Contents

I.The New Wireless Man[11]
II.The Secret of Success[24]
III.Roy’s First Fire[34]
IV.In Lower New York[50]
V.A Friend in Need[69]
VI.Off to Sea[81]
VII.The Night’s Work[94]
VIII.Where Cotton is King[107]
IX.Thwarting a Wireless Incendiary[129]
X.A Lesson in Diplomacy[152]
XI.A Visit to Chinatown[173]
XII.A Close Call[198]
XIII.Roy Gains Another Friend[221]
XIV.A Trip to the Oil Fields[229]
XV.S O S[240]
XVI.Latitude 28—Longitude 96[266]
XVII.Land Ahead![281]
XVIII.Back Into the Storm[298]
XIX.Victory[314]

The Young Wireless
Operator—Afloat

CHAPTER I
THE NEW WIRELESS MAN

Roy Mercer sat by a window in a fast express-train that was rushing across the Newark meadows on the way to New York City. Three years previously Roy had made a similar trip. As he looked back now over those three years, it seemed to him impossible that so much could have happened in so short a time. When he had first crossed these same meadows the country was engaged in deadly warfare, and he had come, with other members of the Camp Brady Wireless Patrol, to help the government find the secret wireless system by which German spies were sending abroad information as to the movements of American troops and American transports. Long ago the wireless patrol had accomplished its work and gone home. Now the great World War was ended. And although peace had not been formally declared, more than seven months had already elapsed since the signing of the armistice that had brought an end to the terrible conflict. In that period the nation had swung back into its accustomed channels, and the activities of peace had succeeded the feverish efforts of war.

But the thing that had made the greatest difference in Roy’s life was the death of his father. Long ago the cherished hope of a college course had disappeared, for upon Roy had devolved the duty of caring, not only for himself, but also for his mother. Manfully he had put aside his desire and taken up the hard task that confronted him. Through great determination and perseverance, coupled with the devotion of his mother, Roy had managed to complete his course at the Central City High School. Now, at nineteen years of age, he was about to make his way alone in the world.

His active outdoor life, and the hard work he had been compelled to do since the death of his father, had developed Roy both physically and mentally. Always alert, keen, and quick, in these last few months he had developed unusual qualities of self-reliance, trustworthiness, and good judgment that promised well for his future success. But Roy was fortunate enough to have more than good qualities to start life with. Unlike many boys who go to New York to seek their fortunes, Roy already had a job. He was going to be the wireless man on the steamship Lycoming. The vessel was one of the new steamers built by Uncle Sam during the war, and was very shortly to make her maiden trip as a coastwise liner between New York and Galveston.

As Roy sat musing over the events that had led up to his present journey to America’s greatest seaport, his train of thought was suddenly interrupted by the loud voice of a brakeman.