“Oh, you mean toy balloons?”
“Yes. There must be a picnic somewhere. Funny thing, too. I noticed they all had a card or a tag attached to the trailing strings.”
“Perhaps it is some advertising stunt,” suggested Tom.
He resumed the reading of a technical wireless book he had received from New York, while Ben continued idly looking from the tower window.
Affairs at Station Z had settled down to routine. They had learned no results as yet from the mysterious appearance of Bill Barber at the tower the evening before. Suddenly Ben broke out with the words:
“There comes Bill Barber, now.”
Tom awaited the appearance of the former captain of the Black Caps with some curiosity. He pointed to a chair as the Barber boy came up through the trap door.
“What’s the news, Bill?” inquired Tom casually.
Bill’s broad mouth expanded Into a grin. He chuckled serenely.
“Haven’t heard anything about last night?”