By one o’clock they were able to figure that there were just two men in the tower, which reckoning allowed the formation of a concrete plan of action.
It appeared that just one of these fellows was on duty at a time, the other apparently being free to wander off, if the notion struck him. Possibly, too, most of their work came along after night had set in, since business picked up at that hour.
“The next time either one steps out to take a little saunter I’ll follow in a roundabout way, and nab him when he isn’t dreaming of danger. After I’ve stopped him from giving the alarm, and putting his mate on guard I’ll give a signal for you lads to swing around and approach the junk-shop by keeping hidden behind that sand hill. Once I get my foot on the steps leading up inside the tower it’ll be all over but the shouting. Soak that in, both of you boys?”
Which they said they would; and so Jack a little later on, crept off, exercising great care as he picked up his duty to keep hidden from those lookout windows at the summit of the said tower.
He managed to take up a position where it was most likely the walker would pass close by, and there he stood, sheltered from view. The chap was amazingly stunned to have something thrust him in the back, and to hear a stern voice say:
“Not a single word or you’re a dead man! We’ve got the tower surrounded, even if you don’t see my men; and the game is played out. You’re under arrest for sending out illegal radio calls that are in the interest of coast smugglers and other criminal parties. Silence now, or I’ll crack you over the head.”
It was almost what Perk would call a “picnic,” things fell into their hands so easily. Having bound and gagged his prisoner Jack made his way back to a point close to the leaning tower, when he gave the promised signal; and was speedily joined by his two mates.
After that they all three went cautiously up the winding stairs, and suddenly took the remaining radio man by surprise, by covering him with three guns, and cowing him in the bargain. Realizing that the game was queered he did not dare take desperate chances by putting up any resistance; simply grinning, and holding out his hands for Jack to slip the bracelets over his wrists.
“Now,” explained Jack, “the only thing we want to do is to take some of this stuff along to prove we’ve demolished the offending radio-sending station; after which it’s up to Uncle Sam to see that this scotched snake doesn’t show its head again along the same lines—we will have finished our job in first-class shape, and can take up something else, for to be sure there’s work aplenty for us Secret Service lads.”
Before this was carried out Jack secured a fine picture of the old leaning Coast Tower, as well as its interior, showing the radio sending outfit just as they found it. This being accomplished as positive evidence that could not be successfully disputed, they put aside such material as could be readily transported in the cabin of their amphibian, and then sent the racketty tower high up in the air, to fall in fragments on the beach.