s not unlikely that he is the
wireless man on one of the liners," put in Burns, a spare, grizzled man
and Chief of the Secret Service.

"That's probable, Burns," rejoined the navy official.

"More than likely, I think," put in another member of the group, "but
it's impossible to find out which one."

"Yes, we are at the mercy of our unknown informant," said Burns. "Why
the deuce was he so mysterious about it?" He tugged at his gray mustache
as a sudden thought struck him.

"Jove!" he exclaimed. "You don't think it's a put-up job to get money
out of the government? Put up, I mean, by an agent of the inventor
himself."

"I don't know, Burns," was the official's reply. "It's all mighty
mysterious. I confess I can't hazard a guess as to the man's identity.
We've looked up all the most prominent wireless sharps all over the
country. I am satisfied this fellow is not one of their number."

"Some obscure fellow, I guess," said a Secret Service man.

"Well, he won't remain obscure long," remarked Burns, "if he has brains
enough to turn the navy department topsy-turvy for forty-eight hours."

CHAPTER XXV.

A MYSTERY ON BOARD.

Two days later the monotony of the voyage, which was broken only by the
radiograms which were posted daily concerning the race between the
American and British liners--the _Columbia_ being in the lead--was
rudely shattered by an incident in which Jack was destined to play an
important part. Jack had been on a visit to Raynor during the young
engineer's night watch in the engine-room. They had stayed chatting and
talking over old times till Jack suddenly realized that it was long
after midnight and time for him to be in his bunk.

Hastily saying good-night, he made his way through the deserted
corridors of the great ship, which stretched empty and dimly lit before
him. As he traversed them the young wireless man could not but think of
the contrast to the busy life of the day when stewards swarmed and
passengers hurried to and fro. Now everything was silent and deserted,
except for the still figures up on the bridge and below in the engine
and fire rooms, guiding and powering the great vessel onward through the
night at a twenty-four-knot clip.

The lad had just reached the end of one corridor, and was about to turn
into another which led to a companionway, which would bring him to his
own domain, when he stopped short, startled by the sound of a single
sharp outcry. It came from the c