Jack nodded.
“Say, I am glad to meet you,” said Mr. Bender enthusiastically. “Yes. I know your father. When he was on the Coast some years ago on his way to Alaska I met him. He’s enthusiastic about radio telephony. We had a number of very pleasant talks. I remember him very well. But here, I’m
keeping you standing. Won’t you come back into my workshop and sit down. Bring your friends.”
Jack accomplished the necessary introductions, and they followed Mr. Bender into the room in the rear.
For a time the boys were kept busy examining various radio appliances, which the energetic Mr. Bender kept thrusting at them. All the time he kept up a running fire of comment.
“Now this,” he said, taking up a small device of unusual shape, “is a sound detector. The only similar device in the field so far is the radio compass, but it is clumsy and unreliable. With this device, however, I am quite certain I have solved the problem of locating the point of origin of any strange or unusual sounds in the air.”
Jack gave an exclamation.
“What say?” asked Mr. Bender, turning toward him.
Jack could hardly conceal his impatience.
“How does it work?” he asked eagerly.