“She must be far out on the ocean,” said Roy, after he had told Willie what ship was calling. “We can barely hear her.”
For a long time they sat silent before the wireless table, listening to the myriad voices in the air. Then a step was heard, and the door of the wireless house opened. The purser appeared at the door.
“Come in,” cried Roy, and he was about to snatch the receivers from his head and jump up to welcome his visitor, when a message that was sounding in his ear held him motionless. “Watch for J. Simonski. Diamonds,” said the message.
“Did you hear that, Willie?” called Roy. “That’s a message from the White Star liner Majestic. It’s from a treasury agent aboard, and he’s tipping off the Secret Service here to watch for a smuggler named Simonski. They’ll nab that gentleman at the pier, when he tries to bring his diamonds ashore.”
“Is that how they do it?” cried Willie. “Why, that’s as easy as rolling off a log.”
“Yes—after you know how,” said Roy. “The agent on the ship has somehow got to find out that Simonski has the diamonds, before he can inform on him.”
“And that,” said Willie, “is a gray horse of another color. Gee! I wonder how he did it.”
Roy threw down his receivers, and rose to welcome the purser. Willie switched off his instrument and followed Roy’s example. He was introduced to the purser. Presently Roy turned another switch, juggled some buttons on a black box, and music began to sound. At one end of his table, partly concealed by a screen-like partition, was a radio outfit. The purser had come up to listen to the evening’s radio entertainment and Roy had tuned in to WJZ, the broadcasting station at Newark. Presently Sam brought some cakes and hot coffee, and the three friends sat for a long time listening to the music. Then the purser went down to his quarters, and Willie and Roy crowded into Roy’s bunk. But it was a long time before Willie could get to sleep. He was thinking of the morrow, and what it might possibly mean to him.
CHAPTER IV
THE CAPTURE OF THE WOOL SMUGGLERS
Except for the watchman, not a soul was astir about the Lycoming when Willie awoke the next morning. Eagerly he rose and dressed. Even with a multitude of interesting things about him to occupy the hours, he could hardly wait to resume the pursuit of the wool smugglers. But somehow he managed to pass the day, though as the afternoon waned his impatience increased visibly. When supper-time came and Sheridan had not yet appeared, Willie was almost in despair. He felt certain the Secret Service man had decided not to take him on the adventure.