“Is there a wireless station here?” asked Roy.
“No.”
“Do you know of any amateur operators? I might be able to use their equipment.”
“I don’t know of any. Go to the mayor.”
She called to the messenger, who was just leaving the room. “This is Mr. Mercer,” she said. “Will you please take him directly to Mayor Boone. He is a wireless operator. Perhaps he can get help for us.”
The messenger took Roy directly to the mayor, and introduced him.
“I suppose there are some amateur operators in Corpus Christi,” said the mayor, “but I do not know of any. However, there is a shop where all sorts of electrical equipment are for sale. Maybe you could find what you need there.” He told Roy what he should say if he got into communication with anybody.
Then he turned to his messenger. “Go with this gentleman,” he said. “Spare no effort to get what he needs. Lack of communication is our worst trouble now.”
They found the owner of the shop. He had the necessary equipment if it could be gotten, but his store was under three feet of water.