Part 3 (1/2)

”But if he's a friend of Dad's,” added Jack, with calood sport It will be safe to speak about our discoveries before him”

At dinner it developed that Colonel Graham was, indeed, a friend of Mr Hampton They had been classy During the World War, Colonel Grahaineers and, at the conclusion of hostilities, while thousands of other officers were being deular aruished record

At dinner, the older people took the lead in the conversation, while the boys and Della were content to listen unless addressed Colonel Graham was a brilliant conversationalist, and once he became launched on a series of war stories there was no time for the boys to interrupt, nor had they any inclination He had been one of the handful of Aineers i to stop the Ger account of those days and nights of superhuman effort to hold back the ene their dinner and sitting on the edges of their chairs

Mr Hampton was a radio enthusiast It was his interest in radio development, in fact, which had caused him to build the station on his estate, for purposes of trans-oceanic experiment Eventually, therefore, the talk came around to the subject of radio Colonel Graham ell-informed, and he told of several aroverny, experi with radio-controlled automobiles, tanks and water craft

An exclamation from Jack drew attention to him and covered him with confusion

”Well, Jack,” said his father, in mild reproof And he looked expectantly at his son as if awaiting an explanation

Frank canificance of Colonel Graha of, Mr Ha of a radio-controlled airplane”

Colonel Graham smiled

”Oh, yes,” he said, tolerantly ”I overn with radio-controlled auto studied, too Is that what you ly at Jack ”I understand you lads are interested in flying”

”No, sir,” answered Jack, flushi+ng a bit ”To tell you the truth,a plane to-day of strange design And we had reason to believe it was controlled by radio I was puzzled at the time I didn't think of radio controls But your remarks about the officers at Massachusetts Tech were illu I see now that this plane must have been radio-controlled”

Frank and Bob nodded approval Their eyes were shi+ning Mr Hampton, Mr Temple and Colonel Graham showed startled interest Della leaned forward close to Frank and looked at him reproachfully, a hand on his ar about it,” she said

”Didn't have any time to tell you,” whispered Frank, in an undertone

Mr Ha

”Where did you see this plane, Jack?”

”Well, Dad,” said Jack, ”it was this way” Then he paused and looked at his chued Frank

Bob nodded approval

With that Jack told as briefly as possible the circumstances of their day's adventure, and also spoke of the recent interference in their radio receivers by a sharp and continuous dash sounded over a wave length of 1,375concentration fastened on Mr Temple's brow as Jack proceeded When it was apparent that Jack had concluded, Mr Te mysterious about that man,” he said

”What man?” asked Mr Hampton

The others at the table looked blank

”Why, the chap who bought the old Brownell house and property You know the place There are about 750 acres of land, mainly timber This inlet, Starfish Cove as the boys call it, is on the property And there is an old house back in the trees It is isolated, there is no habitation near, and the house has a bad name to boot Some of the old-timers in the settlement at the crossroads declare the place is haunted”

”So that is part of the Brownell property?” asked Mr Hampton