Frank V. Webster

“ There was an abrupt lull in the conversation as the Morgan automobile came down the beach road from the direction of Rockley Cove. Mr. Morgan gave the chauffeur the signal to stop and leaped from the machine in an excited way.
The politic young Aldrich advanced to meet the capitalist, all smiles and ceremony. Mr. Morgan almost brushed him aside, not even noticing the extended hand.
He went straight up to Tom, and his eyes glowed with friendly interest. Mr. Morgan caught both of Tom’s hands in his own and gave them a hearty shake. ”

“ Station Z quivered like an eggshell in the hand of a giant. A loose piece of wood from the roof of the operating cabin struck a sash, demolishing two panes of glass, and the iron framework rocked to and fro in the heaviest wind storm that had struck Sandy Point in years.
Tom Barnes glanced anxiously at the delicate wireless apparatus which shared sensitively in the pervading disturbance. His companion, Harry Ashley, was looking around for something to fasten over the broken window to shut out the driving rain. ”

“ The dock at Brookville was crowded by residents of the little town as the Beulah drove into comparatively smooth water in the coaling slip. Men with lanterns, and some women too, had braved the rain and wind, alarmed, and anxious to be helpful when the rumor had spread that a steamer was aground on Garvey Rocks.
Tom expressed a great sigh of relief as willing hands caught the cable he threw to the dock. He shut off the power, and as he passed Bill, grim and business-like at his post of duty, he bestowed a hearty smack between the shoulders. ”

“ Another rocket went up. It was followed by a ringing cheer. The launch, slowing down, came directly into the strong central focus of the bulkhead reflector. Those working about the ship, clinging to this and that as they moved about, paused to stare at the staunch little craft of rescue. The passengers huddled together lost their terror and a babel of excited, hopeful, joyous voices sounded out.
“Oh Tom!—Tom!”
The young wireless operator thrilled with an emotion he could not analyze. In an instant he recognized the voice of Grace Morgan. ”

“ Beulah was the name of the big pretentious gasoline launch in which Bert Aldrich had arrived in state at Rockley Cove. He had bragged mightily concerning its possibilities. Tom had seen him do things with it, too. The Beulah was a wonder as to speed and staunchness. A thrilling resolution fixed our hero’s mind. He would arouse the people, reach Aldrich and influence him to loan the boat for an attempted rescue at sea. ”

“ Bill sounded the bell at the wheel and Tom with lightning speed made a dash for the lever. He reversed just as the giant hull of the steamer flung down with crushing force.
“Fire! murder! help! police!” yelled the frantic fat old man on deck, as his fond hopes vanished with the receding launch.
“Stand by!” shouted the captain of the steamer to Tom. “There’s a dozen passengers left yet.”
“There’s room with crowding, if you can get them aboard,” reported Tom.
“Life preservers, all!” roared the captain. “One more lurch like that, and she’ll split in two! Lower the men passengers.” ”

“ Ben was quite silent. He stole many a furtive look at Harry as they proceeded on their way. He was half satisfied with the lame explanation of his actions the boy had made in the wireless tower. He forged ahead a few yards with Tom as they came to the road leading south towards his home.
“I say, Tom,” he remarked in a low tone, “there’s some mystery about that fellow.”
“Well, if that’s true,” returned Tom, “let the future work it out. He strikes me as a poor unfortunate who needs some help, and I’m going to give it to him.”
“That’s natural,” retorted Ben, “you’re always helping somebody.” ”

“ If I were you, I would try and induce your aunt to remain at Brookville till morning. I know you will both be taken care of by these good people.”
“I will try and console her to your opinion,” responded Grace. She gave him a bright look. “Oh, Tom,” she cried, bursting girl-like into tears of mingled pride and joy, “you have acted just—splendid!”
She seized both his hands in her own and smiled in grateful friendship at him, as he helped her into the ’bus. Just then those on the dock broke out into ringing cheers.
“The steam tug!” said Tom, noticing the craft approach. ”

“ There was the excitement of a new landing, eager questioning, rapid explanations; and Bill, who had left the launch and mingled with the crowd, approached Tom, smiling with good nature, his hands in his pockets, a certain element of pride and exaltation in his stride.
“Not a person lost,” he reported in glad tones.
“The captain of the Olivia is looking for you, and——”
“That’s the lad,” sounded the voice of the tug captain, and the man with him who wore a cap with an official band of gold braid around it, seized Tom as if he feared he might run away from him. ”

“ Finally the man rode up.
“What news?” inquired Tom eagerly.
“I traced the wagon five miles,” reported the man, “lost it at the crossroads, and couldn’t get the trail again.”
Tom hurried to the telephone and called up every exchange within a radius of twenty miles, explaining briefly but clearly what he wanted.
“About all you can do is to wait, Tom,” said his mother, who tried to conceal her solicitude for the missing boy.
“It seems to me those men cannot get through the network of people watching out for them,” spoke Tom. “I must do all I can, though, myself, for Harry.” ”

“ The first splash of spray, dense and blinding, covered Bill like a veil. A great wave sent the craft hurtling along like an arrow. Tom realized that they were bent on a desperately dangerous venture.
“We can’t line the shore; we must get out further from land,” Bill shouted back.
Bill, once past danger of sandbars and breakers, had turned the course due southeast. On every calculation of knowledge of locality and distances, this it seemed would be sure to bring them in direct range of Garvey Rocks. ”

“ Tom was helpless. He could not possibly force the heavy door of the closet from its fastenings. Shouting would do no good. If he attempted it, his jailers would probably treat him roughly, for they were vicious-looking fellows. Tom hoped for the return of Ben and Harry, or the arrival of someone else to interrupt the man at the table. Meanwhile he was on the keen alert as to all that individual was doing.
The minute this man got his bearings, he started in with confidence. Tom learned that he was flashing a message to the steamer Councillor, bound from New York to Halifax. ”

“ Tom could trace the point of the compass from which it came. He ran in that direction, holding the lantern before him.
“There he is!” cried Harry suddenly. “Don’t run over him, Tom.”
Coming to an abrupt halt, both boys stared in startled excitement at a human being on hands and knees making his way from the side of the road. Near to him was a tangled mass of wreckage which had been a bicycle. Its shattered skeleton covered a big flat rock, into which it had run to be completely demolished. ”

“ Suddenly Ben broke out with the words:
“There comes Bill Barber, now.”
Tom awaited the appearance of the former captain of the Black Caps with some curiosity. He pointed to a chair as the Barber boy came up through the trap door.
“What’s the news, Bill?” inquired Tom casually.
Bill’s broad mouth expanded Into a grin. He chuckled serenely.
“Haven’t heard anything about last night?”
“Not a word.”
“You will if you go down Fernwood way.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, there’s two fellows keeping themselves mighty scarce. When they walk they wobble, and when they talk they squabble.” ”

“ Tom was down the trap ladder in one reckless slide. He ran down the shore buffeted, yet helped along by the powerful hurricane blast. Bert Aldrich was a guest at the home of Mart Walters and that was the prospective destination of the resolute young wireless operator.
Tom came in sight of the pier where the Beulah was moored. He could make out her outlines dimly. She was hugging the pier fitfully, tossing to and fro.
“Why,” exclaimed Tom with a gasp of glad discovery, “some one is on board!” ”

“ You come down to the tower, as I say. I’ve got something better than eleven dollars and seventy-five cents to interest you in.”
“Have?” propounded Bill, in his rough blunt way. “What is it, now?”
“You come and see.”
“All right.”
“That fellow has a grand streak in him,” ruminated Tom, as the Beulah sped on its course and he made for the station. “He doesn’t seem to have the least conception of his heroic bravery, and never thinks of reward. I’ll give him a surprise.”
Tom set at work the minute he reached the tower. ”

“ I must get to the city at once, but when I return I want you to come down to Fernwood. I have something important to say to you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Morgan,” bowed Tom courteously.
“You have saved me much of my fortune,” declared the capitalist in a tremulous, grateful tone. “How shall I ever repay you? Going up to the house, Grace?” he inquired of his daughter.
“Yes, papa, it is my practice hour.”
With a bewitching smile for Tom and a crisp little nod to Bert Aldrich the miss sprang airily into the car. ”

“ That’s the whole essence of the wireless—otherwise it is no different from common telegraphy—a group of parts each for individual service in transmitting or receiving the electric waves.”
“Thank you!” observed Ben drily. “How delightfully plain that all is! You rattle those scientific terms off good and spry, though.”
“So will you, as soon as you do what I’ve been doing,” asserted Tom.
“And what’s that?”
“Getting a glance at the real wireless outfit Mr. Edson is operating down at Sandy Point.”
“I heard of that,” nodded Ben.
“He’s a fine man,” said Tom enthusiastically. ”

“ She wriggled like an eel as Tom grabbed her and forced her into the cabin of the launch, going instantly into hysterics as she landed on a cushioned seat.
“There are only eight of the ladies,” called down the captain.
“Hold tight, Aunt Bertha,” Tom heard a familiar voice speak steadily.
“Oh, dear, I know I shall fall and be drowned!” wailed the second of the rescued passengers, whom Tom was sure must be the aunt in whose charge Grace had started on the present unlucky voyage.
“YOU BRAVE GIRL!” CRIED TOM IRRESISTIBLY. “We won’t let you, ma’am,” assured the sailor at the rail. “Be speedy now. ”

“ Harry had come into the life of Tom and Ben in a strange way, and had won their confidence and friendship from the start. He had become quite a fixture at the Barnes homestead. Mr. Barnes had come to depend on him for an hour or two of pottering around at odd tasks on the farm, and felt that his young helper amply paid for his meals and lodging. At length Tom spoke, his face flushed with pleasure.
“You’re a queer fellow, Harry,” he said heartily, “and you are a good fellow. ”

“ Never did a boy spend a more entrancing day than Ben Dixon. His helpers at the blasted oak were delighted to climb like monkeys to remove the spirals and wires from the old tree, and handle the queer contrivances contained in the box Mr. Edson had donated.
Harry Ashley spent the day between working about the farm, visiting the scene of activity at the Dixon place, and limping up to the tower.
Only some exchange test calls came to Station Z that day. Tom was encouraged to find how quickly he could read them, and send the necessary replies. ”

“ The speaker, Ben Dixon, bestowed a look of admiration and interest on the chum he liked best of all in the world, Tom Barnes.
Tom was reckoned a genius in the little community in which he lived. He had the record of “always being up to something.” In the present instance he had been up a tree, it seemed. From “the new-fangled thing” Ben had discovered in passing the familiar landmark, the blasted oak, wires and rods ran up to quite a height, showing that some one had done some climbing.
Ben became instantly absorbed in an inspection of the contrivance before him. ”

“ My friend, Bert Aldrich, is sweet on Grace Morgan, and you’ve spoiled it.”
“Indeed,” said Tom simply.
“He thinks you have prejudiced Grace against him, and he’s mad as a hatter about it. See here, she isn’t your class. You know she ain’t—half a million, classy family. Why, you’re poor. Then again, she’s going south soon, and when she gets into society she’ll have to meet Bert and his family, and take up with him again—see?”
“Get along, Mart,” railed Tom, “you’re progressing finely.”
“I’ll save you from the Black Caps if you’ll agree to keep away from Grace Morgan. There’s the straight of it. ”

“ Where did you come from? Oh, I see,” and he caught sight of the outlines of the launch. “What’s the trouble?”
Tom briefly, rapidly explained the situation. In an instant he realized that he was fortunate in finding just the kind of a man he needed. The tug captain listened to him in breathless interest. When Tom had concluded he rested his hand on his shoulder in a friendly way.
“You’re a good one, lad, whoever you are,” he said. “Sorry we’re shut down, but we’ll set about steaming up in a jiffy. Garvey Rocks, you, said?” ”

“ The Beulah struck a straight course shorewards. Tom, glancing through the cabin window, observed that the lady passengers grouped there seemed quieted down and coherent.
The bulky man passenger with the life preservers had crawled to the shelter of the stern platform, and, wedging himself in between two rods, only occasionally shouted out some mad threat of a suit against the steamship company. ”

“ There was no buzz.
“Are the batteries all right?” asked Tom.
“I’ll test ’em,” was the laconic answer, and in a few minutes the announcement came: “They’re good and strong. If I can get her to start on the batteries I can swing her over onto the magneto, and we’ll be all right. But I can’t get a spark.”
“How about the plugs?” asked Tom.
“I’ll try them next. Oh, there are plenty of things to try.”
“And not much time to do ’em in,” added Tom grimly, as he held the lantern where the gleam would fall best for his companion. ”

“ In fact, about all my surplus has been invested in the station here.”
Ben was looking around the place with his usual devouring glance. Tom felt that some important disclosure was about to be made and was duly impressed.
“There is a good chance for a live young fellow in a business that can send a message hundreds of miles in a few seconds,” continued Mr. Edson. “The business is now only in its infancy, and those who get in first have the best chance. The only hope here of the international circuit is to make a killing.” ”

“ Barnes.
“All right,” sang down Tom.
He forgot all about Ben when he came downstairs, full of his plans for the evening. Grace Morgan had invited him down to Fernwood, so Tom had asked his mother to give him an early supper. Then, in the bustle of getting a lift as far as the crossroads in a passing rig, he left the house in a great hurry, and never thought of his chum again until he left the wagon.
“I won’t go back,” decided Tom. “It can’t be anything very particular Ben wants to see me about. I’ve got plenty of time, too, and can stroll around his way before I go to see Grace.” ”