THE MYSTERIOUS CALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 20

THE MYSTERIOUS CALL

(Original, by Alan Khkwood, 13.)

it n a V word, Bob, this fog is a bit thick, don't you think." _■" ; ;•;••' IVffl "It's like pea soup, Jim, only a bit thicker," said Bob laughingly, LVJL as he clung tightly to the fence of a nearby house, "fiere we arc, strangers to the city,, and can't find our way home. I think we'd better stand still for a while, else we may get lost completely.. Surely the fog will lift after a while." , ,-.■■' ' ~ , ■ •;•■ >■• As the boys stood silently leaning against the fence, suddenly a shnU cry "Help! Help—h-e-l-p!" came to their ears. ~ : , "Good heavens, what was that?" said Bob. .'..'. :,:« Again came the agonising call for help. ,;.,->■ '-'v ' ''*■ "Jim" announced Bob excitedly, "I'm going to sec what.tins is about. Looks as if someone is getting hurt badly. We can't stand here and not help. So being good Scouts, they went to the rescue. ■ \ "In here, Jim," said Bob presently. "I think this is where the sound came Feeling their way along the fence, they came to a gate, and going up the path to a door, which they found unlocked, the boys entered. Tiptoeing up the hall they came to an open door, through which they caui-.ously,tools a peep, and found—not what they expected, certainly. ;.. > "Ho, ho!' What is this? Have we discovered some housebreakers ' ■cried a "What is the meaning of this, my lads?" thundered the man of; the house "How dare you enter my house uninvited?" . .; \' ,J ... Bob and Jim looked at each other in dire dismay. A very tight corner, "Well sir," said Bob, "it's like this. Jim and I are in town for. the holidays and'we were coming home from the pictures when this fog occurred. Being strangers, we lost our bearings, and had decided to stay against youc fence until the fog lifted." " . .'. "... '. .. ' "Sounds pretty thick, like the fog, eh!" said the big-man to his family"And then," continued Bob. "we heard a voice calling for help, and deiade* we must go to the rescue." ■ -. ■ ,•, "Sorry, sir," added Jim, "for butting in like we did, but-we. really thought someone was in awful need of help. I can see now"—looking, round at "the happy family circle—"that it was a mistake. I wonder where the calTcama "I can explain to you where the call came from, boys,".said.the man, presently to the bewildered visitors. "Look over in that corner."' ""*':.' ' ■._ The boys looked, and all they could see was a wireless set. Then it dawned on them. They had been listening-in to a wireless play out ther.e As they were all laughing heartily again, Bob and Jim joined in, too,. al» though they felt extremely foolish for being taken in so completely. _ .;,:.. V "Never mind, boys, I can see you are honest lads, and it has given us a good laugh. You'd better stay awhile now until the fog lifts. By, t\ie way, you might tell me your names." . . '■_... -VSo the boys revealed that they were Jim and Bob Porter, and were holidaying in town with their uncle, Jim Porter. .. . . '~• "Not old Jim Porter who owns Ferndale Station? Well now, what do you think of that. He is one of my best friends. Ring him. up. boys,'and tell him where you are, and that with his permission, you'll stay the night... In. fact," said the man. "we might arrange for you two boys to. stay the weekend. We intend to go out fishing on our yacht." So all ended happily for Bob and Jim. and they spent a jolly holiday be* hveen their uncle and his old friend, and never ceased to be. thankful they; had answered the SOS' in the fog. • • ' -