The army officer nodded. “Right. It was the original. The one on my desk is a copy. The other originals are in a safe in this building.” “Is there enough information on the first section which was stolen to reveal your plan in full?” asked Bob. “That’s something that would depend upon the cleverness of the men into whose hands it is delivered. There is one European power whose radio experts are well advanced along the line on which I have been working. If this document is delivered into their hands, there is a good chance that it contains information which would be of value to them.” “But so far we have no idea who is behind the theft last night,” said the federal agent. “Have you any hunches?” Major McCreary shook his head. “Nothing strong enough to give you any leads. But I’ll let you know the minute anything develops. In the meantime, make every effort to recover this paper. Once it passes beyond the boundaries of this country it may fall into the hands of men smart enough and unscrupulous enough to learn its meaning and put it to their own selfish use. It is a secret which would give them unlimited powers of destruction.” After they had left Major McCreary’s office Bob looked at his uncle. “What next?” he asked. “To the police station to interview that prisoner without any further loss of time,” was the decision. The station was some distance away and they took a taxi. Before they had gone three blocks the hooting of police sirens fairly filled the air and their driver was forced to pull far over to the right as radio cars went racing past, each driver tense at his wheel and the other officer ready with a shotgun in his lap. “Something big’s broken,” said the federal agent. “Be just my luck to have it an angle on this case. Oh well, we might as well go on to the station and see what we can dig out of your friend.” As they reached the police station another squad car rushed away, its siren screaming a warning to traffic. Merritt Hughes fairly tossed the cab fare at the driver and with Bob at his heels, ran into the building. The federal agent knew the desk sergeant and directed his questions at him. “What’s up, Barney? Bank been robbed?” “Just about as bad. Someone slugged one of your agents and made a break. Matter of fact, I guess it was a friend of yours.” “Quit kidding, Barney. What happened?” “The fellow you caught last night was being questioned by Condon Adams when all of a sudden he ups and smashes Adams a nasty crack on the chin, grabs his gun, and legs it out the door. We’ve got every squad car in town out hunting for him.” Bob felt his own heart sink for he knew that unless the fugitive was recaptured, their hopes for a real break in the radio mystery were slim. Chapter XVIII MEAGER HOPES ★ Merritt Hughes stared hard at the police sergeant as though he dared not believe the officer’s words.