he had foiled the plan of the traitorous Mexican
chauffeur to deliver him and his friends to the enemy. Was Tom, the
ex-cowboy, on guard at the radio plant, a traitor? Jack could not
believe it.

Footsteps were approaching from around the corner. Jack looked around
wildly. There was no shelter near enough to which to flee. He whipped
out his automatic, flung himself down alongside the wall, and waited.

Two men appeared, but instead of rounding the corner they moved
straight ahead. They were in earnest, but low-voiced conversation.
They did not see him.

Jack stifled an exclamation. The man with Remedios was Rollins, his
father's trusted assistant. So stunned was Jack at the revelation that
he did not strain to overhear what they were saying. In a moment they
were beyond earshot.

Trembling with rage at this evidence of treachery on the part of
Rollins, Jack rose to his feet. He intended to stalk the two
conspirators. Then a new idea occurred to him. What were they doing at
the radio plant? Perhaps, for reasons of their own, they had damaged
it or put it out of commission. He decided to investigate.

Rollins and Remedios were now out of sight toward the front of the
ranch house. Perhaps Rollins would have the audacity to take the other
into his room, which opened like the other rooms directly upon the
porch or gallery. If so, Jack could surprise them later. First, he
would investigate at the radio plant.

Walking swiftly, he approached the door of the power house. An
electric light shone within. The guard, Tom, jumped up from a chair
where he had been sitting, reading, at the sound of Jack's hurried
footsteps. His hand reached for the ready revolver at his side, but
was withdrawn at sight of his visitor.

"Oh, it's you, Jack," he said, addressing him familiarly, for a warm
friendship had sprung up between the two. "I thought it might be a
Greaser."

"Tom," said Jack, without any preliminaries, and showing his
excitement in his voice and manner, "what was Mr. Rollins doing here?
Who was that with him?"

Well enough Jack knew who the stranger was. But good friend though Tom
was, Jack wanted to test him. The circumstances certainly were
suspicious.

"Didn't see the other feller," Tom answered. "He stayed outside. Mr.
Rollins said he was an oil driller. Mr. Rollins went into the station
there." Tom motioned to the radio operating room beyond a closed door.
"Asked me to throw on the juice so he could use the t