“I can’t help thinking that he has been up to some mischief,” replied Billy. “He’s got himself a new outfit somewhere and I saw him paying his hotel bill.”
“Well, at any rate that’s a laudable act,” laughed Jack. “After all, we are not much concerned with anything that he does now.”
“No, that’s true. By-the-way, how is that wireless idea of yours for a portable set getting along?”
“First rate; I’ve got it all worked out on paper and have cut the weight down to fifty pounds without the aerials.”
“Good for you. I’ve got a notion we can make a lot of use of it.”
“At any rate it won’t be much of an extra load and it might get us out of a tight place, who can tell?”
After some further talk the boys decided to turn in, as they had to be up early the next day. It was a hot, close night when the heavens seemed to be pressed down like a brazen lid on a pot. Far off, flashes of lightning illuminated the distant sky toward the mountains where, for all they knew, the millionaire’s abducted brother might be concealed.
“Phew! It’s warm,” exclaimed Jack. “I guess I’ll take a bath before I turn in.”
The boys’ bedroom was typical of hotels in that part of the world. Its floor was bare except for a strip of matting. There were two beds in it, hung with mosquito netting curtains, and a tiny wash basin and jug. An old-fashioned bell-pull hung near one of the beds and Jack decided to give it a tug and order a bath, when one of the native “bell boys” appeared. After a long interval, one of the barefooted functionaries of the hotel arrived. Jack made his wants known and the man hurried off again without a word.
“That’s odd,” commented Jack, “but I guess he’s gone to fill it and will be back directly to say it’s ready.”