Bromley seldom if ever called them up, although the boys had paid for having him put on the party wire. It was handy for them to be in communication with Old John, summer and winter.
“You and Dan had better come down here,” said the boatman, his voice very low. “There’s something——”
It died out there and Billy asked him to repeat it. Old John seemed to keep right on whispering:
“I’ve chased ’em off, but they come back.”
“Who has come back? What d’ye mean?” gasped Billy.
“And so you better come. Don’t want ’em ... hear me talkin’——”
“What under the sun are you getting at, John?” exclaimed Billy. “Let’s have the details.”
Bromley’s voice on the wire was strong for a moment. “Now, you wait——”
And that was all—every last word Billy heard! He rattled the hook, and shouted into the mouthpiece, and tried to call Central. He got her after a while and demanded that Bromley be called again.
“Doesn’t answer!” snapped the girl, after a fruitless minute.