In his usual dramatic manner Kennedy had swung his little audience completely with him.
“In other words,” he resumed, “it might be used for eavesdropping by a wireless wiretapper. Now,” he concluded, “I thought that if there was any radio detective work being done, I might as well do some, too.”
He toyed for a moment with the phonograph record. “I have used,” he explained, “Marconi’s radiotelephone, because in connection with his receivers Marconi uses phonographic recorders and on them has captured wireless telegraph signals over hundreds of miles.
“He has found that it is possible to receive wireless signals, although ordinary records are not loud enough, by using a small microphone on the repeating diaphragm and connected with a loud-speaking telephone. The chief difficulty was to get a microphone that would carry a sufficient current without burning up. There were other difficulties, but they have been surmounted and now wireless telegraph messages may be automatically recorded and made audible.”
Kennedy started the phonograph, running it along, stopping it, taking up the record at a new point.
“Listen,” he exclaimed at length, “there’s something interesting, the WXY call—Seaville station—from some one on the Lucie only a few minutes ago, sending a message to be relayed by Seaville to the station at Beach Park. It seems impossible, but buzzing and ticking forth is this message from some one off this very houseboat. It reads: “Miss Valerie Fox, Beach Park. I am suspected of the murder of Mrs. Edwards. I appeal to you to help me. You must allow me to tell the truth about the messages I intercepted for Mrs. Edwards which passed between yourself on the ocean and Mr. Edwards in New York via Seaville. You rejected me and would not let me save you. Now you must save me.”
Kennedy paused, then added, “The message is signed by Dr. Jermyn!”
At once I saw it all. Jermyn had been the unsuccessful suitor for Miss Fox’s affections. But before I could piece out the rest of the tragic story, Kennedy had started the phonograph record at an earlier point which he had skipped for the present.
“Here’s another record—a brief one—also to Valerie Fox from the houseboat: ‘Refuse all interviews. Deny everything. Will see you as soon as present excitement dies down.’”
Before Kennedy could finish, Waldon had leaped forward, unable longer to control his feelings. If Kennedy had not seized his arm, I verily believe he would have cast Dr. Jermyn into the bay into which his sister had fallen two nights before in her terribly weakened condition.