The Radio Boys on Secret Service Duty

  CHAPTER II

  LOOSE ENDS OF A PLOT

  "Now, what is it, Frank?" asked Mr. Temple, when he and the three chumswere all gathered in their staterooms with the door locked behind them."What's all this mystery?"

  "Yes, what is it you overheard out there on the observation platform?"demanded Jack. "You certainly seem excited enough. What's it all about?"

  "Spoiled my nap," grumbled big Bob. "It better be good or they won't beable to find you."

  And picking up a pillow he started to belabor his chum with it. Franklaughed and warded him off.

  "Take him away," he said. "He's a wild man. How can I talk if hesmothers me?"

  "Sit down, Bob," Mr. Temple commanded his son. Bob sank back on thecouch grumbling.

  "Uncle George," said Frank, assuming a serious manner and lowering hisvoice, "I know you are puzzled by my request for you to come back here.But I didn't dare explain out there in the club car. Those men weresitting too close, and I believe they were watching me. One was, atleast. You see, while Jack and Bob were snoozing out on the observationplatform, I was awake. And I overheard just enough of the conversationbetween those two men to understand there was a big plot afoot."

  "Plot?" queried Mr. Temple. "What plot? What are you talking about? Plotagainst whom?"

  "Against the United States," said Frank. "I tell you I couldn't hearmuch. Only a few words here and there reached me. But I gathered therewas a plot afoot to smuggle a large number of Chinese coolies into thecountry, and that these men had a hand in it."

  Mr. Temple leaned forward.

  "What's that?" he said.

  "Yes, sir," answered Frank, stoutly. "That's what they said. I can'trepeat the exact words. There were only snatches here and there thatreached me. But my mind kept following the thought between the words.Oh, you know how it is."

  Mr. Temple nodded. He had a great respect for Frank's intelligence.Often before he had been witness to the lad's almost uncanny ability toguess another's thoughts.

  "But just what was said, Frank?" he asked. "Anything that you could heardefinitely?"

  "Yes," said Frank, "there was. There was something about Ensenada. Isn'tthat in Mexico, on the seacoast somewhere?"

  "Peninsula of Lower California, Mexican territory," said Jack. "Go on."

  "And there was something, too, about Chinese coolies and motor boats andnight running and----" Frank paused for dramatic effect. He obtained it.

  "And what?" demanded big Bob.

  "And radio," added Frank, triumphantly. "That was when I heard best. Oneof the two men was explaining something to the other, and he becameexcited and raised his voice. He said: 'With Handby in the revenue forcekeeping us in touch, we'll be fixed right. We've got the radio stationat the cove completed, and can guide the coolie boats past everydanger.'"

  "Radio?" cried Jack. "Whew. These fellows must be well organized."

  "And a spy in the revenue forces, too," commented Bob. "You certainlydid have your ears open, Frank."

  Frank turned to the older man.

  "So there you are, Uncle George," said he. "That's what I heard. Then,after one of them said that about the radio station and this man Handby,in the revenue forces--I'm sure the name was Handby--he suddenly realizedthey had raised their voices and might have been overheard. So they leftthe platform. But I'm sure he was suspicious of me, although we all didseem to be snoozing. Now what had we better do?"

  "This is a serious matter, boys," said Mr. Temple. "Do you know anythingabout the smuggling traffic in Chinese coolies?"

  "I know we have some kind of law barring them from entrance into thecountry," said Jack. "But I'm hazy about it."

  Frank and Bob nodded agreement.

  "Well," said Mr. Temple, "in the days when this country of Californiawas being settled by pioneers and immigrants, not only from the easternpart of our country but from foreign lands, too, the white people grewalarmed at the arrival of large numbers of Chinese laborers or coolies,as they are called.

  "These people had utterly different standards of life. Due to thecrowded conditions in their country, for China you will recall has aboutone-quarter of the entire population of the world, the Chinese coolielearns to exist on less food than the white man and to dress morecheaply, too.

  "Accordingly the Chinaman works for less than the white laborer or theNegro, even. Consequently, the early-day Californians began to worry atthe influx of coolies, fearing they would cheapen living conditions andwages. Their legislators made such a fuss that the government atWashington made a treaty with China barring Chinese coolies from thecountry."

  "But we have a good many Chinamen here, Father," big Bob protested.

  "Oh, yes," said his father, "the treaty created exempt classes. That is,Chinamen who are merchants, professional men, students or travelers areadmitted."

  "How long ago was that, Uncle George?" asked Frank.

  "During President Arthur's administration," was the reply. "The treatywas signed at Washington in 1881 and ratified at Pekin a short timelater."

  "And have there been no Chinese coolies admitted since then?" askedJack.

  "Not officially," replied Mr. Temple. "During the World War some laborbattalions of Chinese coolies, under contract to do work behind thelines in France, passed through the country, but they were guarded toprevent escape.

  "However, as I understand it, there has been a steady traffic along ourborders in the smuggling of Chinese coolies into the country. This isespecially true along the Pacific Coast, although smuggling rings havebeen discovered in operation along the Mexican and Canadian borders inthe past, and only a few months ago a cargo of Chinese coolies wassmuggled into New York harbor.

  "The reason for wanting them, of course, is that they provide cheaplabor, the cheapest, in fact. There are men and syndicates inCalifornia, operating ranches, fruit and truck farms, who will pay wellto have a batch of coolie laborers delivered to them, and no questionsasked. Consequently, smuggling rings come into being for the purpose ofsupplying this illicit demand."

  "Well, what shall we do about this information, Uncle George?" saidFrank. "Don't you think we ought to tell the authorities?"

  "I certainly do," said Mr. Temple. "When we reach San Francisco, I shalllay this matter before the Secret Service the first thing tomorrow, andyou will have to go along to tell them what you overheard."

  "Meanwhile," commented Jack, "these two fellows would escape."

  "Well, we can't help that," decided Mr. Temple. "We are not officers ofthe law, and can't arrest them. As for shadowing them, to see where theygo on reaching San Francisco, for I suppose that's their destination,that is out of the question, too. In the first place, they already havea suspicion that Frank overheard them, and accordingly they would be onwatch. In the second place, we all will be ready for a good night's restwhen we arrive. Anyhow, I imagine that from what Frank overheard therevenue officers will get a good enough clue to enable them to run downthis gang."

  "You mean," questioned Frank, "that knowing this man Handby is a spy,they can watch him and learn who are his confederates?"

  "Something like that," said Mr. Temple.

  After that the conversation became desultory. Mr. Temple layoutstretched on the couch with cigar and newspaper. The boys wanderedout again into the club car, and beyond to the observation platform. Itwas growing late, and they were nearing Oakland. The transcontinentalrailroad lines end at that city on San Francisco Bay, and the trip tothe metropolis is completed by ferry--a short run of twenty minutes.

  "I can sniff the salt water," said Jack. "Smell it. We must be gettingclose to the Bay."

  All three chums grew exhilarated at the prospect of soon reaching theworld-famous city, which is the Gateway to the Pacific and is unlike anyother city in America, with the Latin-like gayety of its populace, its30,000 Chinamen forming a city of their own within the larger city, andits waterfront crowded with traffic of the Orient--spicy and mysterious.

  "I don't see those fellows," whispered Fra
nk to his chums, surveying thefigures in the club car behind them. "Maybe they left the train."

  But at that very moment, the coolie smuggler who had suspected Frank ofoverhearing him was tipping the porter to learn to what hotel the boysand Mr. Temple had ordered their baggage sent.