Part 1 (2/2)

”Good!” came back the answer ”Then listen hard--act quick--life at stake!”

Joe Dawson not only listened His thoughts fleith the dots and dashes of the wirelessall of that wonderful edy that Darote down at the dictation of this ihways Almost in the midst of it ca in the great gaue All was being unfolded by raph

As Joe listened, wrote, and occasionally broke in to send a feords, the dew of cold perspiration stood out on his brow His fingers trereat effort of the will this motor boat boy steadied his nerves and h to the end thisout of space

While this was going on, Joe Dawson did not call out to either of his comrades With an instinct that worked as fast as the wirelessthe othertale to tell the orders that would send all three of them and the ”Restless” on a tireless sea-chase

While this flood of dots and dashes is co in from seaward, and from landward, it is well that the reader be put in possession of some information that will make clearer to him the nature of the dra of wireless alow station on this island off the North Carolina coast

Readers of the preceding volume of this series, ”THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND,” will at once recall that story, throbbing with the interest of human life--will remember how faithfully and wisely Tom Halstead, Joe Dawson and Hank butts, all members of the Motor Boat Club, served that leader in Wall Street finance, Francis Delavan, and the latter's nervous, wavering friend, Eben Moddridge To such former readers the tale is familiar of how the Motor Boat Club boys aided reat conspiracy in finance, airit, keenness and loyalty of these three e had handsonal services

As Hank butts preferred, for family reasons, to spend his su Island, he had been presented with a thirty-foot launch, a shore lot at East Hampton, and a ”shack” and pier Tom Halstead and Joe Dawson, fast friends and both fro always the broad ocean, had been , fifty-five foot h the ”Soudan” had a very comfortable beaasoline motors that could send her over the waters at soift of the boat to Toh toowners able to put her in co for awhile

It was not intended by Messrs Delavan and Moddridge that Tom Halstead and Joe Dawson should be able to keep their new prize and property running for their own pleasure On the contrary the givers of this splendid present believed that the two boys would ply under charter for wealthy pleasure seekers, thusIn summer there were the northern waters; in winter the southern waters Thus it was believed that Captain Toineer Joe Daould be in a position to earn a handsome income from their boat the year around At any time, should they so choose, they could sell the boat

Sell her? It would almost have broken honest, impulsive, loyal Tom Halstead's heart to sell this precious boat! Joe Dawson, quiet though he ould have flown into a rage at any suggestion of his parting with his interest in the handsome, capable little craft!

The owners had re-christened the boat the ”Restless” Within ten days after the boys had left the employ of Mr Delavan, Captain Tom had encountered Mr Powell Seaton in New York A few hours after thatthe boys had had their boat chartered for at least thetheir orders, they proceeded south to their present location on Lonely Island, five miles off the mainland They were accompanied by Hank butts, who had left his small boat in other hands and accepted temporary employment on the ”Restless”

The island possessed an area of about half a square alow itself, a shed that was used as an electric power station, and a third building that contained a telescope and so features of this island

After the chartering, and the payment of half the hire-money in advance for the month, not one of these Motor Boat Club boys had laid eyes on Mr Powell Seaton After cruising down froalow, as ordered, they had re Idle, that is, except for running the electric power plant astheir own cooking

For what purpose had Powell Seaton wanted theers pushed the pencil through the an to get a gli, Joe,” s under the visor of his uniforh the doorway

”It is,” ot one to send”

His fingers moved busily at the key for a little while Then, snatching up the sheets of paper on which he had written, Joe Dawson leaped to his feet in such haste that he sent the chair spinning across the room

Such impulsiveness in Daas so utterly unusual that Captain To to the door ”Down to the boat!”

”Where----?” began Toot only as far as that word, for Joe shot back:

”To sea!”

”How----” again essayed Halstead

”At full speed--the fastest we can travel!” called back Joe, as leaping down the porch steps