The Radio Detectives

ank's high-pitched tones came dimly to Tom's ears, a deadly sickening fear swept over him. Ha

h longer than ever before. The combination was too much for him. His head swam, he reeled, swayed; fiery sparks and flashes seemed to dance before his eyes; h

ather, anxious-eyed, was bending over him while close at hand were Frank, Henry and Rawlins. Beyond a

d for the moment not comprehending. "W

We got you just in time. You fainted just as y

had now ful

Mr. Rawlins tell you about it? Gee! W

's voice assured him. "That is, one

his father as Tom rose unsteadily to his feet. "Look out

offered chair and dropped weakly into it. Then he ga

e two divers they had captured under the river? Then Tom saw that a heavily built, tow-headed man stood between two of the blue coats, his hands manacled and a sullen glare in his

Mr. Pauling was uttering commands to the police. "Leave a couple of men here to guard the prisoners and get over to that block quick as you can. Get all available men you can pick up. Draw a cordon aroun

owards the street, and an instant later, Tom heard the roar of t

ced the man at the phone and Mr

shortly. "That you, Admiral? A

nto the most utter gibberish, calling out a

ere'll be a dozen destroyers and chasers combing the sea for that sub within fifteen min

bove the figure on the floor. "Come here when you have a cha

the men rose and hu

ale flames. Different case with that chap yonder. He's in bad shape. Trying to fix him up to get him to hospital. Afraid there's no hope for him thou

e he again devoted hims

d all that was taking place. Mr. Henderson and Rawlins were talking earnestly in low tones, but Tom could not hear a wo

mer came to Tom's side the other strode across the room

ry I kept you down so long. Never thought about you not being accustomed to it. I was so darned interested in that sub and those men I forgot about the danger to you, Tom. And say, Mr. Henderson thinks we've made some haul! I've been telli

lently at the prisoner the latter's shifty eyes had fallen and he shuffled his feet uneasi

your m

rained to instant and implicit obedience to orders, inv

sed man's jaws closed, he yanked aside the fellow's denim shirt exposin

father he remarked, "It's he, Pauling. No question of it. Good da

p the meaning of all the orders, the strange telephone message and Mr

his father. "We'll get hom

ow," declared Tom. "

, turning towards the heavy-jawed man. "Don't want any one meddling with t

talk, call me up. If he says anything, write it down

mpanied by Frank, Henry and Mr. Henderson, the party left the workshop. Already the two policemen had left with their prisoner a

ole of the New York poli

nderson surely did call enough of them. Guess

son chuckling. "You said 'call the police' and I call

aw the man whom Rawlins had captured in his spectacular

is," begged Tom. "I

d there are no spies," he replied. "No, my boy, he's not even a Germa

ose policemen, then?" asked

r we located him this time. You see, Reilly happened to know about that old sewer and he says it runs under the block where you located the sen

form being carried from their workshop to an ambulance, and the next moment they were moving

ns and a moment later they were through the crowd and speeding

f shouts and cries. Above the heads of the people the boys could see the glaring brass and shining paint of two patrol cars and,

Pauling, as his horn screeched and fel

eside them. "Guess the men found something," he

the two were instantly swallowed up. But a moment later they

ht as well try to get through a solid

b a car crowded with police could be seen forcing its way towards

owd. But even an East Side mob must give way before a five-ton truck and the crowd, surging back to make way for th

hemselves from being knocked down and trampled underfoot he and Rawlins leape

leaves," replied Mr. Pauling, and added, "Unles

ving, multicolored wave of human heads and shoulders appeared a half-dozen mounted police, their well-trained horse

inned out, one of the officers caught si

towards the car. "Get them flivvers out o

Henderson grinned. "Show us

pinch the bunch of ye for interferin' with the police, resistin' an officer and blocka

ith laughter. "Don't be foolish, officer. Don

and he pushed his mount close beside the c

enzy of rage at these "swells," as he mentally dubbed them, de

policeman's side and in tones which even the angr

yourself broke if you don't look out. Your

ement and anger swept

, hunching himself forward and s

bit closer and turned ba

ty, fear, and regret all spread over his big Hibernian features in turn. His half-raised arm dropped to his side,

awing himself stiffly up he saluted and

Sir? What with your kelly dinted in and your tie adri

the garage. A few idlers were still hovering about and were being chased away by blue coats, but inside the garage the boys could see

, a plain-clothes man pressed through th

. Pauling as the man cam

ing with satisfaction. "You bet your-beg your pardon-I'll say we di

around to the house and we'll hear the whole yarn, the boys are entitled to know it. I'

see the fun," said Rawl

"He's one of our crowd and all right. Wouldn't have

Murphy's side and all three breathed a sigh of regret that they, too, could not rem

erly exhausted nervously and physically, and Frank, who was younger and of a far more nervous temperament, had been so worried and frightened over Tom's plight and the uncertainty of what was occurring under the water that he ha

Tom and Frank, who was staying at the Pauling home while his parents were in Europe, breathed a sigh of sa