Part 27 (1/2)

”We can try,” said a voice.

She looked up startled, and in the last dying glow of the fire she saw the stolid face of Tom Slade. It was the first time she had seen him since her mother's mishap and their visit at camp, though she knew from Roy of his tracking feat and recovery of her pin. She knew too of his night in the lock-up, but no knowledge of his father's connection with the affair had come to her.

”I meant--I was coming to thank you--Tom; truly, I was----”

But Tom had turned away and presently she saw an agile figure spring after him.

”Are you going to try for it, Tom?” said Roy. ”It's after one o'clock.”

”He sometimes stays there till two--he told me--he'll be there.”

”How do you know?”

”Because I want him to be.” ”Mary thinks you snubbed her, Tom; why didn't you speak to her?”

”I wish I had her ball to toss back,” said Tom.

It was odd that he should think of that now.

In the lean-to Roy lit the lantern and presently the whole troop was divided into two groups; one was getting ready the stretcher and helping Doc Carson, and the other stood about the lean-to watching Tom, who sat on the rickety grocery box before the wireless apparatus. Roy stood anxiously at his shoulder; the others waited, speaking to each other in an undertone occasionally, but never to Tom. By common consent they seemed to leave this thing for him to do, and there was about him a certain detachment from the others which suggested slightly his manner that day when he had been arrested.

Boys came and went, Mr. Ellsworth and others departed hastily with Doc, the little group in the lean-to watched and waited while Tom, apparently unconscious of all about him, sat there adjusting his spark gap. Occasionally he spoke in an undertone to Roy, but seemed oblivious of all else.

”R. V., isn't it?” he asked.

”Yes,” said Roy.

”Better look and make sure.”

Roy consulted a note book. ”R. V. is right,” said he.

Tom laid his hand upon the key and adjusted his head receivers. Then up into the darkness and out into the vast trackless sky went the call for R. V.

It was then the boys noticed the cloaked figure of the girl standing in the background watching. ”I thought you went with Doc and Mr.

Ellsworth,” someone said.

”He said I might stay,” she answered timidly.

Tom glanced around and saw her, but showed no interest. Roy sat on the edge of the instrument table, anxiously waiting.

”They can't cut this kind of wires,” he said cheerily to Mary as if to make up for Tom's silence.

Eagerly she watched Tom. She seemed fascinated with his absorption and with every slight move of his hand.

”Nothing doing?” said Roy with a note of discouragement.

Tom made no answer, only adjusted the sending instrument to a different wave-length.

”Too late, Tommy boy,” Roy said.