station and nobody answers?" interrogatedNancy. "I have been meaning to ask. Do you just keep on calling as youdo at the telephone?"

"No, indeed, " was the instant reply. "Should you do that you wouldcause no end of interference and make yourself a nuisance toeverybody. The rule is that after you have called a station threetimes at two-minute intervals you must stop for a quarter of an hourbefore you call again. If you happened to be calling a fleet of shipsit is desirable to alter your tune rather than keep repeating thesummons in the same key. It saves time. Merchant ships and coaststations must, however, be called in the wave length definitelyspecified for their use. "

"Shipboard stations seem to have more rules than the others, "commented Dick. 

"Not more rules but different ones, " Bob said. "You see their nearnessto other ships makes this imperative. Each ship has to take care notto knock out the apparatus of its neighbor by inconsiderate use of ahigh-power current; also it must not cause undue interference. Inother words, a bevy of ships, like a group of persons, must becourteous to one another. If a ship within a ten-mile radius ofanother is receiving signals that are so faint that they are difficultto distinguish, a neighboring vessel should not complicate matters bytrying to transmit a message until the other ship has received whatwas coming in. This rule makes for ordinary politeness, that is all. "

"Couldn't the ship waiting to talk send a message in a different wavelength?" inquired Dick. 

"Oh, yes; that would be quite possible, if the tune varied enough tomake it perfectly distinct. "

"But what about high-power stations?" demanded Walter. "They handleimportant stuff and of course cannot keep stopping for other peopleto talk. Don't their powerful currents damage the receiving sets instations near them? I should think they might even injure their own. "

"High-power, or long-distance stations have still another problem tomeet and they meet it in a different way, " responded Bob. "In orderthat the currents they are obliged to use shall not destroy detectorsand other delicate receiving apparatus they carry on what are known asduplex operations. That is, the receiving station is constructed atsome distance from the sending station--often several miles away--andthe two parts of the service are performed independently by differentantennĉ. In this way sending and receiving can be carried on at thesame time in slightly varying wave lengths. "

"But how can they talk and act as one station if they are so farapart?" questioned His Highness much puzzled. 

"It is not as impossible as it seems. The operator at the sendingstation has a small sending key connected by electricity with a relayat the receiving station. By means of a lever and certain complexparaphernalia this key can be used as the sending key for the mainapparatus. Thus the station operated by distant control carries on aduplex system of transmission so that both sending and receivingstations are kept in touch with one another. "

"That is clever!" interrupted Mr. Crowninshield. 

"A high-power station has to be ingeniously equipped, " responded Bob, "for it does a great deal of business, rapid business and businessthat is important. In some stations so fast do the messages come inand so long are they that an automatic tape not unlike that seen atthe stock exchange is used to make perforated records of the dots anddashes. Later this punctured slip can be run through a Morse writerand the message taken down at leisure by the operator. Or sometimesphotographic or phonographic records are resorted to and these likethe others can be reproduced at a slower rate of speed and interpretedby the operator. "

"I should like that and then I wouldn't have to hurry, " murmuredNancy. 

"It must be jolly to be an operator in a long-distance station, " musedDick, "where real things are going on. "

"Perhaps it is, " was Bob's nonchalant answer. "I fancy, though, thatvery vital government messages go in cipher. Uncle Sam isn't riskinghaving his secrets published far and wide over the face of the wholeearth. Although for that matter all radio messages are secret. "

"But how can they be if any and everybody can listen in?"

"Well, on a high-power wave length probably ordinary persons would notbe able to listen in. Their apparatus would not be equipped for it. Should a station be able to, however, during critical periods, such astimes of war, the government takes no chances and orders all butcertain specified stations dismantled. That puts an end to intrudersunless a spy has a hidden wireless somewhere; and if he has he takesan almighty risk with his neck, that is all I can say, " concluded Bobwith a grin. 

"But operators have tongues and can talk, " Mrs. Crowninshieldsuggested. "Don't they sometimes?"

"Usually they do not know what the message passing through their handsmeans, " Bob answered. "But even should they contrive to study it outthey would not dare repeat it because of the penalty entailed. "

"Penalty?"

The young operator nodded. 

"You would not have to concern yourself much about blabbers if youheard what happens to them, " piped Walter, who suddenly found himselfon ground which previous instruction had rendered familiar. "It's offwith their heads!"

"Not really!" gasped the horrified Nancy. 

"Oh, he does not mean literally, " the elder brother explained. "But itis away with their license which is almost as disastrous a fate to aman who has planned to make his living by wireless. Nor is the loss ofthe license all that happens. In addition one is liable to atwo-hundred-and-fifty-dollar fine or three years' imprisonment. "

"Jove! They do come down on you!" Dick averred. 

"Ra-_ther_! You know, of course, that if you violate any clause ofyour radio agreement you may be fined one hundred dollars; and shouldan operator fake a distress call the fine is twenty-five hundreddollars, or five years in prison and perhaps both. Even the smallestfine one can get off with for such an offense is two years behind thebars. It makes you think twice before playing that little joke. Thegovernment is wise, too, to spread it on thick, for to fake an S O Swhich is given the right of way over every other signal would be acontemptible trick. Mild punishments like fines and imprisonmentswould be too good for the wretch who would so deliberately misleadpeople. Moreover a few such offenses would cause the importance of thecall to be discredited so that in time nobody would be in a rush topay attention to it. "

"I didn't realize an S O S so invariably had the right of way, "meditated Dick. "Of course I knew it was the distress signal at sea. "

"S O S in the International Morse Code is the universal distress calladopted by the common consent of our civilized nations at the wirelessconvention held at Berlin in 1906. Every radio station ashore orafloat is obliged to give it first place and do everything possible tofurther its demands. When a distress call is heard all ships andstations everywhere that hear it are in honor bound to stop whateverthey may be doing and listen; nor must they try to talk with the shipherself unless she asks them to. Instead, after she has sent out hercall for attention, which is equivalent to our _Hello_ of thetelephone, she gives her name; the name of the station or ship shewishes to talk with; states what the matter is; and defines as nearlyas she is able her position. This done she sends out a general calland if the station or ship she has asked aid from has not caught thesignal and fails to answer her, any operator within hearing may do so. The instant he begins to talk with her, however, all the otherslistening in must remain silent. At last, when the message isdelivered or the necessary conversation at an end, then the ship'sradio man sends out a broadcast to let everybody know that he hasfinished so that all stations may resume their regular routine. "

"Some system!" breathed Dick. 

"I guess you would think there was some system if you were to see abook of radio rules, " returned Bob. "I'll show you mine some day. Allthe various shore stations have their many regulations, as I have toldyou before; shipboard stations have theirs; and even the amateurs areprotected so that every class may get fair play and not bother hisneighbor. Wireless stations, you see, are not mere toys. They havework to do and must be able to do it unhampered. "

"I'd like a glimpse of that manual, " suggested Dick. 

"I'll bring it round to-morrow, " Bob answered, glancing at his watchand rising. 

The others rose too. 

"I suppose it would be no use to listen in for O'Connel again, "remarked Mr. Crowninshield. 

"I will if you like, " Bob responded. "I doubt, though, if it would doany good. "

"No, I guess it wouldn't. We shall just have to wait, " sighed theman. 

CHAPTER XVIII

THE NET TIGHTENS

When on the morrow no call of any kind came from O'Connel Mr. Crowninshield was, as his son expressed it, "fit to be tied. "

"I can't see why we do not hear something to-day, " fumed he. "He can'texpect us to _wait developments_ forever. Are you sure you did notmiss the signal, Bob. "

"I don't see how I could have missed it, " replied the operatorpatiently. 

"But he always does call, doesn't he?"

"He has for the last few days. "

"Then why not to-day?"

"I cannot imagine. Perhaps he couldn't. "

"You don't suppose anything has happened to Lola, do you?"

"Who can tell?"

"You are right; it was a foolish question, " admitted the financier, accepting the rebuke gracefully. "Still, I cannot help being anxiousand wondering. "

"Of course not. "

"If only that miserable inspector would turn up and you could get yourlicense! It is absurd that you cannot send a message, a man of yourexperience!"

"I am as sorry about the delay as you are, " Bob answered. "Perhaps Iam more so. Nevertheless I am not going to break the rules. Besides, were we to call O'Connel, it might arouse suspicion and get him intotrouble. It is far better to leave the calling to him. "

"But he hasn't called. "

"Then there is some good reason, I'll be bound. He knows what he isabout when he says to await developments. "

"Maybe he does, " sighed the elder man. "However, I am not much used towaiting. When I want a thing done, I want it done. "

Bob smiled at the characteristic remark. 

"You cannot whisk everything off like that, " observed he. "Sometimesit is necessary----"

"To wait? Yes, I suppose so, " put in Mr. Crowninshield. "Well, I willhold my horses for one more day. But I warn you to-morrow I shall dosomething. I can't be hanging around like this--not knowing anythingor hearing anything. "

"It is hard, " Bob returned sympathetically. 

"It is hard for one born in New York and accustomed to seeing thingshum, " asserted the owner of Surfside with a wry smile. "Well, we musttry to forget it, that's all. Come, get your books and let us go onwith our radio lesson from the point where we left it yesterday. Therest of them are waiting and there seems to be nothing better that wecan do. "

Fortunately Bob was not sensitive enough to be hurt by the thrust. 

"I'll be right along, " agreed he, "as soon as I have locked up here. "

On reaching the veranda he found his class assembled and the firstcomment to reach his ears was:

"No news from O'Connel, eh?"

"No, Dick. "

"What in thunder do you suppose has become of him?"

Bob put his finger to his lips and taking the hint the boy abandonedthe subject, inquiring instead:

"Isn't it a bore to have to listen in at just such a time every daywhether it is convenient or not--I mean when you are in charge of astation. "

"Sometimes it is, " Bob responded. "Still, it is your job and youexpect to put it first and fit your own affairs in around it. Besides, you get used to the regularity of the hours and soon do not notice themonotony of the rules. You can readily understand why, at all officialradio stations, somebody must always be on the watch for S O S calls. On shipboard there are three classes of wireless stations: thosehaving continual service with an operator who always has his ear tothe receiver while the ship is in motion; those where the office isopen only at stated hours and an operator listening merely for alimited time; and those whose operators have no fixed time beyondlistening in the first ten minutes of each hour. "

"The ship decides which kind of station it will have, I suppose, "Nancy remarked. 

"Indeed it doesn't, " Bob contradicted, with a shake of his head. "Thegovernment saves the vessel that trouble. It defines exactly the sortof station when it issues the license. Uncle Sam also bestows on eachof these stations a name or combination of letters by which it shallbe known and under which it is officially listed. Each country has aprescribed number of such letters allotted for its use at theInternational Convention at Berne, and our nation is authorized to usegroups beginning with N and W; also triple groups of KIA to KZZ. Youwill find all these call letters in a book that contains the wirelesstelegraph stations of the world, a volume issued by the internationalpublication office at Berne. "

"Can any one get one?" inquired Walter. 

"Certainly, if he has the price, " smiled the older brother. "I guessyou do not need one, though. A local call book would answer mostpurposes. It would hardly be necessary for you to call any foreignoffices, and I even doubt if you would need to summon Sayville, Tuckerton, New Brunswick, Marion, or Annapolis. "

"Those are our trans-Atlantic stations, aren't they?" asked Dick. 

"Some of them, " Bob said. "We have others, though, that can talk withEurope. There is one at San Diego; Pearl Harbor in Hawaii; and Cavitein the Philippines. There are also Marconi stations at Kahuka andBolinas. In addition to these, the government has a number ofhigh-power stations scattered throughout the country. Arlington, Virginia----"

"Sends out the time, " put in Walter with disconcerting promptness. 

"It sure does, sonny. "

"How many foreign countries can talk with us?" inquired Nancy. 

"A short time ago there were eight that could talk direct. One is atFunabashi, Japan; one at Carnarvon, Wales; two in France, one atNantes and one at Lyons; Rome, Italy, has one; Germany has one atNauen and one at Eilvese, Hanover; and Norway has one at Stavanger. Then in Canada there are two transatlantic stations. "

"Glace Bay!" piped the incorrigible Walter. 

Bob patted his head with a mock fatherly gesture. 

"Very good, son, " said he, at which everybody laughed. 

"These stations, " he went on, "are all equipped with very high power, varying in wave length anywhere from 17, 600 to 6, 000 meters. Most ofour stations are pretty powerful, anyway. Pearl Harbor, for instance, has a 13, 000 wave length; Cavite 12, 000; Sayville, 11, 600; Tuckerton, owned by a French company, about 8, 700; New Brunswick, New Jersey, 13, 600; Marion, Massachusetts, 14, 400; and Annapolis, 17, 600. Only afew foreign stations can match these in range. Carnarvon has two wavelengths: 14, 000 and 11, 500; Lyons, 15, 500; Nantes, 10, 000; Rome, 11, 500; Nauen, 12, 550; Eilvese (Hanover), 15, 000 and 9, 600; andStavanger, Norway, 9, 600. There are many, however, that vary from7, 000 to 4, 000 and can transmit messages by relaying them. "

"I wish my set could send farther, " Dick murmured regretfully. 

"It sends as far as the law allows. We must therefore abide by UncleSam's judgment and be content. The scale is very carefully planned andthe classifications made most intelligently, I think. Amateurs arelimited to about a 200-meter wave length; low-power stations come nextand are grouped under 1, 600 meters. Of these the 750 wave is reservedfor government stations such as radio compass stations, etc. ; 600meters is the commercial tune for large merchant ships; 476 that ofsubmarines, aircraft, and small war vessels; and 300 meters is thecommercial tune for small vessels. After that we pass into the highergroup, all of which come under the head of medium-power stations. These range from 4, 000 to 1, 800 meters and first on the list are thegovernment ships which have continuous waves and a length of from3, 000 to 4, 000 meters. Following them come the experimental andmiscellaneous stations with a 3, 000 to 2, 000-meter range; and afterthem the 1, 800-meter class which is the commercial tune for continuouswaves. "

"And the high-power stations are the last, I suppose, " put in Dick. 

"Yes, those designed for trans-oceanic service. These range from20, 000 to 6, 000 meters. The distinctions are, you see, quitepositively made and everybody must keep within his assignedpigeon-hole. "

"I reckon I'll keep in mine, " announced Dick. 

"I should advise it if you want smooth sailing, " retorted Bob. "Youwill hardly----" but the sentence was never finished for a maidapproached Mr. Crowninshield at the moment and whispered:

"The telephone, sir; New York is speaking. "

"New York, Dad!" exclaimed Dick excitedly. "It may be Lyman or Dacie. "

"More likely it is the office, " replied his mother. 

"Some business matter, I fancy, " said Mr. Crowninshield as he rose. "I'm sorry to interrupt the lesson. "

"I was just about through, sir. "

"I'll be back in a moment probably. "

"Poor father always has telephone calls, " lamented Nancysympathetically. "If he ever starts out to play golf somebody is sureto want him. Sometimes I wish that New York office was in the bottomof the sea. "

"I guess you'd have precious little bread and butter if it was, "announced Dick with brotherly sarcasm. 

"Certainly you wouldn't be able to provide me with any, " Nancy flashedback with a teasing laugh. 

"Children!" interposed Mrs. Crowninshield. 

"Here's Dad! Well, Pater, what was it?" asked Dick. Then on observinghis father was unwontedly excited he repeated, "What's up, Dad?"

"It was Lyman, " Mr. Crowninshield answered. "The New York police haverun down two men and Mr. Lyman wants Bob to come over and see if hecan identify either of them as the one who kidnapped Lola. "

"You could identify him, couldn't you, Bob?" Walter put in. 

"Of course I could. Didn't the chap come into the station to get waterfor his machine?" was the instant reply. "I talked with him quite abit while he was fixing up his engine. He seemed in a powerful rush tobe off and wasn't overgracious. "

"But could Bob leave now, Archibald?" questioned his wife. "Isn'tthere the possibility of news from Mr. O'Connel?"

"Jove! I had forgotten that. "

"Maybe O'Connel won't call; he didn't to-day, you know, " Nancy said. 

"It seems to me Bob ought to go and land those chaps if there is achance of doing it, " Dick declared. "He would not need to be gone morethan one night, would he?"

"No. Nevertheless, he would miss the morning wireless, " returned Mr. Crowninshield. "Should there be important news we should not get it. "

"It is a pity you boys can't take a message, " Nancy remarked, turningtoward her brother and Walter. "If you only had your Morse codelearned you might be quite some good to us now. "

"I wish I had whooped up on it faster, " bewailed Dick, with engagingcandor. "I'm an awful rotter--plain lazy, I guess. "

"Well, I don't know but we'd better let Bob go, all thingsconsidered, " observed Mr. Crowninshield, who had been quietly thinkingthe matter over. 

"I say Bob goes, too, " reiterated Dick. "It is worth something to putsuch fellows as those dog thieves behind the bars. "

"You can connect with the Fall River boat or one passing through theCanal and be in New York in the morning, Bob, " the elder man asserted. "Lyman will meet you, hustle things along, and send you home on thenoon train. With Dick's racing car to pick you up somewhere along theline there is no reason why we should not have you back here beforeanother morning. You've no time to spare, though, for lingering anddiscussing wireless and its wonders. Trot along and pack up your dudsand get some luncheon. I'll call up Wheeler and have him ready tocarry you to the train. Do not bother your head about connections; Iwill look up everything and tell you exactly what to do. "

In a flurry of anticipation off hastened Bob. 

"Gee! Isn't it the limit that we haven't brains enough to getO'Connel?" murmured Dick to Walter in a disgusted whisper. "I ought tohave duffed in harder on the blamed code. But I thought there was nohurry. We seemed to have all summer to learn it. "

"Maybe he won't call, " His Highness suggested hopefully. 

"I hope to blazes he doesn't, " was the retort. "I'd feel cheap as dirtto have that ticker go clicking out a message and I not be able to geta word of it. "

CHAPTER XIX

WALTER STEPS INTO THE BREACH

With Bob gone and radio lessons suspended the following morning seemedto both Dick and Walter an unwontedly quiet one. Moreover with ascorching sun high in the heaven, no breeze, and a dead low tide mostof the activities to which the boys might have resorted were out ofthe question. 

"Think of the sailing breeze we've seen blowing lots of mornings whenwe couldn't go out, " grumbled Dick. "Isn't it infernal luck?"

"Why don't you take your car and go for a spin, " Nancy suggested. 

"Wheeler has it, silly. He's meeting Bob. "

"I couldn't go motoring anyway, " put in Walter. "I've got the dogs tochase round. "

"You're not going out with them now, " objected Dick. 

"Not quite yet. I had them out before breakfast. "

"What do you say we go over and fool round with the radio a while?"Dick yawned. "We've nothing better to do. "

"All right. We can at least listen in for a spell. We've got thatfar. "

"You boys better not go getting that wireless all out of order whileBob is away, " cautioned Nancy. "He'd be ripping mad to get home andfind it out of commission. Father wouldn't like it, either. "

"Oh, we're not going to hurt the precious radio, " sniffed Dick. "Don'tyou think we know anything?"

"Not much, " fluted Nancy as she flounced away. 

"At least she does not flatter us, " grinned His Highness, quiteunruffled by the girl's frankness. 

"Oh, sisters never think a fellow knows anything, especially whenthey're older, " Dick grumbled, as he unlocked the door of the lowbuilding and met the blast of close, stifling air that came out. "Scott! The place is like an oven, isn't it? Open a window, can'tyou?" he continued. 

"Sure! There is some heat, I'll say. Just as well we dropped round ifonly to air the place out, " Walter replied. 

Together they switched on the current, regulated amplifier, detector, and tuner, and each with a head receiver tight to his ears sat down. 

"Whee, but it is thick, to-day!" shouted Dick. "Run the tune up, kid, and see if we get anything. "

"It is always bad a day like this, " called Walter. "Besides, everybodyseems to be butting in in the morning. Infernal, isn't it?"

"Let her go up to O'Connel's pitch. It can't do any harm. "

"It isn't time for him to call, is it?"

"Pretty near. "

"But what good would it do even if we did get his signal?"

"We should at least know he had something to say to us. "

"I should consider that a negative satisfaction, " Walter replied. "Itwould just be an aggravation. However, here she goes! As you say, itcan harm nobody to get the right meter. "

"There's that old commercial station up the Cape, " announced Dick, presently. "That fellow is always on the job at this hour. "

"Probably he has to be, poor soul, " Walter returned. "We'll get rid ofhim in a minute. _What was that?_"

"It is some one on our line. That's the _Siren's_ call. It's O'Connel!Jove! What are you doing, man? What are you going to do?" asked Dickexcitedly as he saw Walter's hand go out. 

"Paper! Pencil! Hurry, can't you?" gasped Walter. 

"Do you mean----"

"Let's both take it down in dots and dashes. Between us we may be ableto make some sense out of it afterward. Quick!"

Clearly and evenly the message ticked itself off. Then there wassilence. 

"Get any of it?" Walter demanded, breathlessly tossing the receiveraside and shutting off the current. 

"About two words. He went so fast----Did you get anything?"

"Oh, I've got something; but whether it will make any sense remains tobe seen, " said His Highness eagerly. "Where is the key! Toss itover. "

[Illustration: Clearly and evenly the message ticked itself off. Thenthere was silence. _Page_ 240. ]

"Here we go. Dot, dash, ----"

"That's the letter A, you squarehead! I know what that first part is;it is always the same and we needn't fuss to translate it. _Aboardyacht Siren. _ I don't care, either, where she is. What we want to getat is what she wants to say. "

"But how can we tell where all that stuff leaves off?"

"I mean to tell, " declared Walter with determination. 

"But there is punctuation and other rubbish mixed in with theletters. "

"No matter. Have a little patience, man!"

Nevertheless, in spite of all the patience and perseverance the boyscould muster the magic message remained an enigma and at the end of anhour both were obliged to admit themselves beaten. 

"It is worse than getting no message at all, " lamented Walter. 

"It certainly does not do us much good, " assented Dick. 

"Do you suppose your father knows anything about the Morse code?"

"Dad? Good heavens, no! Still we might take the thing up to the houseand show it to him. "

"I don't imagine it is right, do you?" speculated Walter. "No doubt wemissed some of it or made mistakes. Still, what we contrived to writeagrees fairly well, so some of it must be correct. Let's take it toyour father. What do you say?"

"I feel like such a boob not to be able to make it out, " Dickanswered with evident reluctance at confessing himself floored. 

"But we'll have to tell him O'Connel called. We've got to do thatanyhow; so he may as well know the rest of it, " Walter persisted. 

"All right. We'll hunt him up. I warn you, though, that he will joshus most unmercifully. He'll pitch into me, too, and ask me why Ihaven't learned my Morse International before this. See if hedoesn't. "

"It is one thing to learn the code out of a book and quite another tobe smart enough to read it or take it down, " Walter maintainedstoutly. "Nobody ought to expect you to be able to get a message theway Bob does. Why, he has been at the job years!"

"I know he has, " Dick responded, slightly comforted. "Still, Dad willrag me, just the same. See if he doesn't!"

Locking the door and pausing to gain courage they set out over thelawn. Then suddenly, midway across the grass, His Highness came to astop. 

"Mr. Burns!" he cried, wheeling round. "Why didn't I think of himbefore?"

"What on earth are you talking about?" asked Dick, astounded by hiscompanion's strange conduct. 

"Mr. Burns!" repeated Walter. "Come along. Can't one of the chauffeurstake us down there?"

"For mercy's sake who is Mr. Burns, and why do you want to go and seehim hot off the bat?"

"Mr. Burns, the telegraph operator, " Walter contrived to stammer. "Hemust know Morse International. He has to know both the Morse Americanwhich telegraph operators use on land, and the other code, I'm prettysure. "

"But maybe what we've got down doesn't make sense, " objected Dick. "You've a husky nerve to go toting that scrawl of ours to aprofessional. "

"I don't care, " grinned Walter. "I'm not afraid of Mr. Burns. He'sdriven me out of the station too many times when I was a kid. I willown, however, that I have more respect for him since I've learned whatit means to run a telegraph. "

"He may drive you out of the station this time, " Dick ventured with agrimace. 

"I'll bet he won't, " was the sanguine response. "We've made it upsince then. I've even helped old Burnsie shovel his snow now and then. He'll do a good turn for me, I'll bet. "

"Come on then, if you are so sure of it, " Dick answered, stridingtoward the garage. 

"You're sure your father won't mind our taking the car?"

"He doesn't want it this morning. He is going to hang round and see ifBob calls him from New York. Besides, he said it was too hot to motor. Will Burns be at the station now?"

"He will if a train is due, " announced Walter. "If the office islocked we can chase him to his house. "

"All right! This is your party, remember, " Dick said a triflewickedly. It was evident he had no faith in the expedition. Notwithstanding his skepticisms, however, he ordered out the car andhe and Walter sped away on their errand. 

"It is time for a train, " announced Walter in an undertone, as theyneared the station. "See, there are people waiting. It is the noontrain from Boston. "

"Burns will be too busy then to bother his head over fake messages, Iguess, " sniffed Dick. 

"Maybe not. At least we can try him, " was His Highness's optimisticassertion. "Hi, Mr. Burns!" The lad was out of the car and hasteningalong in the wake of a much sunburned station agent in blue denimoveralls. 

"Wal, if it ain't Walter King! What you after, young one? I hearyou've become the proprietor of Surfside--bought out the whole darnplace for yourself. "

"I did buy it but I'm going to sell it again. It's too small. I can'tget room enough to stretch up there, " came impishly from the lad onthe platform. 

"Show! You don't say!" drawled Mr. Burns with obvious relish of thejoke. "Well, it ain't wise to be cramped. Maybe you wouldn't get yourgrowth if you were. "

He cast a glance toward the short, thick-set figure behind him. 

"I say, Mr. Burns, " burst out Walter, "are you terribly busy? I've gotsomething I want to show you. "

"What is it?" demanded the man, halting and holding suspended in hishand a cerulean blue egg case. 

"I don't know what it is--that's just the trouble, " answered Waltermysteriously. 

"What you up to anyhow?" demanded Mr. Burns suspiciously. 

Walter thrust forth the sheet of paper he had drawn from his pocket. 

In his rough, grimy hand the telegraph operator took it. 

"Where did you get this?" demanded he, glancing sharply over the topof his spectacles. 

"Why, we have a wireless up at Surfside and this thing--or somethinglike it that we didn't know enough to write down, came this morning. "

"But I heard your brother Bob was up there. "

"He had to go to New York yesterday. "

"And left you to tend the tape, did he?" grinned the old man. 

"Not much. He knows I'd be a duffer at the job, " affirmed Walter. 

"Mebbe you ain't as much of a duffer as you think. You managed to getthis down on paper. "

"We managed to together--Dick and I, " explained Walter. "I don'tsuppose, though, we got it anywhere near straight. Does it make anysense at all?"

"Sure it makes sense!" announced Mr. Burns with a vim that quite tookWalter's breath away. "There's queer spots in it here and there--a fewletters that ain't needed, perhaps. Still, you can omit 'em since theyserve no particular purpose. "

"But what is the message? What does it say?" clamored Walter allimpatience. 

"Well, it ain't so thrillin' you need to go into a thousand piecesover it, " commented the Cape Codder dryly. "Some friend of Mr. Crowninshield's 'pears to be comin' down here on the afternoon trainbringin' with him his wife--either his wife or daughter. "

"What!" Walter ejaculated weakly. 

"That's what he says, " continued Mr. Burns, calmly rereading thedocument he held. "Evidently some relation--or at least a person whofeels he has the right to boss, for he says he wants to be met at thetrain. "

"Did I get the name?"

"Yes, that's here. I may's well read you the whole thing with theexception of the extra touches you've added. "

"I wish to goodness you would. "

"'Tain't nothin' interestin', as I said before, " insisted Mr. Burns, readjusting his spectacles. "'_Coming on afternoon train and bringingLola. Meet me, O'Con_----' Where in thunder you goin?" The operatorgazed in amazement as a pair of chubby legs vanished up the platform. 

"That's all right, Mr. Burns! I don't want the paper back. You cankeep it to remember me by. Thanks!" Then to Dick he shouted as hesprang into the car:

"We're off for home fast as we can make it, old man! Such news! Yourfather will be crazy! Whee! Hurrah!"

"If it is all the same to you, " observed Dick with scorching sarcasm, "it would be pleasant to know the import of the message I took down. "

"_You_ took down--well I like that! _You_ took down! Why, man, youcould not even read it yourself! It is the message _I_ took down, myson. "

"_We_ took down, " corrected Dick. 

They both laughed. 

"O'Connel's coming this afternoon! What do you say to that?"

"Great Scott! But what----"

"He's bringing his wife or daughter, " continued Walter with a wickedtwinkle in his eye. 

"What?" exclaimed his bewildered listener. 

"Oh, this is rich! Rich!" continued His Highness with a paroxysm oflaughter. "Wait until we tell your father! My soul and body! I'm sicklaughing!"

"You might tell me the joke. "

"I can't--I can't!" roared the boy. "It is too good!"

"And--and what about Lola?" stammered Dick. 

"Why, you see Burns thought--my, but it's rich! Ha, ha! Burnsunderstood that--oh, it's a scream!" and with that Dick was forced tobe content. 

CHAPTER XX

THE RETURN OF THE WANDERERS

When Walter and Dick returned to Surfside with their tidings Mr. Crowninshield's satisfaction and delight could hardly be expressed. How he laughed at Burns's interpretation of O'Connel's message! Andhow Dick laughed when at last the joke was imparted to him!

"Well, you two boys have been almighty clever between you, " commentedthe elder man. "I would not have credited either of you with so manybrains. To think of your getting that radio call! It is marvelous. Andthen to take it to Burns! That was a master stroke. The idea wouldnever have entered my head. But what puzzles me is the message itself. Do you suppose O'Connel has kidnapped Lola; or how has he gotpossession of her? And how has he contrived to escape from the yachtwithout being held up? I don't understand it at all. It isn't likelyDaly has let him walk off unmolested with the dog. The thing is morethan I can fathom. "

"Perhaps Mr. Daly has relented and is sending Lola back, " suggestedWalter. 

"Not on your life, youngster! You don't know Daly, " was the instantreply. "He would never admit himself beaten and give up that pup. Moreover the affair has cost him too much money, risk and trouble forhim to abandon his scheme. If he wanted Lola bad enough to hiresomebody to steal her he still wants her, mark my word! No, there issomething behind all this that we haven't reached. O'Connel has madeoff with the dog somehow. Just how I am at a loss to tell. We shallhave to wait until he himself comes and enlightens us. "

"Anything heard from Bob?" questioned Walter. 

"Yes, I've had a wire. They've got the men they were after all rightand he will be back to-night. "

"What did he say about it?" asked Dick eagerly. 

"Nothing. You cannot tell an entire story in a telegram, you know. Buthe has accomplished what he went for. I fancy he always does, " addedthe master of the estate with a smile. 

"Generally, sir, " nodded Walter proudly. 

Mr. Crowninshield took a turn or two across the room. 

"I mean to keep Bob with us this winter if I can prevail upon him tostay, " remarked the financier presently. "He is too able a chap tolose sight of. I can find a big paying berth for him in New York andif he will take it, your mother won't have to worry any further aboutmoney affairs. And if you, sonny, make good and do as well as yourbrother"--he patted Walter's shoulder, "I'll do the same for you someday. You have done well this summer. Finish up your school work andthen we'll see. "

"You are very kind, Mr. Crowninshield, " the boy stammered. 

"Not a bit. We all ought to give the chap who is willing to climb ahand up the ladder. What are we in the world for?"

"I know my mother will be----"

"There, there!" interrupted the great man. "Your mother has two finesons that she may well be proud of. She has had a little hard sleddingto get them on their feet, that's all. Now it is their turn to liftthe burden and repay her. I am simply going to see that they get thechance to do it. The rest I feel certain I can leave to them. "

"We do want to help mother, " Walter replied with sincerity. 

"I know you do; both of you have proved it this summer. From now on Iintend your mother shall have no anxiety about her finances. We'll puther where she will be perfectly independent of those uncles of yours, and of summer boarders as well. "

The lip of His Highness trembled and he could not speak. 

"Some day I expect Dick and Nancy will be looking out for their motherand me just this way, " continued Mr. Crowninshield half humorously. "There will be Lola to support, too. "

Dick burst into a peal of laughter. 

"You will have to cut out indulging in so many detectives if I'm topay the bills, Dad, " answered he. 

"Oh, you must not deprive me of my little luxuries, " returned hisfather. "One must have some amusement, remember. "

"I'm afraid you will have to choose a cheaper one then. "

"I'll think it over. If, however, I discover you cannot maintain meand my trifling pleasures I may abandon you and turn to Walter tosupport me in my old age. "

Lighting a cigar he strolled away. 

The boys ambled toward the boathouse. There was still three hoursbefore the Boston train, bringing O'Connel, would arrive. In themeantime they indulged in a swim; took the dogs for a run; hadluncheon; paddled round the bay in Dick's canoe; and did everythingthey could think of to hurry the moments along. 

And when the car bearing Mr. Crowninshield and O'Connel did actuallyroll into the drive what a state of excitement they were in!

Yes, there was Lola--there was no contesting that! She was a weak, wretched little dog but it was she. 

"However did you manage it, Mr. O'Connel?" cried Mrs. Crowninshieldwho had come racing down the steps and gathered her favorite into herarms. 

Breathlessly the group clustered about the wee puppy. 

"Well, the first thing I did was to convince myself the dog aboardthe yacht was really the one we were after. One day when the partywent ashore I hunted up the supposed Trixie and called her by her realname. You should have seen her prick up her ears, poor little mite! Ihad her licking my hand inside a minute. From that instant I began toscheme. I found I couldn't send you many radio calls because theywatched me too closely. I think the mate suspected something--justwhat, I could not make out, for I don't think he was in the secret ofthe dog's capture. Anyway, I decided to steer clear of the wirelessand trust to luck. At last my chance came. Some equipment was neededand it was decided I was to be put ashore and get it. By this timeLola, who for the last few days had refused to eat, had begun to showdecidedly alarming symptoms. I diagnosed the case as plainhomesickness and privately resolved to get her off the yacht if it wasa possible thing; but Mr. Daly thought she had distemper or somethingand was mightily cut up. He didn't want the animal to die on his handsafter all he had gone through to get her. Altogether he began to bepretty uneasy and you may be sure I did my part to make him so. Everychance I got I would remark how sick his dog seemed. Of course Iwasn't supposed to know it wasn't one he had had for years. I keptharping on the puppie's health until I had him fussed to death. Atlast he said: 'I don't know but what you are right about Trixie, O'Connel. If they are going to put you ashore at Boston to buysupplies, why wouldn't it be a good plan for you to take the dog tothe animal hospital there? You could leave her and later we could goback and get her. She does seem ailing, and I haven't the ghost of anidea what to do with a sick dog. Besides, she is a nuisance on theyacht if she must be catered to all the time. ' Well, as you canimagine, I jumped at the chance although I took every pains not to lethim suspect I did. I told him that of course if he wanted me to takethe dog I should be glad to do it. I liked animals and also I wishedto accommodate him. There was no denying, however, that to carry Lolawith me would delay me in town. Still, if he desired it I would do mybest to see that she was taken _where she would get well_. "

The big fellow paused and laughed heartily. 

"I've kept that promise, too, " grinned he. "I have sent a note back tothe _Siren_ recalling the phrase to Mr. Daly, and telling him thathaving decided Lola would recover more completely if placed under theprotection of her rightful owners I was taking her back there. "

"I'd like to see his face when he gets that letter!" said Mr. Crowninshield, rubbing his hands. 

"So should I, " roared O'Connel, his broad shoulders shaking. 

"But won't he----" Mrs. Crowninshield looked anxious. 

"Won't he what, my dear?" inquired her husband. 

"Aren't you afraid he will be angry and----" she held the wee dogcloser in her arms. 

"He will be angry all right, " agreed O'Connel. "But you need have nofears that he will do anything more, ma'am. He is on too dangerousground. In the first place he cannot accuse me of appropriating hisdog for I can answer him that it was stolen in the first place. And hecannot say I deserted his ship for all is fair in love and war, youknow. No, Daly is a good sport and he will instantly understand thathe has been beaten. We have been one too many for him, that is all. Moreover, he won't be feeling any too comfortable for he is stilluncertain as to what Mr. Crowninshield may be planning to do with him. Oh, Daly won't stir up trouble. You can trust him for that. On thecontrary he probably will clear out of reach of any possible storm. Itis his only course and he will be canny enough to take it. "

"But you are not going to let him go scott free, are you Dad?"demanded Dick. 

"Oh, I don't know. What's the use of fighting a skunk like that? Wehave our dog back and Daly must acknowledge that he has been beaten. That is about all I want. He won't try anything more for I have awhiplash over him as he is well aware. Any time I can prosecute himfor receiving stolen goods and being an accomplice in a robbery. Withthe evidence I have such a case would go overwhelmingly against himshould it reach the courts. He is not for bringing that issue to ahead, you may rest assured of that. "

"But you do mean to jail the men who actually took Lola, Father, " putin Nancy. "If you do that, won't the whole affair have to be aired andMr. Daly dragged into the trial?"

Her father did not answer immediately and before he had framed hisreply wheels were heard and Wheeler, driving Dick's racing car, drewup at the steps. 

"It's Bob, as I live!" shouted Walter. "Hello, Bobbie! Hello, oldchap!"

"Welcome home, Bob!" called Mr. Crowninshield going forward to meetthe lad. 

"We have a surprise for you, Bob!" called Nancy. "Guess who's here?"

"I can't, " smiled the wireless man coming up to the piazza and shakinghands all round. Then his eye lighted on O'Connel. 

"My word! How did you get here, old top? Fired from your job?"

For answer Mrs. Crowninshield held up Lola. 

"The pup herself! Well, well! What's been happening in my absence, anyhow?"

"I don't wonder you want to know, " cried Nancy above the generalclamor. 

"Hush! Do stop everybody. You are making a far worse noise than evercame through that radiophone. "

"First let's have Bob's story. We haven't heard that yet, " Mr. Crowninshield said. "Tell us what happened to you in New York, myboy. "

Bob dropped into a chair. 

"Well, as I wired you, Dacie and Lyman have landed your men. Irecognized the fellow who came to Seaver Bay for water the instant Iset eyes on him. He recognized me, too, and knew the game was up. Itseems, though, that he and his pal are wanted in California on a priorcharge. A big burglary, I think it is. Anyway, they have got to betaken out there and tried first. In the meantime our complaint can belodged against them and----"

"Aren't we to have the fun of jailing them after all?" asked Dick indismay. 

"They will be jailed, never fear, " returned Bob. "They will get astiff sentence, too, I imagine. "

Mr. Crowninshield was silent and his wife now glanced toward him. 

"Are you disappointed, Archibald?" inquired she. 

"I guess, " responded he slowly, "that is a good way out of ourdilemma. The villains will be carried far away from this vicinity andwill without doubt get all that's coming to them. What more can weask? We've won the game--taken every trick and made a clean sweep ofthe whole business. Now that I've got Lola home I don't much careabout the rest of it. What do you say we let well enough alone anddrop it?"

"I should say that with every day of your life you were growing wiser, my dear, " answered his wife softly. 

FINIS. 

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_The first volume in "The Invention Series"_

PAUL AND THE PRINTING PRESS

_By_ SARA WARE BASSETT

With illustrations by A. O. Scott

_12mo. Cloth. 218 pages. _

Paul Cameron, president of the class of 1920 in the Burmingham HighSchool, conceives the idea of establishing a school paper, to thehonor and glory of his class. So _The March Hare_ comes intoexistence, and Paul and his schoolfellows bend all their energies tomaking it a success. They have their difficulties and Paul inparticular bears the brunt of their troubles, but _The March Hare_lives up to its reputation for life and liveliness and becomes notonly a class success, but a town institution. This is the first volumein "The Invention Series. "

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