esperate men."

Tom had re-entered the power house and was pottering around the
machinery.

"Dad," said Bob, who had been knitting his brow in thought,
"according to what you believe, this is all part of a plot of certain
Mexicans to embroil their country and ours by making trouble for the
independent operators in the Southwest represented by Mr. Hampton. In
that case, why should they try so hard to steal that list of the names
of the independents. That looks to me like a move on the part of your
business rival, the Octopus."

"I know it does, Bob," said his father. "The thing isn't clear to me
by a good deal. But I believe I am right. However, let's go into the
station now and call up the Hamptons out in New Mexico. Both Mr.
Hampton and Jack will be interested to hear about what has happened
here this afternoon."

The boys agreed enthusiastically, and with a word to Tom Barnum to
switch on the motor in order that they might have power to telephone,
all three entered the station. But, despite repeated calls, they
received no response.

"I suppose there's nobody at their station, that's all," said Bob.

"I suppose so," said his father. "But this business has me worried.
Let's hope nothing has gone wrong out there."

Reluctantly, all three abandoned their efforts, removed their
headpieces, and with a "good-bye" to Tom, who lived in a room at the
rear of the station, started for the house. If New Mexico were to
call, a light bulb would flash the signal in Tom's quarters, and he
would telephone the house.

It was twilight when they reached home, and all three went to their
rooms to dress for dinner.

"Tomorrow," said Mr. Temple in parting, "we'll all drive over to
church, and then in the afternoon you boys can go to work preparing
the airplane, and I'll lend a hand." Mr. Temple was chairman of the
Board of Trustees of an old ivy-covered church in a sleepy village
some miles away, and never let Sunday pass without attending divine
worship.

At dinner the talk was all of the prospective airplane flight to New
Mexico. The events of the day were told in detail to Mrs. Temple and
Della, Bob's sister. Della, who was an athletic girl of 16, declared
she wanted to go with them, but Bob answered rudely, as boys too often
speak to their sisters:

"Huh," he said, "you'd just get in the way."

Mrs. Temple made no objections to the proposed trip, but began
immediately to lay plans for filling the house with guests durin