But the lawyer was inflexible, and at last Ca.s.sey took a key from his pocket and opened a drawer from which he took a paper and handed it over to Mr. Wilson. The latter ran his eyes over it and his face lighted up with satisfaction.
"It"s the mortgage, all right," he said, as he handed it over to his client. "That settles his account with you, Miss Berwick, and I congratulate you. But it doesn"t settle his account with the law.
You contemptible scoundrel," he said, addressing Ca.s.sey, "you ought to serve a good long term for this."
Ca.s.sey, utterly broken, fell on his knees at this and fairly begged for mercy. He stuttered so horribly that the boys would have had to laugh if it had not been for the tragedy of the wretched creature groveling in such abas.e.m.e.nt.
Miss Berwick intervened and held a conference with her lawyer in a low voice.
"Well," said the latter finally, "of course, if you refuse to make a charge against him, there"s nothing to do but to let him go, though he ought to be sent to jail as a warning to others. Get up, you worm," he continued, addressing Ca.s.sey, "and thank your stars that Miss Berwick"s generosity keeps you from getting the punishment you so richly deserve."
They left him there in his shame and disgrace, and went back to their car, after Mr. Brandon had warned the rascal that any repet.i.tion of his minor offense would bring down swift penalty, from the government.
It was a happy party that rode back to Clintonia. There were tears in Miss Berwick"s eyes as she thanked again and again the boys who for the second time had done her such a signal service. And Bob and Joe had a Sense of satisfaction and exhilaration that was beyond all words to express.
On their way they pa.s.sed through Ocean Point, a summer colony where many of the residents of Clintonia had cottages. It was on the seash.o.r.e and every foot of it was familiar to the boys, whose own parents spent a part of the summer there every year.
"It won"t be long now before we"ll be on this old stamping ground of ours," remarked Joe, as he looked at the surf breaking on the sh.o.r.e.
"It will be good to be here again."
"Right you are," replied Bob. "And we"ll bring our radio sets along.
This summer will be more interesting than any we"ve known before."
How fully that prophecy was carried out, and how exciting were the adventures that awaited the boys will be told in the second book of this series, to be ent.i.tled: "The Radio Boys at Ocean Point; Or, The Message That Saved the Ship."
Herb and Jimmy were as delighted as their chums when they heard of the way that Ca.s.sey had been trapped and forced to make rest.i.tution.
But many of the details had to be postponed until another time, for just now their thoughts were full of the Ferberton prize which was to be awarded that night, and for which they were busy in making their final preparations.
The town hall that night was crowded, and many had to be content with standing room. Upon the platform were numerous wireless telephone sets that had been received for the compet.i.tion.
Mr. Ferberton himself presided at the gathering. He made a most interesting address, in which he dealt with the wonders of wireless and gave a review of its latest developments. His own set, which was one of the largest and most powerful the radio boys had ever seen, had been installed on the platform with a large horn attached, and for an hour and a half, while waiting for the prizes to be awarded, the auditors were regaled with a delightful concert.
In the meantime, a committee of three radio experts had been examining the sets submitted in compet.i.tion. They subjected them to various tests, taking into account the care displayed in workmanship, the ingenuity shown in the choice of materials, and the clearness of tone discerned when each in turn was connected with the aerial and put to a practical test. The choice was difficult, for many of them showed surprising excellence for amateurs.
At last, however, the awards were decided on, and Mr. Ferberton, holding the list in his hand, advanced to the edge of the platform.
The silence became so intense that one could almost have heard a pin drop.
"The first prize," he said after a few words of introduction, "is awarded to Robert Layton."
There was a roar of applause, for no one in town was more popular than Bob.
"The second prize goes to Joseph Atwood," continued Mr. Ferberton, and again the hall rocked with applause.
"If there had been a third prize," the speaker concluded, "it would have been awarded to James Plummer. As it is, he receives honorable mention." And Jimmy too had his share of the cheering and hand clapping.
Long after the lights were out and the audience dispersed, the chums sat on Bob"s porch, elated and hilarious.
"I"m the only rank outsider," grinned Herb. "I take off my hat to the rest of the bunch. You"re the fellows!"
"You needn"t take it off to me," laughed Jimmy. "I got only honorable mention, and there isn"t much nourishment in that. Not half as much as there is in a doughnut. I could have used that money, too."
"What are you two bloated plutocrats thinking of?" asked Herb of Bob and Joe, who had let the others do most of the talking.
"Radio," replied Joe.
"The most wonderful thing in the world," declared Bob.
THE END
THE RADIO BOYS SERIES
(Trademark Registered)
By ALLEN CHAPMAN
Author of the "Railroad Series," Etc.
ILl.u.s.tRATED. INDIVIDUAL COLORED WRAPPERS FOR EACH STORY.
A new series for boys giving full details of radio work, both in sending and receiving--telling how small and large amateur sets can be made and operated, and how some boys got a lot of fun and adventure out of what they did. Each volume from first to last is so thoroughly fascinating, so strictly up-to-date and accurate, we feel sure all lads will peruse them with great delight.
Each volume has a Foreword by Jack Binns, the well-known radio expert of the New York Tribune.
THE RADIO BOYS" FIRST WIRELESS; Or, Winning the Ferberton Prize.
THE RADIO BOYS AT OCEAN POINT; Or, The Message That Saved the Ship.
THE RADIO BOYS AT THE SENDING STATION; Or, Making Good in the Wireless Room.
THE RADIO BOYS AT MOUNTAIN Pa.s.s; Or, The Midnight Call for a.s.sistance.
THE RADIO BOYS TRAILING A VOICE; Or, Solving a Wireless Mystery.
THE RADIO BOYS WITH THE FOREST RANGERS; Or, The Great Fire on Spruce Mountain.
GROSSET & DUNLAP. PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
UNIFORM STYLE OF BINDING. INDIVIDUAL COLORED WRAPPERS.
These spirited tales, convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances inland and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the memory and their reading is productive only of good.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE