CHAPTER II--STATION Z
A yell of derisive delight went up from the smaller youths of the crowdas Mart Walters went toppling into the water. Mart did not have a realfriend in Rockley Cove, and the little fellows Welcomed an opportunityfor showing their dislike.
Tom, however, promptly on his feet was making for the spot where Martwas puffing and splashing about, when two of his friends in bathingattire anticipated his helpful action, reached Mart, and led him,blinded and dripping, onto dry land.
Mart was a sight. All the starch was taken out of him, and out of hisclothes. He did not linger to renew the conflict. He only shook his fistat Tom with the half Whimpered words:
"I'll fix you, Tom Barnes, see if I don't! This will be a sorry day foryou."
"Who started it?" demanded Tom bluntly.
"I'll get even with you for this treatment," threatened Mart direfully,sneaking off.
"You've made an enemy for life of that fellow, Tom," declared Ben.
"Well, he never was very friendly towards me," responded Tom. "Where'sthe wire? I've got it," and he picked it up from the ground where it haddropped. "I'm sorry this thing occurred, but he brought it on himself.Come on, Ben."
"You're going to stay and have some fun, aren't you, Tom?" inquired oneof the swimmers.
"Can't, boys--that is, just now. I've got something to attend to. Seeyou again."
Tom and Ben had not proceeded fifty feet, however, when a hurried callhalted them. Tom's younger brother came running towards them.
"Oh, Tom!" he hailed breathlessly, "I've run all the way from the house.I've got a message for you."
"What is it, Ted?"
"Mr. Edson was passing the house and told me to find you and ask you tocome down to the tower as soon as you could."
"All right, Ted," replied Tom. "I wonder what's up?"
"Why?" questioned Ben.
"I saw Mr. Edson early this morning down at the Point, and thought I'dgot him to talk himself out for a week to come asking him so manyquestions about the wireless."
"Are you going to drop rigging out your plant at the old oak till yousee him?"
"We'll have to. It may be something important Mr. Edson wants to see meabout. You come too, Ben."
"Had I better?"
"You want to, don't you?"
"Well, I guess!" replied Ben with undisguised fervor. "I've envied theway he's posting you in this wireless ever since I first saw hisoutfit."
The boys pursued their way to Sandy Point, passing the old blasted oak.Here Tom took pains to stow the coil of wire safely in a tree. Resumingtheir walk they neared Sandy Point twenty minutes later.
The Point was a high but level stretch of shore with one or two smallhouses in its vicinity. It was really a part of Rockley Cove, but thecenter of the village was half a mile inland.
A high metal framework designated the Point, and could be seen fromquite a distance. This, however, was no recent construction nor a beaconpoint, nor originally erected for its present use as a wireless station.
It had served as a windmill for a farmer who once operated aneighty-acre tract of land. One night his house and barns burned down.For years the spot was abandoned. Recently, however, the Mr. Edson Tomhad alluded to had come to Rockley Cove and established "Station Z" atthe old windmill.
He had built a room or tower as he called it midway up the windmillstructure. This was reached through a trap door by a fixed iron ladder.The height and open construction of the windmill enabled the setting ofupper wireless paraphernalia in a fine way, and the whole layout wasfound especially serviceable in carrying out Mr. Edson's ideas.
The operator was at the window of the little operating room he hadbuilt, and waved a cheery welcome to his two young friends. Tom and Benwere up the ladder speedily and through the trap door.
"Did you send for me, Mr. Edson?" inquired Tom.
"Yes, Tom," replied the operator, "and I'm glad you came so promptly.I've got to leave Rockley Cove on short notice."
"Oh, Mr. Edson, I am very sorry for that!" declared Tom.
"I regret it too, especially so far as you are concerned," admitted Mr.Edson.
"I was getting on finely," said Tom in a disappointed tone.
"No reason why you shouldn't continue," declared the operatorencouragingly. "You have been strictly business all along, Tom. I wantto commend you for it, and I have sent for you to make you a businessproposition."
"A proposition?" repeated Tom wonderingly.
"Yes. You have got so that there is very little about the outfit herethat you do not understand. The transmitting and receiving end of it isold history to you. In fact I am going to leave you here in entirecharge of the station."
"Oh, Mr. Edson!" exclaimed Tom, "I am afraid you rate me too highly."
"Not at all. You have got sense, patience, and you want to learn. As youknow, my starting the station here was a private enterprise, but it wasno idle fad. I expected to work something practicable and profitable outof it. You can carry on the work."
"Why are you giving it up, sir, if I may ask?"
"I received a letter only an hour since, with an unexpected offer of avery fine position with one of the operating wireless companies inCanada. They expect me at a conference in New York City Friday, and I donot doubt that I shall close an engagement with them. As I have toldyou, I have very little capital. In fact, about all my surplus has beeninvested in the station here."
Ben was looking around the place with his usual devouring glance. Tomfelt that some important disclosure was about to be made and was dulyimpressed.
"There is a good chance for a live young fellow in a business that cansend 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 firsthave the best chance. The only hope here of the international circuit isto make a killing."
"What do you mean by a killing, Mr. Edson?" inquired the big-eyed,interested Ben.
"Catching a stray message and making a home shot with it. The fellow whosaved an ocean liner last week by sending help quick, just when needed,got more pay in one hour than many people earn in a lifetime. Now then,Tom, as to my proposition."
"Yes, sir," nodded Tom, eagerly.
"I want you to buy me out."
"To buy you out?" repeated Tom slowly and in a puzzled way.
"That's it."
"You mean with money?" put in the ever-attentive Ben.
"It's got to be money, I am obliged to say," replied Mr. Edson. "I shallneed all the ready cash I can get hold of in taking my new position, forI have a lot of debts to clean up. Between you and me, Tom, I can sellthe outfit here to certain people, but it would throw you out. Ofcourse, I don't expect you, a boy to have any great amount of money toinvest, but I had an idea that some of your relatives or friends mighthelp you."
Tom was silent, deeply thoughtful for a minute or two. His eyes wanderedwistfully over the apparatus that so fascinated him. Then, verytimorously, he asked:
"How much would it take, Mr. Edson?"
"One hundred dollars to you, Tom," said Mr. Edson.
Ben squirmed. Tom's voice was quite tremulous as he inquired:
"How soon would you have to have the money?"
"By next Tuesday."
"Will you give me till then to--to try?" asked Tom.
"Surely. I hope you can make it, Tom. I like you very much. You are theright sort, and I think you should be encouraged in your interest in thewireless. I'll show you just what the equipment here is."
Ben voted the hour that followed the most interesting of his life. Forthe first time in his career he began to get a faint conception of sparklengths, spark voltage, condensers, circuits, vibrators, grounds,concentric radiations, wire cores and armatures. He had been dabblingfor over a week with both Morse and the Continental alphabets, and whenTom mentioned the possibility of establishing a sub-station at the Dixonhome instead of at the old blasted oak, Mr. Edson was quite encouraging,and offered to contribute s
ome of the equipment necessary to carry outthe idea.
The expert operator engrossed the attention of the boys. It was a ramblein a field of rare delight as they passed from one part of the wirelessmechanism to another.
"Now then, sit down, boys, for a few minutes," said Mr. Edson at length."I don't want you to buy a pig in a poke. There are a couple ofattachments that go with the station, and you should know about them."
"Attachments?" repeated Ben.
"What are they, Mr. Edson?" inquired Tom with curiosity.
"Spooks," was the ominous reply.