call, doesn't he?"

"He has for the last few days."

"Then why not to-day?"

"I cannot imagine. Perhaps he couldn't."

"You don't suppose anything has happened to Lola, do you?"

"Who can tell?"

"You are right; it was a foolish question," admitted the financier,
accepting the rebuke gracefully. "Still, I cannot help being anxious
and wondering."

"Of course not."

"If only that miserable inspector would turn up and you could get your
license! It is absurd that you cannot send a message, a man of your
experience!"

"I am as sorry about the delay as you are," Bob answered. "Perhaps I
am more so. Nevertheless I am not going to break the rules. Besides,
were we to call O'Connel, it might arouse suspicion and get him into
trouble. It is far better to leave the calling to him."

"But he hasn't called."

"Then there is some good reason, I'll be bound. He knows what he is
about when he says to await developments."

"Maybe he does," sighed the elder man. "However, I am not much used to
waiting. When I want a thing done, I want it done."

Bob smiled at the characteristic remark.

"You cannot whisk everything off like that," observed he. "Sometimes
it is necessary----"

"To wait? Yes, I suppose so," put in Mr. Crowninshield. "Well, I will
hold my horses for one more day. But I warn you to-morrow I shall do
something. I can't be hanging around like this--not knowing anything
or hearing anything."

"It is hard," Bob returned sympathetically.

"It is hard for one born in New York and accustomed to seeing things
hum," asserted the owner of Surfside with a wry smile. "Well, we must
try to forget it, that's all. Come, get your books and let us go on
with our radio lesson from the point where we left it yesterday. The
rest of them are waiting and there seems to be nothing better that we
can do."

Fortunately Bob was not sensitive enough to be hurt by the thrust.

"I'll be right along," agreed he, "as soon as I have locked up here."

On reaching the veranda he found his class assembled and the first
comment to reach his ears was:

"No news from O'Connel, eh?"

"No, Dick."

"What in thunder do you suppose has become of him?"

Bob put his finger to his lips and taking the hint the boy abandoned
the subject, inquiring instead:

"Isn't it a bore to have to listen in at just such a time every day
whether it is convenient or not--I mean when you are in charge of a
station."

"Sometimes it is," Bob responded