Nearly two weeks passed by when Mr. Layton, who had by this time fully recovered, received a letter from Mr. Bentley, stating that he would be in town the next day. Bob lost no time in conveying the information to the rest of the Radio Boys, who were quite as delighted as he was himself. Mr. Bentley’s stay was to be brief, as he was traveling on Government business, but he would stop over night anyway, and especially mentioned that he hoped to see all the Radio Boys, of whom he retained so many pleasant memories from his previous visit.
“Will we be there?” replied Joe to Bob’s question. “I’d like to see anything that would keep me away. It isn’t every day a fellow gets a chance to talk with a live wire like him.”
The rest of his friends were just as emphatic, and were at Bob’s house the following night even a little before the time appointed.
There, too, was Payne Bentley, tall and bronzed and athletic, bringing with him the breezy suggestion of a man whose life is spent largely in the open.
He greeted the boys with the heartiness that was characteristic of him, and they on their part showed their whole-souled pleasure in meeting him again.
“I’ve got a little surprise for you, fellows,” said Bob. “Here it is,” and he pushed shut a door, revealing Mr. Frank Brandon, who had been standing behind it, and who now advanced with a smile to shake hands with the surprised and delighted boys.
“Wasn’t it you, Joe, who said a little while ago that good luck didn’t come, like bananas, in bunches?” asked Bob. “Well, here’s a case that proves you’re wrong.”
“I surely was,” laughed Joe. “It was a good wind that blew them both here at the same time.”
“You see, Frank and I are old friends,” explained Mr. Bentley, as they all took chairs and settled down for a cosy chat. “We’re both in the Government service, although along somewhat different lines, and every once in a while we run across each other. I met him on the train as I was coming here and persuaded him to drop off with me and stay over night. And I didn’t have to persuade him very much when I told him whom I was going to see, for he thinks you Radio Boys are just about the real thing.”
“That’s putting it a little too strongly, I’m afraid,” replied the delighted Bob.