The Radio Detectives

n nothing but the rippling green surface of the river was visible through the open trapdoor in the floor of the dock. He and Frank were alone, Tom and Rawlins were beneath the r

already heard Tom's parting words over the set, although not a sound had issued

erful. Where are you? Right under the dock? I'm going

y jumped, for he had never expected the words to come as plainly and dis

t it's great. I can hear you just as well as

de of me," Henry assured him. "I can'

hing, expressing their wonder and delight in boyish expletives and overjoy

We're going to walk down the river. You keep talking and after we've gone a few hundred yards we'll call you. If y

Tom and Rawlins, and, much to their surprise, the sounds of their frie

out of range very soon. I never would have believed that these little fifty-meter waves could carry th

Frank was about to call to Tom when, to his ears, ca

id not know, but he decided that, for some unknown reason, t

r," said Frank, holding his hand over the mouthpiece of his

when he was startled by a sharp

he asked, exactly as though Tom had been there in the room. But there was no au

enry. "Tom said 'Gosh' something and then, when I answer he doesn't say a thi

ogether without your hearing them," suggested Henry. "

eclared Frank. "They've no right

n earth's the matter? I haven't heard a word f

ar thick, guttural words rapidly spoken, and among them he

red being overheard, "Henry, there's that fellow talking again-

nd very faintly and indistinctly

does i

owned out and confused by Rawlins' voice. Frank could not distinguish all the words, but he knew from the sounds

in matters, asking if anything was wrong. But for a moment th

nd a shrill whistle, followed by Rawlins' voice. Part of it Frank could n

ous place! Come on

terious was taking place beneath the river, was bending close. "Jehoshaphat! They're in da

Tom to reply, to tell him what was wrong, what the danger was. For a sp

Tom. "Don't worry. Stop

he microphone by throwing off a switch t

ied just the same. Why should he want me to be quie

nounced presently, "and, say-I didn't thin

his ears and anxiously he listened, half fearful that some awful casualty had hap

gave a start as he heard Tom ejaculate "Gosh!" followed by some rapid

a sigh of relief. "They've found a wre

aimed. "Treasure in the East River! You must th

ulantly. "Lots of boats have sunk here and why shouldn't one of 'em have treasure on it? I don't mean millions of

e for a week. They'd get it up or blow it up right away. Why, a w

eck. I don't care what you say. How do you know there isn't some old wreck o

king companies and contractors have divers going down all the time. I've watched 'em working heaps of times. Father's a construc

soon," said Frank. "They can't s

ful had happened. Ringing in Frank's ears, shrill, filled with deadly terror, the shriek of a

ralyzed tongue to form the words. "Tom!

ollowed by words so filled with mortal terror that Frank co

e receiver from the telephone and frantically called for Mr. Pauling's number. But in his

the girl's voice. "Wh

ns 6636!" he cried, strivi

e girl, and Frank could alm

he screame

What if Mr. Pauling should not be in his office? Suppose the line were busy? What if the girl got the wrong number? How slow she was! Had she forgotten the call? Would no on

! Who

uble! I don't know what-he's under the river-with Mr

the message and in excited tones had shouted, "All right,

e was up and at the t

of Henry, who had taken up the receivers and ha

rd," repl

ed Frank. "Oh, they're terribly slow! And how w

ry thought he caught a word, an exclamation half suppressed, but he could not be sure. He had called Tom, but no reply had come. Were the two dead? Had some

clamor of a bell, and the screech of a

oyous cry. "They're all right!" he shouted.

switch and at that moment Frank's r

ck, the door burst inwards with a bang and into the room leaped Mr. Pauling. Beside him was a heavy-jawed man with

is voice heard above the excited, shouted inte

police crowding at his heels. Henry dropped his in

e dull water and a slender aff

ere!" scre

choed Mr. Paul

ing water. The dim shadowy form of the diver whose helmet had just appeared, had swayed to one side; his hands, clutching the upper rungs of the ladder, had loosened their grasp,

e beneath. Had he delayed for the fraction of a second he would have been too late, but, as it was, his fingers closed on one of the diver's wrists. The next instant he had grasped the other arm and a moment later, with Henderson's aid, he had dragged the dripping, limp form onto the dock

breathe flames!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson, as the helme

mbulance surgeon pushed his way hurriedly into the room. He bent over Tom in silenc

t breathed any water. Just in a faint, I think. He

peared, dragging a limp figure, and, holding to the latt

son glancing up. "Who the devil are thes

ff his helmet, glanced about in a puzzled way and then, without waiti

even the hardened surgeons could not restrain a gasp of horror and amazement. The face was horrible to look upon. It was scorched, seared, blackened, the eye

He's had flames from the chemicals in his

o Mr. Henderson

't know who he is, but he's something rotten!

ing trapdoor. An instant more and he would have been in the water, but just as he reached the edge of the opening, Frank, who with Henry had been staring open-mouthed and dumbfounded at the surprising and incomprehensible events taking place so rapidly before them, sprang forward and slammed shut the door which, in falling, pinned t

as he saw the closely-cropped, bullet-shaped head, the tiny, close-set piggish eyes and the big

ns snapped with a click about the man's wrists and the officers led him to one side, the small piglik

ent later, the boy took a long, deep breath and his eyes fluttered o

r kid! Don't wonder he went clean off! And he sav