THE MYSTERY
OF THE
FIFTEEN SOUNDS

By Van Powell

The Goldsmith Publishing Company
CHICAGO

Copyright 1937 by
The Goldsmith Publishing Company
MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FOREWORD

“No wonder I’m blue,” Roger told hisfather, “You’re packing to head a museum expeditioninto the heart of Borneo. You’ll have thrills.”

“Probably I will get my sort of excitement in plenty,Roger. It won’t be what you are always dreamingabout—the ‘good old days’ of Pirates and Cowboysand Stage-Coach Bandits.”

“No,” Roger agreed, “the real thrills are all gone.But you can go on an expedition, instead of havingschool and——”

“There will be vacation time—baseball——”

“But I want real excitement. I’d like to be a ModernPioneer. You are one, going off to Borneo for themuseum just the way Columbus set out for QueenIsabella.”

His father looked up.

“You can be a Modern Pioneer. I will show you aHouse of Mystery, and once you step into its door youare in a land where there are more exciting activitiespacked into one day than you could get being a combinationcow-hand, bad man, pirate and pony expressrider. You may not be able to convoy an ox-team acrossa prairie, carry a squirrel gun and stand off scalpingSioux; but you will help battle against Pirate Fire,and Bad Man Erosion, and Bandit Microbe.”

“You mean—work in cousin Grover’s research lab?”

That was it, he found. And under the brillianttraining of his older cousin, as he came to be the supplyclerk and learned more about the work of the activeplace, Roger saw how truly his father had spoken.

There was fun, and mystery, and excitement, evenin the work. Also, there was the feeling of being aModern Pioneer, one who belonged to the band thathad substituted electricity and wings for ox-wagon andcandles, who gave the world instead of the pony ridercarrying news, the radio and radio-telephone. Sciencewas the Modern Pioneer.

Where their forefathers sought new borderlands,these modern way-showers explore the stratosphere.As their trail-blazing ancestors fought Indians andhardship and poor crops, these men battle againstdisease germs, and soil erosion, and eye-straining lightand every other detriment to safer, happier existence.

As great as the feat of Columbus, Roger found theannouncement that a cure had been found for a terribledisease.

On a par with Daniel Boone’s fame was the renownof the research worker who extended the range ofcompact radio receivers.

In such privately owned laboratories as that of hiscousin, Grover Brown, and in those associated withuniversities and colleges and other institutions, thework of the Modern Pioneers went on.

They loved it, found adventure in it, and jo