Part 26 (1/2)

”Why,” answered Bob, thoughtfully, ”the high voltage causes a sort of electrical breakdown of the gas in the tube and it's apt to affect the receiving.”

”Say, Bob's getting to be a regular blue stocking,” commented Jimmy admiringly. ”We'll have to get a move on to catch up with him.”

”You bet _you_ will,” said Herb, with insulting emphasis on the p.r.o.noun. However, Jimmy was too interested to notice.

”Let's reduce the voltage, Bob,” Joe was saying eagerly. ”We'll test out the theory.”

”It isn't a theory,” replied Bob, as he reduced the voltage and the blue glow disappeared as though by magic. ”You can see for yourself that it's a fact.”

This discussion led to others, and they sat for some time eagerly experimenting with their set. It was just as well that they did for they had just gone over to their cottage and thus were able to answer quickly the imperative summons that came to them a few minutes later.

In response to a knock on the door they found Mr. Salper standing outside in the bitter night air looking so white and shaken that they were startled.

He came just inside the door and spoke in quick, jerky sentences like a man talking in his sleep.

”My wife is dangerously ill,” he said. ”She seems so much worse tonight that there is imperative need of a doctor. There is no doctor up here, and in this weather it would take too long to summon one. The trained nurse who is with her suggests that we try to get in touch with a doctor by radio and ask his advice. The idea is far-fetched, but it seems about our only hope. If that fails----” he paused and Joe broke in eagerly.

”My father's a doctor, Mr. Salper,” he said, and there was pride in his voice.

”A doctor, eh?” returned the broker quickly. ”Oh, if only he were here!”

”I don't see how you are going to get hold of your father,” broke in Herb. ”He's in Clintonia. Even if he got our message, through Doctor Dale or somebody else with a receiving set, he couldn't send any message here.”

”But he isn't in Clintonia!” shouted Joe, eagerly. ”He went to Newark, New Jersey, to attend some sort of medical convention and see if he couldn't find out more about the epidemic that hit Clintonia.”

”Newark!” came simultaneously from Joe's chums.

”Why, the big radio sending station is there!” exclaimed Bob.

”Why can't you send a message to that station and ask them to get hold of your father?” broke in Jimmy.

”Maybe I could do it,” announced Joe. And then he looked at Bob.

”Perhaps you had better do the sending. You'll probably have to call them in code.”

Bob was willing, but first he went up to tell his mother and father where he and his chums were going and beg them not to worry if they did not come back soon.

On the way to the radio station they stopped at the Salper bungalow, where the calm-faced nurse was waiting for them. She had left the Salper girls in charge of their mother, giving them minute instructions as to what to do, and was going with Mr. Salper in the hope that they might possibly secure medical advice by radio.

The station was finally reached. It looked deserted and gloomy at that hour of the night, and as Bob sent a call for help vibrating through the ether he felt a creepy sensation, as though he were, in some way, dealing with ghosts.

There was just the slightest chance in the world that they would reach Doctor Atwood. Just a chance, but if they did not take that chance Mrs. Salper would die.

For a long time they tried while the nurse sat quietly in the shadows and Mr. Salper strode up and down, up and down, his face drawn and white, his usually elastic step heavy and dragging.

Again and again went out the call for the Newark station. Minute after minute pa.s.sed, and still Mr. Salper walked up and down uneasily.

”I guess you'll have to give it up----” Herb was beginning when suddenly Bob motioned for silence. The radio was speaking, and he was taking down the message as well as he was able.

”I've got Newark!” the young operator cried excitedly. ”Now I'll put in a call for your father, Joe. Where is he staying?”