heir power to keep this broadcast from being
a success," mused Janet.

"That's putting it politely," put in Curt. "I'd say that someone is a
skunk, and I hate skunks."

Jim Hill joined them just then. He looked tired and worried.

"Let's eat," he said, and the others agreed, the group adjourning to a
nearby restaurant. They obtained a secluded table where they could talk
with little risk of being overheard by prying ears.

After giving their orders, Jim turned to Janet.

"Been able to think up any clues?" he asked.

She shook her head.

"I've tried to think of every event that took place, but I can't
remember any special smell, or noise, and I didn't even feel the
garments of my assailant. I'm afraid I'm of no help."

"Not much," conceded Jim, running his fingers through his hair.

"What have you found out, Curt?"

The cowboy star likewise had nothing to contribute.

"I've got plenty of suspicions, but not a grain of proof," he grumbled.

"That's just it. We all have suspicions but no proof and this program
must be in dress rehearsal tomorrow night and there can't be any boners
pulled then. We've simply got to solve this mystery before then. Until
this is cleared up the script won't be safe for a minute unless someone
is with it all of the time."

"Where is it now?" demanded Janet.

"In my office with the door locked and an office boy standing guard in
front of the door."

"That doesn't sound very safe to me. Suppose someone well known should
come along and send the boy on an errand. He'd leave the door and there
your manuscript would be unprotected."

"Oh, it's safe enough," smiled Jim. Then he paused suddenly.

"Say, maybe you're right. That could happen, especially if one of the
program directors or other officials happened along. I told the boy to
be sure and stay on the job, but he'd run an errand for any one of
them."

Jim stood up.

"Go ahead with your lunches. I'll skip up and get the script and rejoin
you. It won't take five minutes."

Chapter Twenty-eight

REHEARSALS AGAIN

Jim Hill hastened away, but it was fifteen minutes before he returned
with a large envelope with the manuscript. When he arrived his face was
flushed and he was breathing rapidly.

"What's the matter?" asked Helen, who sensed that Jim was greatly upset.

"Plenty. It was a good thing I got there when I did."

"You mean someone was after the manuscript?" demanded Janet.

"I mean someone had it," retor