Suddenly he recalled placing the check in his bill-case, and he
searched himself diligently, but found nothing. That reminded him
that he had won a bet or two on the football game and the money
needed collecting. There was the shooting trip to Cape Cod as
well. He was due there to-day for a week-end among the geese and
brant. What would Benny Glover think when he failed to show up or
even telegraph? Benny's sister was coming down from Boston with
some friends and--oh, it was simply imperative that he get some
word ashore.

He let his eyes rove over the ship in desperation, then a happy
thought came to him.

"The wireless!" he said aloud. "Bonehead! Why didn't you think of
that long ago?" A glance at the rigging showed him that the Santa
Cruz was equipped with a plant, and a moment later he was
hammering at the operator's door.

"I want to send a message right away!" he cried, excitedly; but
the "wireless" shook his head with a smile.

"I'm sorry, but--"

"It's important; awfully important. I'll pay you anything!" Kirk
rammed a hand mechanically into his empty pocket.

"We're installing a new system," said the operator. "The old
apparatus wasn't satisfactory and it's being changed throughout."

"Then you-you can't send a message--possibly?"