“From what they tell me, the radio works exactly like your Private Ear set, Tom!” Bud said angrily. “It operates on a narrow beam, and locks on after making contact so no one else can tune in.”
Tom was stunned by the news. “It’s sure hard to believe that’s a coincidence, Bud,” he said slowly, “especially after I came up with such a set only yesterday.”
88 MEGASCOPE SPACE PROBER
“You’re telling me!” Bud growled.
“I’d like to know more about it. Let me know the report on the demonstration.”
Bud promised to do so, and Tom went on, “After that business in France with Gaspard and the helium machine, it’s possible other plans oŁ mine have been stolen in the same mysterious way. The radio plans were only a rough draft-but a scientist could get the idea. One thing is sure-if they were copied somehow, it was after we left the lab yesterday.”
“Any theories as to who’s guilty?”
Tom shook his head. “No, it’s still a complete mystery. And another mystery popped up this morning.”
He told Bud about the “frozen” locks on the doors to his laboratory. Bud was equally baffled by this latest development. The boys talked about it for a while, then Tom went back to work. Bud perched on a lab stool to watch.
The young inventor wheeled the tank of helium over to his workbench and began to draw off some of the gas into his cryostat. Suddenly there was a clatter of high-heeled boots down the corridor, and Chow let out a bellowing cry: “Boys! Run fer your lives!”
Bud and Tom exchanged a split-second startled glance. Then they catapulted into action.
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