The Secret Wireless | Page 5

yellow paper that Henry held out to her and read
it slowly and carefully. "Well, I never!" she said at last. "I never did!
But I don't know whether to let you go or not. Why, you'd be lost inside
of ten minutes in New York, and instead of being a help to the police,
you'd keep them busy hunting for you. I don't know about this. Wait till
your father gets home and we'll talk it over."
"But, mother," protested Henry, "I can't wait. And we've got to go. The
Chief of the Radio Service has asked for our help. That means the
government wants us. If it wants us, it must need us. And we've just got
to go."
"Humph!" said Mrs. Harper.

"And besides," added Henry, reading the signs in his mother's face, "Dr.
Hardy is to be in New York with us, so we can't get into trouble."
"Well, that alters the case," said Mrs. Harper. "With Dr. Hardy to look
after you, I reckon you can't go very far astray."
"Then we can go, mother?"
"I suppose so. I know your father thinks every one of us should do
everything he possibly can to help win this war. But it gets me to know
what you youngsters can do that will be of any use. Still, I guess the
government wouldn't have sent for you if it didn't want you, and I won't
stand in the road of the government."
"Hurrah!" shouted Henry. "Then I'm off to tell the others." And he
darted out of the yard and was away like an arrow.
CHAPTER III
THE WIRELESS PATROL PREPARES FOR ACTION
At top speed Henry tore down the street.
Half a block from his home he passed a schoolmate.
"Hey! What's your hurry?" the latter called out, as Henry dashed past
him.
"Wireless patrol ordered out!" Henry shouted over his shoulder, as he
darted on down the street.
"Wait a minute!" called the other lad.
"Can't," cried Henry. "Got to get the patrol together to go on a spy
hunt."
At the words "spy hunt" the other boy leaped forward and ran after
Henry at top speed. "What's up?" he asked enviously, as he overtook
Henry and raced along beside him. For the lad did not belong to the

wireless patrol.
"Ordered to New York by the government," panted Henry, "to hunt for
German spies."
The announcement had all the effect Henry intended it to have. For a
full half minute his companion said never a word, but ran mutely
beside him, his eyes fastened incredulously on Henry. Then, "Gee
whiz!" he said. "You're not really goin' to New York!"
"Sure thing," panted Henry. "Just got a telegram from Washington."
That was too much for Henry's companion. "Gee whiz!" he said again.
"I wish I belonged to the wireless patrol."
Henry looked at him sympathetically, half sorry that he had said what
he had. "Maybe you will some day," he replied. "Good-bye."
They had reached the home of wee Willie Brown. Henry stopped
abruptly and turned in at the open gate. He mounted the steps and rang
the bell. Mrs. Brown opened the door.
"Is Willie--at home--Mrs. Brown?" he asked, all out of breath.
"Yes, Henry," replied Mrs. Brown. "You'll find him up in his room."
"Is he busy?"
"Oh! He's tinkering with his wireless, as usual," said Mrs. Brown. "But
he's always glad to see you, Henry."
"He will be this time, I'm sure," said Henry. "The wireless patrol is
ordered out on a spy hunt."
"What! Not again?" queried Mrs. Brown, in astonishment. "Where are
you going this time?"
"To New York," rejoined Henry, and his voice plainly showed his
exultation.

"Tell me more about it." Mrs. Brown was at once all seriousness.
Henry turned away from the stair door and explained the situation to
Mrs. Brown, who was very sober. But when Henry said that Dr. Hardy
had asked the boys to come and that he would himself be with them in
New York, the serious look vanished from Mrs. Brown's face. "That's
all right, then," she said. "If Dr. Hardy wants you and is to be there to
look after you, it is all right. I am glad Willie has the opportunity to go.
He has never been in a really big city."
Henry went on up to Willie's room and broke the news to him. And the
sounds that came down to Mrs. Brown made her laugh heartily. But it
was a laugh of sympathy. She remembered that she had once been
young herself. Presently the racket up-stairs subsided. Then came the
clatter of noisy and eager feet on the stairs. And a moment later Henry
and Willie skipped out of the door, tore through the gate, and went
racing up the street