by Roy J. Snell
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
DREAMS
The moment they were tied up at the dock in their home port CaptainMacQueen got in touch with Silent Storm.
"I understand you know this inventor C. K. Kennedy," he said over thephone. "How well do you know him?"
"Quite well, I think," was Storm's modest reply.
"Fine," said MacQueen. "How about having dinner with my friend, Sally,and me tonight?"
"That will be a pleasure," said Silent Storm, sensing at once thatsomething big regarding Sally's secret radio was in the offing. "But whydon't we have the dinner at my house? It's quiet and very secret."
"That's okay with me," was the prompt reply.
"Make it seven o'clock," said Storm.
"Sally and I will be there." And they were.
When Sally had enjoyed one more delightful dinner in the Storm home shewas led away once more to Silent Storm's secret den. There, over blackcoffee, the three of them talked over the future.
"I have asked you to take a part in this," Captain MacQueen said toStorm, "because you are an old friend of C. K. Kennedy and will,perhaps, know the best manner in which to approach him. This matter ofthe secret radio is one of great importance. And we cannot forget thathe alone holds the secret of its extraordinary performance."
"You overestimate my influence," was Storm's reply. "Wouldn't Sally doquite as well?"
"Perhaps," the Captain admitted, "but in battles of major importance Ibring up all my forces. What I want to propose is that Sally, you, and Itake a plane to Washington--our ship is to be tied up long enough forthis--that we pick up a rather important Government man there, and thatwe then go on to Sally's home town to interview Kennedy. What do youthink of that, Sally?"
"Sounds all right to me," said Sally. "I agree with you that Major Stormwill be a great help."
"How about it, Storm?" said the Captain. "Can you arrange for the timeoff?"
"Oh, beyond a doubt it can be arranged," said Storm.
"Then we are all set." Captain MacQueen heaved a sigh of relief.
The rest of that evening was given over to telling of the aircraftcarrier's journey and the important part the secret radio had played inthe winning of her battles. When he had heard the story Silent Storm wasmore than eager to accompany them on their journey to the home of thegreat inventor.
"One thing must be understood from the start," he said as the Skipperand Sally prepared to leave. "That is that I am a real friend of old C.K. and of Sally as well. If there are negotiations going on for old C.K.'s secret, I shall act, in a way, as his lawyer."
"And you will see that he is treated fairly," said the Captain.
"Not only that, but I shall see that he knows that he is being treatedfairly," Storm amended.
"That's just what I had hoped for," the Captain agreed.
The very next day, with Danny as co-pilot for a big twin-motored plane,they set off on their journey. Twenty-four hours later they wereknocking at the door of the modest shop where the secret radio had firstseen the light of day.
"Sally!" the aged inventor exclaimed at sight of her. "I'm glad to seeyou! But how is it that you are back so soon?"
"These men can tell you more about that than I can." Sally was beaming."You know Major Storm."
"Oh, yes indeed!" The two men shook hands.
The other men were introduced and then, seated on rustic benches andchairs, they told the delighted old man the story of his secret radio.
"Sally, you have done all that I hoped and much more," he exclaimed.There were tears in his eyes. "I shall never forget."
"That's just fine," said Sally, rising a bit unsteadily to her feet."I--I'm glad you are happy. And now I am going to leave you men tofinish the business of the hour. I promised to show Danny our river."
"Danny?" the old man laughed happily. "So you've got you a Danny? Wellthen, run along. I wouldn't keep you for the world."
After a long, delightful tramp over the river trail, Sally and Dannycame to rest on a rustic bench overlooking the river.
"It's really slow and peaceful," Sally murmured.
"I'll say it is, after what we've gone through," Danny agreed. "My handsfairly ache for the controls of my plane."
"Hands," said Sally, with a sly smile, "are sometimes used for otherpurposes."
"That's right, they are," Danny exclaimed, seizing Sally's hand. Sallydidn't mind, so they sat there for a time in silence.
Then came the sound of voices. "They are looking for us," said Sally."Time for a crash landing." She pulled her hand away.
"So here you are!" Captain MacQueen said a moment later.
"Well, folks," said Silent Storm, "everything is arranged. TheGovernment gets the secret radio and your old-friend C. K. gets aliberal payment."
"And you, Sally, are to receive half of it," said the Captain.
"What!" Sally sprang to her feet. "Why! That's unfair!"
"He didn't see it that way," Storm replied quietly. "He felt that youhave done more than he to make the radio a success. I advise that youaccept his offer and allow things to stand as they are. It is for thegood of your country as well as yourself, and there will be plenty foryou both, I assure you." Sally settled back in her place.
"Well," she admitted, "it will be a good opportunity to help my countryin another way. I'll invest it in War Bonds right away. C. K. willreally be aiding our nation in that way, then, too."
"Yes," said the Captain, "that is true. Kennedy wants you to have thebungalow you have always dreamed of, when peace has come again."
"Won't that be sweet?" Sally said, turning to Danny with a teasingsmile. Danny said never a word.
"And C. K. wants you to come back to work with him as soon as the war isover," Storm said with a grin.
Once more Sally turned to Danny. This time he spoke. "That," he said,"will need a lot of thinking about."
And so, for Sally, life seemed fairly well begun.
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