The previous year Jack had gone to New Mexico with his father, an engineer, who was then superintendent in charge of field operations of a syndicate of independent oil operators. Mr. Hampton had been captured by Mexican rebels, and rescued by the boys, for Frank and Bob with Mr. Temple had joined Jack after his father’s loss. Later Mr. Temple had taken the boys on to San Francisco with him, and there they had become involved in the plottings of a gang of Chinese and white men, smuggling coolies into the country in violation of the Exclusion Act.
It is not to be wondered at that Frank, dreaming of those adventurous days as he lounged in the doorway, felt a twinge of regret at what promised to be a dull vacation by comparison.
It was true, he thought, they had everything to 5 make them happy and keep them interested, however. Here was the powerful radio station built by Mr. Hampton under government license to use an 1,800 meter wave length, for purposes of trans-oceanic experiment. Then, too, Frank and Bob jointly owned a powerful all-metal plane, equipped with radio, and adapted for land or water flying. Besides, there was the new and powerful speed boat bought for the three of them this summer by Mr. Hampton and Mr. Temple.
And their homes were admirably located for vacationing, too. On the far end of Long Island, miles from another human habitation, with dense woods, miles of lonely beach, and the open sea—all at their command. Well, Frank thought, after all it might not be so exciting a summer as the last, yet the three of them ought to be able to have a pretty good time.
An exclamation of anger from Jack caused Frank to face about. His chum had taken the receiver from his head.
“That interference again?” asked Frank.
“Yes,” replied Jack, rising and joining his chum in the doorway. “Oh, there comes Bob,” he added, pointing to a tall, broad figure swinging over the top of a low sandhill from the beach.
Frank’s glance followed in the direction Jack indicated. Although Bob was still distant there was 6 a purposefulness about his stride and about the way he waved a response to their greetings that caught his chum’s attention.
“Bob’s got something on his mind,” he said, with conviction. “Wonder what it is?”
“Maybe, he found something, hiking along the beach.”