he service of my country."

"Ain't he noble?" demanded Herb, grinning, as the boys crowded into
Bob's room.

CHAPTER VIII

NEAR DISASTER

Several days later while the radio boys were experimenting with their
big set and talking over their interesting meeting with the Forest
Service ranger, Herb displayed an immense horseshoe magnet.

"Look what he's got for luck," chortled Jimmy. "The superstitious nut!"

"Superstitious nothing!" snorted Herb. "If I'd wanted it for luck I
wouldn't have got a magnet, would I? Any old common horseshoe would have
done for luck."

"Well, what's the big idea?" asked Bob, looking up from the audion tube
he was experimenting with. "Or is there any?" he added, with a grin.

"You bet your life there is!" returned Herb. "It's got to do with that
very audion tube you're fussing with."

"Ah, go on," jeered Joe, good-naturedly. "What's a magnet got to do with
an audion tube, I'd like to know!"

"Poor old Herb," added Jimmy, with a commiserating shake of the head.

"Say, look here, all you fellows! Don't you go wasting any pity on me,"
cried Herb hotly. "If you don't look out, I won't show you my experiment
at all."

"Go on, Herb," said Bob consolingly. "I'm listening."

"Well, I'm glad there's one sensible member of this bunch!" cried Herb,
and from then on addressed himself solely to Bob. "Look here," he said.
"You can make the audion tube ever so much more sensitive to vibration
if you put this magnet near it."

"Who says so?" asked Bob, with interest.

"I do. Here, put on the headphones and listen. I'll prove it to you."

Bob obeyed and tuned in to the nearest broadcasting station where a
concert was scheduled. As soon as he signified by a nod of his head that
the connection was satisfactory Herb placed the big horseshoe magnet in
such a position that the poles of the magnet were on each side of the
tube.

Sure enough, Bob was amazed at the almost magical improvement in the
sound. It was clearer, more distinct, altogether more satisfactory. He
listened in for another moment then wonderingly took off the headphones
while Herb grinned at him in triumph.

"Well, what do you think?" asked the latter while Joe and Jimmy looked
at them curiously.

"Think?" repeated Bob, still wonderingly. "Why, there's only one thing
to think, of course. That fool horseshoe of yours, Herb, is one
wonderful improvement. I don't know how it works, but it surely is a
marvel."

Herb glanc