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diff --git a/old/01tom11.txt b/old/01tom11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33fe57b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/01tom11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5614 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle, by Victor Appleton +(#1 in our series by Victor Appleton) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +Note: This file was previously called 27tom10.txt but was renamed to +have numbering consistent with the Appleton series. This is the 1st +book from the Tom Swift series. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Release Date: July, 2003 [EBook #4230] +[Most recently updated: March 11, 2002] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +************************************************************************ + + + + +Greg Weeks, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +Tom Swift and his Motor-Cycle +or +Fun and Adventures on the Road + +by Victor Appleton + + + + + CONTENTS + + I. A NARROW ESCAPE + II. TOM OVERHEARS SOMETHING + III. IN A SMASH-UP + IV. TOM AND A MOTOR-CYCLE + V. MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED + VI. AN INTERVIEW IN THE DARK + VII. OFF ON A SPIN + VIII. SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS + IX. A FRUITLESS PURSUIT + X. OFF TO ALBANY + XI. A VINDICTIVE TRAMP + XII. THE MEN IN THE AUTO + XIII. CAUGHT IN A STORM + XIV. ATTACKED FROM BEHIND + XV. A VAIN SEARCH. + XVI. BACK HOME. + XVII. MR. SWIFT IN DESPAIR +XVIII. HAPPY HARRY AGAIN + XIX. TOM ON A HUNT + XX. ERADICATE SAWS WOOD + XXI. ERADICATE GIVES A CLUE + XXII. THE STRANGE MANSION +XXIII. TOM IS PURSUED + XXIV. UNEXPECTED HELP + XXV. THE CAPTURE--GOOD-BY + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +"That's the way to do it! Whoop her up, Andy! Shove the spark lever +over, and turn on more gasolene! We'll make a record this trip." + +Two lads in the tonneau of a touring car, that was whirling along a +country road, leaned forward to speak to the one at the steering +wheel. The latter was a red-haired youth, with somewhat squinty +eyes, and not a very pleasant face, but his companions seemed to +regard him with much favor. Perhaps it was because they were riding +in his automobile. + +"Whoop her up, Andy!" added the lad on the seat beside the driver. +"This is immense!" + +"I rather thought you'd like it," remarked Andy Foger, as he turned +the car to avoid a stone in the road. "I'll make things hum around +Shopton!" + +"You have made them hum already, Andy," commented the lad beside +him. "My ears are ringing. Wow! There goes my cap!" + +As the boy spoke, the breeze, created by the speed at which the car +was traveling, lifted off his cap, and sent it whirling to the rear. + +Andy Foger turned for an instant's glance behind. Then he opened the +throttle still wider, and exclaimed: + +"Let it go, Sam. We can get another. I want to see what time I can +make to Mansburg! I want to break a record, if I can." + +"Look out, or you'll break something else!" cried a lad on the rear +seat. "There's a fellow on a bicycle just ahead of us. Take care, +Andy!" + +"Let him look out for himself," retorted Foger, as he bent lower +over the steering wheel, for the car was now going at a terrific +rate. The youth on the bicycle was riding slowly along, and did not +see the approaching automobile until it was nearly upon him. Then, +with a mean grin, Andy Foger pressed the rubber bulb of the horn +with sudden energy, sending out a series of alarming blasts. + +"It's Tom Swift!" cried Sam Snedecker. "Look out, or you'll run him +down!" + +"Let him keep out of my way," retorted Andy savagely. + +The youth on the wheel, with a sudden spurt of speed, tried to cross +the highway. He did manage to do it, but by such a narrow margin +that in very terror Andy Foger shut off the power, jammed down the +brakes and steered to one side. So suddenly was he obliged to swerve +over that the ponderous machine skidded and went into the ditch at +the side of the road, where it brought up, tilting to one side. + +Tom Swift, his face rather pale from his narrow escape, leaped from +his bicycle, and stood regarding the automobile. As for the +occupants of that machine, from Andy Foger, the owner, to the three +cronies who were riding with him, they all looked very much +astonished. + +"Are we--is it damaged any, Andy?" asked Sam Snedecker. + +"I hope not," growled Andy. "If my car's hurt it's Tom Swift's +fault!" + +He leaped from his seat and made a hurried inspection of the +machine. He found nothing the matter, though it was more from good +luck than good management. Then Andy turned and looked savagely at +Tom Swift. The latter, standing his wheel up against the fence, +walked forward. + +"What do you mean by getting in the way like that?" demanded Andy +with a scowl. "Don't you see that you nearly upset me?" + +"Well, I like your nerve, Andy Foger!" cried Tom. "What do you mean +by nearly running me down? Why didn't you sound your horn? You +automobilists take too much for granted! You were going faster than +the legal rate, anyhow!" + +"I was, eh?" sneered Andy. + +"Yes, you were, and you know it. I'm the one to make a kick, not +you. You came pretty near hitting me. Me getting in your way! I +guess I've got some rights on the road!" + +"Aw, go on!" growled Andy, for he could think of nothing else to +say. "Bicycles are a back number, anyhow." + +"It isn't so very long ago that you had one," retorted Tom. "First +you fellows know, you'll be pulled in for speeding." + +"I guess we had better go slower, Andy," advised Sam in a low voice. +"I don't want to be arrested." + +"Leave this to me," retorted Andy. "I'm running this tour. The next +time you get in my way I'll run you down!" he threatened Tom. "Come +on, fellows, we're late now, and can't make a record run, all on +account of him," and Andy got back into the car, followed by his +cronies, who had hurriedly alighted after their thrilling stop. + +"If you try anything like this again you'll wish you hadn't," +declared Tom, and he watched the automobile party ride off. + +"Oh, forget it!" snapped back Andy, and he laughed, his companions +joining. + +Tom Swift said nothing in reply. Slowly he remounted his wheel and +rode off, but his thoughts toward Andy Foger were not very pleasant +ones. Andy was the son of a wealthy man of the town, and his good +fortune in the matter of money seemed to have spoiled him, for he +was a bully and a coward. Several times he and Tom Swift had +clashed, for Andy was overbearing. But this was the first time Andy +had shown such a vindictive spirit. + +"He thinks he can run over everything since he got his new auto," +commented Tom aloud as he rode on. "He'll have a smash-up some day, +if he isn't careful. He's too fond of speeding. I wonder where he +and his crowd are going?" + +Musing over his narrow escape Tom rode on, and was soon at his home, +where he lived with his widowed father, Barton Swift, a wealthy +inventor, and the latter's housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert. Approaching a +machine shop, one of several built near his house by Mr. Swift, in +which he conducted experiments and constructed apparatus. Tom was +met by his parent. + +"What's the matter, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift. "You look as if something +had happened." + +"Something very nearly did," answered the youth, and related his +experience on the road. + +"Humph," remarked the inventor; "your little pleasure-jaunt might +have ended disastrously. I suppose Andy and his chums are off on +their trip. I remember Mr. Foger speaking to me about it the other +day. He said Andy and some companions were going on a tour, to be +gone a week or more. Well, I'm glad it was no worse. But have you +anything special to do, Tom?" + +"No; I was just riding for pleasure, and if you want me to do +anything, I'm ready." + +"Then I wish you'd take this letter to Mansburg for me. I want it +registered, and I don't wish to mail it in the Shopton post-office. +It's too important, for it's about a valuable invention." + +"The new turbine motor, dad?" + +"That's it. And on your way I wish you'd stop in Merton's machine +shop and get some bolts he's making for me." + +"I will. Is that the letter?" and Tom extended his hand for a +missive his father held. + +"Yes. Please be careful of it. It's to my lawyers in Washington +regarding the final steps in getting a patent for the turbine. +That's why I'm so particular about not wanting it mailed here. +Several times before I have posted letters here, only to have the +information contained in them leak out before my attorneys received +them. I do not want that to happen in this case. Another thing; +don't speak about my new invention in Merton's shop when you stop +for the bolts." + +"Why, do you think he gave out information concerning your work?" + +"Well, not exactly. He might not mean to, but he told me the other +day that some strangers were making inquiries of him, about whether +he ever did any work for me." + +"What did he tell them?" + +"He said that he occasionally did, but that most of my inventive +work was done in my own shops, here. He wanted to know why the men +were asking such questions, and one of them said they expected to +open a machine shop soon, and wanted to ascertain if they might +figure on getting any of my trade. But I don't believe that was +their object." + +"What do you think it was?" + +"I don't know, exactly, but I was somewhat alarmed when I heard this +from Merton. So I am going to take no risks. That's why I send this +letter to Mansburg. Don't lose it, and don't forget about the bolts. +Here is a blue-print of them, so you can see if they come up to the +specifications." + +Tom rode off on his wheel, and was soon spinning down the road. + +"I wonder if I'll meet Andy Foger and his cronies again?" he +thought. "Not very likely to, I guess, if they're off on a tour. +Well, I'm just as well satisfied. He and I always seem to get into +trouble when we meet." Tom was not destined to meet Andy again that +day, but the time was to come when the red-haired bully was to cause +Tom Swift no little trouble, and get him into danger besides. So Tom +rode along, thinking over what his father had said to him about the +letter he carried. + +Mr. Barton Swift was a natural inventor. From a boy he had been +interested in things mechanical, and one of his first efforts had +been to arrange a system of pulleys, belts and gears so that the +windmill would operate the churn in the old farmhouse where he was +born. The fact that the mill went so fast that it broke the churn +all to pieces did not discourage him, and he at once set to work, +changing the gears. His father had to buy a new churn, but the young +inventor made his plan work on the second trial, and thereafter his +mother found butter-making easy. + +From then on Barton Swift lived in a world of inventions. People +used to say he would never amount to anything, that inventors never +did, but Mr. Swift proved them all wrong by amassing a considerable +fortune out of his many patents. He grew up, married and had one +son, Tom. Mrs. Barton died when Tom was three years old, and since +then he had lived with his father and a succession of nurses and +housekeepers. The last woman to have charge of the household was a +Mrs. Baggert, a motherly widow, and she succeeded so well, and Tom +and his father formed such an attachment for her, that she was +regarded as a fixture, and had now been in charge ten years. + +Mr. Swift and his son lived in a handsome house on the outskirts of +the village of Shopton, in New York State. The village was near a +large body of water, which I shall call Lake Carlopa, and there Tom +and his father used to spend many pleasant days boating, for Tom and +the inventor were better chums than many boys are, and they were +often seen together in a craft rowing about, or fishing. Of course +Tom had some boy friends, but he went with his father more often +than he did with them. + +Though many of Mr. Swift's inventions paid him well, he was +constantly seeking to perfect others. To this end he had built near +his home several machine shops, with engines, lathes and apparatus +for various kinds of work. Tom, too, had the inventive fever in his +veins, and had planned some useful implements and small machines. + +Along the pleasant country roads on a fine day in April rode Tom +Swift on his way to Mansburg to register the letter. As he descended +a little hill he saw, some distance away, but coming toward him, a +great cloud of dust. + +"Somebody must be driving a herd of cattle along the road," thought +Tom. "I hope they don't get in my way, or, rather, I hope I don't +get in theirs. Guess I'd better keep to one side, yet there isn't +any too much room." + +The dust-cloud came nearer. It was so dense that whoever or whatever +was making it could not he distinguished. + +"Must be a lot of cattle in that bunch," mused the young inventor, +"but I shouldn't think they'd trot them so on a warm day like this. +Maybe they're stampeded. If they are I've got to look out." This +idea caused him some alarm. + +He tried to peer through the dust-cloud, but could not. Nearer and +nearer it came. Tom kept on, taking care to get as far to the side +of the road as he could. Then from the midst of the enveloping mass +came the sound of a steady "chug-chug." + +"It's a motor-cycle!" exclaimed Tom. "He must have his muffler wide +open, and that's kicking up as much dust as the wheels do. Whew! But +whoever's on it will look like a clay image at the end of the line!" + +Now that he knew it was a fellow-cyclist who was raising such a +disturbance, Tom turned more toward the middle of the road. As yet +he had not had a sight of the rider, but the explosions of the motor +were louder. Suddenly, when the first advancing particles of dust +reached him, almost making him sneeze, Tom caught sight of the +rider. He was a man of middle age, and he was clinging to the +handle-bars of the machine. The motor was going at full speed. + +Tom quickly turned to one side, to avoid the worst of the dust. The +motor-cyclist glanced at the youth, but this act nearly proved +disastrous for him. He took his eyes from the road ahead for just a +moment, and he did not see a large stone directly in his path. His +front wheel hit it, and the heavy machine, which he could not +control very well, skidded over toward the lad on the bicycle. The +motor-cyclist bounced up in the air from the saddle, and nearly lost +his hold on the handle-bars. + +"Look out!" cried Tom. "You'll smash into me!" + +"I'm--I'm--try--ing--not--to!" were the words that were rattled out +of the middle-aged man. + +Tom gave his wheel a desperate twist to get out of the way. The +motor-cyclist tried to do the same, but the machine he was on +appeared to want matters its own way. He came straight for Tom, and +a disastrous collision might have resulted had not another stone +been in the way. The front wheel hit this, and was swerved to one +side. The motor-cycle flashed past Tom, just grazing his wheel, and +then was lost to sight beyond in a cloud of dust that seemed to +follow it like a halo. + +"Why don't you learn to ride before you come out on the road!" cried +Tom somewhat angrily. + +Like an echo from the dust-cloud came floating back these words: + +"I'm--try--ing--to!" Then the sound of the explosions became +fainter. + +"Well, he's got lots to learn yet!" exclaimed Tom. "That's twice +to-day I've nearly been run down. I expect I'd better look out for the +third time. They say that's always fatal," and the lad leaped from his +wheel. "Wonder if he bent any of my spokes?" the young inventor +continued as he inspected his bicycle. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +TOM OVERHEARS SOMETHING + + +"Everything seems to be all right," Tom remarked, "but another inch +or so and he'd have crashed into me. I wonder who he was? I wish I +had a machine like that. I could make better time than I can on my +bicycle. Perhaps I'll get one some day. Well, I might as well ride +on." + +Tom was soon at Mansburg, and going to the post-office handed in the +letter for registry. Bearing in mind his father's words, he looked +about to see if there were any suspicious characters, but the only +person he noticed was a well-dressed man, with a black mustache, who +seemed to be intently studying the schedule of the arrival and +departure of the mails. + +"Do you want the receipt for the registered, letter sent to you here +or at Shopton?" asked the clerk of Tom. "Come to think of it, +though, it will have to come here, and you can call for it. I'll +have it returned to Mr. Barton Swift, care of general delivery, and +you can get it the next time you are over," for the clerk knew Tom. + +"That will do," answered our hero, and as he turned away from the +window he saw that the man who had been inquiring about the mails +was regarding him curiously. Tom thought nothing of it at the time, +but there came an occasion when he wished that he had taken more +careful note of the well-dressed individual. As the youth passed out +of the outer door he saw the man walk over to the registry window. + +"He seems to have considerable mail business," thought Tom, and then +the matter passed from his mind as he mounted his wheel and hurried +to the machine shop. + +"Say, I'm awfully sorry," announced Mr. Merton when Tom said he had +come for the bolts, "but they're not quite done. They need +polishing. I know I promised them to your father to-day, and he can +have them, but he was very particular about the polish, and as one +of my best workers was taken sick, I'm a little behind." + +"How long will it take to polish them?" asked Tom. + +"Oh, about an hour. In fact, a man is working on them now. If you +could call this afternoon they'll be ready. Can you?" + +"I s'pose I've got to," replied Tom good-naturedly. "Guess I'll have +to stay in Mansburg for dinner. I can't get back to Shopton in time +now." + +"I'll be sure to have them for you after dinner," promised Mr. +Merton. "Now, there's a matter I want to speak to you about, Tom. +Has your father any idea of giving the work he has been turning over +to me to some other firm?" + +"Not that I know of. Why?" and the lad showed his wonder. + +"Well, I'll tell you why. Some time ago there was a stranger in +here, asking about your father's work. I told Mr. Swift of it at the +time. The stranger said then that he and some others were thinking +of opening a machine shop, and he wanted to find out whether they +would be likely to get any jobs from your father. I told the man I +knew nothing about Mr. Swift's business, and he went away. I didn't +hear any more of it, though of course I didn't want to lose your +father's trade. Now a funny thing happened. Only this morning the +same man was back here, and he was making particular inquiries about +your father's private machine shops." + +"He was?" exclaimed Tom excitedly. + +"Yes. He wanted to know where they were located, how they were laid +out, and what sort of work he did in them." + +"What did you tell him?" + +"Nothing at all. I suspected something, and I said the best way for +him to find out would be to go and see your father. Wasn't that +right?" + +"Sure. Dad doesn't want his business known any more than he can +help. What do you suppose they wanted?" + +"Well, the man talked as though he and his partners would like to +buy your father's shops." + +"I don't believe he'd sell. He has them arranged just for his own +use in making patents, and I'm sure he would not dispose of them." + +"Well, that's what I thought, but I didn't tell the man so. I judged +it would be best for him to find out for himself." + +"What was the man's name?" + +"He didn't tell me, and I didn't ask him." + +"How did he look?" + +"Well, he was well dressed, wore kid gloves and all that, and he had +a little black mustache." + +Tom started, and Mr. Merton noticed it. + +"Do you know him?" he asked. + +"No," replied Tom, "but I saw--" Then he stopped. He recalled the +man he had seen in the post-office. He answered this description, +but it was too vague to be certain. + +"Did you say you'd seen him?" asked Mr. Merton, regarding Tom +curiously. + +"No--yes--that is--well, I'll tell my father about it," stammered +Tom, who concluded that it would be best to say nothing of his +suspicions. "I'll be back right after dinner, Mr. Merton. Please +have the bolts ready for me, if you can." + +"I will. Is your father going to use them in a new machine?" + +"Yes; dad is always making new machines," answered the youth, as the +most polite way of not giving the proprietor of the shop any +information. "I'll be back right after dinner," he called as he went +out to get on his wheel. + +Tom was much puzzled. He felt certain that the man in the post- +office and the one who had questioned Mr. Merton were the same. + +"There is something going on, that dad should know about," reflected +Tom. "I must tell him. I don't believe it will be wise to send any +more of his patent work over to Merton. We must do it in the shops +at home, and dad and I will have to keep our eyes open. There may be +spies about seeking to discover something about his new turbine +motor. I'll hurry back with those bolts and tell dad. But first I +must get lunch. I'll go to the restaurant and have a good feed while +I'm at it." + +Tom had plenty of spending money, some of which came from a small +patent he had marketed himself. He left his wheel outside the +restaurant, first taking the precaution to chain the wheels, and +then went inside. Tom was hungry and ordered a good meal. He was +about half way through it when some one called his name. + +"Hello, Ned!" he answered, looking up to see a youth about his own +age. "Where did you blow in from?" + +"Oh, I came over from Shopton this morning," replied Ned Newton, +taking a seat at the table with Tom. The two lads were chums, and in +their younger days had often gone fishing, swimming and hunting +together. Now Ned worked in the Shopton bank, and Tom was so busy +helping his father, so they did not see each other so often. + +"On business or pleasure?" asked Tom, putting some more sugar in his +coffee. + +"Business. I had to bring some papers over from our bank to the +First National here. But what about you?" + +"Oh, I came on dad's account." + +"Invented anything new?" asked Ned as he gave his order to the +waitress. + +"No, nothing since the egg-beater I was telling you about. But I'm +working on some things." + +"Why don't you invent an automobile or an airship?" + +"Maybe I will some day, but, speaking of autos, did you see the one +Andy Foger has?" + +"Yes; it's a beaut! Have you seen it?" + +"Altogether at too close range. He nearly ran over me this morning," +and the young inventor related the occurrence. + +"Oh, Andy always was too fresh," commented Ned; "and since his +father let him get the touring car I suppose he'll be worse than +ever." + +"Well, if he tries to run me down again he'll get into trouble," +declared Tom, calling for a second cup of coffee. + +The two chums began conversing on more congenial topics, and Ned was +telling of a new camera he had, when, from a table directly behind +him, Tom heard some one say in rather loud tones: + +"The plant is located in Shopton, all right, and the buildings are +near Swift's house." + +Tom started, and listened more intently. + +"That will make it more difficult," one man answered. "But if the +invention is as valuable as--" + +"Hush!" came a caution from another of the party. "This is too +public a place to discuss the matter. Wait until we get out. One of +us will have to see Swift, of course, and if he proves stubborn--" + +"I guess you'd better hush yourself," retorted the man who had first +spoken, and then the voices subsided. + +But Tom Swift had overheard something which made him vaguely afraid. +He started so at the sound of his father's name that he knocked a +fork from the table. + +"What's the matter; getting nervous?" asked Ned with a laugh. + +"I guess so," replied Tom, and when he stooped to pick the fork up, +not waiting for the girl who was serving at his table, he stole a +look at the strangers who had just entered. He was startled to note +that one of the men was the same he had seen in the post-office--the +man who answered the description of the one who had been inquiring +of Mr. Merton about the Swift shops. + +"I'm going to keep my ears open," thought Tom as he went on eating +his dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +IN A SMASH-UP + + +Though the young inventor listened intently, in an endeavor to hear +the conversation of the men at the table behind him, all he could +catch was an indistinct murmur. The strangers appeared to have +heeded the caution of one of their number and were speaking in low +tones. + +Tom and Ned finished their meal, and started to leave the +restaurant. As Mr. Swift's son passed the table where the men sat +they looked up quickly at him. Two of them gave Tom but a passing +glance, but one--he whom the young inventor had noticed in the post- +office--stared long and intently. + +"I think he will know me the next time he sees me," thought Tom, and +he boldly returned the glance of the stranger. + +The bolts were ready when the inventor's son called at the machine +shop a second time, and making a package of them Tom fastened it to +the saddle of his bicycle. He started for home at a fast pace, and +was just turning from a cross road into the main highway when he saw +ahead of him a woman driving a light wagon. As the sun flashed on +Tom's shining wheel the horse gave a sudden leap, swerved to one +side, and then bolted down the dusty stretch, the woman screaming at +the top of her voice. + +"A runaway!" cried Tom; "and partly my fault, too!" + +Waiting not an instant the lad bent over his handle-bars and pedaled +with all his force. His bicycle seemed fairly to leap forward after +the galloping horse. + +"Sit still! Don't jump out! Don't jump!" yelled the young inventor. +"I'll try to catch him!" for the woman was standing up in front of +the seat and leaning forward, as if about to leap from the wagon. + +"She's lost her head," thought Tom. "No wonder! That's a skittish +horse." + +Faster and faster he rode, bending all his energies to overtake the +animal. The wagon was swaying from side to side, and more than once +the woman just saved herself from being thrown out by grasping the +edge of the seat. She found that her standing position was a +dangerous one and crouched on the bottom of the swaying vehicle. + +"That's better!" shouted Tom, but it is doubtful if she heard him, +for the rattling of the wagon and the hoofbeats of the horse drowned +all other sounds. "Sit still!" he shouted. "I'll stop the horse for +you!" + +Trying to imagine himself in a desperate race, in order to excite +himself to greater speed, Tom continued on. He was now even with the +tail-board of the wagon, and slowly creeping up. The woman was all +huddled up in a lump. + +"Grab the reins! Grab the reins!" shouted Tom. "Saw on the bit! That +will stop him!" + +The occupant of the wagon turned to look at the lad. Tom saw that +she was a handsome young lady. "Grab the reins!" he cried again. +"Pull hard!" + +"I--I can't!" she answered frightenedly. "They have dropped down! +Oh, do please stop the horse! I'm so--so frightened!" + +"I'll stop him!" declared the youth firmly, and he set his teeth +hard. Then he saw the reason the fair driver could not grasp the +lines. They had slipped over the dashboard and were trailing on the +ground. + +The horse was slacking speed a bit now, for the pace was telling on +his wind. Tom saw his opportunity, and with a sudden burst of energy +was at the animal's head. Steering his wheel with one hand, with the +other the lad made a grab for the reins near the bit. The horse +swerved frightenedly to one side, but Tom swung in the same +direction. He grasped the leather and then, with a kick, he freed +himself from the bicycle, giving it a shove to one side. He was now +clinging to the reins with both hands, and, being a muscular lad and +no lightweight, his bulk told. + +"Sit--still!" panted our hero to the young woman, who had arisen to +the seat. "I'll have him stopped in half a minute now!" + +It was in less time than that, for the horse, finding it impossible +to shake off the grip of Tom, began to slow from a gallop to a trot, +then to a canter, and finally to a slow walk. A moment later the +horse had stopped, breathing heavily from his run. + +"There, there, now!" spoke Tom soothingly. "You're all right, old +fellow. I hope you're not hurt"--this to the young lady--and Tom +made a motion to raise his cap, only to find that it had blown off. + +"Oh, no--no; I'm more frightened than hurt." + +"It was all my fault," declared the young inventor. "I should not +have swung into the road so suddenly. My bicycle alarmed your +horse." + +"Oh, I fancy Dobbin is easily disturbed," admitted the fair driver. +"I can't thank you enough for stopping him. You saved me from a bad +accident." + +"It was the least I could do. Are you all right now?" and he handed +up the dangling reins. "I think Dobbin, as you call him, has had +enough of running," went on Tom, for the horse was now quiet. + +"I hope so. Yes, I am all right. I trust your wheel is not damaged. +If it is, my father, Mr. Amos Nestor, of Mansburg, will gladly pay +for its repair." + +This reminded the young inventor of his bicycle, and making sure +that the horse would not start up again, he went to where his wheel +and his cap lay. He found that the only damage to the bicycle was a +few bent spokes, and, straightening them and having again apologized +to the young woman, receiving in turn her pardon and thanks, and +learning that her name was Mary Nestor, Tom once more resumed his +trip. The wagon followed him at a distance, the horse evincing no +desire now to get out of a slow amble. + +"Well, things are certainly happening to me to-day," mused Tom as he +pedaled on. "That might have been a serious runaway if there'd been +anything in the road." + +Tom did not stop to think that he had been mainly instrumental in +preventing a bad accident, as he had been the innocent cause of +starting the runaway, but Tom was ever a modest lad. His arms were +wrenched from jerking on the bridle, but he did not mind that much, +and bent over the handle-bars to make up for lost time. + +Our hero was within a short distance of his house and was coasting +easily along when, just ahead of him, he saw a cloud of dust, very +similar to the one that had, some time before, concealed the +inexperienced motor-cyclist. + +"I wonder if that's him again?" thought Tom. "If it is I'm going to +hang back until I see which way he's headed. No use running any more +risks." + +Almost at that moment a puff of wind blew some of the dust to one +side. Tom had a glimpse of the man on the puffing machine. + +"It's the same chap!" he exclaimed aloud; "and he's going the same +way I am. Well, I'll not try to catch up to him. I wonder what he's +been doing all this while, that he hasn't gotten any farther than +this? Either he's been riding back and forth, or else he's been +resting. My, but he certainly is scooting along!" + +The wind carried to Tom the sound of the explosions of the motor, +and he could see the man clinging tightly to the handle-bars. The +rider was almost in front of Tom's house now, when, with a +suddenness that caused the lad to utter an exclamation of alarm, the +stranger turned his machine right toward a big oak tree. + +"What's he up to?" cried Tom excitedly. "Does he think he can climb +that, or is he giving an exhibition by showing how close he can come +and not hit it?" + +A moment later the motor-cyclist struck the tree a glancing blow. +The man went flying over the handle-bars, the machine was shunted to +the ditch along the road, and falling over on one side the motor +raced furiously. The rider lay in a heap at the foot of the tree. + +"My, that was a smash!" cried Tom. "He must be killed!" and bending +forward, he raced toward the scene of the accident. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TOM AND A MOTOR-CYCLE + + +When Tom reached the prostrate figure on the grass at the foot of +the old oak tree, the youth bent quickly over the man. There was an +ugly cut on his head, and blood was flowing from it. But Tom quickly +noticed that the stranger was breathing, though not very strongly. + +"Well, he's not dead--just yet!" exclaimed the youth with a sigh of +relief. "But I guess he's pretty badly hurt. I must get help--no, +I'll take him into our house. It's not far. I'll call dad." + +Leaning his wheel against the tree Tom started for his home, about +three hundred feet away, and then he noticed that the stranger's +motor-cycle was running at full speed on the ground. + +"Guess I'd better shut off the power!" he exclaimed. "No use letting +the machine be ruined." Tom had a natural love for machinery, and it +hurt him almost as much to see a piece of fine apparatus abused as +it did to see an animal mistreated. It was the work of a +moment to shut off the gasolene and spark, and then the youth raced +on toward his house. + +"Where's dad?" he called to Mrs. Baggert, who was washing the +dishes. + +"Out in one of the shops," replied the housekeeper. "Why, Tom," she +went on hurriedly as she saw how excited he was, "whatever has +happened?" + +"Man hurt--out in front--motor-cycle smash--I'm going to bring him +in here--get some things ready--I'll find dad!" + +"Bless and save us!" cried Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever are we coming to? +Who's hurt? How did it happen? Is he dead?" + +"Haven't time to talk now!" answered Tom, rushing from the house. +"Dad and I will bring him in here." + +Tom found his father in one of the three small machine shops on the +grounds about the Swift home. The youth hurriedly told what had +happened. + +"Of course we'll bring him right in here!" assented Mr. Swift, +putting aside the work upon which he was engaged. "Did you tell Mrs. +Baggert?" + +"Yes, and she's all excited." + +"Well, she can't help it, being a woman, I suppose. But we'll +manage. Do you know the man?" + +"Never saw him before to-day, when he tried to run me down. Guess he +doesn't know much about motor-cycles. But come on, dad. He may bleed +to death." + +Father and son hurried to where the stranger lay. As they bent over +him he opened his eyes and asked faintly: + +"Where am I? What happened?" + +"You're all right--in good hands," said Mr. Swift. "Are you much +hurt?" + +"Not much--mostly stunned, I guess. What happened?" he repeated. + +"You and your motor-cycle tried to climb a tree," remarked Tom with +grim humor. + +"Oh, yes, I remember now. I couldn't seem to steer out of the way. +And I couldn't shut off the power in time. Is the motor-cycle much +damaged?" + +"The front wheel is," reported Tom, after an inspection, "and there +are some other breaks, but I guess--" + +"I wish it was all smashed!" exclaimed the man vigorously. "I never +want to see it again!" + +"Why, don't you like it?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"No, and I never will," the man spoke faintly but determinedly. + +"Never mind now," interposed Mr. Swift. "Don't excite yourself. My +son and I will take you to our house and send for a doctor." + +"I'll bring the motor-cycle, after we've carried you in," added Tom. + +"Don't worry about the machine. I never want to see it again!" went +on the man, rising to a sitting position. "It nearly killed me twice +to day. I'll never ride again." + +"You'll feel differently after the doctor fixes you up," said Mr. +Swift with a smile. + +"Doctor! I don't need a doctor," cried the stranger. "I am only +bruised and shaken up." + +"You have a bad cut on your head," said Tom. + +"It isn't very deep," went on the injured man, placing his fingers +on it. "Fortunately I struck the tree a glancing blow. If you will +allow me to rest in your house a little while and give me some +plaster for the cut I shall be all right again." + +"Can you walk, or shall we carry you?" asked Tom's father. + +"Oh, I can walk, if you'll support me a little." And the stranger +proved that he could do this by getting to his feet and taking a few +steps. Mr. Swift and his son took hold of his arms and led him to +the house. There he was placed on a lounge and given some simple +restoratives by Mrs. Baggert, who, when she found the accident was +not serious, recovered her composure. + +"I must have been unconscious for a few minutes," went on the man. + +"You were," explained Tom. "When I got up to you I thought you were +dead, until I saw you breathe. Then I shut off the power of your +machine and ran in for dad. I've got the motor-cycle outside. You +can't ride it for some time, I'm afraid, Mr.--er--" and Tom stopped +in some confusion, for he realized that he did not know the man's +name. + +"I beg your pardon for not introducing myself before," went on the +stranger. "I'm Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield. But don't worry about +me riding that machine again. I never shall." + +"Oh, perhaps--" began Mr. Swift. + +"No, I never shall," went on Mr. Damon positively. "My doctor told +me to get it, as he thought riding around the country would benefit +my health I shall tell him his prescription nearly killed me." + +"And me too," added Tom with a laugh. + +"How--why--are you the young man I nearly ran down this morning?" +asked Mr. Damon, suddenly sitting up and looking at the youth. + +"I am," answered our hero. + +"Bless my soul! So you are!" cried Mr. Damon. "I was wondering who +it could be. It's quite a coincidence. But I was in such a cloud of +dust I couldn't make out who it was." + +"You had your muffler open, and that made considerable dust," +explained Tom. + +"Was that it? Bless my existence! I thought something was wrong, but +I couldn't tell what. I went over all the instructions in the book +and those the agent told me, but I couldn't think of the right one. +I tried all sorts of things to make less dust, but I couldn't. Then, +bless my eyelashes, if the machine didn't stop just after I nearly +ran into you. I tinkered over it for an hour or more before I could +get it to going again. Then I ran into the tree. My doctor told me +the machine would do my liver good, but, bless my happiness, I'd as +soon be without a liver entirely as to do what I've done to-day. I +am done with motor-cycling!" + +A hopeful look came over Tom's face, but he said nothing, that is, +not just then. In a little while Mr. Damon felt so much better that +he said he would start for home. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave +your machine here," said Tom. + +"You can send for it any time you want to," added Mr. Swift. + +"Bless my hatband!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who appeared to be very +fond of blessing his various organs and his articles of wearing +apparel. "Bless my hatband! I never want to see it again! If you +will be so kind as to keep it for me, I will send a junk man after +it. I will never spend anything on having it repaired. I am done +with that form of exercise--liver or no liver--doctor or no doctor." + +He appeared very determined. Tom quickly made up his mind. Mr. Damon +had gone to the bathroom to get rid of some of the mud on his hands +and face. + +"Father," said Tom earnestly, "may I buy that machine of him?" + +"What? Buy a broken motor-cycle?" + +"I can easily fix it. It is a fine make, and in good condition. I +can repair it. I've wanted a motor-cycle for some time, and here's a +chance to get a good one cheap." + +"You don't need to do that," replied Mr. Swift. "You have money +enough to buy a new one if you want it. I never knew you cared for +them." + +"I didn't, until lately. But I'd rather buy this one and fix it up +than get a new one. Besides, I have an idea for a new kind of +transmission, and perhaps I can work it out on this machine." + +"Oh, well, if you want it for experimental purposes, I suppose it +will be as good as any. Go ahead, get it if you wish, but don't give +too much for it." + +"I'll not. I fancy I can get it cheap." + +Mr. Damon returned to the living-room, where he had first been +carried. + +"I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me," he said. +"I might have lain there for hours. Bless my very existence! I have +had a very narrow escape. Hereafter when I see anyone on a motor-cycle +I shall turn my head away. The memory will be too painful," and he +touched the plaster that covered a cut on his head. + +"Mr. Damon," said Tom quickly, "will you sell me that motor-cycle?" + +"Bless my finger rings! Sell you that mass of junk?" + +"It isn't all junk," went on the young inventor. "I can easily fix +it; though, of course," he added prudently, "it will cost something. +How much would you want for it?" + +"Well," replied Mr. Damon, "I paid two hundred and fifty dollars +last week. I have ridden a hundred miles on it. That is at the rate +of two dollars and a half a mile--pretty expensive riding. But if +you are in earnest I will let you have the machine for fifty +dollars, and then I fear that I will be taking advantage of you." + +"I'll give you fifty dollars," said Tom quickly, and Mr. Damon +exclaimed: + +"Bless my liver--that is, if I have one. Do you mean it?" + +Tom nodded. "I'll fetch you the money right away," he said, starting +for his room. He got the cash from a small safe he had arranged, +which was fitted up with an ingenious burglar alarm, and was on his +way downstairs when he heard his father call out: + +"Here! What do you want? Go away from that shop! No one is allowed +there!" and looking from an upper window, Tom saw his father running +toward a stranger, who was just stepping inside the shop where Mr. +Swift was constructing his turbine motor. Tom started as he saw that +the stranger was the same black-mustached man whom he had noticed in +the post-office, and, later, in the restaurant at Mansburg. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED + + +Stuffing the money which he intended to give to Mr. Damon in his +pocket, Tom ran downstairs. As he passed through the living-room, +intending to see what the disturbance was about, and, if necessary, +aid his father, the owner of the broken motor-cycle exclaimed: + +"What's the matter? What has happened? Bless my coat-tails, but is +anything wrong?" + +"I don't know," answered Tom. "There is a stranger about the shop, +and my father never allows that. I'll be back in a minute." + +"Take your time," advised the somewhat eccentric Mr. Damon. "I find +my legs are a bit weaker than I suspected, and I will be glad to +rest a while longer. Bless my shoelaces, but don't hurry!" + +Tom went into the rear yard, where the shops, in a small cluster of +buildings, were located. He saw his father confronting the man with +the black mustache, and Mr. Swift was saying: + +"What do you want? I allow no people to come in here unless I or my +son invites them. Did you wish to see me?" + +"Are you Mr. Barton Swift?" asked the man. + +"Yes, that is my name." + +"The inventor of the Swift safety lamp, and the turbine motor?" + +At the mention of the motor Mr. Swift started. + +"I am the inventor of the safety lamp you mention," he said stiffly, +"but I must decline to talk about the motor. May I ask where you +obtained your information concerning it?" + +"Why, I am not at liberty to tell," went on the man. "I called to +see if we could negotiate with you for the sale of it. Parties whom +I represent--" + +At that moment Tom plucked his father by the sleeve. + +"Dad," whispered the youth, "I saw him in Mansburg. I think he is +one of several who have been inquiring in Mr. Merton's shop about +you and your patents. I wouldn't have anything to do with him until +I found out more about him." + +"Is that so?" asked Mr. Swift quickly. Then, turning to the +stranger, he said: "My son tells me--" + +But Mr. Swift got no further, for at that moment the stranger caught +sight of Tom, whom he had not noticed before. + +"Ha!" exclaimed the man. "I have forgotten something--an important +engagement--will be back directly--will see you again, Mr. Swift-- +excuse the trouble I have put you to--I am in a great hurry," and +before father or son could stop him, had they any desire to, the man +turned and walked quickly from the yard. + +Mr. Swift stood staring at him, and so did Tom. Then the inventor +asked: + +"Do you know that man? What about him, Tom? Why did he leave so +hurriedly?" + +"I don't know his name," replied Tom, "but I am suspicious regarding +him, and I think he left because he suddenly recognized me." +Thereupon he told his father of seeing the man in the post-office, +and hearing the talk of the same individual and two companions in +the restaurant. + +"And so you think they are up to some mischief, Tom?" asked the +parent when the son had finished. + +"Well, I wouldn't go quite as far as that, but I think they are +interested in your patents, and you ought to know whether you want +them to be, or not." + +"I most certainly do not--especially in the turbine motor. That is +my latest invention, and, I think, will prove very valuable. But, +though I have not mentioned it before, I expect to have trouble with +it. Soon after I perfected it, with the exception of some minor +details, I received word from a syndicate of rich men that I was +infringing on a motor, the patent of which they controlled." + +"This surprised me for two reasons. One was because I did not know +that any one knew I had invented the motor. I had kept the matter +secret, and I am at a loss to know how it leaked out. To prevent any +further information concerning my plans becoming public, I sent you +to Mansburg to-day. But it seems that the precaution was of little +avail. Another matter of surprise was the information that I was +infringing on the patent of some one else. I had a very careful +examination made, and I found that the syndicate of rich men was +wrong. I was not infringing. In fact, though the motor they have is +somewhat like mine, there is one big difference--theirs does not +work, while mine does. Their patents are worthless." + +"Then what do you think is their object?" + +"I think they want to get control of my invention of the turbine +motor, Tom. That is what has been worrying me lately. I know these +men to be unscrupulous, and, with plenty of money, they may make +trouble for me." + +"But can't you fight them in the courts?" + +"Yes, I could do that. It is not as if I was a poor man, but I do +not like lawsuits. I want to live quietly and invent things. I +dislike litigation. However, if they force it on me I will fight!" +exclaimed Mr. Swift determinedly. + +"Do you think this man was one of the crowd of financiers?" asked +Tom. + +"It would be hard to say. I did not like his actions, and the fact +that he sneaked in here, as if he was trying to get possession of +some of my models or plans, makes it suspicious." + +"It certainly does," agreed Tom. "Now, if we only knew his name we +could--" + +He suddenly paused in his remark and sprang forward. He picked up an +envelope that had dropped where the stranger had been standing. + +"The man lost this from his pocket, dad," said Tom eagerly. "It's a +telegram. Shall we look at it?" + +"I think we will be justified in protecting ourselves. Is the +envelope open?" + +"Yes." + +"Then read the telegram." + +Tom drew out a folded yellow slip of paper. It was a short message. +He read: + +"'Anson Morse, Mansburg. See Swift to-day. Make offer. If not +accepted do the best you can. Spare no effort. Don't give plans +away.'" + +"Is that all?" asked Mr. Swift. + +"All except the signature." + +"Who is the telegram signed by?" + +"By Smeak & Katch," answered Tom. + +"Those rascally lawyers!" exclaimed his father. "I was beginning to +suspect this. That is the firm which represents the syndicate of +wealthy men who are trying to get my turbine motor patents away from +me. Tom, we must be on our guard! They will wage a fierce fight +against me, for they have sunk many thousands of dollars in a +worthless machine, and are desperate." + +"We'll fight 'em!" cried Tom. "You and I, dad! We'll show 'em that +the firm of Swift & Son is swift by name and swift by nature!" + +"Good!" exclaimed the inventor. "I'm glad you feel that way about +it, Tom. But we are going to have no easy task. Those men are rich +and unscrupulous. We shall have to be on guard constantly. Let me +have that telegram. It may come in useful. Now I must send word to +Reid & Crawford, my attorneys in Washington, to be on the lookout. +Matters are coming to a curious pass." + +As Mr. Swift and his son started for the house, they met Mr. Damon +coming toward them. + +"Bless my very existence!" cried the eccentric man. "I was beginning +to fear something had happened to you. I am glad that you are all +right. I heard voices, and I imagined--" + +"It's all right," Mr. Swift reassured him. "There was a stranger +about my shop, and I never allow that. Do you feel well enough to +go? If not we shall be glad to have you remain with us. We have +plenty of room." + +"Oh, thank you very much, but I must be going. I feel much better. +Bless my gaiters, but I never will trust myself in even an +automobile again! I will renounce gasolene from now on." + +"That reminds me," spoke Tom. "I have the money for the motor-cycle," +and he drew out the bills. "You are sure you will not regret your +bargain, Mr. Damon? The machine is new, and needs only slight +repairs. Fifty dollars is--" + +"Tut, tut, young man! I feel as if I was getting the best of you. +Bless my handkerchief! I hope you have no bad luck with it." + +"I'll try and be careful," promised Tom with a smile as he handed +over the money. "I am going to gear it differently and put some +improvements on it. Then I will use it instead of my bicycle." + +"It would have to be very much improved before I trusted myself on +it again," declared Mr. Damon. "Well, I appreciate what you have +done for me, and if at any time I can reciprocate the favor, I will +only be too glad to do so. Bless my soul, though, I hope I don't +have to rescue you from trying to climb a tree," and with a laugh, +which showed that he had fully recovered from his mishap, he shook +hands with father and son and left. + +"A very nice man, Tom," commented Mr. Swift. "Somewhat odd and out +of the ordinary, but a very fine character, for all that." + +"That's what I say," added the son. "Now, dad, you'll see me +scooting around the country on a motor-cycle. I've always wanted +one, and now I have a bargain." + +"Do you think you can repair it?" + +"Of course, dad. I've done more difficult things than that. I'm +going to take it apart now, and see what it needs." + +"Before you do that, Tom, I wish you would take a telegram to town +for me. I must wire my lawyers at once." + +"Dad looks worried," thought Tom as he wheeled the broken motor-cycle +into a machine shop, where he did most of his work. "Well, I don't +blame him. But we'll get the best of those scoundrels yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AN INTERVIEW IN THE DARK + + +While Mr. Swift was writing the message he wished his son to take to +the village, the young mechanic inspected the motor-cycle he had +purchased. Tom found that a few repairs would suffice to put it in +good shape, though an entire new front wheel would be needed. The +motor had not been damaged, as he ascertained by a test. Tom rode +into town on his bicycle, and as he hurried along he noticed in the +west a bank of ugly-looking clouds that indicated a shower. + +"I'm in for a wetting before I get back," he mused, and he increased +his speed, reaching the telegraph office shortly before seven +o'clock. + +"Think this storm will hold off until I get home?" asked Tom. + +"I'm afraid not," answered the agent. "You'd better get a hustle +on." + +Tom sprinted off. It was getting dark rapidly, and when he was about +a mile from home he felt several warm drops on his face. + +"Here it comes!" exclaimed the youth. "Now for a little more speed!" + +Tom pressed harder on the pedals, too hard, in fact, for an instant +later something snapped, and the next he knew he was flying over the +handlebars of the bicycle. At the same time there was a metallic, +clinking sound. + +"Chain's busted!" exclaimed the lad as he picked himself up out of +the dust. "Well, wouldn't that jar you!" and he walked back to +where, in the dusk, he could dimly discern his wheel. + +The chain had come off the two sprockets and was lying to one side. +Tom picked it up and ascertained by close observation that the screw +and nut holding the two joining links together was lost. + +"Nice pickle!" he murmured. "How am I going to find it in all this +dust and darkness?" he asked himself disgustedly. "I'll carry an +extra screw next time. No, I won't, either. I'll ride my motor-cycle +next time. Well, I may as well give a look around. I hate to walk, +if I can fix it and ride." + +Tom had not spent more than two minutes looking about the dusty +road, with the aid of matches, for the screw, when the rain suddenly +began falling in a hard shower. + +"Guess there's no use lingering here any longer," he remarked. "I'll +push the wheel and run for home." + +He started down the road in the storm and darkness. The highway soon +became a long puddle of mud, through which he splashed, finding it +more and more difficult every minute to push the bicycle in the +thick, sticky clay. + +Above the roar of the wind and the swishing of the rain he heard +another sound. It was a steady "puff-puff," and then the darkness +was cut by a glare of light. + +"An automobile," said Tom aloud. "Guess I'd better get out of the +way." + +He turned to one side, but the auto, instead of passing him when it +got to the place where he was, made a sudden stop. + +"Want a ride?" asked the chauffeur, peering out from the side +curtains which somewhat protected him from the storm. Tom saw that +the car was a large, touring one. "Can I give you a lift?" went on +the driver. + +"Well, I've got my bicycle with me," explained the young inventor. +"My chain's broken, and I've got a mile to go." + +"Jump up in back," invited the man. "Leave your wheel here; I guess +it will be safe." + +"Oh, I couldn't do that," said Tom. "I don't mind walking. I'm wet +through now, and I can't get much wetter. I'm much obliged, though." + +"Well, I'm sorry, but I can hardly take you and the bicycle, too," +continued the chauffeur. + +"Certainly not," added a voice from the tonneau of the car. "We +can't have a muddy bicycle in here. Who is that person, Simpson?" + +"It's a young man," answered the driver. + +"Is he acquainted around here?" went on the voice from the rear of +the car. "Ask him if he is acquainted around here, Simpson." + +Tom was wondering where he had heard that voice before. He had a +vague notion that it was familiar. + +"Are you acquainted around here?" obediently asked the man at the +wheel. + +"I live here," replied Tom. + +"Ask him if he knows any one named Swift?" continued the voice from +the tonneau, and the driver started to repeat it. + +"I heard him," interrupted Tom. "Yes, I know a Mr. Swift;" but Tom, +with a sudden resolve, and one he could hardly explain, decided +that, for the present, he would not betray his own identity. + +"Ask him if Mr. Swift is an inventor." Once more the unseen person +spoke in the voice Tom was trying vainly to recall. + +"Yes, he is an inventor," was the youth's answer. + +"Do you know much about him? What are his habits? Does he live near +his workshops? Does he keep many servants? Does he--" + +The unseen questioner suddenly parted the side curtains and peered +out at Tom, who stood in the muddy road, close to the automobile. At +that moment there came a bright flash of lightning, illuminating not +only Tom's face, but that of his questioner as well. And at the +sight Tom started, no less than did the man. For Tom had recognized +him as one of the three mysterious persons in the restaurant, and as +for the man, he had also recognized Tom. + +"Ah--er--um--is--Why, it's you, isn't it?" cried the questioner, and +he thrust his head farther out from between the curtains. "My, what a +storm!" he exclaimed as the rain increased. "So you know Mr. Swift, +eh? I saw you to-day in Mansburg, I think. I have a good memory for +faces. Do you work for Mr. Swift? If you do I may be able to--" + +"I'm Tom Swift, son of Mr. Barton Swift," said Tom as quietly as he +could. + +"Tom Swift! His son!" cried the man, and he seemed much agitated. +"Why, I thought--that is, Morse said--Simpson, hurry back to +Mansburg!" and with that, taking no more notice of Tom, the man in +the auto hastily drew the curtains together. + +The chauffeur threw in the gears and swung the ponderous machine to +one side. The road was wide, and he made the turn skilfully. A +moment later the car was speeding back the way it had come, leaving +Tom standing on the highway, alone in the mud and darkness, with the +rain pouring down in torrents. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OFF ON A SPIN + + +Tom's first impulse was to run after the automobile, the red tail- +light of which glowed through the blackness like a ruby eye. Then he +realized that it was going from him at such a swift pace that it +would be impossible to get near it, even if his bicycle was in +working order. + +"But if I had my motor-cycle I'd catch up to them," he murmured. "As +it is, I must hurry home and tell dad. This is another link in the +queer chain that seems to be winding around us. I wonder who that +man was, and what he wanted by asking so many personal questions +about dad?" + +Trundling his wheel before him, with the chain dangling from the +handle-bar, Tom splashed on through the mud and rain. It was a +lonesome, weary walk, tired as he was with the happenings of the +day, and the young inventor breathed a sigh of thankfulness as the +lights of his home shone out in the mist of the storm. As he tramped +up the steps of the side porch, his wheel bumping along ahead of +him, a door was thrown open. + +"Why, it's Tom!" exclaimed Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever happened to you?" +and she hurried forward with kindly solicitude, for the housekeeper +was almost a second mother to the youth. + +"Chain broke," answered the lad laconically. "Where's dad?" + +"Out in the shop, working at his latest invention, I expect. But are +you hurt?" + +"Oh, no. I fell easily. The mud was like a feather-bed, you know, +except that it isn't so good for the clothes," and the young +inventor looked down at his splashed and bedraggled garments. + +Mr. Swift was very much surprised when Tom told him of the happening +on the road, and related the conversation and the subsequent alarm +of the man on learning Tom's identity. + +"Who do you suppose he could have been?" asked Tom, when he had +finished. + +"I am pretty certain he was one of that crowd of financiers of whom +Anson Morse seems to be a representative," said Mr. Swift. "Are you +sure the man was one of those you saw in the restaurant?" + +"Positive. I had a good look at him both times. Do you think he +imagined he could come here and get possession of some of your +secrets?" + +"I hardly know what to think, Tom. But we will take every +precaution. We will set the burglar alarm wires, which I have +neglected for some time, as I fancied everything would be secure +here. Then I will take my plans and the model of the turbine motor +into the house. I'll run no chances to-night." + +Mr. Swift, who was adjusting some of the new bolts that Tom had +brought home that day; began to gather up his tools and material. + +"I'll help you, dad," said Tom, and he began connecting the burglar +alarm wires, there being an elaborate system of them about the +house, shops and grounds. + +Neither Tom nor his father slept well that night. Several times one +or the other of them arose, thinking they heard unusual noises, but +it was only some disturbance caused by the storm, and morning +arrived without anything unusual having taken place. The rain still +continued, and Tom, looking from his window and seeing the downpour, +remarked: + +"I'm glad of it!" + +"Why?" asked his father, who was in the next room. + +"Because I'll have a good excuse for staying in and working on my +motor-cycle." + +"But you must do some studying," declared Mr. Swift. "I will hear +you in mathematics right after breakfast." + +"All right, dad. I guess you'll find I have my lessons." + +Tom had graduated with honors from a local academy, and when it came +to a question of going further in his studies, he had elected to +continue with his father for a tutor, instead of going to college. +Mr. Swift was a very learned man, and this arrangement was +satisfactory to him, as it allowed Tom more time at home, so he +could aid his father on the inventive work and also plan things for +himself. Tom showed a taste for mechanics, and his father wisely +decided that such training as his son needed could be given at home +to better advantage than in a school or college. + +Lessons over, Tom hurried to his own particular shop, and began +taking apart the damaged motor-cycle. + +"First I'll straighten the handle-bars, and then I'll fix the motor +and transmission," he decided. "The front wheel I can buy in town, +as this one would hardly pay for repairing." Tom was soon busy with +wrenches, hammers, pliers and screw-driver. He was in his element, +and was whistling over his task. The motor he found in good +condition, but it was not such an easy task as he had hoped to +change the transmission. He had finally to appeal to his father, in +order to get the right proportion between the back and front gears, +for the motor-cycle was operated by a sprocket chain, instead of a +belt drive, as is the case with some. + +Mr. Swift showed Tom how to figure out the number of teeth needed on +each sprocket, in order to get an increase of speed, and as there +was a sprocket wheel from a disused piece of machinery available, +Tom took that. He soon had it in place, and then tried the motor. To +his delight the number of revolutions of the rear wheel were +increased about fifteen per cent. + +"I guess I'll make some speed," he announced to his father. + +"But it will take more gasolene to run the motor; don't forget that. +You know the great principle of mechanics--that you can't get out of +a machine any more than you put into it, nor quite as much, as a +matter of fact, for considerable is lost through friction." + +"Well, then, I'll enlarge the gasolene tank," declared Tom. "I want +to go fast when I'm going." + +He reassembled the machine, and after several hours of work had it +in shape to run, except that a front wheel was lacking. + +"I think I'll go to town and get one," he remarked. "The rain isn't +quite so hard now." + +In spite of his father's mild objections Tom went, using his +bicycle, the chain of which he had quickly repaired. He found just +the front wheel needed, and that night his motor-cycle was ready to +run. But it was too dark to try it then, especially as he had no +good lantern, the one on the cycle having been smashed, and his own +bicycle light not being powerful enough. So he had to postpone his +trial trip until the next day. + +He was up early the following morning, and went out for a spin +before breakfast. He came back, with flushed cheeks and bright eyes, +just as Mr. Swift and Mrs. Baggert were sitting down to the table. + +"To Reedville and back," announced Tom proudly. + +"What, a round trip of thirty miles!" exclaimed Mr. Swift. + +"That's what!" declared his son. "I went like a greased pig most of +the way. I had to slow up going through Mansburg, but the rest of at +time I let it out for all it was worth." + +"You must be careful," cautioned his father. "You are not an expert +yet." + +"No, I realize that. Several times, when I wanted to slow up, I +began to back-pedal, forgetting that I wasn't on my bicycle. Then I +thought to shut off the power and put on the brake. But it's +glorious fun. I'm going out again as soon as I have something to +eat. That is, unless you want me to help you, dad." + +"No, not this morning. Learn to ride the motor-cycle. It may come in +handy." + +Neither Tom nor his father realized what an important part the +machine was soon to play in their lives. + +Tom went out for another spin after breakfast, and in a different +direction. He wanted to see what the machine would do on a hill, and +there was a long, steep one about five miles from home. The roads +were in fine shape after the rain, and he speeded up the incline at +a rapid rate. + +"It certainly does eat up the road," the lad murmured. "I have +improved this machine considerably. Wish I could take out a patent +on it." + +Reaching the crest of the slope, he started down the incline. He +turned off part of the power, and was gliding along joyously, when +from a cross-road he suddenly saw turn into the main highway a mule, +drawing a ramshackle wagon, loaded with fence posts. Beside the +animal walked an old colored man. + +"I hope he gets out of the way in time," thought Tom. "He's moving +as slow as molasses, and I'm going a bit faster than I like. Guess +I'll shut off and put on the brakes." + +The mule and wagon were now squarely across the road. Tom was coming +nearer and nearer. He turned the handle-grip, controlling the supply +of gasolene, and to his horror he found that it was stuck. He could +not stop the motor-cycle! + +"Look out! Look out!" cried Tom to the negro. "Get out of the way! I +can't stop! Let me pass you!" + +The darky looked up. He saw the approaching machine, and he seemed +to lose possession of his senses. + +"Whoa, Boomerang!" cried the negro. "Whoa! Suffin's gwine t' +happen!" + +"That's what!" muttered Tom desperately, as he saw that there was +not room for him to pass without going into the ditch, a proceeding +that would mean an upset. "Pull out of the way!" he yelled again. + +But either the driver could not understand, or did not appreciate +the necessity. The mule stopped and reared up. The colored man +hurried to the head of the animal to quiet it. + +"Whoa, Boomerang! Jest yo' stand still!" he said. + +Tom, with a great effort, managed to twist the grip and finally shut +off the gasolene. But it was too late. He struck the darky with the +front wheel. Fortunately the youth had managed to somewhat reduce +his speed by a quick application of the brake, or the result might +have been serious. As it was, the colored man was gently lifted away +from the mule's head and tossed into the long grass in the ditch. +Tom, by a great effort, succeeded in maintaining his seat in the +saddle, and then, bringing the machine to a stop, he leaped off and +turned back. + +The colored man was sitting up, looking dazed. + +"Whoa, Boomerang!" he murmured. "Suffin's happened!" + +But the mule, who had quieted down, only waggled his ears lazily, +and Tom, ready to laugh, now that he saw he had not committed +manslaughter, hurried to where the colored man was sitting. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS + + +"Are you hurt?" asked Tom as he leaned his motor-cycle against the +fence and stood beside the negro. + +"Hurt?" repeated the darky. "I'se killed, dat's what I is! I ain't +got a whole bone in mah body! Good landy, but I suttinly am in a +awful state! Would yo' mind tellin' me if dat ar' mule am still +alive?" + +"Of course he is," answered Tom. "He isn't hurt a bit. But why can't +you turn around and look for yourself?" + +"No, sah! No, indeedy, sah!" replied the colored man. "Yo' doan't +catch dis yeah nigger lookin' around!" + +"Why not?" + +"Why not? 'Cause I'll tell yo' why not. I'm so stiff an' I'm so +nearly broke t' pieces, dat if I turn mah head around it suah will +twist offen mah body. No, sah! No, indeedy, sah, I ain't gwine t' +turn 'round. But am yo' suah dat mah mule Boomerang ain't hurted?" + +"No, he's not hurt a bit, and I'm sure you are not. I didn't strike +you hard, for I had almost stopped my machine. Try to get up. I'm +positive you'll find yourself all right. I'm sorry it happened." + +"Oh, dat's all right. Doan't mind me," went on the colored man. "It +was mah fault fer gittin in de road. But dat mule Boomerang am +suttinly de most outrageous quadruped dat ever circumlocuted." + +"Why do you call him Boomerang?" asked Tom, wondering if the negro +really was hurt. + +"What fo' I call him Boomerang? Did yo' eber see dem Australian +black mans what go around wid a circus t'row dem crooked sticks dey +calls boomerangs?" + +"Yes, I've seen them." + +"Well, Boomerang, mah mule, am jest laik dat. He's crooked, t' begin +wid, an' anudder t'ing, yo' can't never tell when yo' start him whar +he's gwine t' land up. Dat's why I calls him Boomerang." + +"I see. It's a very proper name. But why don't you try to get up?" + +"Does yo' t'ink I can?" + +"Sure. Try it. By the way, what's your name?" + +"My name? Why I was christened Eradicate Andrew Jackson Abraham +Lincoln Sampson, but folks most ginnerally calls me Eradicate +Sampson, an' some doan't eben go to dat length. Dey jest calls me +Rad, fo' short." + +"Eradicate," mused Tom. "That's a queer name, too. Why were you +called that?" + +"Well, yo' see I eradicates de dirt. I'm a cleaner an' a whitewasher +by profession, an' somebody gib me dat name. Dey said it were fitten +an' proper, an' I kept it eber sence. Yais, sah, I'se Eradicate +Sampson, at yo' service. Yo' ain't got no chicken coops yo' wants +cleaned out, has yo'? Or any stables or fences t' whitewash? I +guarantees satisfaction." + +"Well, I might find some work for you to do," replied the young +inventor, thinking this would be as good a means as any of placating +the darky. "But come, now, try and see if you can't stand. I don't +believe I broke any of your legs." + +"I guess not. I feels better now. Where am dat work yo' was speakin' +ob?" and Eradicate Sampson, now that there seemed to be a prospect +of earning money, rose quickly and easily. + +"Why, you're all right!" exclaimed Tom, glad to find that the +accident had had no serious consequences. + +"Yais, sah, I guess I be. Whar did yo' say, yo' had some +whitewashin' t' do?" + +"No place in particular, but there is always something that needs +doing at our house. If you call I'll give you a job." + +"Yais, sah, I'll be sure to call," and Eradicate walked back to +where Boomerang was patiently waiting. + +Tom told the colored man how to find the Swift home, and was +debating with himself whether he ought not to offer Eradicate some +money as compensation for knocking him into the air, when he noticed +that the negro was tying one wheel of his wagon fast to the body of +the vehicle with a rope. + +"What are you doing that for?" asked Tom. + +"Got to, t' git downhill wid dis load ob fence posts," was the +answer. "Ef I didn't it would he right on to de heels ob Boomerang, +an' wheneber he feels anyt'ing on his heels he does act wuss dan a +circus mule." + +"But why don't you use your brake? I see you have one on the wagon. +Use the brake to hold back going downhill." + +"'Scuse me, Mistah Swift, 'scuse me!" exclaimed Eradicate quickly. +"But yo' doan't know dat brake. It's wuss dan none at all. It doan't +work, fer a fact. No, indeedy, sah. I'se got to rope de wheel." + +Tom was interested at once. He made an examination of the brake, and +soon saw why it would not hold the wheels. The foot lever was not +properly connected with the brake bar. It was a simple matter to +adjust it by changing a single bolt, and this Tom did with tools he +took from the bag on his motor-cycle. The colored man looked on in +open-mouthed amazement, and even Boomerang peered lazily around, as +if taking an interest in the proceedings. + +"There," said Tom at length, as he tightened the nut. "That brake +will work now, and hold the wagon on any hill. You won't need to +rope the wheel. You didn't have the right leverage on it." + +"'Scuse me, Mistah Swift, but what's dat yo' said?" and Eradicate +leaned forward to listen deferentially. + +"I said you didn't have the right leverage." + +"No, sah, Mistah Swift, 'scuse me, but yo' made a slight mistake. I +ain't never had no liverage on dis yeah wagon. It ain't dat kind ob +a wagon. I onct drove a livery rig, but dat were some years ago. I +ain't worked fo' de livery stable in some time now. Dat's why I know +dere ain't no livery on dis wagon. Yo'll 'scuse me, but yo' am +slightly mistaken." + +"All right," rejoined Tom with a laugh, not thinking it worth while +to explain what he meant by the lever force of the brake rod. "Let +it go at that. Livery or no livery, your brake will work now. I +guess you're all right. Now don't forget to come around and do some +whitewashing," and seeing that the colored man was able to mount to +the seat and start off Boomerang, who seemed to have deep-rooted +objections about moving, Tom wheeled his motor-cycle back to the +road. + +Eradicate Sampson drove his wagon a short distance and then suddenly +applied the brake. It stopped short, and the mule looked around as +if surprised. + +"It suah do work, Mistah Swift!" called the darky to Tom, who was +waiting the result of his little repair job. "It suah do work!" + +"I'm glad of it." + +"Mah golly! But yo' am suttinly a conjure-man when it comes t' +fixin' wagons! Did yo' eber work fer a blacksmith?" + +"No, not exactly. Well, good-by, Eradicate. I'll look for you some +day next week." + +With that Tom leaped on his machine and speeded off ahead of the +colored man and his rig. As he passed the load of fence posts the +youth heard Eradicate remark in awestricken tones: + +"Mah golly! He suttinly go laik de wind! An' t' t'ink dat I were hit +by dat monstrousness machine, an' not hurted! Mah golly! T'ings am +suttinly happenin'! G'lang, Boomerang!" + +"This machine has more possibilities in it than I suspected," mused +Tom. "But one thing I've got to change, and that is the gasolene and +spark controls. I don't like them the way they are. I want a better +leverage, just as Eradicate needed on his wagon. I'll fix them, too, +when I get home." + +He rode for several hours, until he thought it was about dinner +time, and then, heading the machine toward home, he put on all the +speed possible, soon arriving where his father was at work in the +shop. + +"Well, how goes it?" asked Mr. Swift with a smile as he looked at +the flushed face of his son. + +"Fine, dad! I scooted along in great shape. Had an adventure, too." + +"You didn't meet any more of those men, did you? The men who are +trying to get my invention?" asked Mr. Swift apprehensively. + +"No, indeed, dad. I simply had a little run-in with a chap named +Eradicate Andrew Jackson Abraham Lincoln Sampson, otherwise known as +Rad Sampson, and I engaged him to do some whitewashing for us. We do +need some white washing done, don't we, dad?" + +"What's that?" asked Mr. Swift, thinking his son was joking. + +Then Tom told of the happening. + +"Yes, I think I can find some work for Eradicate to do," went on Mr. +Swift. "There is some dirt in the boiler shop that needs +eradicating, and I think he can do it. But dinner has been waiting +some time. We'll go in now, or Mrs. Baggert will be out after us." + +Father and son were soon at the table, and Tom was explaining what +he meant to do to improve his motor-cycle. His father offered some +suggestions regarding the placing of the gasolene lever. + +"I'd put it here," he said, and with his pencil he began to draw a +diagram on the white table cloth. + +"Oh, my goodness me, Mr. Swift!" exclaimed Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever +are you doing?" and she sprang up in some alarm. + +"What's the matter? Did I upset my tea?" asked the inventor +innocently. + +"No; but you are soiling a clean tablecloth. Pencil-marks are so +hard to get out. Take a piece of paper, please." + +"Oh, is that all?" rejoined Mr. Swift with a smile. "Well, Tom, here +is the way I would do that," and substituting the back of an +envelope for the tablecloth, he continued the drawing. + +Tom was looking over his father's shoulder interestedly, when Mrs. +Baggert, who was taking off some of the dinner dishes, suddenly +asked: + +"Are you expecting a visitor, Mr. Swift?" + +"A visitor? No. Why?" asked the inventor quickly. + +"Because I just saw a man going in the machine shop," went on the +housekeeper. + +"A man! In the machine shop!" exclaimed Tom, rising from his chair. +Mr. Swift also got up, and the two hurried from the house. As they +reached the yard they saw a man emerging from the building where Mr. +Swift was constructing his turbine motor. The man had his back +turned toward them and seemed to be sneaking around, as though +desirous of escaping observation. + +"What do you want?" called Mr. Swift. + +The man turned quickly. At the sight of Mr. Swift and Tom he made a +jump to one side and got behind a big packing-box. + +"That's queer," spoke Tom. "I wonder what he wants?" + +"I'll soon see," rejoined Mr. Swift, and he started on a run toward +where the man was hiding. Tom followed his father, and as the two +inventors reached the box the man sprang from behind it and down the +yard to a lane that passed in back of the Swift house. As he ran he +was seen to stuff some papers in his pocket. + +"My plans! He's stolen some of my plans!" cried Mr. Swift. "Catch +him, Tom!" + +Tom ran after the stranger, whose curious actions had roused their +suspicions, while Mr. Swift entered the motor shop to ascertain +whether anything had been stolen. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A FRUITLESS PURSUIT + + +Down through the yard Tom speeded, in and out among the buildings, +looking on every side for a sight of the bold stranger. No one was +to be seen. + +"He can't be very far ahead." thought Tom. "I ought to catch him +before he gets to the woods. If he reaches there he has a good +chance of getting away." + +There was a little patch of trees just back of the inventor's house, +not much of a woods, perhaps, but that is what they were called. + +"I wonder if he was some ordinary tramp, looking for what he could +steal, or if he was one of the gang after dad's invention?" thought +Tom as he sprinted ahead. + +By this time the youth was clear of the group of buildings and in +sight of a tall, board fence, which surrounded the Swift estate on +three sides. Here and there, along the barrier, were piled old +packing-cases, so that it would be easy for a fugitive to leap upon +one of them and so get over the fence. Tom thought of this +possibility in a moment. + +"I guess he got over ahead of me," the lad exclaimed, and he peered +sharply about. "I'll catch him on the other side!" + +At that instant Tom tripped over a plank and went down full length, +making quite a racket. When he picked himself up he was surprised to +see the man he was after dart from inside a big box and start for +the fence, near a point where there were some packing-cases piled +up, making a good approach to the barrier. The fugitive had been +hiding, waiting for a chance to escape, and Tom's fall had alarmed +him. + +"Here! Hold on there! Come back!" cried the youth as he recovered +his wind and leaped forward. + +But the man did not stay. With a bound he was up on the pile of +boxes, and the next moment he was poised on top of the fence. Before +leaping down on the other side, a jump at which even a practiced +athlete might well hesitate, the fleeing stranger paused and looked +back. Tom gazed at him and recognized the man in an instant. He was +the third of the mysterious trio whom the lad had seen in the +Mansburg restaurant. + +"Wait a minute! What do you want sneaking around here?" shouted Tom +as he ran forward. The man returned no answer, and an instant later +disappeared from view on the other side of the fence. + +"He jumped down!" thought Tom. "A big leap, too. Well, I've got to +follow. This is a queer proceeding. First one, then the second, and +now the third of those men seem determined to get something here. I +wonder if this one succeeded? I'll soon find out." + +The lad was up on the pile of packing-cases and over the fence in +almost record time. He caught a glimpse of the fugitive running +toward the woods. Then the boy leaped down, jarring himself +considerably, and took after the man. + +But though Tom was a good runner he was handicapped by the fact that +the man had a start of him, and also by the fact that the stranger +had had a chance to rest while hiding for the second time in the big +box, while Tom had kept on running. So it is no great cause for +wonder that Mr. Swift's son found himself being distanced. + +Once, twice he called on the fleeing one to halt, but the man paid +no attention, and did not even turn around. Then the youth wisely +concluded to save his wind for running. He did his best, but was +chagrined to see the man reach the woods ahead of him. + +"I've lost him now," thought Tom. "Well, there's no help for it." + +Still he did not give up, but kept on through the patch of trees. On +the farther side was Lake Carlopa, a broad and long sheet of water. + +"If he doesn't know the lake's there," thought our hero, "he may +keep straight on. The water will be sure to stop him, and I can +catch him. But what will I do with him after I get him? That's +another question. I guess I've got a right to demand to know what he +was doing around our place, though." + +But Tom need not have worried on this score. He could hear the +fugitive ahead of him, and marked his progress by the crackling of +the underbrush. + +"I'm almost up to him," exulted the young inventor. Then, at the +same moment, he caught sight of the man running, and a glimpse of +the sparkling water of Lake Carlopa. "I've got him! I've got him!" +Tom almost cried aloud in his excitement. "Unless he takes to the +water and swims for it, I've got him!" + +But Tom did not reckon on a very simple matter, and that was the +possibility of the man having a boat at hand. For this is just what +happened. Reaching the lake shore the fugitive with a final spurt +managed to put considerable distance between himself and Tom. Drawn +up on the beach was a little motor-boat. In this, after he had +pushed it from shore, the stranger leaped. It was the work of but a +second to set the engine in motion, and as Tom reached the edge of +the woods and started across the narrow strip of sand and gravel +that was between the water and the trees, he saw the man steering +his craft toward the middle of the lake. + +"Well--I'll--be--jiggered!" exclaimed the youth. "Who would have +thought he'd have a motor-boat waiting for him? He planned this +well." + +There was nothing to do but turn back. Tom had a small rowboat and a +sailing skiff on the lake, but his boathouse was some distance away, +and even if he could get one of his craft out, the motor-boat would +soon distance it. + +"He's gone!" thought the searcher regretfully. + +The man in the motor-boat did not look back. He sat in the bow, +steering the little craft right across the broadest part of Lake +Carlopa. + +"I wonder where he came from, and where he's going?" mused Tom. +"That's a boat I never saw on this lake before. It must be a new +one. Well, there's no help for it, I've got to go back and tell dad +I couldn't catch him." And with a last look at the fugitive, who, +with his boat, was becoming smaller and smaller every minute, Tom +turned and retraced his steps. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +OFF TO ALBANY + + +"Did you catch him, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift eagerly when his son +returned, but the inventor needed but a glance at the lad's +despondent face to have his question answered without words, "Never +mind," he added, "there's not much harm done, fortunately." + +"Did he get anything? Any of your plans or models, dad?" + +"No; not as far as I can discover. My papers in the shop were not +disturbed, but it looked as if the turbine model had been moved. The +only thing missing seems to be a sheet of unimportant calculations. +Luckily I had my most valuable drawings in the safe in the house." + +"Yet that man seemed to be putting papers in his pocket, dad. Maybe +he made copies of some of your drawings." + +"That's possible, Tom, and I admit it worries me. I can't imagine +who that man is, unless--" + +"Why, he's one of the three men I saw in Mansburg in the +restaurant," said Tom eagerly. "Two of them tried to get information +here, and now the third one comes. He got away in a motor-boat," and +Tom told how the fugitive escaped. + +Mr. Swift looked worried. It was not the first time attempts had +been made to steal his inventions, but on this occasion a desperate +and well-organized plan appeared to be on foot. + +"What do you think they are up to, dad?" asked Tom. + +"I think they are trying to get hold of my turbine motor, Tom. You +know I told you that the financiers were disappointed in the turbine +motor they bought of another inventor. It does not work. To get back +the money they spent in building an expensive plant they must have a +motor that is successful. Hence their efforts to get control of +mine. I don't know whether I told you or not, but some time ago I +refused a very good offer for certain rights in my invention. I knew +it was worth more. The offer came through Smeak & Katch, the +lawyers, and when I refused it they seemed much disappointed. I +think now that this same firm, and the financiers who have employed +them, are trying by all the means in their power to get possession +of my ideas, if not the invention and model itself." + +"What can you do, dad?" + +"Well, I must think. I certainly must take some means to protect +myself. I have had trouble before, but never any like this. I did +not think those men would be so unscrupulous." + +"Do you know their names?" + +"No, only from that telegram we found; the one which the first +stranger dropped. One of them must be Anson Morse. Who the others +are I don't know. But now I must make some plans to foil these +sharpers. I may have to call on you for help, Tom." + +"And I'll be ready any time you call on me, dad," responded Tom, +drawing himself up. "Can I do anything for you right away?" + +"No; I must think out a plan." + +"Then I am going to change my motor-cycle a bit. I'll put some more +improvements on it." + +"And I will write some letters to my lawyers in Washington and ask +their advice." It took Tom the remainder of that day, and part of +the next, to arrange the gasolene and spark control of his machine +to his satisfaction. He had to make two small levers and some +connecting rods. This he did in his own particular machine shop, +which was fitted up with a lathe and other apparatus. The lathe was +run by power coming from a small engine, which was operated by an +engineer, an elderly man to whom Mr. Swift had given employment for +many years. He was Garret Jackson, and he kept so close to his +engine and boiler-room that he was seldom seen outside of it except +when the day's work was done. + +One afternoon, a few days after the unsuccessful chase after the +fugitive had taken place, Tom went out for a spin on his +motor-cycle. He found that the machine worked much better, and was +easier to control. He rode about fifteen miles away from home, and +then returned. As he entered the yard he saw, standing on the drive, a +ramshackle old wagon, drawn by a big mule, which seemed, at the time +Tom observed him, to be asleep. + +"I'll wager that's Boomerang," said Tom aloud, and the mule opened +its eyes, wiggled its ears and started forward. + +"Whoa dar, Boomerang!" exclaimed a voice, and Eradicate Sampson +hurried around the corner of the house. "Dat's jest lake yo'," went +on the colored man. "Movin' when yo' ain't wanted to." Then, as he +caught sight of Tom, he exclaimed, "Why, if it ain't young Mistah +Swift! Good lordy! But dat livery brake yo' done fixed on mah wagon +suttinly am fine. Ah kin go down de steepest hill widout ropin' de +wheel." + +"Glad of it," replied Tom. "Did you come to do some work?" + +"Yais, sah, I done did. I found I had some time t' spah, an' thinks +I dere might be some whitewashin' I could do. Yo' see, I lib only +'bout two mile from heah." + +"Well, I guess you can do a few jobs," said Tom. "Wait here." + +He hunted up his father, and obtained permission to set Eradicate at +work cleaning out a chicken house and whitewashing it. The darky was +soon at work. A little later Tom passing saw him putting the +whitewash on thick. Eradicate stopped at the sight of Tom, and made +some curious motions. + +"What's the matter, Rad?" asked the young inventor. + +"Why, de whitewash done persist in runnin' down de bresh handle an' +inter mah sleeve. I'm soakin' wet from it now, an' I has t' stop +ebery onct in a while 'case mah sleeve gits full." + +Tom saw what the trouble was. The white fluid did run down the long +brush handle in a small rivulet. Tom had once seen a little rubber +device on a window-cleaning brush that worked well, and he decided +to try it for Eradicate. + +"Wait a minute," Tom advised. "I think I can stop that for you." + +The colored man was very willing to take a rest, but it did not last +long, for Tom was soon back at the chicken coop. He had a small +rubber disk, with a hole in the center, the size of the brush +handle. Slipping the disk over the wood, he pushed it about half way +along, and then, handing the brush back to the negro, told him to +try it that way. + +"Did yo' done put a charm on mah bresh?" asked Eradicate somewhat +doubtfully. + +"Yes, a sort of hoodoo charm. Try it now." + +The darky dipped his brush in the pail of whitewash, and then began +to spread the disinfectant on the sides of the coop near the top. +The surplus fluid started to run down the handle, but, meeting the +piece of rubber, came no farther, and dripped off on the ground. It +did not run down the sleeve of Eradicate. + +"Well, I 'clar t' goodness! That suttinly am a mighty fine charm!" +cried the colored man. "Yo' suah am a pert gen'men, all right. Now I +kin work widout stoppin' t' empty mah sleeve ob lime juice ebery +minute. I'se suttinly obliged t' yo'." + +"You're welcome, I'm sure," replied Tom. "I think some day I'll +invent a machine for whitewashing, and then--" + +"Doan't do dat! Doan't do dat!" begged Eradicate earnestly. "Dis, +an' makin' dirt disappear, am de only perfessions I got. Doan't go +'ventin' no machine, Mistah Swift." + +"All right. I'll wait until you get rich." + +"Ha, ha! Den yo' gwine t' wait a pow'ful long time," chuckled +Eradicate as he went on with his whitewashing. + +Tom went into the house. He found his father busy with some papers +at his desk. + +"Ah, it's you, is it, Tom?" asked the inventor, looking up. "I was +just wishing you would come in." + +"What for, dad?" + +"Well, I have quite an important mission for you. I want you to go +on a journey." + +"A journey? Where?" + +"To Albany. You see, I've been thinking over matters, and I have +been in correspondence with my lawyers in regard to my turbine +motor. I must take measures to protect myself. You know I have not +yet taken out a complete patent on the machine. I have not done so +because I did not want to put my model on exhibition in Washington. +I was afraid some of those unscrupulous men would take advantage of +me. Another point was that I had not perfected a certain device that +goes on the motor. That objection is now removed, and I am ready to +send my model to Washington, and take out the complete patent." + +"But I thought you said you wanted me to go to Albany." + +"So I do. I will explain. I have just had a letter from Reid & +Crawford, my Washington attorneys. Mr. Crawford, the junior member +of the firm, will be in Albany this week on some law business. He +agrees to receive my model and some papers there, and take them back +to Washington with him. In this way they will be well protected. You +see, I have to be on my guard, and if I send the model to Albany, +instead of the national capital, I may throw the plotters off the +track, for I feel that they are watching every move I make. As soon +as you or I should start for Washington they would be on our trail. +But you can go to Albany unsuspected. Mr. Crawford will wait for you +there. I want you to start day after to-morrow." + +"All right, dad. I can start now, if you say so." + +"No, there is no special need for haste. I have some matters to +arrange. You might go to the station and inquire about trains to the +State capital." + +"Am I going by train?" + +"Certainly. How else could you go?" + +There was a look of excitement in Tom's eyes. He had a sudden idea. + +"Dad," he exclaimed, "why couldn't I go on my motor-cycle?" + +"Your motor-cycle?" + +"Yes. I could easily make the trip on it in one day. The roads are +good, and I would enjoy it. I can carry the model back of me on the +saddle. It is not very large." + +"Well," said Mr. Swift slowly, for the idea was a new one to him, "I +suppose that part would be all right. But you have not had much +experience riding a motor-cycle. Besides, you don't know the roads." + +"I can inquire. Will you let me go, dad?" + +Mr. Swift appeared to hesitate. + +"It will be fine!" went on Tom. "I would enjoy the trip, and there's +another thing. If we want to keep this matter secret the best plan +would be to let me go on my machine. If those men are on the watch, +they will not think that I have the model. They will think I'm just +going for a pleasure jaunt." + +"There's something in that," admitted Mr. Swift, and Tom, seeing +that his father was favorably inclined, renewed his arguments, until +the inventor finally agreed. + +"It will be a great trip!" exclaimed Tom. "I'll go all over my machine +now, to see that it's in good shape. You get your papers and model +ready, dad, and I'll take them to Albany for you. The motor-cycle will +come in handy." + +But had Tom only known the dangers ahead of him, and the risks he +was to run, he would not have whistled so light heartedly as he went +over every nut and bolt on his machine. + +Two days later, the valuable model, having been made into a +convenient package, and wrapped in water-proof paper, was fastened +back of the saddle on the motor-cycle. Tom carefully pinned in an +inside pocket the papers which were to be handed to Mr. Crawford. He +was to meet the lawyer at a hotel in Albany. + +"Now take care of yourself, Tom," cautioned his father as he bade +him good-by. "Don't try to make speed, as there is no special rush. +And, above all, don't lose anything." + +"I'll not, dad," and with a wave of his hand to Mr. Swift and the +housekeeper, who stood in the door to see him off, Tom jumped into +the saddle, started the machine, and then, after sufficient momentum +had been attained, he turned on the gasolene and set the spark +lever. With rattles and bangs, which were quickly subdued by the +muffler, the machine gathered speed. Tom was off for Albany. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A VINDICTIVE TRAMP + + +Though Tom's father had told him there was no necessity for any +great speed, the young inventor could not resist the opportunity for +pushing his machine to the limit. The road was a level one and in +good condition, so the motor-cycle fairly flew along. The day was +pleasant, a warm sun shining overhead, and it was evident that early +summer was crowding spring rather closely. + +"This is glorious!" exclaimed Tom aloud as he spun along. "I'm glad I +persuaded dad to let me take this trip. It was a great idea. Wish Ned +Newton was along, though. He'd be company for me, but, as Ned would +say, there are two good reasons why he can't come. One is he has to +work in the bank, and the other is that he has no motor-cycle." + +Tom swept past house after house along the road, heading in the +opposite direction from that in which lay the town of Shopton and +the city of Mansburg. For several miles Tom's route would lie +through a country district. The first large town he would reach +would be Centreford. He planned to get lunch there, and he had +brought a few sandwiches with him to eat along the road in case he +became hungry before he reached the place. + +"I hope the package containing the model doesn't jar off," mused the +lad as he reached behind to make sure that the precious bundle was +safe. "Dad would be in a bad way if that should disappear. And the +papers, too." He put his hand to his inner pocket to feel that they +were secure. Coming to a little down-grade, Tom shut off some of the +power, the new levers he had arranged to control the gasolene and +spark working well. + +"I think I'll take the old wood road and pass through Pompville," +Tom decided, after covering another mile or two. He was approaching +a division in the highway. "It's a bit sandy," he went on, "and the +going will be heavy, but it will be a good chance to test my +machine. Besides, I'll save five miles, and, while I don't have to +hurry, I may need time on the other end. I'd rather arrive in Albany +a little before dusk than after dark. I can deliver the model and +papers and have a good night's sleep before starting back. So the +old wood road it will be." + +The wood road, as Tom called it, was a seldom used highway, which, +originally, was laid out for just what the name indicated, to bring +wood from the forest. With the disappearance of most of the trees +the road became more used for ordinary traffic between the towns of +Pompville and Edgefield. But when the State built a new highway +connecting these two places the old road fell into disuse, though it +was several miles shorter than the new turnpike. + +He turned from the main thoroughfare, and was soon spinning along +the sandy stretch, which was shaded with trees that in some places +met overhead, forming a leafy arch. It was cool and pleasant, and +Tom liked it. + +"It isn't as bad as I thought," he remarked. "The sand is pretty +thick, but this machine of mine appears to be able to crawl through +it." + +Indeed, the motor-cycle was doing remarkably well, but Tom found +that he had to turn on full power, for the big rubber wheels went +deep into the soft soil. Along Tom rode, picking out the firmest +places in the road. He was so intent on this that he did not pay +much attention to what was immediately ahead of him, knowing that he +was not very likely to meet other vehicles or pedestrians. He was +considerably startled therefore when, as he went around a turn in +the highway where the bushes grew thick, right down to the edge of +the road, to see a figure emerge from the underbrush and start +across the path. So quickly did the man appear that Tom was almost +upon him in an instant, and even though the young inventor shut off +the power and applied the brake, the front wheel hit the man and +knocked him down. + +"What's the matter with you? What are you trying to do--kill me? Why +don't you ring a bell or blow a horn when you're coming?" The man had +sprung up from the soft sand where the wheel from the motor-cycle had +sent him and faced Tom angrily. Then the rider, who had quickly +dismounted, saw that his victim was a ragged tramp. + +"I'm sorry," began Tom. "You came out of the bushes so quickly that +I didn't have a chance to warn you. Did I hurt you much?" + +"Well, youse might have. 'Tain't your fault dat youse didn't," and +the tramp began to brush the dirt from his ragged coat. Tom was +instantly struck by a curious fact. The tramp in his second remarks +used language more in keeping with his character, whereas, in his +first surprise and anger, he had talked much as any other person +would. "Youse fellers ain't got no right t' ride dem machines like +lightnin' along de roads," the ragged chap went on, and he still +clung to the use of words and expressions current among his +fraternity. Tom wondered at it, and then, ascribing the use of the +better language to the fright caused by being hit by the machine, +the lad thought no more about it at the time. There was occasion, +however, when he attached more meaning to it. + +"I'm very sorry," went on Tom. "I'm sure I didn't mean to. You see, +I was going quite slowly, and--" + +"You call dat slow, when youse hit me an' knocked me down?" demanded +the tramp. "I'd oughter have youse arrested, dat's what, an' I would +if dere was a cop handy." + +"I wasn't going at all fast," said Tom, a little nettled that his +conciliatory words should be so rudely received. "If I had been +going full speed I'd have knocked you fifty feet." + +"It's a good thing. Cracky, den I'm glad dat youse wasn't goin' like +dat," and the tramp seemed somewhat confused. This time Tom looked +at him more closely, for the change in his language had been very +plain. The fellow seemed uneasy, and turned his face away. As he did +so Tom caught a glimpse of what he was sure was a false beard. It +was altogether too well-kept a beard to be a natural one for such a +dirty tramp as this one appeared to be. + +"That fellow's disguised!" Tom thought. "He's playing a part. I +wonder if I'd better take chances and spring it on him that I'm on +to his game?" + +Then the ragged man spoke again: + +"I s'pose it was part my fault, cully. I didn't know dat any guy was +comin' along on one of dem buzz-machines, or I'd been more careful. +I don't s'pose youse meant to upset me?" and he looked at Tom more +boldly. This time his words seemed so natural, and his beard, now +that Tom took a second look at it, so much a part of himself, that +the young inventor wondered if he could have been mistaken in his +first surmise. + +"Perhaps he was once a gentleman, and has turned tramp because of +hard luck," thought Tom. "That would account for him using good +language at times. Guess I'd better keep still." Then to the tramp +he said: "I'm sure I didn't mean to hit you. I admit I wasn't +looking where I was going, but I never expected to meet any one on +this road. I certainly didn't expect to see a--" + +He paused in some confusion. He was about to use the term "tramp," +and he hesitated, not knowing how it would be received by his +victim. + +"Oh, dat's all right, cully. Call me a tramp--I know dat's what +youse was goin' t' say. I'm used t' it. I've been a hobo so many +years now dat I don't mind. De time was when I was a decent chap, +though. But I'm a tramp now. Say, youse couldn't lend me a quarter, +could youse?" + +He approached closer to Tom, and looked quickly up and down the +road. The highway was deserted, nor was there any likelihood that +any one would come along. Tom was somewhat apprehensive, for the +tramp was a burly specimen. The young inventor, however, was not so +much alarmed at the prospect of a personal encounter, as that he +feared he might be robbed, not only of his money, but the valuable +papers and model he carried. Even if the tramp was content with +taking his money, it would mean that Tom would have to go back home +for more, and so postpone his trip. + +So it was with no little alarm that he watched the ragged man coming +nearer to him. Then a bright idea came into Tom's head. He quickly +shifted his position so that he brought the heavy motor-cycle +between the man and himself. He resolved, if the tramp showed a +disposition to attack him, to push the machine over on him, and this +would give Tom a chance to attack the thief to better advantage. +However, the "hobo" showed no evidence of wanting to resort to +highwayman methods. He paused a short distance from the machine, and +said admiringly: + +"Dat's a pretty shebang youse has." + +"Yes, it's very fair," admitted Tom, who was not yet breathing +easily. + +"Kin youse go far on it?" + +"Two hundred miles a day, easily." + +"Fer cats' sake! An' I can't make dat ridin' on de blind baggage; +but dat's 'cause I gits put off so much. But say, is youse goin' to +let me have dat quarter? I need it, honest I do. I ain't had nuttin' +t' eat in two days." + +The man's tone was whining. Surely he seemed like a genuine tramp, +and Tom felt a little sorry for him. Besides, he felt that he owed +him something for the unceremonious manner in which he had knocked +the fellow down. Tom reached his hand in his pocket for some change, +taking care to keep the machine between himself and the tramp. + +"Are youse goin' far on dat rig-a-ma-jig?" went on the man as he +looked carefully over the motor-cycle. + +"To Albany," answered Tom, and the moment the words were out of his +mouth he wished he could recall them. All his suspicions regarding +the tramp came back to him. But the ragged chap appeared to attach +no significance to them. + +"Albany? Dat's in Jersey, ain't it?" he asked. + +"No, it's in New York," replied Tom, and then, to change the +subject, he pulled out a half-dollar and handed it to the man. As he +did so Tom noticed that the tramp had tattooed on the little finger +of his left hand a blue ring. + +"Dat's de stuff! Youse is a reg'lar millionaire, youse is!" +exclaimed the tramp, and his manner seemed in earnest. "I'll +remember youse, I will. What's your name, anyhow, cully?" + +"Tom Swift," replied our hero, and again he wished he had not told. +This time he was sure the tramp started and glanced at him quickly, +but perhaps it was only his imagination. + +"Tom Swift," repeated the man musingly, and his tones were different +from the whining ones in which he had asked for money. Then, as if +recollecting the part he was playing, he added: "I s'pose dey calls +youse dat because youse rides so quick on dat machine. But I'm +certainly obliged to youse--Tom Swift, an' I hopes youse gits t' +Albany, in Jersey, in good time." + +He turned away, and Tom was beginning to breathe more easily when +the ragged man, with a quick gesture, reached out and grabbed hold +of the motor-cycle. He gave it such a pull that it was nearly torn +from Tom's grasp. The lad was so startled at the sudden exhibition +of vindictiveness an the part of the tramp that he did not know what +to do. Then, before he could recover himself, the tramp darted into +the bushes. + +"I guess Happy Harry--dat's me--has spoiled your ride t' Albany!" +the tramp cried. "Maybe next time youse won't run down poor fellers +on de road," and with that, the ragged man, shaking his fist at Tom, +was lost to sight in the underbrush. + +"Well, if that isn't a queer end up," mused Tom. "He must be crazy. +I hope I don't meet you again, Happy Harry, or whatever your name +is. Guess I'll get out of this neighborhood." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE MEN IN THE AUTO + + +Tom first made sure that the package containing the model was still +safely in place back of his saddle on the motor-cycle. Finding it +there he next put his hand in his pocket to see that he had the +papers. + +"They're all right," spoke Tom aloud. "I didn't know but what that +chap might have worked a pickpocket game on me. I'm glad I didn't +meet him after dark. Well, it's a good thing it's no worse. I wonder +if he tried to get my machine away from me? Don't believe he'd know +how to ride it if he did." + +Tom wheeled his motor-cycle to a hard side-path along the old road, +and jumped into the saddle. He worked the pedals preparatory to +turning on the gasolene and spark to set the motor in motion. As he +threw forward the levers, having acquired what he thought was the +necessary momentum, he was surprised that no explosion followed. The +motor seemed "dead." + +"That's queer," he thought, and he began to pedal more rapidly. "It +always used to start easily. Maybe it doesn't like this sandy +road." + +It was hard work sending the heavy machine along by "leg power," and +once more, when he had acquired what he thought was sufficient +speed, Tom turned on the power. But no explosions followed, and in +some alarm he jumped to the ground. + +"Something's wrong," he said aloud. "That tramp must have damaged +the machine when he yanked it so." Tom went quickly over the +different parts. It did not take him long to discover what the +trouble was. One of the wires, leading from the batteries to the +motor, which wire served to carry the current of electricity that +exploded the mixture of air and gasolene, was missing. It had been +broken off close to the battery box and the spark plug. + +"That's what Happy Harry did!" exclaimed Tom. "He pulled that wire +off when he yanked my machine. That's what he meant by hoping I'd +get to Albany. That fellow was no tramp. He was disguised, and up to +some game. And he knows something about motor-cycles, too, or he +never would have taken that wire. I'm stalled, now, for I haven't +got another piece. I ought to have brought some. I'll have to push +this machine until I get to town, or else go back home." + +The young inventor looked up and down the lonely road, undecided +what to do. To return home meant that he would be delayed in getting +to Albany, for he would lose a day. If he pushed on to Pompville he +might be able to get a bit of wire there. + +Tom decided that was his best plan, and plodded on through the thick +sand. He had not gone more than a quarter of a mile, every step +seeming harder than the preceding one, when he heard, from the woods +close at his left hand, a gun fired. He jumped so that he nearly let +the motor-cycle fall over, for a wild idea came into his head that +the tramp had shot at him. With a quickly-beating heart the lad +looked about him. + +"I wonder if that was Happy Harry?" he mused. + +There was a crackling in the bushes and Tom, wondering what he might +do to protect himself, looked toward the place whence the noise +proceeded. A moment later a hunter stepped into view. The man +carried a gun and wore a canvas suit, a belt about his waist being +filled with cartridges. + +"Hello!" he exclaimed pleasantly, Then, seeing a look of alarm on +the lad's face, he went on: + +"I hope I didn't shoot in your direction, young man; did I?" + +"No--no, sir," replied the youthful inventor, who had hardly +recovered his composure. "I heard your gun, and I imagined--" + +"Did you think you had been shot? You must have a very vivid +imagination, for I fired in the air." + +"No, I didn't exactly think that," replied Tom, "but I just had an +encounter with an ugly tramp, and I feared he might be using me for +a target." + +"Is that so. I hadn't noticed any tramps around here, and I've been +in these woods nearly all day. Did he harm you?" + +"No, not me, but my motor-cycle," and the lad explained. + +"Pshaw! That's too bad!" exclaimed the hunter. "I wish I could +supply you with a bit of wire, but I haven't any. I'm just walking +about, trying my new gun." + +"I shouldn't think you'd find anything to shoot this time of year," +remarked Tom. + +"I don't expect to," answered the hunter, who had introduced himself +as Theodore Duncan. "But I have just purchased a new gun, and I +wanted to try it. I expect to do considerable hunting this fall, and +so I'm getting ready for it." + +"Do you live near here?" + +"Well, about ten miles away, on the other side of Lake Carlopa, but +I am fond of long walks in the woods. If you ever get to Waterford I +wish you'd come and see me, Mr. Swift. I have heard of your father." + +"I will, Mr. Duncan; but if I don't get something to repair my +machine with I'm not likely to get anywhere right away." + +"Well, I wish I could help you, but I haven't the least ingenuity +when it comes to machinery. Now if I could help you track down that +tramp--" + +"Oh, no, thank you, I'd rather not have anything more to do with +him." + +"If I caught sight of him now," resumed the hunter, "I fancy I could +make him halt, and, perhaps, give you back the wire. I'm a pretty +good shot, even if this is a new gun. I've been practicing at +improvised targets all day." + +"No; the less I have to do with him, the better I shall like it," +answered Tom, "though I'm much obliged to you. I'll manage somehow +until I get to Pompville." + +He started off again, the hunter disappearing in the woods, whence +the sound of his gun was again heard. + +"He's a queer chap," murmured Tom, "but I like him. Perhaps I may +see him when I go to Waterford, if I ever do." + +Tom was destined to see the hunter again, at no distant time, and +under strange circumstances. But now the lad's whole attention was +taken up with the difficulty in which he found himself. Vainly +musing on what object the tramp could have had in breaking off the +wire, the young inventor trudged on. + +"I guess he was one of the gang after dad's invention," thought Tom, +"and he must have wanted to hinder me from getting to Albany, though +why I can't imagine." With a dubious shake of his head Tom +proceeded. It was hard work pushing the heavy machine through the +sand, and he was puffing before he had gone very, far. + +"I certainly am up against it," he murmured. "But if I can get a bit +of wire in Pompville I'll be all right. If I can't--" + +Just then Tom saw something which caused him to utter an exclamation +of delight. + +"That's the very thing!" he cried. "Why didn't I think of it +before?" + +Leaving his motor-cycle standing against a tree Tom hurried to a +fence that separated the road from a field. The fence was a barbed- +wire one, and in a moment Tom had found a broken strand. + +"Guess no one will care if I take a piece of this," he reasoned. "It +will answer until I can get more. I'll have it in place in a jiffy!" + +It did not take long to get his pliers from his toolbag and snip off +a piece of the wire. Untwisting it he took out the sharp barbs, and +then was ready to attach it to the binding posts of the battery box +and the spark plug. + +"Hold on, though!" he exclaimed as he paused in the work. "It's got +to be insulated, or it will vibrate against the metal of the machine +and short circuit. I have it! My handkerchief! I s'pose Mrs. Baggert +will kick at tearing up a good one, but I can't help it." + +Tom took a spare handkerchief from the bundle in which he had a few +belongings carried with the idea of spending the night at an Albany +hotel, and he was soon wrapping strips of linen around the wire, +tying them with pieces of string. + +"There!" he exclaimed at length. "That's insulated good enough, I +guess. Now to fasten it on and start." + +The young inventor, who was quick with tools, soon had the +improvised wire in place. He tested the spark and found that it was +almost as good as when the regular copper conductor was in place. +Then, having taken a spare bit of the barbed-wire along in case of +another emergency, he jumped on the motor-cycle, pedaled it until +sufficient speed was attained, and turned on the power. + +"That's the stuff!" he cried as the welcome explosions sounded. "I +guess I've fooled Happy Harry! I'll get to Albany pretty nearly on +time, anyhow. But that tramp surely had me worried for a while." + +He rode into Pompville, and on inquiring in a plumbing shop managed +to get a bit of copper wire that answered better than did the +galvanized piece from the fence. The readjustment was quickly made, +and he was on his way again. As it was getting close to noon he +stopped near a little spring outside of Pompville and ate a +sandwich, washing it down with the cold water. Then he started for +Centreford. + +As he was coming into the city he heard an automobile behind him. He +steered to one side of the road to give the big car plenty of room +to pass, but it did not come on as speedily as he thought it would. +He looked back and saw that it was going to stop near him. +Accordingly he shut off the power of his machine. + +"Is this the road to Centreford?" asked one of the travelers in the +auto. + +"Straight ahead," answered the lad. + +At the sound of his voice one of the men in the big touring car +leaned forward and whispered something to one on the front seat. The +second man nodded, and looked closely at Tom. The youth, in turn, +stared at the men. He could not distinguish their faces, as they had +on auto goggles. + +"How many miles is it?" asked the man who had whispered, and at the +sound of his voice Tom felt a vague sense that he had heard it +before. + +"Three," answered the young inventor, and once more he saw the men +whisper among themselves. + +"Thanks," spoke the driver of the car, and he threw in the gears. As +the big machine darted ahead the goggles which one of the men wore +slipped off. Tom had a glimpse of his face. + +"Anson Morse!" he exclaimed. "If that isn't the man who was sneaking +around dad's motor shop he's his twin brother! I wonder if those +aren't the men who are after the patent model? I must be on my +guard!" and Tom, watching the car fade out of sight on the road +ahead of him, slowly started his motor-cycle. He was much puzzled +and alarmed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +CAUGHT IN A STORM + + +The more Tom tried to reason out the cause of the men's actions, the +more he dwelt upon his encounter with the tramp, and the harder he +endeavored to seek a solution of the queer puzzle, the more +complicated it seemed. He rode on until he saw in a valley below him +the buildings of the town of Centreford, and, with a view of them, a +new idea came into his mind. + +"I'll go get a good dinner," he decided, "and perhaps that will help +me to think more clearly. That's what dad always does when he's +puzzling over an invention." He was soon seated in a restaurant, +where he ate a substantial dinner. "I'm just going to stop puzzling +over this matter," he decided. "I'll push an to Albany and tell the +lawyer, Mr. Crawford. Perhaps he can advise me." + +Once this decision was made Tom felt better. + +"That's just what I needed," he thought; "some one to shift the +responsibility upon. I'll let the lawyers do the worrying. That's +what they're paid for. Now for Albany, and I hope I don't have to +stop, except for supper, until I get there. I've got to do some +night riding, but I've got a powerful lamp, and the roads from now +on are good." + +Tom was soon on his way again. The highway leading to Albany was a +hard, macadam one, and he fairly flew along the level stretches. + +"This is making good time," he thought. "I won't be so very late, +after all; that is, if nothing delays me." + +The young inventor looked up into the sky. The sun, which had been +shining brightly all day, was now hidden behind a mass of hazy +clouds, for which the rider was duly grateful, as it was becoming +quite warm. + +"It's more like summer than I thought," said Tom to himself. "I +shouldn't be surprised if we got rain to-morrow." + +Another look at the sky confirmed him in this belief, and he had not +gone on many miles farther when his opinion was suddenly changed. +This was brought about by a dull rumble in the west, and Tom noticed +that a bank of low-lying clouds had formed, the black, inky masses +of vapor being whirled upward as if by some powerful blast. + +"Guess my storm is going to arrive ahead of time," he said. "I'd +better look for shelter." + +With a suddenness that characterizes summer showers, the whole sky +became overcast. The thunder increased, and the flashes of lightning +became more frequent and dazzling. A wind sprang up and blew clouds +of dust in Tom's face. + +"It certainly is going to be a thunder storm," he admitted. "I'm +bound to be delayed now, for the roads will be mucky. Well, there's +no help for it. If I get to Albany before midnight I'll he doing +well." + +A few drops of rain splashed on his hands, and as he looked up to +note the state of the sky others fell in his face. They were big +drops, and where they splashed on the road they formed little +globules of mud. + +"I'll head for that big tree," thought Tom "It will give me some +shelter. I'll wait there--" His words were interrupted by a +deafening crash of thunder which followed close after a blinding +flash. "No tree for mine!" murmured Tom. "I forgot that they're +dangerous in a storm. I wonder where I can stay?" + +He turned on all the power possible and sprinted ahead. Around a +curve in the road he went, leaning over to preserve his balance, and +just as the rain came pelting down in a torrent he saw just ahead of +him a white church on the lonely country road. To one side was a +long shed, where the farmers were in the habit of leaving their +teams when they came to service. + +"Just the thing!" cried the boy; "and just in time!" + +He turned his motor-cycle into the yard surrounding the church, and +a moment later had come to a stop beneath the shed. It was broad and +long, furnishing a good protection against the storm, which had now +burst in all its fury. + +Tom was not very wet, and looking to see that the model, which was +partly of wood, had suffered no damage, the lad gave his attention +to his machine. + +"Seems to be all right," he murmured. "I'll just oil her up while +I'm waiting. This can't last long; it's raining too hard." + +He busied himself over the motor-cycle, adjusting a nut that had +been rattled loose, and putting some oil on the bearings. The rain +kept up steadily, and when he had completed his attentions to his +machine Tom looked out from under the protection of the shed. + +"It certainly is coming down for keeps," he murmured. "This trip is +a regular hoodoo so far. Hope I have it better coming back." + +As he looked down the road he espied an automobile coming through +the mist of rain. It was an open car, and as he saw the three men in +it huddled up under the insufficient protection of some blankets, +Tom said: + +"They'd ought to come in here. There's lots of room. Maybe they +don't see it. I'll call to them." + +The car was almost opposite the shed which was dose to the roadside. +Tom was about to call when one of the men in the auto looked up. He +saw the shelter and spoke to the chauffeur. The latter was preparing +to steer up into the shed when the two men on the rear seat caught +sight of Tom. + +"Why, that's the same car that passed me a while ago," said the +young inventor half aloud. "The one that contained those men whom I +suspected might be after dad's patent. I hope they--" + +He did not finish his sentence, for at that instant the chauffeur +quickly swung the machine around and headed it back into the road. +Clearly the men were not going to take advantage of the shelter of +the shed. + +"That's mighty strange," murmured Tom. "They certainly saw me, and +as soon as they did they turned away. Can they be afraid of me?" + +He went to the edge of the shelter and peered out. The auto had +disappeared down the road behind a veil of rain, and, shaking his +head over the strange occurrence, Tom went back to where he had left +his motor-cycle. + +"Things are getting more and more muddled," he said. "I'm sure those +were the same men, and yet--" + +He shrugged his shoulders. The puzzle was getting beyond him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ATTACKED FROM BEHIND + + +Steadily the rain came down, the wind driving it under the shed +until Tom was hard put to find a place where the drops would not +reach him. He withdrew into a far corner, taking his motor-cycle with +him, and then, sitting on a block of wood, under the rough mangers +where the horses were fed while the farmers attended church, the lad +thought over the situation. He could make little of it, and the more +he tried the worse it seemed to become. He looked out across the wet +landscape. + +"I wonder if this is ever going to stop?" he mused. "It looks as if +it was in for an all-day pour, yet we ought only to have a summer +shower by rights." + +"But then I guess what I think about it won't influence the weather +man a bit. I might as well make myself comfortable, for I can't do +anything. Let's see. If I get to Fordham by six o'clock I ought to +be able to make Albany by nine, as it's only forty miles. I'll get +supper in Fordham, and push on. That is, I will if the rain stops." + +That was the most necessary matter to have happen first, and Tom +arising from his seat strolled over to the front of the shed to look +out. + +"I believe it is getting lighter in the west," he told himself. +"Yes, the clouds are lifting. It's going to clear. It's only a +summer shower, after all." + +But just as he said that there came a sudden squall of wind and +rain, fiercer than any which had preceded. Tom was driven back to +his seat on the log. It was quite chilly now, and he noticed that +near where he sat there was a big opening in the rear of the shed, +where a couple of boards were off. + +"This must be a draughty place in winter," he observed. "If I could +find a drier spot I'd sit there, but this seems to be the best," and +he remained there, musing on many things. Suddenly in the midst of +his thoughts he imagined he heard the sound of an automobile +approaching. "I wonder if those men are coming back here?" he +exclaimed. "If they are--" + +The youth again arose, and went to the front of the shed. He could +see nothing, and came back to escape the rain. There was no doubt +but that the shower would soon be over, and looking at his watch, +Tom began to calculate when he might arrive in Albany. + +He was busy trying to figure out the best plan to pursue, and was +hardly conscious of his surroundings. Seated on the log, with his +back to the opening in the shed, the young inventor could not see a +figure stealthily creeping up through the wet grass. Nor could he +see an automobile, which had come to a stop back of the horse +shelter--an automobile containing two rain-soaked men, who were +anxiously watching the one stealing through the grass. + +Tom put his watch back into his pocket and looked out into the +storm. It was almost over. The sun was trying to shine through the +clouds, and only a few drops were falling. The youth stretched with +a yawn, for he was tired of sitting still. At the moment when he +raised his arms to relieve his muscles something was thrust through +the opening behind him. It was a long club, and an instant later it +descended on the lad's head. He went down in a heap, limp and +motionless. + +Through the opening leaped a man. He bent over Tom, looked anxiously +at him, and then, stepping to the place where the boards were off +the shed, he motioned to the men in the automobile. + +They hurried from the machine, and were soon beside their companion. + +"I knocked him out, all right," observed the man who had reached +through and dealt Tom the blow with the club. + +"Knocked him out! I should say you did, Featherton!" exclaimed one +who appeared better dressed than the others. "Have you killed him?" + +"No; but I wish you wouldn't mention my name, Mr. Appleson. I--I +don't like--" + +"Nonsense, Featherton. No one can hear us. But I'm afraid you've +done for the chap. I didn't want him harmed." + +"Oh, I guess Featherton knows how to do it, Appleson," commented the +third man. "He's had experience that way, eh, Featherton?" + +"Yes, Mr. Morse; but if you please I wish you wouldn't mention--" + +"All right, Featherton, I know what you mean," rejoined the man +addressed as Morse. "Now let's see if we have drawn a blank or not. +I think he has with him the very thing we want," + +"Doesn't seem to be about his person," observed Appleson, as he +carefully felt about the clothing of the unfortunate Tom. + +"Very likely not. It's too bulky. But there's his motor-cycle over +there. It looks as if what we wanted was on the back of the saddle. +Jove, Featherton, but I think he's coming to!" + +Tom stirred uneasily and moved his arms, while a moan came from +between his parted lips. + +"I've got some stuff that will fix him!" exclaimed the man addressed +as Featherton, and who had been operating the automobile. He took +something from his pocket and leaned over Tom. In a moment the young +inventor was still again. + +"Quick now, see if it's there," directed Morse, and Appleson hurried +over to the machine. + +"Here it is!" he called. "I'll take it to our car, and we can get +away." + +"Are you going to leave him here like this?" asked Morse. + +"Yes; why not?" + +"Because some one might have seen him come in here, and also +remember that we, too, came in this direction." + +"What would you do?" + +"Take him down the road a way and leave him. We can find some shed +near a farmhouse where he and his machine will be out of sight until +we get far enough away. Besides, I don't like to leave him so far +from help, unconscious as he is." + +"Oh, you're getting chicken-hearted," said Appleson with a sneer. +"However, have your way about it. I wonder what has become of Jake +Burke? He was to meet us in Centreford, but he did not show up." + +"Oh, I shouldn't be surprised if he had trouble in that tramp rig he +insisted on adopting. I told him he was running a risk, but he said +he had masqueraded as a tramp before." + +"So he has. He's pretty good at it. Now, Simpson, if you will--" + +"Not Simpson! I thought you agreed to call me Featherton," +interrupted the chauffeur, turning to Morse and Appleson. + +"Oh, so we did. I forgot that this lad met us one day, and heard me +call you Simpson," admitted Morse. "Well, Featherton it shall be. +But we haven't much time. It's stopped raining, and the roads will +soon be well traveled. We must get away, and if we are to take the +lad and his machine to some secluded place, we'd better be at it. No +use waiting for Burke. He can look out after himself. Anyhow, we +have the model now, and there's no use in him hanging around Swift's +shop, as he intended to do, waiting for a chance to sneak in after +it. Appleson, if you and Simpson--I mean Featherton--will carry +young Swift, I'll shove his wheel along to the auto, and we can put +it and him in." + +The two men, first looking through the hole in the shed to make sure +they were not observed, went out, carrying Tom, who was no light +load. Morse followed them, pushing the motor-cycle, and carrying +under one arm the bundle containing the valuable model, which he had +detached. + +"I think this is the time we get ahead of Mr. Swift," murmured +Morse, pulling his black mustache, when he and his companions had +reached the car in the field. "We have just what we want now." + +"Yes, but we had hard enough work getting it," observed Appleson. +"Only by luck we saw this lad come in here, or we would have had to +chase all over for him, and maybe then we would have missed him. +Hurry, Simpson--I mean Featherton. It's getting late, and we've got +lots to do." + +The chauffeur sprang to his seat, Appleson taking his place beside +him. The motor-cycle was tied on behind the big touring car, and +with the unconscious form of Tom in the tonneau, beside Morse, who +stroked his mustache nervously, the auto started off. The storm had +passed, and the sun was shining brightly, but Tom could not see it. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A VAIN SEARCH + + +Several hours later Tom had a curious dream. He imagined he was +wandering about in the polar regions, and that it was very cold. He +was trying to reason with himself that he could not possibly be on +an expedition searching for the North Pole, still he felt such a +keen wind blowing over his scantily-covered body that he shivered. +He shivered so hard, in fact, that he shivered himself awake, and +when he tried to pierce the darkness that enveloped him he was +startled, for a moment, with the idea that perhaps, after all, he +had wandered off to some unknown country. + +For it was quite dark and cold. He was in a daze, and there was a +curious smell about him--an odor that he tried to recall. Then, all +at once, it came to him what it was--chloroform. Once his father had +undergone an operation, and to deaden his pain chloroform had been +used. + +"I've been chloroformed!" exclaimed the young inventor, and his +words sounded strange in his ears. "That's it. I've met with an +accident riding my motor-cycle. I must have hit my head, for it +hurts fearful. They picked me up, carried me to a hospital and have +operated on me. I wonder if they took off an arm or leg? I wonder +what hospital I'm in? Why is it so dark and cold?" + +As he asked himself these questions his brain gradually cleared from +the haze caused by the cowardly blow, and from the chloroform that +had been administered by Featherton. + +Tom's first act was to feel first of one arm, then the other. Having +satisfied himself that neither of these members were mutilated he +reached down to his legs. + +"Why, they're all right, too," he murmured. "I wonder what they did +to me? That's certainly, chloroform I smell, and my head feels as if +some one had sat on it. I wonder--" + +Quickly he put up his hands to his head. There appeared to be +nothing the matter with it, save that there was quite a lump on the +back, where the club had struck. + +"I seem to be all here," went on Tom, much mystified. "But where am +I? That's the question. It's a funny hospital, so cold and dark--" + +Just then his hands came in contact with the cold ground on which he +was lying. + +"Why, I'm outdoors!" he exclaimed. Then in a flash it all came back +to him--how he had gone to wait under the church shed until the rain +was over. + +"I fell asleep, and now it's night," the youth went on. "No wonder I +am sore and stiff. And that chloroform--" He could not account for +that, and he paused, puzzled once more. Then he struggled to a +sitting position. His head was strangely dizzy, but he persisted, +and got to his feet. He could see nothing, and groped around In the +dark, until he thought to strike a match. Fortunately he had a +number in his pocket. As the little flame flared up Tom started in +surprise. + +"This isn't the church shed!" he exclaimed. "It's much smaller! I'm +in a different place! Great Scott! but what has happened to me?" + +The match burned Tom's fingers and he dropped it. The darkness +closed in once more, but Tom was used to it by this time, and +looking ahead of him he could make out that the shed was an open +one, similar to the one where he had taken shelter. He could see the +sky studded with stars, and could feel the cold night wind blowing +in. + +"My motor-cycle!" he exclaimed in alarm. "The model of dad's +invention--the papers!" + +Our hero thrust his hand into his pocket. The papers were gone! +Hurriedly he lighted another match. It took but an instant to glance +rapidly about the small shed. His machine was not in sight! + +Tom felt his heart sink. After all his precautions he had been +robbed. The precious model was gone, and it had been his proposition +to take it to Albany in this manner. What would his father say? + +The lad lighted match after match, and made a rapid tour of the +shed. The motor-cycle was not to be seen. But what puzzled Tom more +than anything else was how he had been brought from the church shed +to the one where he had awakened from his stupor. + +"Let me try to think," said the boy, speaking aloud, for it seemed +to help him. "The last I remember is seeing that automobile, with +those mysterious men in, approaching. Then it disappeared in the +rain. I thought I heard it again, but I couldn't see it. I was +sitting on the log, and--and--well, that's all I can remember. I +wonder if those men--" + +The young inventor paused. Like a flash it came to him that the men +were responsible for his predicament. They had somehow made him +insensible, stolen his motor-cycle, the papers and the model, and +then brought him to this place, wherever it was. Tom was a shrewd +reasoner, and he soon evolved a theory which he afterward learned +was the correct one. He reasoned out almost every step in the crime +of which he was the victim, and at last came to the conclusion that +the men had stolen up behind the shed and attacked him. + +"Now, the next question to settle," spoke Tom, "is to learn where I +am. How far did those scoundrels carry me, and what has become of my +motor-cycle?" + +He walked toward the point of the shed where he could observe the +stars gleaming, and there he lighted some more matches, hoping he +might see his machine. By the gleam of the little flame he noted +that he was in a farmyard, and he was just puzzling his brain over +the question as to what city or town he might be near when he heard +a voice shouting: + +"Here, what you lightin' them matches for? You want to set the place +afire? Who be you, anyhow--a tramp?" + +It was unmistakably the voice of a farmer, and Tom could hear +footsteps approaching on the run. + +"Who be you, anyhow?" the voice repeated. "I'll have the constable +after you in a jiffy if you're a tramp." + +"I'm not a tramp," called Tom promptly. "I've met with an accident. +Where am I?" + +"Humph! Mighty funny if you don't know where you are," commented the +farmer. "Jed, bring a lantern until I take a look at who this is." + +"All right, pop," answered another voice, and a moment later Tom saw +a tall man standing in front of him. + +"I'll give you a look at me without waiting for the lantern," said +Tom quickly, and he struck a match, holding it so that the gleam +fell upon his face. + +"Salt mackerel! It's a young feller!" exclaimed the farmer. "Who be +you, anyhow, and what you doin' here?" + +"That's just what I would like to know," said Tom, passing his hand +over his head, which was still paining him. "Am I near Albany? +That's where I started for this morning." + +"Albany? You're a good way from Albany," replied the farmer. "You're +in the village of Dunkirk." + +"How far is that from Centreford?" + +"About seventy miles." + +"As far as that?" cried Tom. "They must have carried me a good way +in their automobile." + +"Was you in that automobile?" demanded the farmer. + +"Which one?" asked Tom quickly. + +"The one that stopped down the road just before supper. I see it, +but I didn't pay no attention to it. If I'd 'a' knowed you fell out, +though, I'd 'a' come to help you." + +"I didn't fall out, Mr.--er--" Tom paused. + +"Blackford is my name; Amos Blackford." + +"Well, Mr. Blackford, I didn't fall out. I was drugged and brought +here." + +"Drugged! Salt mackerel! But there's been a crime committed, then. +Jed, hurry up with that lantern an' git your deputy sheriff's badge +on. There's been druggin' an' all sorts of crimes committed. I've +caught one of the victims. Hurry up! My son's a deputy sheriff," he +added, by way of an explanation. + +"Then I hope he can help me catch the scoundrels who robbed me," +said Tom. + +"Robbed you, did they? Hurry up, Jed. There's been a robbery! We'll +rouse the neighborhood an' search for the villains. Hurry up, Jed!" + +"I'd rather find my motor-cycle, and a valuable model which was on +it, than locate those men," went on Tom. "They also took some papers +from me." + +Then he told how he had started for Albany, adding his theory of how +he had been attacked and carried away in the auto. The latter part +of it was borne out by the testimony of Mr. Blackford. + +"What I know about it," said the farmer, when his son Jed had +arrived on the scene with a lantern and his badge, "is that jest +about supper time I saw an automobile stop down the road a bit, It +was gittin' dusk, an' I saw some men git out. I didn't pay no +attention to them, 'cause I was busy about the milkin'. The next I +knowed I seen some one strikin' matches in my wagon shed, an' I come +out to see what it was." + +"The men must have brought me all the way from the church shed near +Centreford to here," declared Tom. "Then they lifted me out and put +me in your shed. Maybe they left my motor-cycle also." + +"I didn't see nothin' like that," said the farmer. "Is that what you +call one of them two-wheeled lickity-split things that a man sits on +the middle of an' goes like chain-lightning?" + +"It is," said Tom. "I wish you'd help me look for it." + +The farmer and his son agreed, and other lanterns having been +secured, a search was made. After about half an hour the motor-cycle +was discovered in some bushes at the side of the road, near where +the automobile had stopped. But the model was missing from it, and a +careful search near where the machine had been hidden did not reveal +it. Nor did as careful a hunt as they could make in the darkness +disclose any dues to the scoundrels who had drugged and robbed Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BACK HOME + + +"We've got to organize a regular searchin' party," declared Jed +Blackford, after he and his father, together with Tom and the +farmer's hired man, had searched up and down the road by the light +of lanterns. "We'll organize a posse an' have a regular hunt. This +is the worst crime that's been committed in this deestrict in many +years, an' I'm goin' to run the scoundrels to earth." + +"Don't be talkin' nonsense, Jed," interrupted his father. "You won't +catch them fellers in a hundred years. They're miles an' miles away +from here by this time in their automobile. All you can do is to +notify the sheriff. I guess we'd better give this young man some +attention. Let's see, you said your name was Quick, didn't you?" + +"No, but it's very similar," answered Tom with a smile. "It's +Swift." + +"I knowed it was something had to do with speed," went on Mr. +Blackford. "Wa'al, now, s'pose you come in the house an' have a hot +cup of tea. You look sort of draggled out." + +Tom was glad enough to avail himself of the kind invitation, and he +was soon in the comfortable kitchen, relating his story, with more +detail, to the farmer and his family. Mrs. Blackford applied some +home-made remedies to the lump on the youth's head, and it felt much +better. + +"I'd like to take a look at my motor-cycle," he said, after his +second cup of tea. "I want to see if those men damaged it any. If +they have I'm going to have trouble getting back home to tell my +father of my bad luck. Poor dad! He will be very much worried when I +tell him the model and his patent papers have been stolen." + +"It's too bad!" exclaimed Mrs. Blackford. "I wish I had hold of them +scoundrels!" and her usually gentle face bore a severe frown. "Of +course you can have your thing-a-ma-bob in to see if it's hurt, but +please don't start it in here. They make a terrible racket." + +"No, I'll look it over in the woodshed," promised Tom. "If it's all +right I think I'll start back home at once." + +"No, you can't do that," declared Mr. Blackford. "You're in no +condition to travel. You might fall off an' git hurt. It's nearly ten +o'clock now. You jest stay here all night, an' in the mornin', if you +feel all right, you can start off. I couldn't let you go to-night." + +Indeed, Tom did not feel very much like undertaking the journey, for +the blow on his head had made him dazed, and the chloroform caused a +sick feeling. Mr. Blackford wheeled the motor-cycle into the +woodhouse, which opened from the kitchen, and there the youth went +over the machine. He was glad to find that it had sustained no +damage. In the meanwhile Jed had gone off to tell the startling news +to near-by farmers. Quite a throng, with lanterns, went up and down +the road, but all the evidence they could find were the marks of the +automobile wheels, which clues were not very satisfactory. + +"But we'll catch them in the mornin'," declared the deputy sheriff. +"I'll know that automobile again if I see it. It was painted red." + +"That's the color of a number of automobiles," said Tom with a +smile. "I'm afraid you'll have trouble identifying it by that means. +I am surprised, though, that they did not carry my motor-cycle away +with them. It is a valuable machine." + +"They were afraid to," declared Jed. "It would look queer to see a +machine like that in an auto. Of course when they were going along +country roads in the evening it didn't much matter, but when they +headed for the city, as they probably did, they knew it would +attract suspicion to 'em. I know, for I've been a deputy sheriff +'most a year." + +"I believe you're right," agreed Tom. "They didn't dare take the +motor-cycle with them, but they hid it, hoping I would not find it. +I'd rather have the model and the papers, though, than half a dozen +motor-cycles." + +"Maybe the police will help you find them," said Mrs. Blackford. +"Jed, you must telephone to the police the first thing in the +morning. It's a shame the way criminals are allowed to go on. If +honest people did those things, they'd be arrested in a minute, but +it seems that scoundrels can do as they please." + +"You wait; I'll catch 'em!" declared Jed confidently. "I'll organize +another posse in the mornin'." + +"Well, I know one thing, and that is that the place for this young +man is in bed!" exclaimed motherly Mrs. Blackford, and she insisted +on Tom retiring. He was somewhat restless at first, and the thought +of the loss of the model and the papers preyed on his mind. Then, +utterly exhausted, he sank into a heavy slumber, and did not awaken +until the sun was shining in his window the next morning. A good +breakfast made him feel somewhat better, and he was more like the +resourceful Tom Swift of old when he went to get his motor-cycle in +shape for the ride back to Shopton. + +"Well, I hope you find those criminals," said Mr. Blackford, as he +watched Tom oiling the machine. "If you're ever out this way again, +stop off and see us." + +"Yes, do," urged Mrs. Blackford, who was getting ready to churn. Her +husband looked at the old-fashioned barrel and dasher arrangement, +which she was filling with cream. + +"What's the matter with the new churn?" he asked in some surprise. + +"It's broken," she replied. "It's always the way with those new- +fangled things. It works ever so much nicer than this old one, +though," she went on to Tom, "but it gets out of order easy." + +"Let me look at it," suggested the young inventor. "I know something +about machinery." + +The churn, which worked by a system of cogs and a handle, was +brought from the woodshed. Tom soon saw what the trouble was. One of +the cogs had become displaced. It did not take him five minutes, +with the tools he carried on his motor-cycle, to put it back, and +the churn was ready to use. + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mrs. Blackford. "You are handy at such +things!" + +"Oh, it's just a knack," replied Tom modestly. "Now I'll put a plug +in there, and the cog wheel won't come loose again. The +manufacturers of it ought to have done that. I imagine lots of +people have this same trouble with these churns." + +"Indeed they do," asserted Mrs. Blackford. "Sallie Armstrong has +one, and it got out of order the first week they had it. I'll let +her look at mine, and maybe her husband can fix it." + +"I'd go and do it myself, but I want to get home," said Tom, and +then he showed her how, by inserting a small iron plug in a certain +place, there would be no danger of the cog coming loose again. + +"That's certainly slick!" exclaimed Mr. Blackford. "Well, I wish you +good luck, Mr. Swift, and if I see those scoundrels around this +neighborhood again I'll make 'em wish they'd let you alone." + +"That's what," added Jed, polishing his badge with his big, red +handkerchief. + +Mrs. Blackford transferred the cream to the new churn which Tom had +fixed, and as he rode off down the highway on his motor-cycle, she +waved one hand to him, while with the other she operated the handle +of the apparatus. + +"Now for a quick run to Shopton to tell dad the bad news," spoke Tom +to himself as he turned on full speed and dashed away. "My trip has +been a failure so far." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +MR. SWIFT IN DESPAIR + + +Tom was thinking of many things as his speedy machine carried him +mile after mile nearer home. By noon he was over half way on his +journey, and he stopped in a small village for his dinner. + +"I think I'll make inquiries of the police here, to see if they +caught sight of those men," decided Tom as he left the restaurant. +"Though I am inclined to believe they kept on to Albany, or some +large city, where they have their headquarters. They will want to +make use of dad's model as soon as possible, though what they will +do with it I don't know." He tried to telephone to his father, but +could get no connection, as the wire was being repaired. + +The police force of the place where Tom had stopped for lunch was +like the town itself--small and not of much consequence. The chief +constable, for he was not what one could call a chief of police, had +heard of the matter from the alarm sent out in all directions from +Dunkirk, where Mr. Blackford lived. + +"You don't mean to tell me you're the young man who was chloroformed +and robbed!" exclaimed the constable, looking at Tom as if he +doubted his word. + +"I'm the young man," declared our hero. "Have you seen anything of +the thieves?" + +"Not a thing, though I've instructed all my men to keep a sharp +lookout for a red automobile, with three scoundrels in it. My men +are to make an arrest on sight." + +"How many men have you?" + +"Two," was the rather surprising answer; "but one has to work on a +farm daytimes, so I ain't really got but one in what you might call +active service." + +Tom restrained a desire to laugh. At any rate, the aged constable +meant well. + +"One of my men seen a red automobile, a little while before you come +in my office," went on the official, "but it wasn't the one wanted, +'cause a young woman was running it all alone. It struck me as +rather curious that a woman would trust herself all alone in one of +them things; wouldn't it you?" + +"Oh, no, women and young ladies often operate them," said Tom. + +"I should think you'd find one handier than the two-wheeled +apparatus you have out there," went on the constable, indicating the +motor-cycle, which Tom had stood up against a tree. + +"I may have one some day," replied the young inventor. "But I guess +I'll be moving on now. Here's my address, in case you hear anything +of those men, but I don't imagine you will." + +"Me either. Fellows as slick as them are won't come back this way +and run the chance of being arrested by my men. I have two on duty +nights," he went on proudly, "besides myself, so you see we're +pretty well protected." + +Tom thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and was soon on his +way again. He swept on along the quiet country roads anxious for the +time when he could consult with his father over what would be the +best course to take. + +When Tom was about a mile away from his house he saw in the road +ahead of him a rickety old wagon, and a second glance at it told him +the outfit belonged to Eradicate Sampson, for the animal drawing the +vehicle was none other than the mule, Boomerang. + +"But what in the world is Rad up to?" mused Tom, for the colored man +was out of the wagon and was going up and down in the grass at the +side of the highway in a curious fashion. "I guess he's lost +something," decided Tom. + +When he got nearer he saw what Eradicate was doing. The colored man +was pushing a lawn-mower slowly to and fro in the tall, rank grass +that grew beside the thoroughfare, and at the sound of Tom's +motor-cycle the negro looked up. There was such a woe-begone +expression on his face that Tom at once stopped his machine and got +off. + +"What's the matter, Rad?" Tom asked. + +"Mattah, Mistah Swift? Why, dere's a pow'ful lot de mattah, an' +dat's de truff. I'se been swindled, dat's what I has." + +"Swindled? How?" + +"Well, it's dis-a-way. Yo' see dis yeah lawn-moah?" + +"Yes; it doesn't seem to work," and Tom glanced critically at it. As +Eradicate pushed it slowly to and fro, the blades did not revolve, +and the wheels slipped along on the grass. + +"No, sah, it doan't work, an' dat's how I've been swindled, Mistah +Swift. Yo' see, I done traded mah ole grindstone off for dis yeah +lawn-moah, an' I got stuck." + +"What, that old grindstone that was broken in two, and that you +fastened together with concrete?" asked Tom, for he had seen the +outfit with which Eradicate, in spare times between cleaning and +whitewashing, had gone about the country, sharpening knives and +scissors. "You don't mean that old, broken one?" + +"Dat's what I mean, Mistah Swift. Why, it was all right. I mended it +so dat de break wouldn't show, an' it would sharpen things if yo' +run it slow. But dis yeah lawn-moah won't wuk slow ner fast." + +"I guess it was an even exchange, then," went on Tom. "You didn't +get bitten any worse than the other fellow did." + +"Yo' doan't s'pose yo' kin fix dis yeah moah so's I kin use it, does +yo', Mistah Swift?" asked Eradicate, not bothering to go into the +ethics of the matter. "I reckon now with summah comin' on I kin make +mo' with a lawn-moah than I kin with a grindstone--dat is, ef I kin +git it to wuk. I jest got it a while ago an' decided to try it, but +it won't cut no grass." + +"I haven't much time," said Tom, "for I'm anxious to get home, but +I'll take a look at it." + +Tom leaned his motor-cycle against the fence. He could no more pass +a bit of broken machinery, which he thought he could mend, than some +men and boys can pass by a baseball game without stopping to watch +it, no matter how pressed they are for time. It was Tom's hobby, and +he delighted in nothing so much as tinkering with machines, from +lawn-mowers to steam engines. + +Tom took hold of the handle, which Eradicate gladly relinquished to +him, and his trained touch told him at once what was the trouble. + +"Some one has had the wheels off and put them on wrong, Rad," he +said. "The ratchet and pawl are reversed. This mower would work +backwards, if that were possible." + +"Am dat so, Mistah Swift?" + +"That's it. All I have to do is to take off the wheels and reverse +the pawl." + +"I--I didn't know mah lawn-moah was named Paul," said the colored +man. "Is it writ on it anywhere?" + +"No, it's not the kind of Paul you mean," said Tom with a laugh. +"It's spelled differently. A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into +a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch +to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a +derrick. I'll have it fixed in a jiffy for you." + +Tom worked rapidly. With a monkey-wrench he removed the two big +wheels of the lawn-mower and reversed the pawl in the cogs. In five +minutes he had replaced the wheels, and the machine, except for +needed sharpening, did good work. + +"There you are, Rad!" exclaimed Tom at length. + +"Yo' suah am a wonder at inventin'!" cried the colored man +gratefully. "I'll cut yo' grass all summah fo' yo' to pay fo' this, +Mistah Swift." + +"Oh, that's too much. I didn't do a great deal, Rad." + +"Well, yo' saved me from bein' swindled, Mistah Swift, an' I suah +does 'preciate dat." + +"How about the fellow you traded the cracked grindstone to, Rad?" + +"Oh, well, ef he done run it slow it won't fly apart, an' he'll do +dat, anyhow, fo' he suah am a lazy coon. I guess we am about even +there, Mistah Swift." + +"All right," spoke Tom with a laugh. "Sharpen it up, Rad, and start +in to cut grass. It will soon be summer," and Tom, leaping upon his +motor-cycle, was off like a shot. + +He found his father in his library, reading a book on scientific +matters. Mr. Swift looked up in surprise at seeing his son. + +"What! Back so soon?" he asked. "You did make a flying trip. Did you +give the model and papers to Mr. Crawford?" + +"No, dad, I was robbed yesterday. Those scoundrels got ahead of us, +after all. They have your model. I tried to telephone to you, but +the wires were down, or something." + +"What!" cried Mr. Swift. "Oh, Tom! That's too bad! I will lose ten +thousand dollars if I can't get that model and those papers back!" +and with a despairing gesture Mr. Swift rose and began to pace the +floor. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +HAPPY HARRY AGAIN + + +Tom watched his father anxiously. The young inventor knew the loss +had been a heavy one, and he blamed himself for not having been more +careful. + +"Tell me all about it, Tom," said Mr. Swift at length. "Are you sure +the model and papers are gone? How did it happen?" + +Then Tom related what had befallen him. + +"Oh, that's too bad!" cried Mr. Swift. "Are you much hurt, Tom? +Shall I send for the doctor?" For the time being his anxiety over +his son was greater than that concerning his loss. + +"No, indeed, dad. I'm all right now. I got a bad blow on the head, +but Mrs. Blackford fixed me up. I'm awfully sorry---" + +"There, there! Now don't say another word," interrupted Mr. Swift. +"It wasn't your fault. It might have happened to me. I dare say it +would, for those scoundrels seemed very determined. They are +desperate, and will stop at nothing to make good the loss they +sustained on the patent motor they exploited. Now they will probably +try to make use of my model and papers." + +"Do you think they'll do that, dad?" + +"Yes. They will either make a motor exactly like mine, or construct +one so nearly similar that it will answer their purpose. I will have +no redress against them, as my patent is not fully granted yet. Mr. +Crawford was to attend to that." + +"Can't you do anything to stop them, dad? File an injunction, or +something like that?" + +"I don't know. I must see Mr. Crawford at once. I wonder if he could +come here? He might be able to advise me. I have had very little +experience with legal difficulties. My specialty is in other lines +of work. But I must do something. Every moment is valuable. I wonder +who the men were?" + +"I'm sure one of them was the same man who came here that night--the +man with the black mustache, who dropped the telegram," said Tom. "I +had a pretty good look at him as the auto passed me, and I'm sure it +was he. Of course I didn't see who it was that struck me down, but I +imagine it was some one of the same gang." + +"Very likely. Well, Tom, I must do something. I suppose I might +telegraph to Mr. Crawford--he will be expecting you in Albany--" Mr. +Swift paused musingly. "No, I have it!" he suddenly exclaimed. "I'll +go to Albany myself." + +"Go to Albany, dad?" + +"Yes; I must explain everything to the lawyers and then he can +advise me what to do. Fortunately I have some papers, duplicates of +those you took, which I can show him. Of course the originals will +be necessary before I can prove my claim. The loss of the model is +the most severe, however. Without that I can do little. But I will +have Mr. Crawford take whatever steps are possible. I'll take the +night train, Tom. I'll have to leave you to look after matters here, +and I needn't caution you to be on your guard, though, having got +what they were after, I fancy those financiers, or their tools, will +not bother us again." + +"Very likely not," agreed Tom, "but I will keep my eyes open, just +the same. Oh, but that reminds me, dad. Did you see anything of a +tramp around here while I was away?" + +"A tramp? No; but you had better ask Mrs. Baggert. She usually +attends to them. She's so kind-hearted that she frequently gives +them a good meal." + +The housekeeper, when consulted, said that no tramps had applied in +the last few days. + +"Why do you ask, Tom?" inquired his father. + +"Because I had an experience with one, and I believe he was a member +of the same gang who robbed me." And thereupon Tom told of his +encounter with Happy Harry, and how the latter had broken the wire +on the motor-cycle. + +"You had a narrow escape," commented Mr. Swift. "If I had known the +dangers involved I would never have allowed you to take the model to +Albany." + +"Well, I didn't take it there, after all," said Tom with a grim +smile, for he could appreciate a joke. + +"I must hurry and pack my valise," went on Mr. Swift. "Mrs. Baggert, +we will have an early supper, and I will start at once for Albany." + +"I wish I could go with you, dad, to make up for the trouble I +caused," spoke Tom. + +"Tut, tut! Don't talk that way," advised his father kindly. "I will +be glad of the trip. It will ease my mind to be doing something." + +Tom felt rather lonesome after his father had left, but he laid out +a plan of action for himself that he thought would keep him occupied +until his father returned. In the first place he made a tour of the +house and various machine shops to see that doors and windows were +securely fastened. + +"What's the matter? Do you expect burglars, Master Tom?" asked +Garret Jackson, the aged engineer. + +"Well, Garret, you never can tell," replied the young inventor, as +he told of his experience and the necessity for Mr. Swift going to +Albany. "Some of those scoundrels, finding how easy it was to rob +me, may try it again, and get some at dad's other valuable models. +I'm taking no chances." + +"That's right, Master Tom. I'll keep steam up in the boiler to-night, +though we don't really need it, as your father told me you would +probably not run any machinery when he was gone. But with a good head +of steam up, and a hose handy, I can give any burglars a hot +reception. I almost wish they'd come, so I could get square with +them." + +"I don't, Garret. Well, I guess everything is in good shape. If you +hear anything unusual, or the alarm goes off during the night, call +me." + +"I will, Master Tom," and the old engineer, who had a living-room in +a shack adjoining the boiler-room, locked the door after Tom left. + +The young inventor spent the early evening in attaching a new wire +to his motor-cycle to replace the one he had purchased while on his +disastrous trip. The temporary one was not just the proper thing, +though it answered well enough. then, having done some work on a new +boat propeller he was contemplating patenting, Tom felt that it was +time to go to bed, as he was tired. He made a second round of the +house, looking to doors and windows, until Mrs. Baggert exclaimed: + +"Oh, Tom, do stop! You make me nervous, going around that way. I'm +sure I shan't sleep a wink to-night, thinking of burglars and +tramps." + +Tom laughingly desisted, and went up to his room. He sat up a few +minutes, writing a letter to a girl of his acquaintance, for, in +spite of the fact that the young inventor was very busy with his own +and his father's work, he found time for lighter pleasures. Then, as +his eyes seemed determined to close of their own accord, if he did +not let them, he tumbled into bed. + +Tom fancied it was nearly morning when he suddenly awoke with a +start. He heard a noise, and at first he could not locate it. Then +his trained ear traced it to the dining-room. + +"Why, Mrs. Baggert must be getting breakfast, and is rattling the +dishes," he thought. "But why is she up so early?" + +It was quite dark in Tom's room, save for a little gleam from the +crescent moon, and by the light of this Tom arose and looked at his +watch. + +"Two o'clock," he whispered. "That can't be Mrs. Baggert, unless +she's sick, and got up to take some medicine." + +He listened intently. Below, in the dining-room, he could hear +stealthy movements. + +"Mrs. Baggert would never move around like that," he decided. "She's +too heavy. I wonder--it's a burglar--one of the gang has gotten in!" +he exclaimed in tense tones. "I'm going to catch him at it!" + +Hurriedly he slipped on some clothes, and then, having softly turned +on the electric light in his room, he took from a corner a small +rifle, which he made sure was loaded. Then, having taken a small +electric flashlight, of the kind used by police men, and sometimes +by burglars, he started on tiptoe toward the lower floor. + +As Tom softly descended the stairs he could more plainly hear the +movements of the intruder. He made out now that the burglar was in +Mr. Swift's study, which opened from the dining-room. + +"He's after dad's papers!" thought Tom. "I wonder which one this +is?" + +The youth had often gone hunting in the woods, and he knew how to +approach cautiously. Thus he was able to reach the door of the +dining-room without being detected. He had no need to flash his +light, for the intruder was doing that so frequently with one he +carried that Tom could see him perfectly. The fellow was working at +the safe in which Mr. Swift kept his more valuable papers. + +Softly, very softly Tom brought his rifle to bear on the back of the +thief. Then, holding the weapon with one hand, for it was very +light, Tom extended the electric flash, so that the glare would be +thrown on the intruder and would leave his own person in the black +shadows. Pressing the spring which caused the lantern to throw out a +powerful glow, Tom focused the rays on the kneeling man. + +"That will be about all!" the youth exclaimed in as steady a voice +as he could manage. + +The burglar turned like a flash, and Tom had a glimpse of his face. +It was the tramp--Happy Harry--whom he had encountered on the lonely +road. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +TOM ON A HUNT + + +Tom held his rifle in readiness, though he only intended it as a +means of intimidation, and would not have fired at the burglar +except to save his own life. But the sight of the weapon was enough +for the tramp. He crouched motionless. His own light had gone out, +but by the gleam of the electric he carried Tom could see that the +man had in his hand some tool with which he had been endeavoring to +force the safe. + +"I guess you've got me!" exclaimed the intruder, and there was in +his tones no trace of the tramp dialect. + +"It looks like it," agreed Tom grimly. "Are you a tramp now, or in +some other disguise?" + +"Can't you see?" asked the fellow sullenly, and then Tom did notice +that the man still had on his tramp make-up. + +"What do you want?" asked Tom. + +"Hard to tell." replied the burglar calmly. "I hadn't got the safe +open before you came down and disturbed me. I'm after money, +naturally." + +"No, you're not!" exclaimed Tom. + +"What's that?" and the man seemed surprised. + +"No, you're not!" went on Tom, and he held his rifle in readiness. +"You're after the patent papers and the model of the turbine motor. +But it's gone. Your confederates got it away from me. They probably +haven't told you yet, and you're still on the hunt for it. You'll +not get it, but I've got you." + +"So I see," admitted Happy Harry, and he spoke with some culture. +"If you don't mind," he went on, "would you just as soon move that +gun a little? It's pointing right at my head, and it might go off." + +"It is going off--very soon!" exclaimed Tom grimly, and the tramp +started in alarm. "Oh, I'm not going to shoot you," continued the +young inventor. "I'm going to fire this as an alarm, and the +engineer will come in here and tie you up. Then I'm going to hand +you over to the police. This rifle is a repeater, and I am a pretty +good shot. I'm going to fire once now, to summon assistance, and if +you try to get away I'll be ready to fire a second time, and that +won't be so comfortable for you. I've caught you, and I'm going to +hold on to you until I get that model and those papers back." + +"Oh, you are, eh?" asked the burglar calmly. "Well, all I've got to +say is that you have grit. Go ahead. I'm caught good and proper. I +was foolish to come in here, but I thought I'd take a chance." + +"Who are you, anyhow? Who are the men working with you to defraud my +father of his rights?" asked Tom somewhat bitterly. + +"I'll never tell you," answered the burglar. "I was hired to do +certain work, and that's all there is to it. I'm not going to peach +on my pals." + +"We'll see about that!" burst out Tom. Then he noticed that a +dining-room window behind where the burglar was kneeling was open. +Doubtless the intruder had entered that way, and intended to escape +in the same manner. + +"I'm going to shoot," announced Tom, and, aiming his rifle at the +open window, where the bullet would do no damage, he pressed the +trigger. He noticed that the burglar was crouching low down on the +floor, but Tom thought nothing of this at the time. He imagined that +Happy Harry--or whatever his name was--might be afraid of getting +hit. + +There was a flash of fire and a deafening report as Tom fired. The +cloud of smoke obscured his vision for a moment, and as the echoes +died away Tom could hear Mrs. Baggert screaming in her room. + +"It's all right!" cried the young inventor reassuringly. "No one is +hurt, Mrs. Baggert!" Then he flashed his light on the spot where the +burglar had crouched. As the smoke rolled away Tom peered in vain +for a sight of the intruder. + +Happy Harry was gone! + +Holding his rifle in readiness, in case he should be attacked from +some unexpected quarter, Tom strode forward. He flashed his light in +every direction. There was no doubt about it. The intruder had fled. +Taking advantage of the noise when the gun was fired, and under +cover of the smoke, the burglar had leaped from the open window. Tom +guessed as much. He hurried to the casement and peered out, at the +same time noticing the cut wire of the burglar alarm. It was quite +dark, and he fancied he could hear the noise of some one running +rapidly. Aiming his rifle into the air, he fired again, at the same +time crying out: + +"Hold on!" + +"All right, Master Tom, I'm coming!" called the voice of the +engineer from his shack. "Are you hurt? Is Mrs. Baggert murdered? I +hear her screaming." + +"That's pretty good evidence that she isn't murdered," said Tom with +a grim smile. + +"Are you hurt?" again called Mr. Jackson. + +"No, I'm all right," answered Tom. "Did you see any one running away +as you came up?" + +"No, Master Tom, I didn't. What happened?" + +"A burglar got in, and I had him cornered, but he got away when I +fired to arouse you." + +By this time the engineer was at the stoop, on which the window +opened. Tom unlocked a side door and admitted Mr. Jackson, and then, +the incandescent light having been turned on, the two looked around +the apartment. Nothing in it had been disturbed, and the safe had +not been opened. + +"I heard him just in time," commented Tom, telling the engineer what +had happened. "I wish I had thought to get between him and the +window. Then he couldn't have gotten away." + +"He might have injured you, though," said Mr. Jackson. "We'll go +outside now, and look--" + +"Is any one killed? Are you both murdered?" cried Mrs. Baggert at +the dining-room door. "If any one is killed I'm not coming in there. +I can't bear the sight of blood." + +"No one is hurt," declared Tom with a laugh. "Come on in, Mrs. +Baggert," and the housekeeper entered, her hair all done up in curl +papers. + +"Oh, my goodness me!" she exclaimed. "When I heard that cannon go +off I was sure the house was coming down. How is it some one wasn't +killed?" + +"That wasn't a cannon; it was only my little rifle," said Tom, and +then he told again, for the benefit of the housekeeper, the story of +what had happened. + +"We'd better hurry and look around the premises," suggested Mr. +Jackson. "Maybe he is hiding, and will come back, or perhaps he has +some confederates on the watch." + +"Not much danger of that," declared Tom. "Happy Harry is far enough +away from here now, and so are his confederates, if he had any, +which I doubt. Still, it will do no harm to take a look around." + +A search resulted in nothing, however, and the Swift household had +soon settled down again, though no one slept soundly during the +remainder of the night. + +In the morning Tom sent word of what had happened to the police of +Shopton. Some officers came out to the house, but, beyond looking +wisely at the window by which the burglar had entered and at some +footprints in the garden, they could do nothing. Tom wanted to go +off on his motor-cycle on a tour of the surrounding neighborhood to +see if he could get any clues, but he did not think it would be wise +in the absence of his father. He thought it would be better to +remain at home, in case any further efforts were made to get +possession of valuable models or papers. + +"There's not much likelihood of that, though," said Tom to the old +engineer. "Those fellows have what they want, and are not going to +bother us again. I would like to get that model back for dad, +though. If they file it and take out a patent, even if he can prove +that it is his, it will mean a long lawsuit and he may be defrauded +of his rights, after all. Possession is nine points of the law, and +part of the tenth, too, I guess." + +So Tom remained at home and busied himself as well as he could over +some new machines he was constructing. He got a telegram from his +father that afternoon, stating that Mr. Swift had safely arrived in +Albany, and would return the following day. + +"Did you have any luck, dad?" asked the young inventor, when his +father, tired and worn from the unaccustomed traveling, reached home +in the evening. + +"Not much, Tom," was the reply. "Mr. Crawford has gone back to +Washington, and he is going to do what he can to prevent those men +taking advantage of me." + +"Did you get any trace of the thieves? Does Mr. Crawford think he +can?" + +"No to both questions. His idea is that the men will remain in +hiding for a while, and then, when the matter has quieted down, they +will proceed to get a patent on the motor that I invented." + +"But, in the meanwhile, can't you make another model and get a +patent yourself?" + +"No; there are certain legal difficulties in the way. Besides, those +men have the original papers I need. As for the model, it will take +me nearly a year to build a new one that will work properly, as it +is very complicated. I am afraid, Tom, that all my labor on the +turbine motor is thrown away. Those scoundrels will reap the benefit +of it." + +"Oh, I hope not, dad! I'm sure those fellows will be caught. Now +that you are back home again, I'm going out on a hunt on my own +account. I don't put much faith in the police. It was through me, +dad, that you lost your model and the papers, and I'll get them +back!" + +"No, you must not think it was your fault, Tom," said his father. +"You could not help it, though I appreciate your desire to recover +the missing model." + +"And I'll do it, too, dad. I'll start to-morrow, and I'll make a +complete circuit of the country for a hundred miles around. I can +easily do it on my motor-cycle. If I can't get on the trail of the +three men who robbed me, maybe I can find Happy Harry." + +"I doubt it, my son. Still, you may try. Now I must write to Mr. +Crawford and tell him about the attempted burglary while I was away. +It may give him a clue to work on. I'm afraid you ran quite a risk, +Tom." + +"I didn't think about that, dad. I only wish I had managed to keep +that rascal a prisoner." + +The next day Tom started off on a hunt. He planned to be gone +overnight, as he intended to go first to Dunkirk, where Mr. +Blackford lived, and begin his search from there. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +ERADICATE SAWS WOOD + + +The farmer's family, including the son who was a deputy sheriff, was +glad to see Tom. Jed said he had "been on the job" ever since the +mysterious robbery of Tom had taken place, but though he had seen +many red automobiles he had no trace of the three men. + +From Dunkirk Tom went back over the route he had taken in going from +Pompville to Centreford, and made some inquiries in the neighborhood +of the church shed, where he had taken shelter. The locality was +sparsely settled, however, and no one could give any clues to the +robbers. + +The young inventor next made a trip over the lonely, sandy road, +where he had met with the tramp, Happy Harry. But there were even +fewer houses near that stretch than around the church, so he got no +satisfaction there. Tom spent the night at a country inn, and +resumed his search the next morning, but with no results. The men +had apparently completely disappeared, leaving no traces behind +them. + +"I may as well go home," thought Tom, as he was riding his motor-cycle +along a pleasant country road. "Dad may be worried, and perhaps +something has turned up in Shopton that will aid me. If there isn't, +I'm going to start out again in a few days in another direction." + +There was no news in Shopton, however. Town found his father +scarcely able to work, so worried was he over the loss of his most +important invention. + +Two weeks passed, the young machinist taking trips of several days' +duration to different points near his home, in the hope of +discovering something. But he was unsuccessful, and, in the +meanwhile, no reassuring word was received from the lawyers in +Washington. Mr. Crawford wrote that no move had yet been made by the +thieves to take out patent papers, and while this, in a sense, was +some aid to Mr. Swift, still he could not proceed on his own account +to protect his new motor. All that could be done was to await the +first movement on the part of the scoundrels. + +"I think I'll try a new plan to-morrow, dad," announced Tom one +night, when he and his father had talked over again, for perhaps the +twentieth time, the happenings of the last few weeks. + +"What is it, Tom?" asked the inventor. + +"Well, I think I'll take a week's trip on my machine. I'll visit all +the small towns around here, but, instead of asking in houses for +news of the tramp or his confederates, I'll go to the police and +constables. I'll ask if they have arrested any tramps recently, and, +if they have, I'll ask them to let me see the 'hobo' prisoners." + +"What good will that do?" + +"I'll tell you. I have an idea that though the burglar who got in +here may not be a regular tramp, yet he disguises himself like one +at times, and may be known to other tramps. If I can get on the +trail of Happy Harry, as he calls himself, I may locate the other +men. Tramps would be very likely to remember such a peculiar chap as +Happy Harry, and they will tell me where they had last seen him. +Then I will have a starting point." + +"Well, that may be a good plan," assented Mr. Swift. "At any rate it +will do no harm to try. A tramp locked up in a country police +station will very likely be willing to talk. Go ahead with that +scheme, Tom, but don't get into any danger. How long will you be +away?" + +"I don't know. A week, perhaps; maybe longer. I'll take plenty of +money with me, and stop at country hotels overnight." + +Tom lost no time in putting his plan into execution. He packed some +clothes in a grip, which he attached to the rear of his motor-cycle, +and then having said good-by to his father, started off. The first +three days he met with no success. He located several tramps in +country lock-ups, where they had been sent for begging or loitering, +but none of them knew Happy Harry or had ever heard of a tramp +answering his description. + +"He ain't one of us, youse can make up your mind to dat," said one +"hobo" whom Tom interviewed. "No real knight of de highway goes +around in a disguise. We leaves dat for de story-book detectives. +I'm de real article, I am, an' I don't know Happy Harry. But, fer +dat matter, any of us is happy enough in de summer time, if we don't +strike a burgh like dis, where dey jugs you fer panhandlin'." + +In general, Tom found the tramp willing enough to answer his +questions, though some were sullen, and returned only surly growls +to his inquiries. + +"I guess I'll have to give it up and go back home," he decided one +night. But there was a small town, not many miles from Shopton, +which he had not yet visited, and he resolved to try there before +returning. Accordingly, the next morning found him inquiring of the +police authorities in Meadton. But no tramps had been arrested in +the last month, and no one had seen anything of a tramp like Happy +Harry or three mysterious men in an automobile. + +Tom was beginning to despair. Riding along a silent road, that +passed through a strip of woods, he was trying to think of some new +line of procedure, when the silence of the highway, that, hitherto, +had resounded only with the muffled explosions of his machine, was +broken by several exclamations. + +"Now, Boomerang, yo' might jest as well start now as later," Tom heard +a voice saying--a voice he recognized well. "Yo' hab got t' do dis +yeah wuk, an' dere ain't no gittin' out ob it. Dis yeah wood am got to +be sawed, an' yo' hab got to saw it. But it am jest laik yo' to go +back on yo' ole friend Eradicate in dis yeah fashion. I neber could +tell what yo' were gwine t' do next, an' I cain't now. G'lang, now, +won't yo'? Let's git dis yeah sawmill started." + +Tom shut off the power and leaped from his wheel. From the woods at +his left came the protesting "hee-haw" of a mule. + +"Boomerang and Eradicate Sampson!" exclaimed the young inventor. +"What can they be doing here?" + +He leaned his motor-cycle against the fence and advanced toward +where he had heard the voice of the colored man. In a little +clearing he saw him. Eradicate was presiding over a portable +sawmill, worked by a treadmill, on the incline of which was the +mule, its ears laid back, and an unmistakable expression of anger on +its face. + +"Why, Rad, what are you doing?" cried Tom. + +"Good land o' massy! Ef it ain't young Mistah Swift!" cried the +darky. "Howdy, Mistah Swift! Howdy! I'm jest tryin' t' saw some +wood, t' make a livin', but Boomerang he doan't seem t' want t' +lib," and with that Eradicate looked reproachfully at the animal. + +"What seems to be the trouble, and how did you come to own this +sawmill?" asked Tom. + +"I'll tell yo', Mistah Swift, I'll tell yo'," spoke Eradicate. "Sit +right yeah on dis log, an' I'll explanation it to yo'." + +"The last time I saw you, you were preparing to go into the grass- +cutting business," went on Tom. + +"Yais, sah! Dat's right. So I was. Yo' has got a memory, yo' suah +has. But it am dis yeah way. Grass ain't growin' quick enough, an' +so I traded off dat lawn-moah an' bought dis yeah mill. But now it +won't go, an' I suah am in trouble," and once more Eradicate Sampson +looked indignantly at Boomerang. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ERADICATE GIVES A CLUE + + +"Tell me all about it," urged Tom sympathetically, for he had a +friendly feeling toward the aged darky. + +"Well," began Eradicate, "I suah thought I were gwine to make money +cuttin' grass, 'specially after yo' done fixed mah moah. But 'peared +laik nobody wanted any grass cut. I trabeled all ober, an' I +couldn't git no jobs. Now me an' Boomerang has to eat, no mattah ef +he is contrary, so I had t' look fo' some new wuk. I traded dat +lawn-moah off fo' a cross-cut saw, but dat was such hard wuk dat I +gib it up. Den I got a chance to buy dis yeah outfit cheap, an' I +bought it." + +Eradicate then went on to tell how he had purchased the portable +sawmill from a man who had no further use for it, and how he had +managed to transport it from a distant village to the spot where Tom +had met him. There he had secured permission to work a piece of +woodland on shares, sawing up the smaller trees into cord wood. He +had started in well enough, cutting down considerable timber, for +the colored man was a willing worker, but when he tried to start his +mill he met with trouble. + +"I counted on Boomerang helpin' me," he said to Tom. "All he has to +do is walk on dat tread mill, an' keep goin'. Dat makes de saw go +'round, an' I saws de wood. But de trouble am dat I can't git +Boomerang to move. I done tried ebery means I knows on, an' he won't +go. I talked kind to him, an' I talked harsh. I done beat him wif a +club, an' I rub his ears soft laik, an' he allers did laik dat, but +he won't go. I fed him on carrots an' I gib him sugar, an' I eben +starve him, but he won't go. Heah I been tryin' fo' three days now +t' git him started, an' not a stick hab I sawed. De man what I'm +wukin' wif on shares he git mad, an' he say ef I doan't saw wood +pretty soon he gwine t' git annuder mill heah. Now I axes yo' fair, +Mistah Swift, ain't I got lots ob trouble?" + +"You certainly seem to have," agreed Tom "But why is Boomerang so +obstinate? Usually on a treadmill a horse or a mule has to work +whether they like it or not. If they don't keep moving the platform +slides out from under them, and they come up against the back bar." + +"Dat's what done happened to Boomerang," declared Eradicate. "He +done back up against de bar, an' dere he stay." + +Tom went over and looked at the mill. The outfit was an old one, and +had seen much service, but the trained eye of the young inventor saw +that it could still be used effectively. Boomerang watched Tom, as +though aware that something unusual was about to happen. + +"Heah I done gone an' 'vested mah money in dis yeah mill," +complained Eradicate, "an' I ain't sawed up a single stick. Ef I +wasn't so kind-hearted I'd chastise dat mule wuss dan I has, dat's +what I would." + +Tom said nothing. He was stooping down, looking at the gearing that +connected the tread mill with the shaft which revolved the saw. +Suddenly he uttered an exclamation, + +"Rad, have you been monkeying with this machinery?" he asked. + +"Me? Good land, Mistah Swift, no, sah! I wouldn't tech it. It's jest +as I got it from de man I bought it oh. It worked when he had it, +but he used a hoss. It's all due to de contrariness ob Boomerang, +an' if I--" + +"No, it isn't the mule's fault at all!" exclaimed Tom. "The mill is +out of gear, and tread is locked; that's all. The man you bought it +off probably did it so you could haul it along the road. I'll have +it fixed for you in a few minutes. Wait until I get some tools." + +From the bag on his motor-cycle Tom got his implements. He first +unlocked the treadmill, so that the inclined platform, on which the +animal slowly walked, could revolve. No sooner had he done this than +Boomerang, feeling the slats under his hoofs moving away, started +forward. With a rattle the treadmill slid around. + +"Good land o' massy! It's goin'!" cried Eradicate delightedly. "It +suah am goin'!" he added as he saw the mule, with nimble feet, send +the revolving, endless string of slats around and around. "But de +saw doan't move, Mistah Swift. Yo' am pretty smart at fixin' it as +much as yo' has, but I reckon it's too busted t' eber saw any wood. +I'se got bad luck, dat's what I has." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "The sawmill will be going in a moment. +All I have to do is to throw it into gear. See here, Rad. When you +want the saw to go you just throw this handle forward. That makes +the gears mesh." + +"What's dat 'bout mush?" asked Eradicate. + +"Mesh--not mush. I mean it makes the cogs fit together. See," and +Tom pressed the lever. In an instant, with a musical whirr, the saw +began revolving. + +"Hurrah! Dere it goes! Golly! see de saw move!" cried the delighted +colored man. He seized a stick of wood, and in a trice it was sawed +through. + +"Whoop!" yelled Eradicate. "I'm sabed now! Bless yo', Mistah Swift, +yo' suttinly am a wondah!" + +"Now I'll show you how it works," went on Tom. "When you want to +stop Boomerang, you just pull this handle. That locks the tread, and +he can't move it," and, suiting the action to his words, Tom stopped +the mill. "Then," he went on, "when you want him to move, you pull +the handle this way," and he showed the darky how to do it. In a +moment the mule was moving again. Then Tom illustrated how to throw +the saw in and out of gear, and in a few minutes the sawmill was in +full operation, with a most energetic colored man feeding in logs to +be cut up into stove lengths. + +"You ought to have an assistant, Rad," said Tom, after he had +watched the work for a while. "You could get more done then, and +move on to some other wood-patch." + +"Dat's right, Mistah Swift, so I had. But I 'done tried, an' +couldn't git any. I ast seberal colored men, but dey'd radder +whitewash an' clean chicken coops. I guess I'll hab t' go it alone. +I ast a white man yisterday ef he wouldn't like t' pitch in an' +help, but he said he didn't like to wuk. He was a tramp, an' he had +de nerve to ask me fer money--me, a hard-wukin' coon." + +"You didn't give it to him, I hope." + +"No, indeedy, but he come so close to me dat I was askeered he might +take it from me, so I kept hold ob a club. He suah was a bad-lookin' +tramp, an' he kept laffin' all de while, like he was happy." + +"What's that?" cried Tom, struck by the words of the colored man. +"Did he have a thick, brown beard?" + +"Dat's what he had," answered Eradicate, pausing in the midst of his +work. "He suah were a funny sort ob tramp. His hands done looked +laik he neber wuked, an' he had a funny blue ring one finger, only +it wasn't a reg'lar ring, yo' know. It was pushed right inter his +skin, laik a man I seen at de circus once, all cobered wid funny +figgers." + +Tom leaped to his feet. + +"Which finger was the blue ring tattooed on?" he asked, and he +waited anxiously for the answer. + +"Let me see, it were on de right--no, it were on de little finger ob +de left hand." + +"Are you sure, Rad?" + +"Suah, Mistah Swift. I took 'tic'lar notice, 'cause he carried a +stick in dat same hand." + +"It must be my man--Happy Harry!" exclaimed Tom half aloud. "Which +way did he go, Rad, after he left you?" + +"He went up de lake shore," replied the colored man. "He asked me if +I knowed ob an ole big house up dere, what nobody libed in, an' I +said I did. Den he left, an' I were glad ob it." + +"Which house did you mean, Rad?" + +"Why, dat ole mansion what General Harkness used t' lib in befo' de +wah. Dere ain't nobody libed in it fo' some years now, an' it's +deserted. Maybe a lot ob tramps stays in it, an' dat's where dis man +were goin'." + +"Maybe," assented Tom, who was all excitement now. "Just where is +this old house, Rad?" + +"Away up at de head ob Lake Carlopa. I uster wuk dere befo' de wah, +but it's been a good many years since quality folks libed dere. Why, +did yo' want t' see dat man, Mistah Swift?" + +"Yes, Rad, I did, and very badly, too. I think he is the very person +I want. But don't say anything about it. I'm going to take a trip up +to that strange mansion. Maybe I'll get on the trail of Happy Harry +and the men who robbed me. I'm much obliged to you, Rad, for this +information. It's a good clue, I think. Strange that you should meet +the very tramp I've been searching for." + +"Well, I suah am obliged to yo', Mistah Swift, fo' fixin' mah +sawmill." + +"That's all right. What you told me more than pays for what I did, +Rad. Well, I'm going home now to tell dad, and then I'm going to start +out. Yesterday, you said it was, you saw Happy Harry? Well, I'll get +right after him," and leaving a somewhat surprised, but very much +delighted, colored man behind him, Tom mounted his motor-cycle and +started for home at a fast pace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE STRANGE MANSION + + +"Dad, I've got a clue!" exclaimed Tom, hurrying into the house late +that afternoon, following a quick trip from where he had met +Eradicate with his sawmill. "A good clue, and I'm going to start +early in the morning to run it down." + +"Wait a minute, now, Tom," cautioned his father slowly. "You know +what happens when you get excited. Nothing good was ever done in a +hurry." + +"Well, I can't help being excited, dad. I think I'm on the trail of +those scoundrels. I almost wish I could start to-night." + +"Suppose you tell me all about it," and Mr. Swift laid aside a +scientific book he was reading. + +Whereupon Tom told of his meeting with the colored man, and what +Eradicate had said about the tramp. + +"But he may not be the same Happy Harry you are looking for," +interposed Mr. Swift. "Tramps who don't like to work, and who have a +jolly disposition, also those who ask for money and have designs +tattooed on their hands, are very common." + +"Oh, but I'm sure this is the same one," declared Tom. "He wants to +stay in this neighborhood until he locates his confederates. That's +why he's hanging around. Now I have an idea that the deserted +mansion, where Eradicate used to work, and which once housed General +Harkness and his family, is the rendezvous of this gang of thieves." + +"You are taking a great deal for granted, Tom." + +"I don't think so, dad. I've got to assume something, and maybe I'm +wrong, but I don't think so. At any rate, I'm going to try, if +you'll let me." + +"What do you mean to do?" + +"I want to go to that deserted mansion and see what I can find. If I +locate the thieves, well--" + +"You may run into danger." + +"Then you admit I may be on the right track, dad?" + +"Not at all," and Mr. Swift smiled at the quick manner in which Tom +turned the tables on him. "I admit there may be a band of tramps in +that house. Very likely there is--almost any deserted place would be +attractive to them. But they may not be the ones you seek. In fact, +I hardly see how they can be. The men who stole my model and patent +papers are wealthy. They would not be very likely to stay in +deserted houses." + +"Perhaps some of the scoundrels whom they hired might, and through +them I can get on the track of the principals." + +"Well, there is something in that," admitted Mr. Swift. + +"Then may I go, dad?" + +"I suppose so. We must leave nothing untried to get back the stolen +model and papers. But I don't want you to run any risks. If you +would only take some one with you. There's your chum, Ned Newton. +Perhaps he would go." + +"No, I'd rather work it alone, dad. I'll be careful. Besides, Ned +could not get away from the bank. I may have to be gone a week, and +he has no motor-cycle. I can manage all right." + +Tom was off bright and early. He had carefully laid his plans, and +had decided that he would not go direct to Pineford, which was the +nearest village to the old Harkness mansion. + +"If those fellows are in hiding they will probably keep watch on who +comes to the village," thought Tom. "The arrival of some one on a +motor-cycle will be sure to be reported to them, and they may skip +out. I've got to come up from another direction, so I think I'll +circle around, and reach the mansion from the stretch of woods on +the north." + +He had inquired from Eradicate as to the lay of the land, and had a +good general idea of it. He knew there was a patch of woodland on +one side of the mansion, while the other sides were open. + +"I may not be able to ride through the woods," mused Tom, "but I'll +take my machine as close as I can, and walk the rest of the way. +Once I discover whether or not the gang is in the place, I'll know +what to do." + +To follow out the plan he had laid down for himself meant that Tom +must take a roundabout way. It would necessitate being a whole day +on the road, before he would be near the head of Lake Carlopa, where +the Harkness house was located. The lake was a large one, and Tom +had never been to the upper end. + +When he was within a few miles of Pineford, Tom took a road that +branched off and went around it. Stopping at night in a lonely +farmhouse, he pushed on the next morning, hoping to get to the woods +that night. But a puncture to one of the tires delayed him, and +after that was repaired he discovered something wrong with his +batteries. He had to go five miles out of his way to get new cells, +and it was dusk when he came to the stretch of woods which he knew +lay between him and the old mansion. + +"I don't fancy starting in there at night," said Tom to himself. +"Guess I'd better stay somewhere around here until morning, and then +venture in. But the question is where to stay?" + +The country was deserted, and for a mile or more he had seen no +houses. He kept on for some distance farther, the dusk falling +rapidly, and when he was about to turn back to retrace his way to +the last farmhouse he had passed, he saw a slab shanty at the side +of the road. + +"That's better than nothing, provided they'll take me in for the +night," murmured Tom. "I'm going to ask, anyhow." + +He found the shanty to be inhabited by an old man who made a living +burning charcoal. The place was not very attractive, but Tom did not +mind that, and finding the charcoal-burner a kindly old fellow, soon +made a bargain with him to remain all night. + +Tom slept soundly, in spite of his strange surroundings, and after a +simple breakfast in the morning inquired of the old man the best way +of penetrating the forest. + +"You'd best strike right along the old wood road," said the +charcoal-burner. "That leads right to the lake, and I think will +take you where you want to go. The old mansion is not far from the +lake shore." + +"Near the lake, eh?" mused Tom as he started off, after thanking the +old fellow. "Now I wonder if I'd better try to get to it from the +water or the land side?" + +He found it impossible to ride fast on the old wood road, and when he +judged he was so close to the lake that the noise of his motor-cycle +might be heard, he shut off the power, and walked along, pushing +it. It was hard traveling, and he felt weary, but he kept on, and +about noon was rewarded by a sight of something glittering through the +trees. + +"That's the lake!" Tom exclaimed, half aloud. "I'm almost there." + +A little later, having hidden his motor-cycle in a clump of bushes, +he made his way through the underbrush and stood on the shore of +Lake Carlopa. Cautiously Tom looked about him. It was getting well +on in the afternoon, and the sun was striking across the broad sheet +of water. Tom glanced up along the shore. Something amid a clump of +trees caught his eyes. It was the chimney of a house. The young +inventor walked a little distance along the lake shore. Suddenly he +saw, looming up in the forest, a large building. It needed but a +glance to show that it was falling into ruins, and had no signs of +life about it. Nor, for that matter, was there any life in the +forest around him, or on the lake that stretched out before him. + +"I wonder if that can be the place?" whispered Tom, for, somehow, +the silence of the place was getting on his nerves. "It must be it," +he went on. "It's just as Rad described it." + +He stood looking at it, the sun striking full on the mysterious +mansion, hidden there amid the trees. Suddenly, as Tom looked, he +heard the "put-put" of a motor-boat. He turned to one side, and saw, +putting out from a little dock that he had not noticed before, a +small craft. It contained one man, and no sooner had the young +inventor caught a glimpse of him than he cried out: + +"That's the man who jumped over our fence and escaped!" + +Then, before the occupant of the boat could catch sight of him, Tom +turned and fled back into the bushes, out of view. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +TOM IS PURSUED + + +Tom was so excited that he hardly knew what to do. His first thought +was to keep out of sight of the man in the boat, for the young +inventor did not want the criminals to suspect that he was on their +trail. To that end he ran back until he knew he could not be seen +from the lake. There he paused and peered through the bushes. He +caught a glimpse of the man in the motor-boat. The craft was making +fast time across the water. + +"He didn't see me," murmured Tom. "Lucky I saw him first. Now what +had I better do?" + +It was a hard question to answer. If he only had some one with whom +to consult he would have felt better, but he knew he had to rely on +himself. Tom was a resourceful lad, and he had often before been +obliged to depend on his wits. But this time very much was at stake, +and a false move might ruin everything. + +"This is certainly the house," went on Tom, "and that man in the +boat is one of the fellows who helped rob me. Now the next thing to +do is to find out if the others of the gang are in the old mansion, +and, if they are, to see if dad's model and papers are there. Then +the next thing to do will be to get our things away, and I fancy +I'll have no easy job." + +Well might Tom think this, for the men with whom he had to deal were +desperate characters, who had already dared much to accomplish their +ends, and who would do more before they would suffer defeat. Still, +they under-estimated the pluck of the lad who was pitted against +them. + +"I might as well proceed on a certain plan, and have some system +about this affair," reasoned the lad. "Dad is a great believer in +system, so I'll lay out a plan and see how nearly I can follow it. +Let's see--what is the first thing to do?" + +Tom considered a moment, going over the whole situation in his mind. +Then he went on, talking to himself alone there in the woods: + +"It seems to me the first thing to do is to find out if the men are +in the house. To do that I've got to get closer and look in through +a window. Now, how to get closer?" + +He considered that problem from all sides. + +"It will hardly do to approach from the lake shore," he reasoned. +"for if they have a motor-boat and a dock, there must be a path from +the house to the water. If there is a path people are likely to walk +up or down it at any minute. The man in the boat might come back +unexpectedly and catch me. No, I can't risk approaching from the +lake shore. I've got to work my way up to the house by going through +the woods. That much is settled. Now to approach the house, and when +I get within seeing distance I'll settle the next point. One thing +at a time is a good rule, as dad used to say. Poor dad! I do hope I +can get his model and papers back for him." + +Tom, who had been sitting on a log under a bush, staring at the +lake, arose. He was feeling rather weak and faint, and was at a loss +to account for it, until he remembered that he had had no dinner. + +"And I'm not likely to get any," he remarked. "I'm not going to eat +until I see who's in that house. Maybe I won't then, and where +supper is coming from I don't know. But this is too important to be +considered in the same breath with a meal. Here goes." + +Cautiously Tom made his way forward, taking care not to make too +much disturbance in the bushes. He had been on hunting trips, and +knew the value of silence in the woods. He had no paths to follow, +but he had noted the position of the sun, and though that luminary +was now sinking lower and lower in the west, he could see the gleam +of it through the trees, and knew in which direction from it lay the +deserted mansion. + +Tom moved slowly, and stopped every now and then to listen. All the +sounds he heard were those made by the creatures of the woods-- +birds, squirrels and rabbits. He went forward for half an hour, +though in that time he did not cover much ground, and he was just +beginning to think that the house must be near at hand when through +a fringe of bushes he saw the old mansion. It stood in the midst of +what had once been a fine park, but which was now overgrown with +weeds and tangled briars. The paths that led to the house were +almost out of sight, and the once beautiful home was partly in +ruins. + +"I guess I can sneak up there and take a look in one of the +windows," thought the young inventor. He was about to advance, when +he suddenly stopped. He heard some one or some thing coming around +the corner of the mansion. A moment later a man came into view, and +Tom easily recognized him as one of those who had been in the +automobile. The heart of the young inventor beat so hard that he was +afraid the man would hear it, and Tom crouched down in the bushes to +keep out of sight. The man evidently did not suspect the presence of +a stranger, for, though he cast sharp glances into the tangled +undergrowth that fringed the house like a hedge, he did not seek to +investigate further. He walked slowly on, making a circuit of the +grounds. Tom remained hidden for several minutes, and was about to +proceed again, when the man reappeared. Then Tom saw the reason for +it. + +"He's on guard!" the lad said to himself. "He's doing sentry duty. I +can't approach the house when he's there." + +For an instant Tom felt a bitter disappointment. He had hoped to be +able to carry out his plan as he had mapped it. Now he would have to +make a change. + +"I'll have to wait until night," he thought. "Then I can sneak up +and look in. The guard won't see me after dark. But it's going to be +no fun to stay here, without anything to eat. Still, I've got to do +it." + +He remained where he was in the bushes. Several times, before the +sun set, the man doing sentry duty made the circuit of the house, +and Tom noted that occasionally he was gone for a long period. He +reasoned that the man had gone into the mansion to confer with his +confederates. + +"If I only knew what was going on in there," thought Tom. "Maybe, +after all, the men haven't got the model and papers here. Yet, if +they haven't, why are they staying in the old house? I must get a +look in and see what's going on. Lucky there are no shades to the +windows. I wish it would get dark." + +It seemed that the sun would never go down and give place to dusk, +but finally Tom, crouching in his hiding place, saw the shadows grow +longer and longer, and finally the twilight of the woods gave place +to a density that was hard to penetrate. Tom waited some time to see +if the guard kept up the circuit, but with the approach of night the +man seemed to have gone into the house. Tom saw a light gleam out +from the lonely mansion. It came from a window on the ground floor. + +"There's my chance!" exclaimed the lad, and, crawling from his +hiding place, he advanced cautiously toward it. + +Tom went forward only a few feet at a time, pausing almost every +other step to listen. He heard no sounds, and was reassured. Nearer +and nearer he came to the old house. The gleam of the light fell +upon his face, and fearful that some one might be looking from the +window, he shifted his course, so as to come up from one side. +Slowly, very slowly he advanced, until he was right under the +window. Then he found that it was too high up to admit of his +looking in. He felt about until he had a stone to stand on. + +Softly he drew himself up inch by inch. He could hear the murmur of +voices in the room. Now the top of his head was on a level with the +sill. A few more inches and his eyes could take in the room and the +occupants. He was scarcely breathing. Up, up he raised himself until +he could look into the apartment, and the sight which met his eyes +nearly caused him to lose his hold and topple backward. For grouped +around a table in a big room were the three men whom he had seen in +the automobile. But what attracted his attention more than the sight +of the men was an object on the table. It was the stolen model! The +men were inspecting it, and operating it, as he could see. One of +the trio had a bundle of papers in his hand, and Tom was sure they +were the ones stolen from him. But there could be no doubt about the +model of the turbine motor. There it was in plain sight. He had +tracked the thieves to their hiding place. + +Then, as he watched, Tom saw one of the men produce from under the +table a box, into which the model was placed. The papers were next +put in, and a cover was nailed on. Then the men appeared to consult +among themselves. + +By their gestures Tom concluded that they were debating where to +hide the box. One man pointed toward the lake, and another toward +the forest. Tom was edging himself up farther, in order to see +better, and, if possible, catch their words, when his foot slipped, +and he made a slight noise. Instantly the men turned toward the +window, but Tom had stooped down out of sight, just in time. + +A moment later, however, he heard some one approaching through the +woods behind him, and a voice called out: + +"What are you doing? Get away from there!" + +Rapid footsteps sounded, and Tom, in a panic, turned and fled, with +an unknown pursuer after him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +UNEXPECTED HELP + + +Tom rushed on through the woods. The lighted room into which he had +been looking had temporarily blinded him when it came to plunging +into the darkness again, and he could not see where he was going. He +crashed full-tilt into a tree, and was thrown backward. Bruised and +cut, he picked himself up and rushed off in another direction. +Fortunately he struck into some sort of a path, probably one made by +cows, and then, as his eyes recovered their faculties, he could +dimly distinguish the trees on either side of him and avoid them. + +His heart, that was beating fiercely, calmed down after his first +fright, and when he had run on for several minutes he stopped. + +"That--that must--have been--the--the man--from the boat," panted +our hero, whispering to himself. "He came back and saw me. I wonder +if he's after me yet?" + +Tom listened. The only sound he could hear was the trill and chirp +of the insects of the woods. The pursuit, which had lasted only a +few minutes, was over. But it might be resumed at any moment. Tom +was not safe yet, he thought, and he kept on. + +"I wonder where I am? I wonder where my motor-cycle is? I wonder +what I had better do?" he asked himself. + +Three big questions, and no way of settling them; Tom pulled himself +up sharply. + +"I've got to think this thing out," he resumed. "They can't find me +in these woods to-night, that's sure, unless they get dogs, and +they're not likely to do that. So I'm safe that far. But that's +about all that is in my favor. I won't dare to go back to the house, +even if I could find it in this blackness, which is doubtful. It +wouldn't be safe, for they'll be on guard now. It looks as though I +was up against it. I'm afraid they may imagine the police are after +them, and go away. If they do, and take the model and papers with +them, I'll have an awful job to locate them again, and probably I +won't be able to. That's the worst of it. Here I have everything +right under my hands, and I can't do a thing. If I only had some one +to help me; some one to leave on guard while I went for the police. +I'm one against three--no, four, for the man in the boat is back. +Let's see what can I do?" + +Then a sudden plan came to him. + +"The lake shore!" he exclaimed, half aloud. "I'll go down there and +keep watch. If they escape they'll probably go in the boat, for they +wouldn't venture through the woods at night. That's it. I'll watch +on shore, and if they do leave in the boat--" He paused again, +undecided. "Why, if they do," he finished, "I'll sing out, and make +such a row that they'll think the whole countryside is after them. +That may drive them back, or they may drop the box containing the +papers and model, and cut for it. If they do I'll be all right. I +don't care about capturing them, if I can get dad's model back." + +He felt more like himself, now that he had mapped out another plan. + +"The first thing to do is to locate the lake," reasoned Tom. "Let's +see; I ran in a straight line away from the house--that is, as +nearly straight as I could. Now if I turn around and go straight +back, bearing off a little to the left, I ought to come to the +water. I'll do it." + +But it was not so easy as Tom imagined, and several times he found +himself in the midst of almost impenetrable bushes. He kept on, +however, and soon had the satisfaction of emerging from the woods +out on the shore of the lake. Then, having gotten his bearings as +well as he could in the darkness, he moved down until he was near +the deserted house. The light was still showing from the window, and +Tom judged by this that the men had not taken fright and fled. + +"I suppose I could sneak down and set the motor-boat adrift," he +argued. "That would prevent them leaving by way of the lake, anyhow. +That's what I'll do! I'll cut off one means of escape. I'll set the +boat adrift!" + +Very cautiously he advanced toward where he had seen the small craft +put out. He was on his guard, for he feared the men would be on the +watch, but he reached the dock in safety, and was loosening the rope +that tied the boat to the little wharf when another thought came to +him. + +"Why set this boat adrift?" he reasoned. "It is too good a boat to +treat that way, and, besides, it will make a good place for me to +spend the rest of the night. I've got to stay around here until +morning, and then I'll see if I can't get help. I'll just +appropriate this boat for my own use. They have dad's model, and +I'll take their boat." + +Softly he got into the craft, and with an oar which was kept in it +to propel it in case the engine gave out, he poled it along the +shore of the lake until he was some distance away from the dock. + +That afternoon he had seen a secluded place along the shore, a spot +where overhanging bushes made a good hiding place, and for this he +headed the craft. A little later it was completely out of sight, and +Tom stretched out on the cushioned seats, pulling a tarpaulin over +him. There he prepared to spend the rest of the night. + +"They can't get away except through the woods now, which I don't +believe they'll do," he thought, "and this is better for me than +staying out under a tree. I'm glad I thought of it." + +The youth, naturally, did not pass a very comfortable night, though +his bed was not a half bad one. He fell into uneasy dozes, only to +arouse, thinking the men in the old mansion were trying to escape. +Then he would sit up and listen, but he could hear nothing. It +seemed as if morning would never come, but at length the stars began +to fade, and the sky seemed overcast with a filmy, white veil. Tom +sat up, rubbed his smarting eyes, and stretched his cramped limbs. + +"Oh, for a hot cup of coffee!" he exclaimed. "But not for mine, +until I land these chaps where they belong. Now the question is, how +can I get help to capture them?" + +His hunger was forgotten in this. He stepped from the boat to a +secluded spot on the shore. The craft, he noted, was well hidden. + +"I've got to go back to where I left my motor-cycle, jump on that, +and ride for aid," he reasoned. "Maybe I can get the charcoal-burner +to go for me, while I come back and stand guard. I guess that would +be the best plan. I certainly ought to be on hand, for there is no +telling when these fellows will skip out with the model, if they +haven't gone already. I hate to leave, yet I've got to. It's the +only way. I wish I'd done as dad suggested, and brought help. But +it's too late for that. Well, I'm off." + +Tom took a last look at the motor-boat, which was a fine one. He +wished it was his. Then he struck through the woods. He had his +bearings now, and was soon at the place where he had left his +machine. It had not been disturbed. He caught a glimpse of the old +mansion on his way out of the woods. There appeared to be no one +stirring about it. + +"I hope my birds haven't flown!" he exclaimed, and the thought gave +him such uneasiness that he put it from him. Pushing his heavy +machine ahead of him until he came to a good road, he mounted it, +and was soon at the charcoal-burner's shack. There came no answer to +his knock, and Tom pushed open the door. The old man was not in. Tom +could not send him for help. + +"My luck seems to be against me!" he murmured. "But I can get +something to eat here, anyhow. I'm almost starved!" + +He found the kitchen utensils, and made some coffee, also frying +some bacon and eggs. Then, feeling much refreshed, and having left +on the table some money to pay for the inroad he had made on the +victuals, he started to go outside. + +As our hero stepped to the door he was greeted by a savage growl +that made him start in alarm. + +"A dog!" he mused. "I didn't know there was one around." + +He looked outside and there, to his dismay, saw a big, +savage-appearing bulldog standing close to where he had left his +motor-cycle. The animal had been sniffing suspiciously at the machine. + +"Good dog!" called Tom. "Come here!" + +But the bulldog did not come. Instead the beast stood still, showed +his teeth to Tom and growled in a low tone. + +"Wonder if the owner can be near?" mused the young inventor. "That +dog won't let me get my machine, I am afraid." + +Tom spoke to the animal again and again the dog growled and showed +his teeth. He next made a move as if to leap into the house, and Tom +quickly stepped back and banged shut the door. + +"Well, if this isn't the worst yet!" cried the youth to himself. +"Here, just at the time I want to be off, I must be held up by such +a brute as that outside. Wonder how long he'll keep me a prisoner?" + +Tom went to a window and peered out. No person had appeared and the +lad rightly surmised that the bulldog had come to the cottage alone. +The beast appeared to be hungry, and this gave Tom a sudden idea. + +"Maybe if I feed him, he'll forget that I am around and give me a +chance to get away," he reasoned. "Guess I had better try that dodge +on him." + +Tom looked around the cottage and at last found the remains of a +chicken dinner the owner had left behind. He picked up some of the +bones and called the bulldog. The animal came up rather +suspiciously. Tom threw him one bone, which he proceeded to crunch +up vigorously. + +"He's hungry right enough," mused Tom. "I guess he'd like to sample +my leg. But he's not going to do it--not if I can help it." + +At the back of the cottage was a little shed, the door to which +stood open. Tom threw a bone near to the door of this shed and then +managed to throw another bone inside the place. The bulldog found +the first bone and then disappeared after the second. + +"Now is my time, I guess," the young inventor told himself, and +watching his chance, he ran from the cottage toward his motor-cycle. +He made no noise and quickly shoved the machine into the roadway. +Just as he turned on the power the bulldog came out of the shed, +barking furiously. + +"You've missed it!" said Tom grimly as the machine started, and +quickly the cottage and the bulldog were left behind. The road was +rough for a short distance and he had to pay strict attention to +what he was doing. + +"I've got to ride to the nearest village," he said. "It's a long +distance, and, in the meanwhile, the men may escape. But I can't do +anything else. I dare not tackle them alone, and there is no telling +when the charcoal-burner may come back. I've got to make speed, +that's all." + +Out on the main road the lad sent his machine ahead at a fast pace. +He was fairly humming along when, suddenly, from around a curve in +the highway he heard the "honk-honk" of an automobile horn. For an +instant his heart failed him. + +"I wonder if those are the thieves? Maybe they have left the house, +and are in their auto!" he whispered as he slowed down his machine. + +The automobile appeared to have halted. As Tom came nearer the turn +he heard voices. At the sound of one he started. The voice +exclaimed: + +"Bless my spectacles! What's wrong now? I thought that when I got this +automobile I would enjoy life, but it's as bad as my motor-cycle was +for going wrong! Bless my very existence, but has anything happened?" + +"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, for he recognized the eccentric +individual of whom he had obtained the motor-cycle. + +The next moment Tom was in sight of a big touring car, containing, +not only Mr. Damon, whom Tom recognized at once, but three other +gentlemen. + +"Oh, Mr. Damon," cried Tom, "will you help me capture a gang of +thieves? They are in a deserted mansion in the woods, and they have +one of my father's patent models! Will you help me, Mr. Damon?" + +"Why, bless my top-knots," exclaimed the odd gentleman. "If it isn't +Tom Swift, the young inventor! Bless my very happiness! There's my +motor-cycle, too! Help you? Why, of course we will. Bless my +shoe-leather! Of course we'll help you!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CAPTURE--GOOD-BY + + +Tom's story was soon told, and Mr. Damon quickly explained to his +friends in the automobile how he had first made the acquaintance of +the young inventor. + +"But how does it happen that you are trusting yourself in a car like +this?" asked Tom. "I thought you were done with gasolene machines, +Mr. Damon." + +"I thought so, too, Tom, but, bless my batteries, my doctor insisted +that I must get out in the open air. I'm too stout to walk, and I +can't run. The only solution was in an automobile, for I never would +dream of a motor-cycle. I wonder that one of mine hasn't run away +with you and killed you. But there! My automobile is nearly as bad. +We went along very nicely yesterday, and now, just when I have a +party of friends out, something goes wrong. Bless my liver! I do +seem to have the worst luck!" + +Tom lost no time in looking for the trouble. He found it in the +ignition, and soon had it fixed. Then a sort of council of war was +held. + +"Do you think those scoundrels are there yet?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I hope so," answered Tom. + +"So do I," went on the odd character. "Bless my soul, but I want a +chance to pummel them. Come, gentlemen, let's be moving. Will you +ride with us, Tom Swift, or on that dangerous motor-cycle?" + +"I think I'll stick to my machine, Mr. Damon. I can easily keep up +with you." + +"Very well. Then we'll get along. We'll proceed until we get close +to the old mansion, and then some of us will go down to the lake +shore, and the rest of us will surround the house. We'll catch the +villains red-handed, and I hope we bag that tramp among them." + +"I hardly think he is there," said Tom. + +In a short time the auto and the motor-cycle had carried the +respective riders to the road through the woods. There the machines +were left, and the party proceeded on foot. Tom had a revolver with +him, and one member of Mr. Damon's party also had a small one, more +to scare dogs than for any other purpose. Tom gave his weapon to one +of the men, and cut a stout stick for himself, an example followed +by those who had no firearms. + +"A club for mine!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "The less I have to do with +machinery the better I like it. Now, Tom Swift is just the other way +around," he explained to his friends. + +Cautiously they approached the house, and when within seeing +distance of it they paused for a consultation. There seemed to be no +one stirring about the old mansion, and Tom was fearful lest the men +had left. But this could not be determined until they came closer. +Two of Mr. Damon's friends elected to go down to the shore of the +lake and prevent any escape in that direction, while the others, +including Tom, were to approach from the wood side. When the two who +were to form the water attacking party were ready, one of them was +to fire his revolver as a signal. Then Tom, Mr. Damon and the others +would rush in. + +The young inventor, Mr. Damon, and his friend, whom he addressed as +Mr. Benson, went as close to the house as they considered prudent. +Then, screening themselves in the bushes, they waited. They +conversed in whispers, Tom giving more details of his experience +with the patent thieves. + +Suddenly the silence of the woods was broken by some one advancing +through the underbrush. + +"Bless my gaiters, some one is coming!" exclaimed Mr. Damon in a +hoarse whisper. "Can that be Munson or Dwight coming back?" He +referred to his two friends who had gone to the lake. + +"Or perhaps the fellows are escaping," suggested Mr. Benson. +"Suppose we take a look." + +At that moment the person approaching, whoever he was, began to +sing. Tom started. + +"I'll wager that's Happy Harry, the tramp!" he exclaimed. "I know +his voice." + +Cautiously Tom peered over the screen of bushes. + +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"It's Happy Harry!" said Tom. "We'll get them all, now. He's going +up to the house." + +They watched the tramp. All unconscious of the eyes of the men and +boy in the bushes, he kept on. Presently the door of the house +opened, and a man came out. Tom recognized him as Anson Morse--the +person who had dropped the telegram. + +"Say, Burke," called the man at the door, "have you taken the +motor-boat?" + +"Motor-boat? No," answered the tramp. "I just came here. I've had a +hard time--nearly got caught in Swift's house the other night by +that cub of a boy. Is the boat gone?" + +"Yes. Appleson came back in it last night and saw some one looking +in the window, but we thought it was only a farmer and chased him +away. This morning the boat's gone. I thought maybe you had taken it +for a joke." + +"Not a bit of it! Something's wrong!" exclaimed Happy Harry. "We'd +better light out. I think the police are after us. That young Swift +is too sharp for my liking. We'd better skip. I don't believe that +was a farmer who looked in the window. Tell the others, get the +stuff, and we'd leave this locality." + +"They're here still," whispered Tom. "That's good!" + +"I wonder if Munson and Dwight are at the lake yet?" asked Mr. +Damon. "They ought to be--" + +At that instant a pistol shot rang out. The tramp, after a hasty +glance around, started on the run for the house. The man in the +doorway sprang out. Soon two others joined him. + +"Who fired that shot?" cried Morse. + +"Come on, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, grabbing up his club and springing +from the bushes. "Our friends have arrived!" The young inventor and +Mr. Benson followed him. + +No sooner had they come into the open space in front of the house +than they were seen. At the same instant, from the rear, in the +direction of the lake, came Mr. Munson and Mr. Dwight. + +"We're caught!" cried Happy Harry. + +He made a dash far the house, just as a man, carrying a box, rushed +out. + +"There it is! The model and papers are in that box!" cried Tom. +"Don't let them get away with it!" + +The criminals were taken by surprise. With leveled weapons the +attacking party closed in on them. Mr. Damon raised his club +threateningly. + +"Surrender! Surrender!" he cried. "We have you! Bless my stars, but +you're captured! Surrender!" + +"It certainly looks so," admitted Anson Morse. "I guess they have +us, boys." + +The man with the box made a sudden dash toward the woods, but Tom +was watching him. In an instant he sprang at him, and landed on the +fellow's back. The two went down in a heap, and when Tom arose he +had possession of the precious box. + +"I have it! I have it!" he cried. "I've got dad's model back!" + +The man who had had possession of the box quickly arose, and, before +any one could stop him, darted into the bushes. + +"After him! Catch him! Bless my hat-band, stop him!" shouted Mr. +Damon. + +Instinctively his friends turned to pursue the fugitive, forgetting, +for the instant, the other criminals. The men were quick to take +advantage of this, and in a moment had disappeared in the dense +woods. Nor could any trace be found of the one with whom Tom had +struggled. + +"Pshaw! They got away from us!" cried Mr. Damon regretfully. "Let's +see if we can't catch them. Come on, we'll organize a posse and run +them down." He was eager for the chase, but his companions dissuaded +him. Tom had what he wanted, and he knew that his father would +prefer not to prosecute the men. The lad opened the box, and saw +that the model and papers were safe. + +"Let those fellows go," advised the young inventor, and Mr. Damon +reluctantly agreed to this. "I guess we've seen the last of them," +added the youth, but he and Mr. Swift had not, for the criminals +made further trouble, which will be told of in the second volume of +this series, to be called "Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat; or, The +Rivals of Lake Carlopa." In that our hero will be met in adventures +even more thrilling than those already related, and Andy Foger, who +so nearly ran Tom down in the automobile, will have a part in them. + +"Now," said Mr. Damon, after it had been ascertained that no one was +injured, and that the box contained all of value that had been +stolen, "I suppose you are anxious to get back home, Tom, aren't +you? Will you let me take you in my car? Bless my spark plug, but +I'd like to have you along in case of another accident!" + +The lad politely declined, however, and, with the valuable model and +papers safe on his motor-cycle, he started for Shopton. Arriving at +the first village after leaving the woods, Tom telephoned the good +news to his father, and that afternoon was safely at home, to the +delight of Mr. Swift and Mrs. Baggert. + +The inventor lost no time in fully protecting his invention by +patents. As for the unprincipled men who made an effort to secure +it, they had so covered up their tracks that there was no way of +prosecuting them, nor could any action be held against Smeak & +Katch, the unscrupulous lawyers. + +"Well," remarked Mr. Swift to Tom, a few nights after the recovery +of the model, "your motor-cycle certainly did us good service. Had +it not been for it I might never have gotten back my invention." + +"Yes, it did come in handy," agreed the young inventor. "There's +that motor-boat, too. I wish I had it. I don't believe those fellows +will ever come back for it. I turned it over to the county +authorities, and they take charge of it for a while. I certainly had +some queer adventures since I got this machine from Mr. Damon," +concluded Tom. I think my readers will agree with him. + +THE END + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle +by Victor Appleton + +************************************************************************ + +This file should be named 01tom11.txt or 01tom11.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 01tom12.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 01tom11a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* diff --git a/old/01tom11.zip b/old/01tom11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6897b0b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/01tom11.zip diff --git a/old/01tom11h.htm b/old/01tom11h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..77baf8f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/01tom11h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6780 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> +<TITLE>The Project Gutenberg etext of Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle</TITLE> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<meta name="author" content="Victor Appleton"> +</HEAD> +<BODY> + +<P> +<h2 align="center">The Project Gutenberg etext of <a href="#start">Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle</a></h2> +<h3>#1 in our series by Victor Appleton</h3> + +<PRE> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Release Date: July, 2003 [EBook #4230] +[Most recently updated: March 11, 2002] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +************************************************************************ + +</PRE> + +<P> +<A NAME="start"></A> +<p>Greg Weeks, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.</p> + + +<h2>Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle</h2> +<p> +or +<br> +Fun and Adventures on the Road + +<P> +by Victor Appleton + +<P> +<h3>Contents</h3> + +<A HREF="#I">I A Narrow Escape</A><BR> +<A HREF="#II">II Tom Overhears Something</A><BR> +<A HREF="#III">III In A Smash-Up</A><BR> +<A HREF="#IV">IV Tom And A Motor-Cycle</A><BR> +<A HREF="#V">V Mr. Swift Is Alarmed</A><BR> +<A HREF="#VI">VI An Interview In The Dark</A><BR> +<A HREF="#VII">VII Off On A Spin</A><BR> +<A HREF="#VIII">VIII Suspicious Actions</A><BR> +<A HREF="#IX">IX A Fruitless Pursuit</A><BR> +<A HREF="#X">X Off To Albany</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XI">XI A Vindictive Tramp</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XII">XII The Men In The Auto</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XIII">XIII Caught In A Storm</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XIV">XIV Attacked From Behind</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XV">XV A Vain Search</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XVI">XVI Back Home</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XVII">XVII Mr. Swift In Despair</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XVIII">XVIII Happy Harry Again</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XIX">XIX Tom On A Hunt</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XX">XX Eradicate Saws Wood</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXI">XXI Eradicate Gives A Clew</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXII">XXII The Strange Mansion</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXIII">XXIII Tom Is Pursued</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXIV">XXIV Unexpected Help</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXV">XXV The Capture--Good-By</A> + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="I"></A> +<H3>Chapter I A Narrow Escape</H3> + + +<P> +"That's the way to do it! Whoop her up, Andy! Shove the spark lever +over, and turn on more gasolene! We'll make a record this trip." + +<P> +Two lads in the tonneau of a touring car, that was whirling along a +country road, leaned forward to speak to the one at the steering +wheel. The latter was a red-haired youth, with somewhat squinty +eyes, and not a very pleasant face, but his companions seemed to +regard him with much favor. Perhaps it was because they were riding +in his automobile. + +<P> +"Whoop her up, Andy!" added the lad on the seat beside the driver. +"This is immense!" + +<P> +"I rather thought you'd like it," remarked Andy Foger, as he turned +the car to avoid a stone in the road. "I'll make things hum around +Shopton!" + +<P> +"You have made them hum already, Andy," commented the lad beside +him. "My ears are ringing. Wow! There goes my cap!" + +<P> +As the boy spoke, the breeze, created by the speed at which the car +was traveling, lifted off his cap, and sent it whirling to the rear. + +<P> +Andy Foger turned for an instant's glance behind. Then he opened the +throttle still wider, and exclaimed: + +<P> +"Let it go, Sam. We can get another. I want to see what time I can +make to Mansburg! I want to break a record, if I can." + +<P> +"Look out, or you'll break something else!" cried a lad on the rear +seat. "There's a fellow on a bicycle just ahead of us. Take care, +Andy!" + +<P> +"Let him look out for himself," retorted Foger, as he bent lower +over the steering wheel, for the car was now going at a terrific +rate. The youth on the bicycle was riding slowly along, and did not +see the approaching automobile until it was nearly upon him. Then, +with a mean grin, Andy Foger pressed the rubber bulb of the horn +with sudden energy, sending out a series of alarming blasts. + +<P> +"It's Tom Swift!" cried Sam Snedecker. "Look out, or you'll run him +down!" + +<P> +"Let him keep out of my way," retorted Andy savagely. + +<P> +The youth on the wheel, with a sudden spurt of speed, tried to cross +the highway. He did manage to do it, but by such a narrow margin +that in very terror Andy Foger shut off the power, jammed down the +brakes and steered to one side. So suddenly was he obliged to swerve +over that the ponderous machine skidded and went into the ditch at +the side of the road, where it brought up, tilting to one side. + +<P> +Tom Swift, his face rather pale from his narrow escape, leaped from +his bicycle, and stood regarding the automobile. As for the +occupants of that machine, from Andy Foger, the owner, to the three +cronies who were riding with him, they all looked very much +astonished. + +<P> +"Are we--is it damaged any, Andy?" asked Sam Snedecker. + +<P> +"I hope not," growled Andy. "If my car's hurt it's Tom Swift's +fault!" + +<P> +He leaped from his seat and made a hurried inspection of the +machine. He found nothing the matter, though it was more from good +luck than good management. Then Andy turned and looked savagely at +Tom Swift. The latter, standing his wheel up against the fence, +walked forward. + +<P> +"What do you mean by getting in the way like that?" demanded Andy +with a scowl. "Don't you see that you nearly upset me?" + +<P> +"Well, I like your nerve, Andy Foger!" cried Tom. "What do you mean +by nearly running me down? Why didn't you sound your horn? You +automobilists take too much for granted! You were going faster than +the legal rate, anyhow!" + +<P> +"I was, eh?" sneered Andy. + +<P> +"Yes, you were, and you know it. I'm the one to make a kick, not +you. You came pretty near hitting me. Me getting in your way! I +guess I've got some rights on the road!" + +<P> +"Aw, go on!" growled Andy, for he could think of nothing else to +say. "Bicycles are a back number, anyhow." + +<P> +"It isn't so very long ago that you had one," retorted Tom. "First +you fellows know, you'll be pulled in for speeding." + +<P> +"I guess we had better go slower, Andy," advised Sam in a low voice. +"I don't want to be arrested." + +<P> +"Leave this to me," retorted Andy. "I'm running this tour. The next +time you get in my way I'll run you down!" he threatened Tom. "Come +on, fellows, we're late now, and can't make a record run, all on +account of him," and Andy got back into the car, followed by his +cronies, who had hurriedly alighted after their thrilling stop. + +<P> +"If you try anything like this again you'll wish you hadn't," +declared Tom, and he watched the automobile party ride off. + +<P> +"Oh, forget it!" snapped back Andy, and he laughed, his companions +joining. + +<P> +Tom Swift said nothing in reply. Slowly he remounted his wheel and +rode off, but his thoughts toward Andy Foger were not very pleasant +ones. Andy was the son of a wealthy man of the town, and his good +fortune in the matter of money seemed to have spoiled him, for he +was a bully and a coward. Several times he and Tom Swift had +clashed, for Andy was overbearing. But this was the first time Andy +had shown such a vindictive spirit. + +<P> +"He thinks he can run over everything since he got his new auto," +commented Tom aloud as he rode on. "He'll have a smash-up some day, +if he isn't careful. He's too fond of speeding. I wonder where he +and his crowd are going?" + +<P> +Musing over his narrow escape Tom rode on, and was soon at his home, +where he lived with his widowed father, Barton Swift, a wealthy +inventor, and the latter's housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert. Approaching a +machine shop, one of several built near his house by Mr. Swift, in +which he conducted experiments and constructed apparatus. Tom was +met by his parent. + +<P> +"What's the matter, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift. "You look as if something +had happened." + +<P> +"Something very nearly did," answered the youth, and related his +experience on the road. + +<P> +"Humph," remarked the inventor; "your little pleasure-jaunt might +have ended disastrously. I suppose Andy and his chums are off on +their trip. I remember Mr. Foger speaking to me about it the other +day. He said Andy and some companions were going on a tour, to be +gone a week or more. Well, I'm glad it was no worse. But have you +anything special to do, Tom?" + +<P> +"No; I was just riding for pleasure, and if you want me to do +anything, I'm ready." + +<P> +"Then I wish you'd take this letter to Mansburg for me. I want it +registered, and I don't wish to mail it in the Shopton post-office. +It's too important, for it's about a valuable invention." + +<P> +"The new turbine motor, dad?" + +<P> +"That's it. And on your way I wish you'd stop in Merton's machine +shop and get some bolts he's making for me." + +<P> +"I will. Is that the letter?" and Tom extended his hand for a +missive his father held. + +<P> +"Yes. Please be careful of it. It's to my lawyers in Washington +regarding the final steps in getting a patent for the turbine. +That's why I'm so particular about not wanting it mailed here. +Several times before I have posted letters here, only to have the +information contained in them leak out before my attorneys received +them. I do not want that to happen in this case. Another thing; +don't speak about my new invention in Merton's shop when you stop +for the bolts." + +<P> +"Why, do you think he gave out information concerning your work?" + +<P> +"Well, not exactly. He might not mean to, but he told me the other +day that some strangers were making inquiries of him, about whether +he ever did any work for me." + +<P> +"What did he tell them?" + +<P> +"He said that he occasionally did, but that most of my inventive +work was done in my own shops, here. He wanted to know why the men +were asking such questions, and one of them said they expected to +open a machine shop soon, and wanted to ascertain if they might +figure on getting any of my trade. But I don't believe that was +their object." + +<P> +"What do you think it was?" + +<P> +"I don't know, exactly, but I was somewhat alarmed when I heard this +from Merton. So I am going to take no risks. That's why I send this +letter to Mansburg. Don't lose it, and don't forget about the bolts. +Here is a blue-print of them, so you can see if they come up to the +specifications." + +<P> +Tom rode off on his wheel, and was soon spinning down the road. + +<P> +"I wonder if I'll meet Andy Foger and his cronies again?" he +thought. "Not very likely to, I guess, if they're off on a tour. +Well, I'm just as well satisfied. He and I always seem to get into +trouble when we meet." Tom was not destined to meet Andy again that +day, but the time was to come when the red-haired bully was to cause +Tom Swift no little trouble, and get him into danger besides. So Tom +rode along, thinking over what his father had said to him about the +letter he carried. + +<P> +Mr. Barton Swift was a natural inventor. From a boy he had been +interested in things mechanical, and one of his first efforts had +been to arrange a system of pulleys, belts and gears so that the +windmill would operate the churn in the old farmhouse where he was +born. The fact that the mill went so fast that it broke the churn +all to pieces did not discourage him, and he at once set to work, +changing the gears. His father had to buy a new churn, but the young +inventor made his plan work on the second trial, and thereafter his +mother found butter-making easy. + +<P> +From then on Barton Swift lived in a world of inventions. People +used to say he would never amount to anything, that inventors never +did, but Mr. Swift proved them all wrong by amassing a considerable +fortune out of his many patents. He grew up, married and had one +son, Tom. Mrs. Barton died when Tom was three years old, and since +then he had lived with his father and a succession of nurses and +housekeepers. The last woman to have charge of the household was a +Mrs. Baggert, a motherly widow, and she succeeded so well, and Tom +and his father formed such an attachment for her, that she was +regarded as a fixture, and had now been in charge ten years. + +<P> +Mr. Swift and his son lived in a handsome house on the outskirts of +the village of Shopton, in New York State. The village was near a +large body of water, which I shall call Lake Carlopa, and there Tom +and his father used to spend many pleasant days boating, for Tom and +the inventor were better chums than many boys are, and they were +often seen together in a craft rowing about, or fishing. Of course +Tom had some boy friends, but he went with his father more often +than he did with them. + +<P> +Though many of Mr. Swift's inventions paid him well, he was +constantly seeking to perfect others. To this end he had built near +his home several machine shops, with engines, lathes and apparatus +for various kinds of work. Tom, too, had the inventive fever in his +veins, and had planned some useful implements and small machines. + +<P> +Along the pleasant country roads on a fine day in April rode Tom +Swift on his way to Mansburg to register the letter. As he descended +a little hill he saw, some distance away, but coming toward him, a +great cloud of dust. + +<P> +"Somebody must be driving a herd of cattle along the road," thought +Tom. "I hope they don't get in my way, or, rather, I hope I don't +get in theirs. Guess I'd better keep to one side, yet there isn't +any too much room." + +<P> +The dust-cloud came nearer. It was so dense that whoever or whatever +was making it could not he distinguished. + +<P> +"Must be a lot of cattle in that bunch," mused the young inventor, +"but I shouldn't think they'd trot them so on a warm day like this. +Maybe they're stampeded. If they are I've got to look out." This +idea caused him some alarm. + +<P> +He tried to peer through the dust-cloud, but could not. Nearer and +nearer it came. Tom kept on, taking care to get as far to the side +of the road as he could. Then from the midst of the enveloping mass +came the sound of a steady "chug-chug." + +<P> +"It's a motor-cycle!" exclaimed Tom. "He must have his muffler wide +open, and that's kicking up as much dust as the wheels do. Whew! But +whoever's on it will look like a clay image at the end of the line!" + +<P> +Now that he knew it was a fellow-cyclist who was raising such a +disturbance, Tom turned more toward the middle of the road. As yet +he had not had a sight of the rider, but the explosions of the motor +were louder. Suddenly, when the first advancing particles of dust +reached him, almost making him sneeze, Tom caught sight of the +rider. He was a man of middle age, and he was clinging to the +handle-bars of the machine. The motor was going at full speed. + +<P> +Tom quickly turned to one side, to avoid the worst of the dust. The +motor-cyclist glanced at the youth, but this act nearly proved +disastrous for him. He took his eyes from the road ahead for just a +moment, and he did not see a large stone directly in his path. His +front wheel hit it, and the heavy machine, which he could not +control very well, skidded over toward the lad on the bicycle. The +motor-cyclist bounced up in the air from the saddle, and nearly lost +his hold on the handle-bars. + +<P> +"Look out!" cried Tom. "You'll smash into me!" + +<P> +"I'm--I'm--try--ing--not--to!" were the words that were rattled out +of the middle-aged man. + +<P> +Tom gave his wheel a desperate twist to get out of the way. The +motor-cyclist tried to do the same, but the machine he was on +appeared to want matters its own way. He came straight for Tom, and +a disastrous collision might have resulted had not another stone +been in the way. The front wheel hit this, and was swerved to one +side. The motor-cycle flashed past Tom, just grazing his wheel, and +then was lost to sight beyond in a cloud of dust that seemed to +follow it like a halo. + +<P> +"Why don't you learn to ride before you come out on the road!" cried +Tom somewhat angrily. + +<P> +Like an echo from the dust-cloud came floating back these words: + +<P> +"I'm--try--ing--to!" Then the sound of the explosions became +fainter. + +<P> +"Well, he's got lots to learn yet!" exclaimed Tom. "That's twice to-day +I've nearly been run down. I expect I'd better look out for the +third time. They say that's always fatal," and the lad leaped from +his wheel. "Wonder if he bent any of my spokes?" the young inventor +continued as he inspected his bicycle. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="II"></A> +<H3>Chapter II Tom Overhears Something</H3> + + +<P> +"Everything seems to be all right," Tom remarked, "but another inch +or so and he'd have crashed into me. I wonder who he was? I wish I +had a machine like that. I could make better time than I can on my +bicycle. Perhaps I'll get one some day. Well, I might as well ride +on." + +<P> +Tom was soon at Mansburg, and going to the post-office handed in the +letter for registry. Bearing in mind his father's words, he looked +about to see if there were any suspicious characters, but the only +person he noticed was a well-dressed man, with a black mustache, who +seemed to be intently studying the schedule of the arrival and +departure of the mails. + +<P> +"Do you want the receipt for the registered, letter sent to you here +or at Shopton?" asked the clerk of Tom. "Come to think of it, +though, it will have to come here, and you can call for it. I'll +have it returned to Mr. Barton Swift, care of general delivery, and +you can get it the next time you are over," for the clerk knew Tom. + +<P> +"That will do," answered our hero, and as he turned away from the +window he saw that the man who had been inquiring about the mails +was regarding him curiously. Tom thought nothing of it at the time, +but there came an occasion when he wished that he had taken more +careful note of the well-dressed individual. As the youth passed out +of the outer door he saw the man walk over to the registry window. + +<P> +"He seems to have considerable mail business," thought Tom, and then +the matter passed from his mind as he mounted his wheel and hurried +to the machine shop. + +<P> +"Say, I'm awfully sorry," announced Mr. Merton when Tom said he had +come for the bolts, "but they're not quite done. They need +polishing. I know I promised them to your father to-day, and he can +have them, but he was very particular about the polish, and as one +of my best workers was taken sick, I'm a little behind." + +<P> +"How long will it take to polish them?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Oh, about an hour. In fact, a man is working on them now. If you +could call this afternoon they'll be ready. Can you?" + +<P> +"I s'pose I've got to," replied Tom good-naturedly. "Guess I'll have +to stay in Mansburg for dinner. I can't get back to Shopton in time +now." + +<P> +"I'll be sure to have them for you after dinner," promised Mr. +Merton. "Now, there's a matter I want to speak to you about, Tom. +Has your father any idea of giving the work he has been turning over +to me to some other firm?" + +<P> +"Not that I know of. Why?" and the lad showed his wonder. + +<P> +"Well, I'll tell you why. Some time ago there was a stranger in +here, asking about your father's work. I told Mr. Swift of it at the +time. The stranger said then that he and some others were thinking +of opening a machine shop, and he wanted to find out whether they +would be likely to get any jobs from your father. I told the man I +knew nothing about Mr. Swift's business, and he went away. I didn't +hear any more of it, though of course I didn't want to lose your +father's trade. Now a funny thing happened. Only this morning the +same man was back here, and he was making particular inquiries about +your father's private machine shops." + +<P> +"He was?" exclaimed Tom excitedly. + +<P> +"Yes. He wanted to know where they were located, how they were laid +out, and what sort of work he did in them." + +<P> +"What did you tell him?" + +<P> +"Nothing at all. I suspected something, and I said the best way for +him to find out would be to go and see your father. Wasn't that +right?" + +<P> +"Sure. Dad doesn't want his business known any more than he can +help. What do you suppose they wanted?" + +<P> +"Well, the man talked as though he and his partners would like to +buy your father's shops." + +<P> +"I don't believe he'd sell. He has them arranged just for his own +use in making patents, and I'm sure he would not dispose of them." + +<P> +"Well, that's what I thought, but I didn't tell the man so. I judged +it would be best for him to find out for himself." + +<P> +"What was the man's name?" + +<P> +"He didn't tell me, and I didn't ask him." + +<P> +"How did he look?" + +<P> +"Well, he was well dressed, wore kid gloves and all that, and he had +a little black mustache." + +<P> +Tom started, and Mr. Merton noticed it. + +<P> +"Do you know him?" he asked. + +<P> +"No," replied Tom, "but I saw--" Then he stopped. He recalled the +man he had seen in the post-office. He answered this description, +but it was too vague to be certain. + +<P> +"Did you say you'd seen him?" asked Mr. Merton, regarding Tom +curiously. + +<P> +"No--yes--that is--well, I'll tell my father about it," stammered +Tom, who concluded that it would be best to say nothing of his +suspicions. "I'll be back right after dinner, Mr. Merton. Please +have the bolts ready for me, if you can." + +<P> +"I will. Is your father going to use them in a new machine?" + +<P> +"Yes; dad is always making new machines," answered the youth, as the +most polite way of not giving the proprietor of the shop any +information. "I'll be back right after dinner," he called as he went +out to get on his wheel. + +<P> +Tom was much puzzled. He felt certain that the man in the postoffice +and the one who had questioned Mr. Merton were the same. + +<P> +"There is something going on, that dad should know about," reflected +Tom. "I must tell him. I don't believe it will be wise to send any +more of his patent work over to Merton. We must do it in the shops +at home, and dad and I will have to keep our eyes open. There may be +spies about seeking to discover something about his new turbine +motor. I'll hurry back with those bolts and tell dad. But first I +must get lunch. I'll go to the restaurant and have a good feed while +I'm at it." + +<P> +Tom had plenty of spending money, some of which came from a small +patent he had marketed himself. He left his wheel outside the +restaurant, first taking the precaution to chain the wheels, and +then went inside. Tom was hungry and ordered a good meal. He was +about half way through it when some one called his name. + +<P> +"Hello, Ned!" he answered, looking up to see a youth about his own +age. "Where did you blow in from?" + +<P> +"Oh, I came over from Shopton this morning," replied Ned Newton, +taking a seat at the table with Tom. The two lads were chums, and in +their younger days had often gone fishing, swimming and hunting +together. Now Ned worked in the Shopton bank, and Tom was so busy +helping his father, so they did not see each other so often. + +<P> +"On business or pleasure?" asked Tom, putting some more sugar in his +coffee. + +<P> +"Business. I had to bring some papers over from our bank to the +First National here. But what about you?" + +<P> +"Oh, I came on dad's account." + +<P> +"Invented anything new?" asked Ned as he gave his order to the +waitress. + +<P> +"No, nothing since the egg-beater I was telling you about. But I'm +working on some things." + +<P> +"Why don't you invent an automobile or an airship?" + +<P> +"Maybe I will some day, but, speaking of autos, did you see the one +Andy Foger has?" + +<P> +"Yes; it's a beaut! Have you seen it?" + +<P> +"Altogether at too close range. He nearly ran over me this morning," +and the young inventor related the occurrence. + +<P> +"Oh, Andy always was too fresh," commented Ned; "and since his +father let him get the touring car I suppose he'll be worse than +ever." + +<P> +"Well, if he tries to run me down again he'll get into trouble," +declared Tom, calling for a second cup of coffee. + +<P> +The two chums began conversing on more congenial topics, and Ned was +telling of a new camera he had, when, from a table directly behind +him, Tom heard some one say in rather loud tones: + +<P> +"The plant is located in Shopton, all right, and the buildings are +near Swift's house." + +<P> +Tom started, and listened more intently. + +<P> +"That will make it more difficult," one man answered. "But if the +invention is as valuable as--" + +<P> +"Hush!" came a caution from another of the party. "This is too +public a place to discuss the matter. Wait until we get out. One of +us will have to see Swift, of course, and if he proves stubborn--" + +<P> +"I guess you'd better hush yourself," retorted the man who had first +spoken, and then the voices subsided. + +<P> +But Tom Swift had overheard something which made him vaguely afraid. +He started so at the sound of his father's name that he knocked a +fork from the table. + +<P> +"What's the matter; getting nervous?" asked Ned with a laugh. + +<P> +"I guess so," replied Tom, and when he stooped to pick the fork up, +not waiting for the girl who was serving at his table, he stole a +look at the strangers who had just entered. He was startled to note +that one of the men was the same he had seen in the post-office--the +man who answered the description of the one who had been inquiring +of Mr. Merton about the Swift shops. + +<P> +"I'm going to keep my ears open," thought Tom as he went on eating +his dinner. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="III"></A> +<H3>Chapter III In A Smash-Up</H3> + + +<P> +Though the young inventor listened intently, in an endeavor to hear +the conversation of the men at the table behind him, all he could +catch was an indistinct murmur. The strangers appeared to have +heeded the caution of one of their number and were speaking in low +tones. + +<P> +Tom and Ned finished their meal, and started to leave the +restaurant. As Mr. Swift's son passed the table where the men sat +they looked up quickly at him. Two of them gave Tom but a passing +glance, but one--he whom the young inventor had noticed in the postoffice +--stared long and intently. + +<P> +"I think he will know me the next time he sees me," thought Tom, and +he boldly returned the glance of the stranger. + +<P> +The bolts were ready when the inventor's son called at the machine +shop a second time, and making a package of them Tom fastened it to +the saddle of his bicycle. He started for home at a fast pace, and +was just turning from a cross road into the main highway when he saw +ahead of him a woman driving a light wagon. As the sun flashed on +Tom's shining wheel the horse gave a sudden leap, swerved to one +side, and then bolted down the dusty stretch, the woman screaming at +the top of her voice. + +<P> +"A runaway!" cried Tom; "and partly my fault, too!" + +<P> +Waiting not an instant the lad bent over his handle-bars and pedaled +with all his force. His bicycle seemed fairly to leap forward after +the galloping horse. + +<P> +"Sit still! Don't jump out! Don't jump!" yelled the young inventor. +"I'll try to catch him!" for the woman was standing up in front of +the seat and leaning forward, as if about to leap from the wagon. + +<P> +"She's lost her head," thought Tom. "No wonder! That's a skittish +horse." + +<P> +Faster and faster he rode, bending all his energies to overtake the +animal. The wagon was swaying from side to side, and more than once +the woman just saved herself from being thrown out by grasping the +edge of the seat. She found that her standing position was a +dangerous one and crouched on the bottom of the swaying vehicle. + +<P> +"That's better!" shouted Tom, but it is doubtful if she heard him, +for the rattling of the wagon and the hoofbeats of the horse drowned +all other sounds. "Sit still!" he shouted. "I'll stop the horse for +you!" + +<P> +Trying to imagine himself in a desperate race, in order to excite +himself to greater speed, Tom continued on. He was now even with the +tail-board of the wagon, and slowly creeping up. The woman was all +huddled up in a lump. + +<P> +"Grab the reins! Grab the reins!" shouted Tom. "Saw on the bit! That +will stop him!" + +<P> +The occupant of the wagon turned to look at the lad. Tom saw that +she was a handsome young lady. "Grab the reins!" he cried again. +"Pull hard!" + +<P> +"I--I can't!" she answered frightenedly. "They have dropped down! +Oh, do please stop the horse! I'm so--so frightened!" + +<P> +"I'll stop him!" declared the youth firmly, and he set his teeth +hard. Then he saw the reason the fair driver could not grasp the +lines. They had slipped over the dashboard and were trailing on the +ground. + +<P> +The horse was slacking speed a bit now, for the pace was telling on +his wind. Tom saw his opportunity, and with a sudden burst of energy +was at the animal's head. Steering his wheel with one hand, with the +other the lad made a grab for the reins near the bit. The horse +swerved frightenedly to one side, but Tom swung in the same +direction. He grasped the leather and then, with a kick, he freed +himself from the bicycle, giving it a shove to one side. He was now +clinging to the reins with both hands, and, being a muscular lad and +no lightweight, his bulk told. + +<P> +"Sit--still!" panted our hero to the young woman, who had arisen to +the seat. "I'll have him stopped in half a minute now!" + +<P> +It was in less time than that, for the horse, finding it impossible +to shake off the grip of Tom, began to slow from a gallop to a trot, +then to a canter, and finally to a slow walk. A moment later the +horse had stopped, breathing heavily from his run. + +<P> +"There, there, now!" spoke Tom soothingly. "You're all right, old +fellow. I hope you're not hurt"--this to the young lady--and Tom +made a motion to raise his cap, only to find that it had blown off. + +<P> +"Oh, no--no; I'm more frightened than hurt." + +<P> +"It was all my fault," declared the young inventor. "I should not +have swung into the road so suddenly. My bicycle alarmed your +horse." + +<P> +"Oh, I fancy Dobbin is easily disturbed," admitted the fair driver. +"I can't thank you enough for stopping him. You saved me from a bad +accident." + +<P> +"It was the least I could do. Are you all right now?" and he handed +up the dangling reins. "I think Dobbin, as you call him, has had +enough of running," went on Tom, for the horse was now quiet. + +<P> +"I hope so. Yes, I am all right. I trust your wheel is not damaged. +If it is, my father, Mr. Amos Nestor, of Mansburg, will gladly pay +for its repair." + +<P> +This reminded the young inventor of his bicycle, and making sure +that the horse would not start up again, he went to where his wheel +and his cap lay. He found that the only damage to the bicycle was a +few bent spokes, and, straightening them and having again apologized +to the young woman, receiving in turn her pardon and thanks, and +learning that her name was Mary Nestor, Tom once more resumed his +trip. The wagon followed him at a distance, the horse evincing no +desire now to get out of a slow amble. + +<P> +"Well, things are certainly happening to me to-day," mused Tom as he +pedaled on. "That might have been a serious runaway if there'd been +anything in the road." + +<P> +Tom did not stop to think that he had been mainly instrumental in +preventing a bad accident, as he had been the innocent cause of +starting the runaway, but Tom was ever a modest lad. His arms were +wrenched from jerking on the bridle, but he did not mind that much, +and bent over the handle-bars to make up for lost time. + +<P> +Our hero was within a short distance of his house and was coasting +easily along when, just ahead of him, he saw a cloud of dust, very +similar to the one that had, some time before, concealed the +inexperienced motor-cyclist. + +<P> +"I wonder if that's him again?" thought Tom. "If it is I'm going to +hang back until I see which way he's headed. No use running any more +risks." + +<P> +Almost at that moment a puff of wind blew some of the dust to one +side. Tom had a glimpse of the man on the puffing machine. + +<P> +"It's the same chap!" he exclaimed aloud; "and he's going the same +way I am. Well, I'll not try to catch up to him. I wonder what he's +been doing all this while, that he hasn't gotten any farther than +this? Either he's been riding back and forth, or else he's been +resting. My, but he certainly is scooting along!" + +<P> +The wind carried to Tom the sound of the explosions of the motor, +and he could see the man clinging tightly to the handle-bars. The +rider was almost in front of Tom's house now, when, with a +suddenness that caused the lad to utter an exclamation of alarm, the +stranger turned his machine right toward a big oak tree. + +<P> +"What's he up to?" cried Tom excitedly. "Does he think he can climb +that, or is he giving an exhibition by showing how close he can come +and not hit it?" + +<P> +A moment later the motor-cyclist struck the tree a glancing blow. +The man went flying over the handle-bars, the machine was shunted to +the ditch along the road, and falling over on one side the motor +raced furiously. The rider lay in a heap at the foot of the tree. + +<P> +"My, that was a smash!" cried Tom. "He must be killed!" and bending +forward, he raced toward the scene of the accident. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="IV"></A> +<H3>Chapter IV Tom And A Motor-Cycle</H3> + + +<P> +When Tom reached the prostrate figure on the grass at the foot of +the old oak tree, the youth bent quickly over the man. There was an +ugly cut on his head, and blood was flowing from it. But Tom quickly +noticed that the stranger was breathing, though not very strongly. + +<P> +"Well, he's not dead--just yet!" exclaimed the youth with a sigh of +relief. "But I guess he's pretty badly hurt. I must get help--no, +I'll take him into our house. It's not far. I'll call dad." + +<P> +Leaning his wheel against the tree Tom started for his home, about +three hundred feet away, and then he noticed that the stranger's +motor-cycle was running at full speed on the ground. + +<P> +"Guess I'd better shut off the power!" he exclaimed. "No use letting +the machine be ruined." Tom had a natural love for machinery, and it +hurt him almost as much to see a piece of fine apparatus abused as +it did to see an animal mistreated. It was the work of a +moment to shut off the gasolene and spark, and then the youth raced +on toward his house. + +<P> +"Where's dad?" he called to Mrs. Baggert, who was washing the +dishes. + +<P> +"Out in one of the shops," replied the housekeeper. "Why, Tom," she +went on hurriedly as she saw how excited he was, "whatever has +happened?" + +<P> +"Man hurt--out in front--motor-cycle smash--I'm going to bring him +in here--get some things ready--I'll find dad!" + +<P> +"Bless and save us!" cried Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever are we coming to? +Who's hurt? How did it happen? Is he dead?" + +<P> +"Haven't time to talk now!" answered Tom, rushing from the house. +"Dad and I will bring him in here." + +<P> +Tom found his father in one of the three small machine shops on the +grounds about the Swift home. The youth hurriedly told what had +happened. + +<P> +"Of course we'll bring him right in here!" assented Mr. Swift, +putting aside the work upon which he was engaged. "Did you tell Mrs. +Baggert?" + +<P> +"Yes, and she's all excited." + +<P> +"Well, she can't help it, being a woman, I suppose. But we'll +manage. Do you know the man?" + +<P> +"Never saw him before to-day, when he tried to run me down. Guess he +doesn't know much about motor-cycles. But come on, dad. He may bleed +to death." + +<P> +Father and son hurried to where the stranger lay. As they bent over +him he opened his eyes and asked faintly: + +<P> +"Where am I? What happened?" + +<P> +"You're all right--in good hands," said Mr. Swift. "Are you much +hurt?" + +<P> +"Not much--mostly stunned, I guess. What happened?" he repeated. + +<P> +"You and your motor-cycle tried to climb a tree," remarked Tom with +grim humor. + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I remember now. I couldn't seem to steer out of the way. +And I couldn't shut off the power in time. Is the motor-cycle much +damaged?" + +<P> +"The front wheel is," reported Tom, after an inspection, "and there +are some other breaks, but I guess--" + +<P> +"I wish it was all smashed!" exclaimed the man vigorously. "I never +want to see it again!" + +<P> +"Why, don't you like it?" asked Tom eagerly. + +<P> +"No, and I never will," the man spoke faintly but determinedly. + +<P> +"Never mind now," interposed Mr. Swift. "Don't excite yourself. My +son and I will take you to our house and send for a doctor." + +<P> +"I'll bring the motor-cycle, after we've carried you in," added Tom. + +<P> +"Don't worry about the machine. I never want to see it again!" went +on the man, rising to a sitting position. "It nearly killed me twice +to day. I'll never ride again." + +<P> +"You'll feel differently after the doctor fixes you up," said Mr. +Swift with a smile. + +<P> +"Doctor! I don't need a doctor," cried the stranger. "I am only +bruised and shaken up." + +<P> +"You have a bad cut on your head," said Tom. + +<P> +"It isn't very deep," went on the injured man, placing his fingers +on it. "Fortunately I struck the tree a glancing blow. If you will +allow me to rest in your house a little while and give me some +plaster for the cut I shall be all right again." + +<P> +"Can you walk, or shall we carry you?" asked Tom's father. + +<P> +"Oh, I can walk, if you'll support me a little." And the stranger +proved that he could do this by getting to his feet and taking a few +steps. Mr. Swift and his son took hold of his arms and led him to +the house. There he was placed on a lounge and given some simple +restoratives by Mrs. Baggert, who, when she found the accident was +not serious, recovered her composure. + +<P> +"I must have been unconscious for a few minutes," went on the man. + +<P> +"You were," explained Tom. "When I got up to you I thought you were +dead, until I saw you breathe. Then I shut off the power of your +machine and ran in for dad. I've got the motor-cycle outside. You +can't ride it for some time, I'm afraid, Mr.--er--" and Tom stopped +in some confusion, for he realized that he did not know the man's +name. + +<P> +"I beg your pardon for not introducing myself before," went on the +stranger. "I'm Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield. But don't worry about +me riding that machine again. I never shall." + +<P> +"Oh, perhaps--" began Mr. Swift. + +<P> +"No, I never shall," went on Mr. Damon positively. "My doctor told +me to get it, as he thought riding around the country would benefit +my health I shall tell him his prescription nearly killed me." + +<P> +"And me too," added Tom with a laugh. + +<P> +"How--why--are you the young man I nearly ran down this morning?" +asked Mr. Damon, suddenly sitting up and looking at the youth. + +<P> +"I am," answered our hero. + +<P> +"Bless my soul! So you are!" cried Mr. Damon. "I was wondering who +it could be. It's quite a coincidence. But I was in such a cloud of +dust I couldn't make out who it was." + +<P> +"You had your muffler open, and that made considerable dust," +explained Tom. + +<P> +"Was that it? Bless my existence! I thought something was wrong, but +I couldn't tell what. I went over all the instructions in the book +and those the agent told me, but I couldn't think of the right one. +I tried all sorts of things to make less dust, but I couldn't. Then, +bless my eyelashes, if the machine didn't stop just after I nearly +ran into you. I tinkered over it for an hour or more before I could +get it to going again. Then I ran into the tree. My doctor told me +the machine would do my liver good, but, bless my happiness, I'd as +soon be without a liver entirely as to do what I've done to-day. I +am done with motor-cycling!" + +<P> +A hopeful look came over Tom's face, but he said nothing, that is, +not just then. In a little while Mr. Damon felt so much better that +he said he would start for home. "I'm afraid you'll have to leave +your machine here," said Tom. + +<P> +"You can send for it any time you want to," added Mr. Swift. + +<P> +"Bless my hatband!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who appeared to be very +fond of blessing his various organs and his articles of wearing +apparel. "Bless my hatband! I never want to see it again! If you +will be so kind as to keep it for me, I will send a junk man after +it. I will never spend anything on having it repaired. I am done +with that form of exercise--liver or no liver--doctor or no doctor." + +<P> +He appeared very determined. Tom quickly made up his mind. Mr. Damon +had gone to the bathroom to get rid of some of the mud on his hands +and face. + +<P> +"Father," said Tom earnestly, "may I buy that machine of him?" + +<P> +"What? Buy a broken motor-cycle?" + +<P> +"I can easily fix it. It is a fine make, and in good condition. I +can repair it. I've wanted a motor-cycle for some time, and here's a +chance to get a good one cheap." + +<P> +"You don't need to do that," replied Mr. Swift. "You have money +enough to buy a new one if you want it. I never knew you cared for +them." + +<P> +"I didn't, until lately. But I'd rather buy this one and fix it up +than get a new one. Besides, I have an idea for a new kind of +transmission, and perhaps I can work it out on this machine." + +<P> +"Oh, well, if you want it for experimental purposes, I suppose it +will be as good as any. Go ahead, get it if you wish, but don't give +too much for it." + +<P> +"I'll not. I fancy I can get it cheap." + +<P> +Mr. Damon returned to the living-room, where he had first been +carried. + +<P> +"I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me," he said. +"I might have lain there for hours. Bless my very existence! I have +had a very narrow escape. Hereafter when I see anyone on a motor-cycle +I shall turn my head away. The memory will be too painful," +and he touched the plaster that covered a cut on his head. + +<P> +"Mr. Damon," said Tom quickly, "will you sell me that motor-cycle?" + +<P> +"Bless my finger rings! Sell you that mass of junk?" + +<P> +"It isn't all junk," went on the young inventor. "I can easily fix +it; though, of course," he added prudently, "it will cost something. +How much would you want for it?" + +<P> +"Well," replied Mr. Damon, "I paid two hundred and fifty dollars +last week. I have ridden a hundred miles on it. That is at the rate +of two dollars and a half a mile--pretty expensive riding. But if +you are in earnest I will let you have the machine for fifty +dollars, and then I fear that I will be taking advantage of you." + +<P> +"I'll give you fifty dollars," said Tom quickly, and Mr. Damon +exclaimed: + +<P> +"Bless my liver--that is, if I have one. Do you mean it?" + +<P> +Tom nodded. "I'll fetch you the money right away," he said, starting +for his room. He got the cash from a small safe he had arranged, +which was fitted up with an ingenious burglar alarm, and was on his +way downstairs when he heard his father call out: + +<P> +"Here! What do you want? Go away from that shop! No one is allowed +there!" and looking from an upper window, Tom saw his father running +toward a stranger, who was just stepping inside the shop where Mr. +Swift was constructing his turbine motor. Tom started as he saw that +the stranger was the same black-mustached man whom he had noticed in +the post-office, and, later, in the restaurant at Mansburg. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="V"></A> +<H3>Chapter V Mr. Swift Is Alarmed</H3> + + +<P> +Stuffing the money which he intended to give to Mr. Damon in his +pocket, Tom ran downstairs. As he passed through the living-room, +intending to see what the disturbance was about, and, if necessary, +aid his father, the owner of the broken motor-cycle exclaimed: + +<P> +"What's the matter? What has happened? Bless my coat-tails, but is +anything wrong?" + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Tom. "There is a stranger about the shop, +and my father never allows that. I'll be back in a minute." + +<P> +"Take your time," advised the somewhat eccentric Mr. Damon. "I find +my legs are a bit weaker than I suspected, and I will be glad to +rest a while longer. Bless my shoelaces, but don't hurry!" + +<P> +Tom went into the rear yard, where the shops, in a small cluster of +buildings, were located. He saw his father confronting the man with +the black mustache, and Mr. Swift was saying: + +<P> +"What do you want? I allow no people to come in here unless I or my +son invites them. Did you wish to see me?" + +<P> +"Are you Mr. Barton Swift?" asked the man. + +<P> +"Yes, that is my name." + +<P> +"The inventor of the Swift safety lamp, and the turbine motor?" + +<P> +At the mention of the motor Mr. Swift started. + +<P> +"I am the inventor of the safety lamp you mention," he said stiffly, +"but I must decline to talk about the motor. May I ask where you +obtained your information concerning it?" + +<P> +"Why, I am not at liberty to tell," went on the man. "I called to +see if we could negotiate with you for the sale of it. Parties whom +I represent--" + +<P> +At that moment Tom plucked his father by the sleeve. + +<P> +"Dad," whispered the youth, "I saw him in Mansburg. I think he is +one of several who have been inquiring in Mr. Merton's shop about +you and your patents. I wouldn't have anything to do with him until +I found out more about him." + +<P> +"Is that so?" asked Mr. Swift quickly. Then, turning to the +stranger, he said: "My son tells me--" + +<P> +But Mr. Swift got no further, for at that moment the stranger caught +sight of Tom, whom he had not noticed before. + +<P> +"Ha!" exclaimed the man. "I have forgotten something--an important +engagement--will be back directly--will see you again, Mr. Swift-- +excuse the trouble I have put you to--I am in a great hurry," and +before father or son could stop him, had they any desire to, the man +turned and walked quickly from the yard. + +<P> +Mr. Swift stood staring at him, and so did Tom. Then the inventor +asked: + +<P> +"Do you know that man? What about him, Tom? Why did he leave so +hurriedly?" + +<P> +"I don't know his name," replied Tom, "but I am suspicious regarding +him, and I think he left because he suddenly recognized me." +Thereupon he told his father of seeing the man in the post-office, +and hearing the talk of the same individual and two companions in +the restaurant. + +<P> +"And so you think they are up to some mischief, Tom?" asked the +parent when the son had finished. + +<P> +"Well, I wouldn't go quite as far as that, but I think they are +interested in your patents, and you ought to know whether you want +them to be, or not." + +<P> +"I most certainly do not--especially in the turbine motor. That is +my latest invention, and, I think, will prove very valuable. But, +though I have not mentioned it before, I expect to have trouble with +it. Soon after I perfected it, with the exception of some minor +details, I received word from a syndicate of rich men that I was +infringing on a motor, the patent of which they controlled." + +<P> +"This surprised me for two reasons. One was because I did not know +that any one knew I had invented the motor. I had kept the matter +secret, and I am at a loss to know how it leaked out. To prevent any +further information concerning my plans becoming public, I sent you +to Mansburg to-day. But it seems that the precaution was of little +avail. Another matter of surprise was the information that I was +infringing on the patent of some one else. I had a very careful +examination made, and I found that the syndicate of rich men was +wrong. I was not infringing. In fact, though the motor they have is +somewhat like mine, there is one big difference--theirs does not +work, while mine does. Their patents are worthless." + +<P> +"Then what do you think is their object?" + +<P> +"I think they want to get control of my invention of the turbine +motor, Tom. That is what has been worrying me lately. I know these +men to be unscrupulous, and, with plenty of money, they may make +trouble for me." + +<P> +"But can't you fight them in the courts?" + +<P> +"Yes, I could do that. It is not as if I was a poor man, but I do +not like lawsuits. I want to live quietly and invent things. I +dislike litigation. However, if they force it on me I will fight!" +exclaimed Mr. Swift determinedly. + +<P> +"Do you think this man was one of the crowd of financiers?" asked +Tom. + +<P> +"It would be hard to say. I did not like his actions, and the fact +that he sneaked in here, as if he was trying to get possession of +some of my models or plans, makes it suspicious." + +<P> +"It certainly does," agreed Tom. "Now, if we only knew his name we +could--" + +<P> +He suddenly paused in his remark and sprang forward. He picked up an +envelope that had dropped where the stranger had been standing. + +<P> +"The man lost this from his pocket, dad," said Tom eagerly. "It's a +telegram. Shall we look at it?" + +<P> +"I think we will be justified in protecting ourselves. Is the +envelope open?" + +<P> +"Yes." + +<P> +"Then read the telegram." + +<P> +Tom drew out a folded yellow slip of paper. It was a short message. +He read: + +<P> +"'Anson Morse, Mansburg. See Swift to-day. Make offer. If not +accepted do the best you can. Spare no effort. Don't give plans +away.'" + +<P> +"Is that all?" asked Mr. Swift. + +<P> +"All except the signature." + +<P> +"Who is the telegram signed by?" + +<P> +"By Smeak & Katch," answered Tom. + +<P> +"Those rascally lawyers!" exclaimed his father. "I was beginning to +suspect this. That is the firm which represents the syndicate of +wealthy men who are trying to get my turbine motor patents away from +me. Tom, we must be on our guard! They will wage a fierce fight +against me, for they have sunk many thousands of dollars in a +worthless machine, and are desperate." + +<P> +"We'll fight 'em!" cried Tom. "You and I, dad! We'll show 'em that +the firm of Swift & Son is swift by name and swift by nature!" + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed the inventor. "I'm glad you feel that way about +it, Tom. But we are going to have no easy task. Those men are rich +and unscrupulous. We shall have to be on guard constantly. Let me +have that telegram. It may come in useful. Now I must send word to +Reid & Crawford, my attorneys in Washington, to be on the lookout. +Matters are coming to a curious pass." + +<P> +As Mr. Swift and his son started for the house, they met Mr. Damon +coming toward them. + +<P> +"Bless my very existence!" cried the eccentric man. "I was beginning +to fear something had happened to you. I am glad that you are all +right. I heard voices, and I imagined--" + +<P> +"It's all right," Mr. Swift reassured him. "There was a stranger +about my shop, and I never allow that. Do you feel well enough to +go? If not we shall be glad to have you remain with us. We have +plenty of room." + +<P> +"Oh, thank you very much, but I must be going. I feel much better. +Bless my gaiters, but I never will trust myself in even an +automobile again! I will renounce gasolene from now on." + +<P> +"That reminds me," spoke Tom. "I have the money for the motor-cycle," +and he drew out the bills. "You are sure you will not regret +your bargain, Mr. Damon? The machine is new, and needs only slight +repairs. Fifty dollars is--" + +<P> +"Tut, tut, young man! I feel as if I was getting the best of you. +Bless my handkerchief! I hope you have no bad luck with it." + +<P> +"I'll try and be careful," promised Tom with a smile as he handed +over the money. "I am going to gear it differently and put some +improvements on it. Then I will use it instead of my bicycle." + +<P> +"It would have to be very much improved before I trusted myself on +it again," declared Mr. Damon. "Well, I appreciate what you have +done for me, and if at any time I can reciprocate the favor, I will +only be too glad to do so. Bless my soul, though, I hope I don't +have to rescue you from trying to climb a tree," and with a laugh, +which showed that he had fully recovered from his mishap, he shook +hands with father and son and left. + +<P> +"A very nice man, Tom," commented Mr. Swift. "Somewhat odd and out +of the ordinary, but a very fine character, for all that." + +<P> +"That's what I say," added the son. "Now, dad, you'll see me +scooting around the country on a motor-cycle. I've always wanted +one, and now I have a bargain." + +<P> +"Do you think you can repair it?" + +<P> +"Of course, dad. I've done more difficult things than that. I'm +going to take it apart now, and see what it needs." + +<P> +"Before you do that, Tom, I wish you would take a telegram to town +for me. I must wire my lawyers at once." + +<P> +"Dad looks worried," thought Tom as he wheeled the broken motor-cycle +into a machine shop, where he did most of his work. "Well, I +don't blame him. But we'll get the best of those scoundrels yet!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VI"></A> +<H3>Chapter VI An Interview In The Dark</H3> + + +<P> +While Mr. Swift was writing the message he wished his son to take to +the village, the young mechanic inspected the motor-cycle he had +purchased. Tom found that a few repairs would suffice to put it in +good shape, though an entire new front wheel would be needed. The +motor had not been damaged, as he ascertained by a test. Tom rode +into town on his bicycle, and as he hurried along he noticed in the +west a bank of ugly-looking clouds that indicated a shower. + +<P> +"I'm in for a wetting before I get back," he mused, and he increased +his speed, reaching the telegraph office shortly before seven +o'clock. + +<P> +"Think this storm will hold off until I get home?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I'm afraid not," answered the agent. "You'd better get a hustle +on." + +<P> +Tom sprinted off. It was getting dark rapidly, and when he was about +a mile from home he felt several warm drops on his face. + +<P> +"Here it comes!" exclaimed the youth. "Now for a little more speed!" + +<P> +Tom pressed harder on the pedals, too hard, in fact, for an instant +later something snapped, and the next he knew he was flying over the +handlebars of the bicycle. At the same time there was a metallic, +clinking sound. + +<P> +"Chain's busted!" exclaimed the lad as he picked himself up out of +the dust. "Well, wouldn't that jar you!" and he walked back to +where, in the dusk, he could dimly discern his wheel. + +<P> +The chain had come off the two sprockets and was lying to one side. +Tom picked it up and ascertained by close observation that the screw +and nut holding the two joining links together was lost. + +<P> +"Nice pickle!" he murmured. "How am I going to find it in all this +dust and darkness?" he asked himself disgustedly. "I'll carry an +extra screw next time. No, I won't, either. I'll ride my motor-cycle +next time. Well, I may as well give a look around. I hate to walk, +if I can fix it and ride." + +<P> +Tom had not spent more than two minutes looking about the dusty +road, with the aid of matches, for the screw, when the rain suddenly +began falling in a hard shower. + +<P> +"Guess there's no use lingering here any longer," he remarked. "I'll +push the wheel and run for home." + +<P> +He started down the road in the storm and darkness. The highway soon +became a long puddle of mud, through which he splashed, finding it +more and more difficult every minute to push the bicycle in the +thick, sticky clay. + +<P> +Above the roar of the wind and the swishing of the rain he heard +another sound. It was a steady "puff-puff," and then the darkness +was cut by a glare of light. + +<P> +"An automobile," said Tom aloud. "Guess I'd better get out of the +way." + +<P> +He turned to one side, but the auto, instead of passing him when it +got to the place where he was, made a sudden stop. + +<P> +"Want a ride?" asked the chauffeur, peering out from the side +curtains which somewhat protected him from the storm. Tom saw that +the car was a large, touring one. "Can I give you a lift?" went on +the driver. + +<P> +"Well, I've got my bicycle with me," explained the young inventor. +"My chain's broken, and I've got a mile to go." + +<P> +"Jump up in back," invited the man. "Leave your wheel here; I guess +it will be safe." + +<P> +"Oh, I couldn't do that," said Tom. "I don't mind walking. I'm wet +through now, and I can't get much wetter. I'm much obliged, though." + +<P> +"Well, I'm sorry, but I can hardly take you and the bicycle, too," +continued the chauffeur. + +<P> +"Certainly not," added a voice from the tonneau of the car. "We +can't have a muddy bicycle in here. Who is that person, Simpson?" + +<P> +"It's a young man," answered the driver. + +<P> +"Is he acquainted around here?" went on the voice from the rear of +the car. "Ask him if he is acquainted around here, Simpson." + +<P> +Tom was wondering where he had heard that voice before. He had a +vague notion that it was familiar. + +<P> +"Are you acquainted around here?" obediently asked the man at the +wheel. + +<P> +"I live here," replied Tom. + +<P> +"Ask him if he knows any one named Swift?" continued the voice from +the tonneau, and the driver started to repeat it. + +<P> +"I heard him," interrupted Tom. "Yes, I know a Mr. Swift;" but Tom, +with a sudden resolve, and one he could hardly explain, decided +that, for the present, he would not betray his own identity. + +<P> +"Ask him if Mr. Swift is an inventor." Once more the unseen person +spoke in the voice Tom was trying vainly to recall. + +<P> +"Yes, he is an inventor," was the youth's answer. + +<P> +"Do you know much about him? What are his habits? Does he live near +his workshops? Does he keep many servants? Does he--" + +<P> +The unseen questioner suddenly parted the side curtains and peered +out at Tom, who stood in the muddy road, close to the automobile. At +that moment there came a bright flash of lightning, illuminating not +only Tom's face, but that of his questioner as well. And at the +sight Tom started, no less than did the man. For Tom had recognized +him as one of the three mysterious persons in the restaurant, and as +for the man, he had also recognized Tom. + +<P> +"Ah--er--um--is--Why, it's you, isn't it?" cried the questioner, and +he thrust his head farther out from between the curtains. "My, what a +storm!" he exclaimed as the rain increased. "So you know Mr. Swift, +eh? I saw you to-day in Mansburg, I think. I have a good memory for +faces. Do you work for Mr. Swift? If you do I may be able to--" + +<P> +"I'm Tom Swift, son of Mr. Barton Swift," said Tom as quietly as he +could. + +<P> +"Tom Swift! His son!" cried the man, and he seemed much agitated. +"Why, I thought--that is, Morse said--Simpson, hurry back to +Mansburg!" and with that, taking no more notice of Tom, the man in +the auto hastily drew the curtains together. + +<P> +The chauffeur threw in the gears and swung the ponderous machine to +one side. The road was wide, and he made the turn skilfully. A +moment later the car was speeding back the way it had come, leaving +Tom standing on the highway, alone in the mud and darkness, with the +rain pouring down in torrents. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VII"></A> +<H3>Chapter VII Off On A Spin</H3> + + +<P> +Tom's first impulse was to run after the automobile, the red taillight +of which glowed through the blackness like a ruby eye. Then he +realized that it was going from him at such a swift pace that it +would be impossible to get near it, even if his bicycle was in +working order. + +<P> +"But if I had my motor-cycle I'd catch up to them," he murmured. "As +it is, I must hurry home and tell dad. This is another link in the +queer chain that seems to be winding around us. I wonder who that +man was, and what he wanted by asking so many personal questions +about dad?" + +<P> +Trundling his wheel before him, with the chain dangling from the +handle-bar, Tom splashed on through the mud and rain. It was a +lonesome, weary walk, tired as he was with the happenings of the +day, and the young inventor breathed a sigh of thankfulness as the +lights of his home shone out in the mist of the storm. As he tramped +up the steps of the side porch, his wheel bumping along ahead of +him, a door was thrown open. + +<P> +"Why, it's Tom!" exclaimed Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever happened to you?" +and she hurried forward with kindly solicitude, for the housekeeper +was almost a second mother to the youth. + +<P> +"Chain broke," answered the lad laconically. "Where's dad?" + +<P> +"Out in the shop, working at his latest invention, I expect. But are +you hurt?" + +<P> +"Oh, no. I fell easily. The mud was like a feather-bed, you know, +except that it isn't so good for the clothes," and the young +inventor looked down at his splashed and bedraggled garments. + +<P> +Mr. Swift was very much surprised when Tom told him of the happening +on the road, and related the conversation and the subsequent alarm +of the man on learning Tom's identity. + +<P> +"Who do you suppose he could have been?" asked Tom, when he had +finished. + +<P> +"I am pretty certain he was one of that crowd of financiers of whom +Anson Morse seems to be a representative," said Mr. Swift. "Are you +sure the man was one of those you saw in the restaurant?" + +<P> +"Positive. I had a good look at him both times. Do you think he +imagined he could come here and get possession of some of your +secrets?" + +<P> +"I hardly know what to think, Tom. But we will take every +precaution. We will set the burglar alarm wires, which I have +neglected for some time, as I fancied everything would be secure +here. Then I will take my plans and the model of the turbine motor +into the house. I'll run no chances to-night." + +<P> +Mr. Swift, who was adjusting some of the new bolts that Tom had +brought home that day; began to gather up his tools and material. + +<P> +"I'll help you, dad," said Tom, and he began connecting the burglar +alarm wires, there being an elaborate system of them about the +house, shops and grounds. + +<P> +Neither Tom nor his father slept well that night. Several times one +or the other of them arose, thinking they heard unusual noises, but +it was only some disturbance caused by the storm, and morning +arrived without anything unusual having taken place. The rain still +continued, and Tom, looking from his window and seeing the downpour, +remarked: + +<P> +"I'm glad of it!" + +<P> +"Why?" asked his father, who was in the next room. + +<P> +"Because I'll have a good excuse for staying in and working on my +motor-cycle." + +<P> +"But you must do some studying," declared Mr. Swift. "I will hear +you in mathematics right after breakfast." + +<P> +"All right, dad. I guess you'll find I have my lessons." + +<P> +Tom had graduated with honors from a local academy, and when it came +to a question of going further in his studies, he had elected to +continue with his father for a tutor, instead of going to college. +Mr. Swift was a very learned man, and this arrangement was +satisfactory to him, as it allowed Tom more time at home, so he +could aid his father on the inventive work and also plan things for +himself. Tom showed a taste for mechanics, and his father wisely +decided that such training as his son needed could be given at home +to better advantage than in a school or college. + +<P> +Lessons over, Tom hurried to his own particular shop, and began +taking apart the damaged motor-cycle. + +<P> +"First I'll straighten the handle-bars, and then I'll fix the motor +and transmission," he decided. "The front wheel I can buy in town, +as this one would hardly pay for repairing." Tom was soon busy with +wrenches, hammers, pliers and screw-driver. He was in his element, +and was whistling over his task. The motor he found in good +condition, but it was not such an easy task as he had hoped to +change the transmission. He had finally to appeal to his father, in +order to get the right proportion between the back and front gears, +for the motor-cycle was operated by a sprocket chain, instead of a +belt drive, as is the case with some. + +<P> +Mr. Swift showed Tom how to figure out the number of teeth needed on +each sprocket, in order to get an increase of speed, and as there +was a sprocket wheel from a disused piece of machinery available, +Tom took that. He soon had it in place, and then tried the motor. To +his delight the number of revolutions of the rear wheel were +increased about fifteen per cent. + +<P> +"I guess I'll make some speed," he announced to his father. + +<P> +"But it will take more gasolene to run the motor; don't forget that. +You know the great principle of mechanics--that you can't get out of +a machine any more than you put into it, nor quite as much, as a +matter of fact, for considerable is lost through friction." + +<P> +"Well, then, I'll enlarge the gasolene tank," declared Tom. "I want +to go fast when I'm going." + +<P> +He reassembled the machine, and after several hours of work had it +in shape to run, except that a front wheel was lacking. + +<P> +"I think I'll go to town and get one," he remarked. "The rain isn't +quite so hard now." + +<P> +In spite of his father's mild objections Tom went, using his +bicycle, the chain of which he had quickly repaired. He found just +the front wheel needed, and that night his motor-cycle was ready to +run. But it was too dark to try it then, especially as he had no +good lantern, the one on the cycle having been smashed, and his own +bicycle light not being powerful enough. So he had to postpone his +trial trip until the next day. + +<P> +He was up early the following morning, and went out for a spin +before breakfast. He came back, with flushed cheeks and bright eyes, +just as Mr. Swift and Mrs. Baggert were sitting down to the table. + +<P> +"To Reedville and back," announced Tom proudly. + +<P> +"What, a round trip of thirty miles!" exclaimed Mr. Swift. + +<P> +"That's what!" declared his son. "I went like a greased pig most of +the way. I had to slow up going through Mansburg, but the rest of at +time I let it out for all it was worth." + +<P> +"You must be careful," cautioned his father. "You are not an expert +yet." + +<P> +"No, I realize that. Several times, when I wanted to slow up, I +began to back-pedal, forgetting that I wasn't on my bicycle. Then I +thought to shut off the power and put on the brake. But it's +glorious fun. I'm going out again as soon as I have something to +eat. That is, unless you want me to help you, dad." + +<P> +"No, not this morning. Learn to ride the motor-cycle. It may come in +handy." + +<P> +Neither Tom nor his father realized what an important part the +machine was soon to play in their lives. + +<P> +Tom went out for another spin after breakfast, and in a different +direction. He wanted to see what the machine would do on a hill, and +there was a long, steep one about five miles from home. The roads +were in fine shape after the rain, and he speeded up the incline at +a rapid rate. + +<P> +"It certainly does eat up the road," the lad murmured. "I have +improved this machine considerably. Wish I could take out a patent +on it." + +<P> +Reaching the crest of the slope, he started down the incline. He +turned off part of the power, and was gliding along joyously, when +from a cross-road he suddenly saw turn into the main highway a mule, +drawing a ramshackle wagon, loaded with fence posts. Beside the +animal walked an old colored man. + +<P> +"I hope he gets out of the way in time," thought Tom. "He's moving +as slow as molasses, and I'm going a bit faster than I like. Guess +I'll shut off and put on the brakes." + +<P> +The mule and wagon were now squarely across the road. Tom was coming +nearer and nearer. He turned the handle-grip, controlling the supply +of gasolene, and to his horror he found that it was stuck. He could +not stop the motor-cycle! + +<P> +"Look out! Look out!" cried Tom to the negro. "Get out of the way! I +can't stop! Let me pass you!" + +<P> +The darky looked up. He saw the approaching machine, and he seemed +to lose possession of his senses. + +<P> +"Whoa, Boomerang!" cried the negro. "Whoa! Suffin's gwine t' +happen!" + +<P> +"That's what!" muttered Tom desperately, as he saw that there was +not room for him to pass without going into the ditch, a proceeding +that would mean an upset. "Pull out of the way!" he yelled again. + +<P> +But either the driver could not understand, or did not appreciate +the necessity. The mule stopped and reared up. The colored man +hurried to the head of the animal to quiet it. + +<P> +"Whoa, Boomerang! Jest yo' stand still!" he said. + +<P> +Tom, with a great effort, managed to twist the grip and finally shut +off the gasolene. But it was too late. He struck the darky with the +front wheel. Fortunately the youth had managed to somewhat reduce +his speed by a quick application of the brake, or the result might +have been serious. As it was, the colored man was gently lifted away +from the mule's head and tossed into the long grass in the ditch. +Tom, by a great effort, succeeded in maintaining his seat in the +saddle, and then, bringing the machine to a stop, he leaped off and +turned back. + +<P> +The colored man was sitting up, looking dazed. + +<P> +"Whoa, Boomerang!" he murmured. "Suffin's happened!" + +<P> +But the mule, who had quieted down, only waggled his ears lazily, +and Tom, ready to laugh, now that he saw he had not committed +manslaughter, hurried to where the colored man was sitting. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter VIII Suspicious Actions</H3> + + +<P> +"Are you hurt?" asked Tom as he leaned his motor-cycle against the +fence and stood beside the negro. + +<P> +"Hurt?" repeated the darky. "I'se killed, dat's what I is! I ain't +got a whole bone in mah body! Good landy, but I suttinly am in a +awful state! Would yo' mind tellin' me if dat ar' mule am still +alive?" + +<P> +"Of course he is," answered Tom. "He isn't hurt a bit. But why can't +you turn around and look for yourself?" + +<P> +"No, sah! No, indeedy, sah!" replied the colored man. "Yo' doan't +catch dis yeah nigger lookin' around!" + +<P> +"Why not?" + +<P> +"Why not? 'Cause I'll tell yo' why not. I'm so stiff an' I'm so +nearly broke t' pieces, dat if I turn mah head around it suah will +twist offen mah body. No, sah! No, indeedy, sah, I ain't gwine t' +turn 'round. But am yo' suah dat mah mule Boomerang ain't hurted?" + +<P> +"No, he's not hurt a bit, and I'm sure you are not. I didn't strike +you hard, for I had almost stopped my machine. Try to get up. I'm +positive you'll find yourself all right. I'm sorry it happened." + +<P> +"Oh, dat's all right. Doan't mind me," went on the colored man. "It +was mah fault fer gittin in de road. But dat mule Boomerang am +suttinly de most outrageous quadruped dat ever circumlocuted." + +<P> +"Why do you call him Boomerang?" asked Tom, wondering if the negro +really was hurt. + +<P> +"What fo' I call him Boomerang? Did yo' eber see dem Australian +black mans what go around wid a circus t'row dem crooked sticks dey +calls boomerangs?" + +<P> +"Yes, I've seen them." + +<P> +"Well, Boomerang, mah mule, am jest laik dat. He's crooked, t' begin +wid, an' anudder t'ing, yo' can't never tell when yo' start him whar +he's gwine t' land up. Dat's why I calls him Boomerang." + +<P> +"I see. It's a very proper name. But why don't you try to get up?" + +<P> +"Does yo' t'ink I can?" + +<P> +"Sure. Try it. By the way, what's your name?" + +<P> +"My name? Why I was christened Eradicate Andrew Jackson Abraham +Lincoln Sampson, but folks most ginnerally calls me Eradicate +Sampson, an' some doan't eben go to dat length. Dey jest calls me +Rad, fo' short." + +<P> +"Eradicate," mused Tom. "That's a queer name, too. Why were you +called that?" + +<P> +"Well, yo' see I eradicates de dirt. I'm a cleaner an' a whitewasher +by profession, an' somebody gib me dat name. Dey said it were fitten +an' proper, an' I kept it eber sence. Yais, sah, I'se Eradicate +Sampson, at yo' service. Yo' ain't got no chicken coops yo' wants +cleaned out, has yo'? Or any stables or fences t' whitewash? I +guarantees satisfaction." + +<P> +"Well, I might find some work for you to do," replied the young +inventor, thinking this would be as good a means as any of placating +the darky. "But come, now, try and see if you can't stand. I don't +believe I broke any of your legs." + +<P> +"I guess not. I feels better now. Where am dat work yo' was speakin' +ob?" and Eradicate Sampson, now that there seemed to be a prospect +of earning money, rose quickly and easily. + +<P> +"Why, you're all right!" exclaimed Tom, glad to find that the +accident had had no serious consequences. + +<P> +"Yais, sah, I guess I be. Whar did yo' say, yo' had some +whitewashin' t' do?" + +<P> +"No place in particular, but there is always something that needs +doing at our house. If you call I'll give you a job." + +<P> +"Yais, sah, I'll be sure to call," and Eradicate walked back to +where Boomerang was patiently waiting. + +<P> +Tom told the colored man how to find the Swift home, and was +debating with himself whether he ought not to offer Eradicate some +money as compensation for knocking him into the air, when he noticed +that the negro was tying one wheel of his wagon fast to the body of +the vehicle with a rope. + +<P> +"What are you doing that for?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Got to, t' git downhill wid dis load ob fence posts," was the +answer. "Ef I didn't it would he right on to de heels ob Boomerang, +an' wheneber he feels anyt'ing on his heels he does act wuss dan a +circus mule." + +<P> +"But why don't you use your brake? I see you have one on the wagon. +Use the brake to hold back going downhill." + +<P> +"'Scuse me, Mistah Swift, 'scuse me!" exclaimed Eradicate quickly. +"But yo' doan't know dat brake. It's wuss dan none at all. It doan't +work, fer a fact. No, indeedy, sah. I'se got to rope de wheel." + +<P> +Tom was interested at once. He made an examination of the brake, and +soon saw why it would not hold the wheels. The foot lever was not +properly connected with the brake bar. It was a simple matter to +adjust it by changing a single bolt, and this Tom did with tools he +took from the bag on his motor-cycle. The colored man looked on in +open-mouthed amazement, and even Boomerang peered lazily around, as +if taking an interest in the proceedings. + +<P> +"There," said Tom at length, as he tightened the nut. "That brake +will work now, and hold the wagon on any hill. You won't need to +rope the wheel. You didn't have the right leverage on it." + +<P> +"'Scuse me, Mistah Swift, but what's dat yo' said?" and Eradicate +leaned forward to listen deferentially. + +<P> +"I said you didn't have the right leverage." + +<P> +"No, sah, Mistah Swift, 'scuse me, but yo' made a slight mistake. I +ain't never had no liverage on dis yeah wagon. It ain't dat kind ob +a wagon. I onct drove a livery rig, but dat were some years ago. I +ain't worked fo' de livery stable in some time now. Dat's why I know +dere ain't no livery on dis wagon. Yo'll 'scuse me, but yo' am +slightly mistaken." + +<P> +"All right," rejoined Tom with a laugh, not thinking it worth while +to explain what he meant by the lever force of the brake rod. "Let +it go at that. Livery or no livery, your brake will work now. I +guess you're all right. Now don't forget to come around and do some +whitewashing," and seeing that the colored man was able to mount to +the seat and start off Boomerang, who seemed to have deep-rooted +objections about moving, Tom wheeled his motor-cycle back to the +road. + +<P> +Eradicate Sampson drove his wagon a short distance and then suddenly +applied the brake. It stopped short, and the mule looked around as +if surprised. + +<P> +"It suah do work, Mistah Swift!" called the darky to Tom, who was +waiting the result of his little repair job. "It suah do work!" + +<P> +"I'm glad of it." + +<P> +"Mah golly! But yo' am suttinly a conjure-man when it comes t' +fixin' wagons! Did yo' eber work fer a blacksmith?" + +<P> +"No, not exactly. Well, good-by, Eradicate. I'll look for you some +day next week." + +<P> +With that Tom leaped on his machine and speeded off ahead of the +colored man and his rig. As he passed the load of fence posts the +youth heard Eradicate remark in awestricken tones: + +<P> +"Mah golly! He suttinly go laik de wind! An' t' t'ink dat I were hit +by dat monstrousness machine, an' not hurted! Mah golly! T'ings am +suttinly happenin'! G'lang, Boomerang!" + +<P> +"This machine has more possibilities in it than I suspected," mused +Tom. "But one thing I've got to change, and that is the gasolene and +spark controls. I don't like them the way they are. I want a better +leverage, just as Eradicate needed on his wagon. I'll fix them, too, +when I get home." + +<P> +He rode for several hours, until he thought it was about dinner +time, and then, heading the machine toward home, he put on all the +speed possible, soon arriving where his father was at work in the +shop. + +<P> +"Well, how goes it?" asked Mr. Swift with a smile as he looked at +the flushed face of his son. + +<P> +"Fine, dad! I scooted along in great shape. Had an adventure, too." + +<P> +"You didn't meet any more of those men, did you? The men who are +trying to get my invention?" asked Mr. Swift apprehensively. + +<P> +"No, indeed, dad. I simply had a little run-in with a chap named +Eradicate Andrew Jackson Abraham Lincoln Sampson, otherwise known as +Rad Sampson, and I engaged him to do some whitewashing for us. We do +need some white washing done, don't we, dad?" + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Mr. Swift, thinking his son was joking. + +<P> +Then Tom told of the happening. + +<P> +"Yes, I think I can find some work for Eradicate to do," went on Mr. +Swift. "There is some dirt in the boiler shop that needs +eradicating, and I think he can do it. But dinner has been waiting +some time. We'll go in now, or Mrs. Baggert will be out after us." + +<P> +Father and son were soon at the table, and Tom was explaining what +he meant to do to improve his motor-cycle. His father offered some +suggestions regarding the placing of the gasolene lever. + +<P> +"I'd put it here," he said, and with his pencil he began to draw a +diagram on the white table cloth. + +<P> +"Oh, my goodness me, Mr. Swift!" exclaimed Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever +are you doing?" and she sprang up in some alarm. + +<P> +"What's the matter? Did I upset my tea?" asked the inventor +innocently. + +<P> +"No; but you are soiling a clean tablecloth. Pencil-marks are so +hard to get out. Take a piece of paper, please." + +<P> +"Oh, is that all?" rejoined Mr. Swift with a smile. "Well, Tom, here +is the way I would do that," and substituting the back of an +envelope for the tablecloth, he continued the drawing. + +<P> +Tom was looking over his father's shoulder interestedly, when Mrs. +Baggert, who was taking off some of the dinner dishes, suddenly +asked: + +<P> +"Are you expecting a visitor, Mr. Swift?" + +<P> +"A visitor? No. Why?" asked the inventor quickly. + +<P> +"Because I just saw a man going in the machine shop," went on the +housekeeper. + +<P> +"A man! In the machine shop!" exclaimed Tom, rising from his chair. +Mr. Swift also got up, and the two hurried from the house. As they +reached the yard they saw a man emerging from the building where Mr. +Swift was constructing his turbine motor. The man had his back +turned toward them and seemed to be sneaking around, as though +desirous of escaping observation. + +<P> +"What do you want?" called Mr. Swift. + +<P> +The man turned quickly. At the sight of Mr. Swift and Tom he made a +jump to one side and got behind a big packing-box. + +<P> +"That's queer," spoke Tom. "I wonder what he wants?" + +<P> +"I'll soon see," rejoined Mr. Swift, and he started on a run toward +where the man was hiding. Tom followed his father, and as the two +inventors reached the box the man sprang from behind it and down the +yard to a lane that passed in back of the Swift house. As he ran he +was seen to stuff some papers in his pocket. + +<P> +"My plans! He's stolen some of my plans!" cried Mr. Swift. "Catch +him, Tom!" + +<P> +Tom ran after the stranger, whose curious actions had roused their +suspicions, while Mr. Swift entered the motor shop to ascertain +whether anything had been stolen. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="IX"></A> +<H3>Chapter IX A Fruitless Pursuit</H3> + + +<P> +Down through the yard Tom speeded, in and out among the buildings, +looking on every side for a sight of the bold stranger. No one was +to be seen. + +<P> +"He can't be very far ahead." thought Tom. "I ought to catch him +before he gets to the woods. If he reaches there he has a good +chance of getting away." + +<P> +There was a little patch of trees just back of the inventor's house, +not much of a woods, perhaps, but that is what they were called. + +<P> +"I wonder if he was some ordinary tramp, looking for what he could +steal, or if he was one of the gang after dad's invention?" thought +Tom as he sprinted ahead. + +<P> +By this time the youth was clear of the group of buildings and in +sight of a tall, board fence, which surrounded the Swift estate on +three sides. Here and there, along the barrier, were piled old +packing-cases, so that it would be easy for a fugitive to leap upon +one of them and so get over the fence. Tom thought of this +possibility in a moment. + +<P> +"I guess he got over ahead of me," the lad exclaimed, and he peered +sharply about. "I'll catch him on the other side!" + +<P> +At that instant Tom tripped over a plank and went down full length, +making quite a racket. When he picked himself up he was surprised to +see the man he was after dart from inside a big box and start for +the fence, near a point where there were some packing-cases piled +up, making a good approach to the barrier. The fugitive had been +hiding, waiting for a chance to escape, and Tom's fall had alarmed +him. + +<P> +"Here! Hold on there! Come back!" cried the youth as he recovered +his wind and leaped forward. + +<P> +But the man did not stay. With a bound he was up on the pile of +boxes, and the next moment he was poised on top of the fence. Before +leaping down on the other side, a jump at which even a practiced +athlete might well hesitate, the fleeing stranger paused and looked +back. Tom gazed at him and recognized the man in an instant. He was +the third of the mysterious trio whom the lad had seen in the +Mansburg restaurant. + +<P> +"Wait a minute! What do you want sneaking around here?" shouted Tom +as he ran forward. The man returned no answer, and an instant later +disappeared from view on the other side of the fence. + +<P> +"He jumped down!" thought Tom. "A big leap, too. Well, I've got to +follow. This is a queer proceeding. First one, then the second, and +now the third of those men seem determined to get something here. I +wonder if this one succeeded? I'll soon find out." + +<P> +The lad was up on the pile of packing-cases and over the fence in +almost record time. He caught a glimpse of the fugitive running +toward the woods. Then the boy leaped down, jarring himself +considerably, and took after the man. + +<P> +But though Tom was a good runner he was handicapped by the fact that +the man had a start of him, and also by the fact that the stranger +had had a chance to rest while hiding for the second time in the big +box, while Tom had kept on running. So it is no great cause for +wonder that Mr. Swift's son found himself being distanced. + +<P> +Once, twice he called on the fleeing one to halt, but the man paid +no attention, and did not even turn around. Then the youth wisely +concluded to save his wind for running. He did his best, but was +chagrined to see the man reach the woods ahead of him. + +<P> +"I've lost him now," thought Tom. "Well, there's no help for it." + +<P> +Still he did not give up, but kept on through the patch of trees. On +the farther side was Lake Carlopa, a broad and long sheet of water. + +<P> +"If he doesn't know the lake's there," thought our hero, "he may +keep straight on. The water will be sure to stop him, and I can +catch him. But what will I do with him after I get him? That's +another question. I guess I've got a right to demand to know what he +was doing around our place, though." + +<P> +But Tom need not have worried on this score. He could hear the +fugitive ahead of him, and marked his progress by the crackling of +the underbrush. + +<P> +"I'm almost up to him," exulted the young inventor. Then, at the +same moment, he caught sight of the man running, and a glimpse of +the sparkling water of Lake Carlopa. "I've got him! I've got him!" +Tom almost cried aloud in his excitement. "Unless he takes to the +water and swims for it, I've got him!" + +<P> +But Tom did not reckon on a very simple matter, and that was the +possibility of the man having a boat at hand. For this is just what +happened. Reaching the lake shore the fugitive with a final spurt +managed to put considerable distance between himself and Tom. Drawn +up on the beach was a little motor-boat. In this, after he had +pushed it from shore, the stranger leaped. It was the work of but a +second to set the engine in motion, and as Tom reached the edge of +the woods and started across the narrow strip of sand and gravel +that was between the water and the trees, he saw the man steering +his craft toward the middle of the lake. + +<P> +"Well--I'll--be--jiggered!" exclaimed the youth. "Who would have +thought he'd have a motor-boat waiting for him? He planned this +well." + +<P> +There was nothing to do but turn back. Tom had a small rowboat and a +sailing skiff on the lake, but his boathouse was some distance away, +and even if he could get one of his craft out, the motor-boat would +soon distance it. + +<P> +"He's gone!" thought the searcher regretfully. + +<P> +The man in the motor-boat did not look back. He sat in the bow, +steering the little craft right across the broadest part of Lake +Carlopa. + +<P> +"I wonder where he came from, and where he's going?" mused Tom. +"That's a boat I never saw on this lake before. It must be a new +one. Well, there's no help for it, I've got to go back and tell dad +I couldn't catch him." And with a last look at the fugitive, who, +with his boat, was becoming smaller and smaller every minute, Tom +turned and retraced his steps. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="X"></A> +<H3>Chapter X Off To Albany</H3> + + +<P> +"Did you catch him, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift eagerly when his son +returned, but the inventor needed but a glance at the lad's +despondent face to have his question answered without words, "Never +mind," he added, "there's not much harm done, fortunately." + +<P> +"Did he get anything? Any of your plans or models, dad?" + +<P> +"No; not as far as I can discover. My papers in the shop were not +disturbed, but it looked as if the turbine model had been moved. The +only thing missing seems to be a sheet of unimportant calculations. +Luckily I had my most valuable drawings in the safe in the house." + +<P> +"Yet that man seemed to be putting papers in his pocket, dad. Maybe +he made copies of some of your drawings." + +<P> +"That's possible, Tom, and I admit it worries me. I can't imagine +who that man is, unless--" + +<P> +"Why, he's one of the three men I saw in Mansburg in the +restaurant," said Tom eagerly. "Two of them tried to get information +here, and now the third one comes. He got away in a motor-boat," and +Tom told how the fugitive escaped. + +<P> +Mr. Swift looked worried. It was not the first time attempts had +been made to steal his inventions, but on this occasion a desperate +and well-organized plan appeared to be on foot. + +<P> +"What do you think they are up to, dad?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I think they are trying to get hold of my turbine motor, Tom. You +know I told you that the financiers were disappointed in the turbine +motor they bought of another inventor. It does not work. To get back +the money they spent in building an expensive plant they must have a +motor that is successful. Hence their efforts to get control of +mine. I don't know whether I told you or not, but some time ago I +refused a very good offer for certain rights in my invention. I knew +it was worth more. The offer came through Smeak & Katch, the +lawyers, and when I refused it they seemed much disappointed. I +think now that this same firm, and the financiers who have employed +them, are trying by all the means in their power to get possession +of my ideas, if not the invention and model itself." + +<P> +"What can you do, dad?" + +<P> +"Well, I must think. I certainly must take some means to protect +myself. I have had trouble before, but never any like this. I did +not think those men would be so unscrupulous." + +<P> +"Do you know their names?" + +<P> +"No, only from that telegram we found; the one which the first +stranger dropped. One of them must be Anson Morse. Who the others +are I don't know. But now I must make some plans to foil these +sharpers. I may have to call on you for help, Tom." + +<P> +"And I'll be ready any time you call on me, dad," responded Tom, +drawing himself up. "Can I do anything for you right away?" + +<P> +"No; I must think out a plan." + +<P> +"Then I am going to change my motor-cycle a bit. I'll put some more +improvements on it." + +<P> +"And I will write some letters to my lawyers in Washington and ask +their advice." It took Tom the remainder of that day, and part of +the next, to arrange the gasolene and spark control of his machine +to his satisfaction. He had to make two small levers and some +connecting rods. This he did in his own particular machine shop, +which was fitted up with a lathe and other apparatus. The lathe was +run by power coming from a small engine, which was operated by an +engineer, an elderly man to whom Mr. Swift had given employment for +many years. He was Garret Jackson, and he kept so close to his +engine and boiler-room that he was seldom seen outside of it except +when the day's work was done. + +<P> +One afternoon, a few days after the unsuccessful chase after the +fugitive had taken place, Tom went out for a spin on his motor-cycle. +He found that the machine worked much better, and was easier +to control. He rode about fifteen miles away from home, and then +returned. As he entered the yard he saw, standing on the drive, a +ramshackle old wagon, drawn by a big mule, which seemed, at the time +Tom observed him, to be asleep. + +<P> +"I'll wager that's Boomerang," said Tom aloud, and the mule opened +its eyes, wiggled its ears and started forward. + +<P> +"Whoa dar, Boomerang!" exclaimed a voice, and Eradicate Sampson +hurried around the corner of the house. "Dat's jest lake yo'," went +on the colored man. "Movin' when yo' ain't wanted to." Then, as he +caught sight of Tom, he exclaimed, "Why, if it ain't young Mistah +Swift! Good lordy! But dat livery brake yo' done fixed on mah wagon +suttinly am fine. Ah kin go down de steepest hill widout ropin' de +wheel." + +<P> +"Glad of it," replied Tom. "Did you come to do some work?" + +<P> +"Yais, sah, I done did. I found I had some time t' spah, an' thinks +I dere might be some whitewashin' I could do. Yo' see, I lib only +'bout two mile from heah." + +<P> +"Well, I guess you can do a few jobs," said Tom. "Wait here." + +<P> +He hunted up his father, and obtained permission to set Eradicate at +work cleaning out a chicken house and whitewashing it. The darky was +soon at work. A little later Tom passing saw him putting the +whitewash on thick. Eradicate stopped at the sight of Tom, and made +some curious motions. + +<P> +"What's the matter, Rad?" asked the young inventor. + +<P> +"Why, de whitewash done persist in runnin' down de bresh handle an' +inter mah sleeve. I'm soakin' wet from it now, an' I has t' stop +ebery onct in a while 'case mah sleeve gits full." + +<P> +Tom saw what the trouble was. The white fluid did run down the long +brush handle in a small rivulet. Tom had once seen a little rubber +device on a window-cleaning brush that worked well, and he decided +to try it for Eradicate. + +<P> +"Wait a minute," Tom advised. "I think I can stop that for you." + +<P> +The colored man was very willing to take a rest, but it did not last +long, for Tom was soon back at the chicken coop. He had a small +rubber disk, with a hole in the center, the size of the brush +handle. Slipping the disk over the wood, he pushed it about half way +along, and then, handing the brush back to the negro, told him to +try it that way. + +<P> +"Did yo' done put a charm on mah bresh?" asked Eradicate somewhat +doubtfully. + +<P> +"Yes, a sort of hoodoo charm. Try it now." + +<P> +The darky dipped his brush in the pail of whitewash, and then began +to spread the disinfectant on the sides of the coop near the top. +The surplus fluid started to run down the handle, but, meeting the +piece of rubber, came no farther, and dripped off on the ground. It +did not run down the sleeve of Eradicate. + +<P> +"Well, I 'clar t' goodness! That suttinly am a mighty fine charm!" +cried the colored man. "Yo' suah am a pert gen'men, all right. Now I +kin work widout stoppin' t' empty mah sleeve ob lime juice ebery +minute. I'se suttinly obliged t' yo'." + +<P> +"You're welcome, I'm sure," replied Tom. "I think some day I'll +invent a machine for whitewashing, and then--" + +<P> +"Doan't do dat! Doan't do dat!" begged Eradicate earnestly. "Dis, +an' makin' dirt disappear, am de only perfessions I got. Doan't go +'ventin' no machine, Mistah Swift." + +<P> +"All right. I'll wait until you get rich." + +<P> +"Ha, ha! Den yo' gwine t' wait a pow'ful long time," chuckled +Eradicate as he went on with his whitewashing. + +<P> +Tom went into the house. He found his father busy with some papers +at his desk. + +<P> +"Ah, it's you, is it, Tom?" asked the inventor, looking up. "I was +just wishing you would come in." + +<P> +"What for, dad?" + +<P> +"Well, I have quite an important mission for you. I want you to go +on a journey." + +<P> +"A journey? Where?" + +<P> +"To Albany. You see, I've been thinking over matters, and I have +been in correspondence with my lawyers in regard to my turbine +motor. I must take measures to protect myself. You know I have not +yet taken out a complete patent on the machine. I have not done so +because I did not want to put my model on exhibition in Washington. +I was afraid some of those unscrupulous men would take advantage of +me. Another point was that I had not perfected a certain device that +goes on the motor. That objection is now removed, and I am ready to +send my model to Washington, and take out the complete patent." + +<P> +"But I thought you said you wanted me to go to Albany." + +<P> +"So I do. I will explain. I have just had a letter from Reid & +Crawford, my Washington attorneys. Mr. Crawford, the junior member +of the firm, will be in Albany this week on some law business. He +agrees to receive my model and some papers there, and take them back +to Washington with him. In this way they will be well protected. You +see, I have to be on my guard, and if I send the model to Albany, +instead of the national capital, I may throw the plotters off the +track, for I feel that they are watching every move I make. As soon +as you or I should start for Washington they would be on our trail. +But you can go to Albany unsuspected. Mr. Crawford will wait for you +there. I want you to start day after to-morrow." + +<P> +"All right, dad. I can start now, if you say so." + +<P> +"No, there is no special need for haste. I have some matters to +arrange. You might go to the station and inquire about trains to the +State capital." + +<P> +"Am I going by train?" + +<P> +"Certainly. How else could you go?" + +<P> +There was a look of excitement in Tom's eyes. He had a sudden idea. + +<P> +"Dad," he exclaimed, "why couldn't I go on my motor-cycle?" + +<P> +"Your motor-cycle?" + +<P> +"Yes. I could easily make the trip on it in one day. The roads are +good, and I would enjoy it. I can carry the model back of me on the +saddle. It is not very large." + +<P> +"Well," said Mr. Swift slowly, for the idea was a new one to him, "I +suppose that part would be all right. But you have not had much +experience riding a motor-cycle. Besides, you don't know the roads." + +<P> +"I can inquire. Will you let me go, dad?" + +<P> +Mr. Swift appeared to hesitate. + +<P> +"It will be fine!" went on Tom. "I would enjoy the trip, and there's +another thing. If we want to keep this matter secret the best plan +would be to let me go on my machine. If those men are on the watch, +they will not think that I have the model. They will think I'm just +going for a pleasure jaunt." + +<P> +"There's something in that," admitted Mr. Swift, and Tom, seeing +that his father was favorably inclined, renewed his arguments, until +the inventor finally agreed. + +<P> +"It will be a great trip!" exclaimed Tom. "I'll go all over my +machine now, to see that it's in good shape. You get your papers and +model ready, dad, and I'll take them to Albany for you. The motor-cycle +will come in handy." + +<P> +But had Tom only known the dangers ahead of him, and the risks he +was to run, he would not have whistled so light heartedly as he went +over every nut and bolt on his machine. + +<P> +Two days later, the valuable model, having been made into a +convenient package, and wrapped in water-proof paper, was fastened +back of the saddle on the motor-cycle. Tom carefully pinned in an +inside pocket the papers which were to be handed to Mr. Crawford. He +was to meet the lawyer at a hotel in Albany. + +<P> +"Now take care of yourself, Tom," cautioned his father as he bade +him good-by. "Don't try to make speed, as there is no special rush. +And, above all, don't lose anything." + +<P> +"I'll not, dad," and with a wave of his hand to Mr. Swift and the +housekeeper, who stood in the door to see him off, Tom jumped into +the saddle, started the machine, and then, after sufficient momentum +had been attained, he turned on the gasolene and set the spark +lever. With rattles and bangs, which were quickly subdued by the +muffler, the machine gathered speed. Tom was off for Albany. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XI A Vindictive Tramp</H3> + + +<P> +Though Tom's father had told him there was no necessity for any +great speed, the young inventor could not resist the opportunity for +pushing his machine to the limit. The road was a level one and in +good condition, so the motor-cycle fairly flew along. The day was +pleasant, a warm sun shining overhead, and it was evident that early +summer was crowding spring rather closely. + +<P> +"This is glorious!" exclaimed Tom aloud as he spun along. "I'm glad +I persuaded dad to let me take this trip. It was a great idea. Wish +Ned Newton was along, though. He'd be company for me, but, as Ned +would say, there are two good reasons why he can't come. One is he +has to work in the bank, and the other is that he has no motor-cycle." + + +<P> +Tom swept past house after house along the road, heading in the +opposite direction from that in which lay the town of Shopton and +the city of Mansburg. For several miles Tom's route would lie +through a country district. The first large town he would reach +would be Centreford. He planned to get lunch there, and he had +brought a few sandwiches with him to eat along the road in case he +became hungry before he reached the place. + +<P> +"I hope the package containing the model doesn't jar off," mused the +lad as he reached behind to make sure that the precious bundle was +safe. "Dad would be in a bad way if that should disappear. And the +papers, too." He put his hand to his inner pocket to feel that they +were secure. Coming to a little down-grade, Tom shut off some of the +power, the new levers he had arranged to control the gasolene and +spark working well. + +<P> +"I think I'll take the old wood road and pass through Pompville," +Tom decided, after covering another mile or two. He was approaching +a division in the highway. "It's a bit sandy," he went on, "and the +going will be heavy, but it will be a good chance to test my +machine. Besides, I'll save five miles, and, while I don't have to +hurry, I may need time on the other end. I'd rather arrive in Albany +a little before dusk than after dark. I can deliver the model and +papers and have a good night's sleep before starting back. So the +old wood road it will be." + +<P> +The wood road, as Tom called it, was a seldom used highway, which, +originally, was laid out for just what the name indicated, to bring +wood from the forest. With the disappearance of most of the trees +the road became more used for ordinary traffic between the towns of +Pompville and Edgefield. But when the State built a new highway +connecting these two places the old road fell into disuse, though it +was several miles shorter than the new turnpike. + +<P> +He turned from the main thoroughfare, and was soon spinning along +the sandy stretch, which was shaded with trees that in some places +met overhead, forming a leafy arch. It was cool and pleasant, and +Tom liked it. + +<P> +"It isn't as bad as I thought," he remarked. "The sand is pretty +thick, but this machine of mine appears to be able to crawl through +it." + +<P> +Indeed, the motor-cycle was doing remarkably well, but Tom found +that he had to turn on full power, for the big rubber wheels went +deep into the soft soil. Along Tom rode, picking out the firmest +places in the road. He was so intent on this that he did not pay +much attention to what was immediately ahead of him, knowing that he +was not very likely to meet other vehicles or pedestrians. He was +considerably startled therefore when, as he went around a turn in +the highway where the bushes grew thick, right down to the edge of +the road, to see a figure emerge from the underbrush and start +across the path. So quickly did the man appear that Tom was almost +upon him in an instant, and even though the young inventor shut off +the power and applied the brake, the front wheel hit the man and +knocked him down. + +<P> +"What's the matter with you? What are you trying to do--kill me? Why +don't you ring a bell or blow a horn when you're coming?" The man +had sprung up from the soft sand where the wheel from the motor-cycle +had sent him and faced Tom angrily. Then the rider, who had +quickly dismounted, saw that his victim was a ragged tramp. + +<P> +"I'm sorry," began Tom. "You came out of the bushes so quickly that +I didn't have a chance to warn you. Did I hurt you much?" + +<P> +"Well, youse might have. 'Tain't your fault dat youse didn't," and +the tramp began to brush the dirt from his ragged coat. Tom was +instantly struck by a curious fact. The tramp in his second remarks +used language more in keeping with his character, whereas, in his +first surprise and anger, he had talked much as any other person +would. "Youse fellers ain't got no right t' ride dem machines like +lightnin' along de roads," the ragged chap went on, and he still +clung to the use of words and expressions current among his +fraternity. Tom wondered at it, and then, ascribing the use of the +better language to the fright caused by being hit by the machine, +the lad thought no more about it at the time. There was occasion, +however, when he attached more meaning to it. + +<P> +"I'm very sorry," went on Tom. "I'm sure I didn't mean to. You see, +I was going quite slowly, and--" + +<P> +"You call dat slow, when youse hit me an' knocked me down?" demanded +the tramp. "I'd oughter have youse arrested, dat's what, an' I would +if dere was a cop handy." + +<P> +"I wasn't going at all fast," said Tom, a little nettled that his +conciliatory words should be so rudely received. "If I had been +going full speed I'd have knocked you fifty feet." + +<P> +"It's a good thing. Cracky, den I'm glad dat youse wasn't goin' like +dat," and the tramp seemed somewhat confused. This time Tom looked +at him more closely, for the change in his language had been very +plain. The fellow seemed uneasy, and turned his face away. As he did +so Tom caught a glimpse of what he was sure was a false beard. It +was altogether too well-kept a beard to be a natural one for such a +dirty tramp as this one appeared to be. + +<P> +"That fellow's disguised!" Tom thought. "He's playing a part. I +wonder if I'd better take chances and spring it on him that I'm on +to his game?" + +<P> +Then the ragged man spoke again: + +<P> +"I s'pose it was part my fault, cully. I didn't know dat any guy was +comin' along on one of dem buzz-machines, or I'd been more careful. +I don't s'pose youse meant to upset me?" and he looked at Tom more +boldly. This time his words seemed so natural, and his beard, now +that Tom took a second look at it, so much a part of himself, that +the young inventor wondered if he could have been mistaken in his +first surmise. + +<P> +"Perhaps he was once a gentleman, and has turned tramp because of +hard luck," thought Tom. "That would account for him using good +language at times. Guess I'd better keep still." Then to the tramp +he said: "I'm sure I didn't mean to hit you. I admit I wasn't +looking where I was going, but I never expected to meet any one on +this road. I certainly didn't expect to see a--" + +<P> +He paused in some confusion. He was about to use the term "tramp," +and he hesitated, not knowing how it would be received by his +victim. + +<P> +"Oh, dat's all right, cully. Call me a tramp--I know dat's what +youse was goin' t' say. I'm used t' it. I've been a hobo so many +years now dat I don't mind. De time was when I was a decent chap, +though. But I'm a tramp now. Say, youse couldn't lend me a quarter, +could youse?" + +<P> +He approached closer to Tom, and looked quickly up and down the +road. The highway was deserted, nor was there any likelihood that +any one would come along. Tom was somewhat apprehensive, for the +tramp was a burly specimen. The young inventor, however, was not so +much alarmed at the prospect of a personal encounter, as that he +feared he might be robbed, not only of his money, but the valuable +papers and model he carried. Even if the tramp was content with +taking his money, it would mean that Tom would have to go back home +for more, and so postpone his trip. + +<P> +So it was with no little alarm that he watched the ragged man coming +nearer to him. Then a bright idea came into Tom's head. He quickly +shifted his position so that he brought the heavy motor-cycle +between the man and himself. He resolved, if the tramp showed a +disposition to attack him, to push the machine over on him, and this +would give Tom a chance to attack the thief to better advantage. +However, the "hobo" showed no evidence of wanting to resort to +highwayman methods. He paused a short distance from the machine, and +said admiringly: + +<P> +"Dat's a pretty shebang youse has." + +<P> +"Yes, it's very fair," admitted Tom, who was not yet breathing +easily. + +<P> +"Kin youse go far on it?" + +<P> +"Two hundred miles a day, easily." + +<P> +"Fer cats' sake! An' I can't make dat ridin' on de blind baggage; +but dat's 'cause I gits put off so much. But say, is youse goin' to +let me have dat quarter? I need it, honest I do. I ain't had nuttin' +t' eat in two days." + +<P> +The man's tone was whining. Surely he seemed like a genuine tramp, +and Tom felt a little sorry for him. Besides, he felt that he owed +him something for the unceremonious manner in which he had knocked +the fellow down. Tom reached his hand in his pocket for some change, +taking care to keep the machine between himself and the tramp. + +<P> +"Are youse goin' far on dat rig-a-ma-jig?" went on the man as he +looked carefully over the motor-cycle. + +<P> +"To Albany," answered Tom, and the moment the words were out of his +mouth he wished he could recall them. All his suspicions regarding +the tramp came back to him. But the ragged chap appeared to attach +no significance to them. + +<P> +"Albany? Dat's in Jersey, ain't it?" he asked. + +<P> +"No, it's in New York," replied Tom, and then, to change the +subject, he pulled out a half-dollar and handed it to the man. As he +did so Tom noticed that the tramp had tattooed on the little finger +of his left hand a blue ring. + +<P> +"Dat's de stuff! Youse is a reg'lar millionaire, youse is!" +exclaimed the tramp, and his manner seemed in earnest. "I'll +remember youse, I will. What's your name, anyhow, cully?" + +<P> +"Tom Swift," replied our hero, and again he wished he had not told. +This time he was sure the tramp started and glanced at him quickly, +but perhaps it was only his imagination. + +<P> +"Tom Swift," repeated the man musingly, and his tones were different +from the whining ones in which he had asked for money. Then, as if +recollecting the part he was playing, he added: "I s'pose dey calls +youse dat because youse rides so quick on dat machine. But I'm +certainly obliged to youse--Tom Swift, an' I hopes youse gits t' +Albany, in Jersey, in good time." + +<P> +He turned away, and Tom was beginning to breathe more easily when +the ragged man, with a quick gesture, reached out and grabbed hold +of the motor-cycle. He gave it such a pull that it was nearly torn +from Tom's grasp. The lad was so startled at the sudden exhibition +of vindictiveness an the part of the tramp that he did not know what +to do. Then, before he could recover himself, the tramp darted into +the bushes. + +<P> +"I guess Happy Harry--dat's me--has spoiled your ride t' Albany!" +the tramp cried. "Maybe next time youse won't run down poor fellers +on de road," and with that, the ragged man, shaking his fist at Tom, +was lost to sight in the underbrush. + +<P> +"Well, if that isn't a queer end up," mused Tom. "He must be crazy. +I hope I don't meet you again, Happy Harry, or whatever your name +is. Guess I'll get out of this neighborhood." + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XII The Men In The Auto</H3> + + +<P> +Tom first made sure that the package containing the model was still +safely in place back of his saddle on the motor-cycle. Finding it +there he next put his hand in his pocket to see that he had the +papers. + +<P> +"They're all right," spoke Tom aloud. "I didn't know but what that +chap might have worked a pickpocket game on me. I'm glad I didn't +meet him after dark. Well, it's a good thing it's no worse. I wonder +if he tried to get my machine away from me? Don't believe he'd know +how to ride it if he did." + +<P> +Tom wheeled his motor-cycle to a hard side-path along the old road, +and jumped into the saddle. He worked the pedals preparatory to +turning on the gasolene and spark to set the motor in motion. As he +threw forward the levers, having acquired what he thought was the +necessary momentum, he was surprised that no explosion followed. The +motor seemed "dead." + +<P> +"That's queer," he thought, and he began to pedal more rapidly. "It +always used to start easily. Maybe it doesn't like this sandy +road." + +<P> +It was hard work sending the heavy machine along by "leg power," and +once more, when he had acquired what he thought was sufficient +speed, Tom turned on the power. But no explosions followed, and in +some alarm he jumped to the ground. + +<P> +"Something's wrong," he said aloud. "That tramp must have damaged +the machine when he yanked it so." Tom went quickly over the +different parts. It did not take him long to discover what the +trouble was. One of the wires, leading from the batteries to the +motor, which wire served to carry the current of electricity that +exploded the mixture of air and gasolene, was missing. It had been +broken off close to the battery box and the spark plug. + +<P> +"That's what Happy Harry did!" exclaimed Tom. "He pulled that wire +off when he yanked my machine. That's what he meant by hoping I'd +get to Albany. That fellow was no tramp. He was disguised, and up to +some game. And he knows something about motor-cycles, too, or he +never would have taken that wire. I'm stalled, now, for I haven't +got another piece. I ought to have brought some. I'll have to push +this machine until I get to town, or else go back home." + +<P> +The young inventor looked up and down the lonely road, undecided +what to do. To return home meant that he would be delayed in getting +to Albany, for he would lose a day. If he pushed on to Pompville he +might be able to get a bit of wire there. + +<P> +Tom decided that was his best plan, and plodded on through the thick +sand. He had not gone more than a quarter of a mile, every step +seeming harder than the preceding one, when he heard, from the woods +close at his left hand, a gun fired. He jumped so that he nearly let +the motor-cycle fall over, for a wild idea came into his head that +the tramp had shot at him. With a quickly-beating heart the lad +looked about him. + +<P> +"I wonder if that was Happy Harry?" he mused. + +<P> +There was a crackling in the bushes and Tom, wondering what he might +do to protect himself, looked toward the place whence the noise +proceeded. A moment later a hunter stepped into view. The man +carried a gun and wore a canvas suit, a belt about his waist being +filled with cartridges. + +<P> +"Hello!" he exclaimed pleasantly, Then, seeing a look of alarm on +the lad's face, he went on: + +<P> +"I hope I didn't shoot in your direction, young man; did I?" + +<P> +"No--no, sir," replied the youthful inventor, who had hardly +recovered his composure. "I heard your gun, and I imagined--" + +<P> +"Did you think you had been shot? You must have a very vivid +imagination, for I fired in the air." + +<P> +"No, I didn't exactly think that," replied Tom, "but I just had an +encounter with an ugly tramp, and I feared he might be using me for +a target." + +<P> +"Is that so. I hadn't noticed any tramps around here, and I've been +in these woods nearly all day. Did he harm you?" + +<P> +"No, not me, but my motor-cycle," and the lad explained. + +<P> +"Pshaw! That's too bad!" exclaimed the hunter. "I wish I could +supply you with a bit of wire, but I haven't any. I'm just walking +about, trying my new gun." + +<P> +"I shouldn't think you'd find anything to shoot this time of year," +remarked Tom. + +<P> +"I don't expect to," answered the hunter, who had introduced himself +as Theodore Duncan. "But I have just purchased a new gun, and I +wanted to try it. I expect to do considerable hunting this fall, and +so I'm getting ready for it." + +<P> +"Do you live near here?" + +<P> +"Well, about ten miles away, on the other side of Lake Carlopa, but +I am fond of long walks in the woods. If you ever get to Waterford I +wish you'd come and see me, Mr. Swift. I have heard of your father." + +<P> +"I will, Mr. Duncan; but if I don't get something to repair my +machine with I'm not likely to get anywhere right away." + +<P> +"Well, I wish I could help you, but I haven't the least ingenuity +when it comes to machinery. Now if I could help you track down that +tramp--" + +<P> +"Oh, no, thank you, I'd rather not have anything more to do with +him." + +<P> +"If I caught sight of him now," resumed the hunter, "I fancy I could +make him halt, and, perhaps, give you back the wire. I'm a pretty +good shot, even if this is a new gun. I've been practicing at +improvised targets all day." + +<P> +"No; the less I have to do with him, the better I shall like it," +answered Tom, "though I'm much obliged to you. I'll manage somehow +until I get to Pompville." + +<P> +He started off again, the hunter disappearing in the woods, whence +the sound of his gun was again heard. + +<P> +"He's a queer chap," murmured Tom, "but I like him. Perhaps I may +see him when I go to Waterford, if I ever do." + +<P> +Tom was destined to see the hunter again, at no distant time, and +under strange circumstances. But now the lad's whole attention was +taken up with the difficulty in which he found himself. Vainly +musing on what object the tramp could have had in breaking off the +wire, the young inventor trudged on. + +<P> +"I guess he was one of the gang after dad's invention," thought Tom, +"and he must have wanted to hinder me from getting to Albany, though +why I can't imagine." With a dubious shake of his head Tom +proceeded. It was hard work pushing the heavy machine through the +sand, and he was puffing before he had gone very, far. + +<P> +"I certainly am up against it," he murmured. "But if I can get a bit +of wire in Pompville I'll be all right. If I can't--" + +<P> +Just then Tom saw something which caused him to utter an exclamation +of delight. + +<P> +"That's the very thing!" he cried. "Why didn't I think of it +before?" + +<P> +Leaving his motor-cycle standing against a tree Tom hurried to a +fence that separated the road from a field. The fence was a barbedwire +one, and in a moment Tom had found a broken strand. + +<P> +"Guess no one will care if I take a piece of this," he reasoned. "It +will answer until I can get more. I'll have it in place in a jiffy!" + +<P> +It did not take long to get his pliers from his toolbag and snip off +a piece of the wire. Untwisting it he took out the sharp barbs, and +then was ready to attach it to the binding posts of the battery box +and the spark plug. + +<P> +"Hold on, though!" he exclaimed as he paused in the work. "It's got +to be insulated, or it will vibrate against the metal of the machine +and short circuit. I have it! My handkerchief! I s'pose Mrs. Baggert +will kick at tearing up a good one, but I can't help it." + +<P> +Tom took a spare handkerchief from the bundle in which he had a few +belongings carried with the idea of spending the night at an Albany +hotel, and he was soon wrapping strips of linen around the wire, +tying them with pieces of string. + +<P> +"There!" he exclaimed at length. "That's insulated good enough, I +guess. Now to fasten it on and start." + +<P> +The young inventor, who was quick with tools, soon had the +improvised wire in place. He tested the spark and found that it was +almost as good as when the regular copper conductor was in place. +Then, having taken a spare bit of the barbed-wire along in case of +another emergency, he jumped on the motor-cycle, pedaled it until +sufficient speed was attained, and turned on the power. + +<P> +"That's the stuff!" he cried as the welcome explosions sounded. "I +guess I've fooled Happy Harry! I'll get to Albany pretty nearly on +time, anyhow. But that tramp surely had me worried for a while." + +<P> +He rode into Pompville, and on inquiring in a plumbing shop managed +to get a bit of copper wire that answered better than did the +galvanized piece from the fence. The readjustment was quickly made, +and he was on his way again. As it was getting close to noon he +stopped near a little spring outside of Pompville and ate a +sandwich, washing it down with the cold water. Then he started for +Centreford. + +<P> +As he was coming into the city he heard an automobile behind him. He +steered to one side of the road to give the big car plenty of room +to pass, but it did not come on as speedily as he thought it would. +He looked back and saw that it was going to stop near him. +Accordingly he shut off the power of his machine. + +<P> +"Is this the road to Centreford?" asked one of the travelers in the +auto. + +<P> +"Straight ahead," answered the lad. + +<P> +At the sound of his voice one of the men in the big touring car +leaned forward and whispered something to one on the front seat. The +second man nodded, and looked closely at Tom. The youth, in turn, +stared at the men. He could not distinguish their faces, as they had +on auto goggles. + +<P> +"How many miles is it?" asked the man who had whispered, and at the +sound of his voice Tom felt a vague sense that he had heard it +before. + +<P> +"Three," answered the young inventor, and once more he saw the men +whisper among themselves. + +<P> +"Thanks," spoke the driver of the car, and he threw in the gears. As +the big machine darted ahead the goggles which one of the men wore +slipped off. Tom had a glimpse of his face. + +<P> +"Anson Morse!" he exclaimed. "If that isn't the man who was sneaking +around dad's motor shop he's his twin brother! I wonder if those +aren't the men who are after the patent model? I must be on my +guard!" and Tom, watching the car fade out of sight on the road +ahead of him, slowly started his motor-cycle. He was much puzzled +and alarmed. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIII Caught In A Storm</H3> + + +<P> +The more Tom tried to reason out the cause of the men's actions, the +more he dwelt upon his encounter with the tramp, and the harder he +endeavored to seek a solution of the queer puzzle, the more +complicated it seemed. He rode on until he saw in a valley below him +the buildings of the town of Centreford, and, with a view of them, a +new idea came into his mind. + +<P> +"I'll go get a good dinner," he decided, "and perhaps that will help +me to think more clearly. That's what dad always does when he's +puzzling over an invention." He was soon seated in a restaurant, +where he ate a substantial dinner. "I'm just going to stop puzzling +over this matter," he decided. "I'll push an to Albany and tell the +lawyer, Mr. Crawford. Perhaps he can advise me." + +<P> +Once this decision was made Tom felt better. + +<P> +"That's just what I needed," he thought; "some one to shift the +responsibility upon. I'll let the lawyers do the worrying. That's +what they're paid for. Now for Albany, and I hope I don't have to +stop, except for supper, until I get there. I've got to do some +night riding, but I've got a powerful lamp, and the roads from now +on are good." + +<P> +Tom was soon on his way again. The highway leading to Albany was a +hard, macadam one, and he fairly flew along the level stretches. + +<P> +"This is making good time," he thought. "I won't be so very late, +after all; that is, if nothing delays me." + +<P> +The young inventor looked up into the sky. The sun, which had been +shining brightly all day, was now hidden behind a mass of hazy +clouds, for which the rider was duly grateful, as it was becoming +quite warm. + +<P> +"It's more like summer than I thought," said Tom to himself. "I +shouldn't be surprised if we got rain to-morrow." + +<P> +Another look at the sky confirmed him in this belief, and he had not +gone on many miles farther when his opinion was suddenly changed. +This was brought about by a dull rumble in the west, and Tom noticed +that a bank of low-lying clouds had formed, the black, inky masses +of vapor being whirled upward as if by some powerful blast. + +<P> +"Guess my storm is going to arrive ahead of time," he said. "I'd +better look for shelter." + +<P> +With a suddenness that characterizes summer showers, the whole sky +became overcast. The thunder increased, and the flashes of lightning +became more frequent and dazzling. A wind sprang up and blew clouds +of dust in Tom's face. + +<P> +"It certainly is going to be a thunder storm," he admitted. "I'm +bound to be delayed now, for the roads will be mucky. Well, there's +no help for it. If I get to Albany before midnight I'll he doing +well." + +<P> +A few drops of rain splashed on his hands, and as he looked up to +note the state of the sky others fell in his face. They were big +drops, and where they splashed on the road they formed little +globules of mud. + +<P> +"I'll head for that big tree," thought Tom "It will give me some +shelter. I'll wait there--" His words were interrupted by a +deafening crash of thunder which followed close after a blinding +flash. "No tree for mine!" murmured Tom. "I forgot that they're +dangerous in a storm. I wonder where I can stay?" + +<P> +He turned on all the power possible and sprinted ahead. Around a +curve in the road he went, leaning over to preserve his balance, and +just as the rain came pelting down in a torrent he saw just ahead of +him a white church on the lonely country road. To one side was a +long shed, where the farmers were in the habit of leaving their +teams when they came to service. + +<P> +"Just the thing!" cried the boy; "and just in time!" + +<P> +He turned his motor-cycle into the yard surrounding the church, and +a moment later had come to a stop beneath the shed. It was broad and +long, furnishing a good protection against the storm, which had now +burst in all its fury. + +<P> +Tom was not very wet, and looking to see that the model, which was +partly of wood, had suffered no damage, the lad gave his attention +to his machine. + +<P> +"Seems to be all right," he murmured. "I'll just oil her up while +I'm waiting. This can't last long; it's raining too hard." + +<P> +He busied himself over the motor-cycle, adjusting a nut that had +been rattled loose, and putting some oil on the bearings. The rain +kept up steadily, and when he had completed his attentions to his +machine Tom looked out from under the protection of the shed. + +<P> +"It certainly is coming down for keeps," he murmured. "This trip is +a regular hoodoo so far. Hope I have it better coming back." + +<P> +As he looked down the road he espied an automobile coming through +the mist of rain. It was an open car, and as he saw the three men in +it huddled up under the insufficient protection of some blankets, +Tom said: + +<P> +"They'd ought to come in here. There's lots of room. Maybe they +don't see it. I'll call to them." + +<P> +The car was almost opposite the shed which was dose to the roadside. +Tom was about to call when one of the men in the auto looked up. He +saw the shelter and spoke to the chauffeur. The latter was preparing +to steer up into the shed when the two men on the rear seat caught +sight of Tom. + +<P> +"Why, that's the same car that passed me a while ago," said the +young inventor half aloud. "The one that contained those men whom I +suspected might be after dad's patent. I hope they--" + +<P> +He did not finish his sentence, for at that instant the chauffeur +quickly swung the machine around and headed it back into the road. +Clearly the men were not going to take advantage of the shelter of +the shed. + +<P> +"That's mighty strange," murmured Tom. "They certainly saw me, and +as soon as they did they turned away. Can they be afraid of me?" + +<P> +He went to the edge of the shelter and peered out. The auto had +disappeared down the road behind a veil of rain, and, shaking his +head over the strange occurrence, Tom went back to where he had left +his motor-cycle. + +<P> +"Things are getting more and more muddled," he said. "I'm sure those +were the same men, and yet--" + +<P> +He shrugged his shoulders. The puzzle was getting beyond him. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIV Attacked From Behind</H3> + + +<P> +Steadily the rain came down, the wind driving it under the shed +until Tom was hard put to find a place where the drops would not +reach him. He withdrew into a far corner, taking his motor-cycle with +him, and then, sitting on a block of wood, under the rough mangers +where the horses were fed while the farmers attended church, the lad +thought over the situation. He could make little of it, and the more +he tried the worse it seemed to become. He looked out across the wet +landscape. + +<P> +"I wonder if this is ever going to stop?" he mused. "It looks as if +it was in for an all-day pour, yet we ought only to have a summer +shower by rights." + +<P> +"But then I guess what I think about it won't influence the weather +man a bit. I might as well make myself comfortable, for I can't do +anything. Let's see. If I get to Fordham by six o'clock I ought to +be able to make Albany by nine, as it's only forty miles. I'll get +supper in Fordham, and push on. That is, I will if the rain stops." + +<P> +That was the most necessary matter to have happen first, and Tom +arising from his seat strolled over to the front of the shed to look +out. + +<P> +"I believe it is getting lighter in the west," he told himself. +"Yes, the clouds are lifting. It's going to clear. It's only a +summer shower, after all." + +<P> +But just as he said that there came a sudden squall of wind and +rain, fiercer than any which had preceded. Tom was driven back to +his seat on the log. It was quite chilly now, and he noticed that +near where he sat there was a big opening in the rear of the shed, +where a couple of boards were off. + +<P> +"This must be a draughty place in winter," he observed. "If I could +find a drier spot I'd sit there, but this seems to be the best," and +he remained there, musing on many things. Suddenly in the midst of +his thoughts he imagined he heard the sound of an automobile +approaching. "I wonder if those men are coming back here?" he +exclaimed. "If they are--" + +<P> +The youth again arose, and went to the front of the shed. He could +see nothing, and came back to escape the rain. There was no doubt +but that the shower would soon be over, and looking at his watch, +Tom began to calculate when he might arrive in Albany. + +<P> +He was busy trying to figure out the best plan to pursue, and was +hardly conscious of his surroundings. Seated on the log, with his +back to the opening in the shed, the young inventor could not see a +figure stealthily creeping up through the wet grass. Nor could he +see an automobile, which had come to a stop back of the horse +shelter--an automobile containing two rain-soaked men, who were +anxiously watching the one stealing through the grass. + +<P> +Tom put his watch back into his pocket and looked out into the +storm. It was almost over. The sun was trying to shine through the +clouds, and only a few drops were falling. The youth stretched with +a yawn, for he was tired of sitting still. At the moment when he +raised his arms to relieve his muscles something was thrust through +the opening behind him. It was a long club, and an instant later it +descended on the lad's head. He went down in a heap, limp and +motionless. + +<P> +Through the opening leaped a man. He bent over Tom, looked anxiously +at him, and then, stepping to the place where the boards were off +the shed, he motioned to the men in the automobile. + +<P> +They hurried from the machine, and were soon beside their companion. + +<P> +"I knocked him out, all right," observed the man who had reached +through and dealt Tom the blow with the club. + +<P> +"Knocked him out! I should say you did, Featherton!" exclaimed one +who appeared better dressed than the others. "Have you killed him?" + +<P> +"No; but I wish you wouldn't mention my name, Mr. Appleson. I--I +don't like--" + +<P> +"Nonsense, Featherton. No one can hear us. But I'm afraid you've +done for the chap. I didn't want him harmed." + +<P> +"Oh, I guess Featherton knows how to do it, Appleson," commented the +third man. "He's had experience that way, eh, Featherton?" + +<P> +"Yes, Mr. Morse; but if you please I wish you wouldn't mention--" + +<P> +"All right, Featherton, I know what you mean," rejoined the man +addressed as Morse. "Now let's see if we have drawn a blank or not. +I think he has with him the very thing we want," + +<P> +"Doesn't seem to be about his person," observed Appleson, as he +carefully felt about the clothing of the unfortunate Tom. + +<P> +"Very likely not. It's too bulky. But there's his motor-cycle over +there. It looks as if what we wanted was on the back of the saddle. +Jove, Featherton, but I think he's coming to!" + +<P> +Tom stirred uneasily and moved his arms, while a moan came from +between his parted lips. + +<P> +"I've got some stuff that will fix him!" exclaimed the man addressed +as Featherton, and who had been operating the automobile. He took +something from his pocket and leaned over Tom. In a moment the young +inventor was still again. + +<P> +"Quick now, see if it's there," directed Morse, and Appleson hurried +over to the machine. + +<P> +"Here it is!" he called. "I'll take it to our car, and we can get +away." + +<P> +"Are you going to leave him here like this?" asked Morse. + +<P> +"Yes; why not?" + +<P> +"Because some one might have seen him come in here, and also +remember that we, too, came in this direction." + +<P> +"What would you do?" + +<P> +"Take him down the road a way and leave him. We can find some shed +near a farmhouse where he and his machine will be out of sight until +we get far enough away. Besides, I don't like to leave him so far +from help, unconscious as he is." + +<P> +"Oh, you're getting chicken-hearted," said Appleson with a sneer. +"However, have your way about it. I wonder what has become of Jake +Burke? He was to meet us in Centreford, but he did not show up." + +<P> +"Oh, I shouldn't be surprised if he had trouble in that tramp rig he +insisted on adopting. I told him he was running a risk, but he said +he had masqueraded as a tramp before." + +<P> +"So he has. He's pretty good at it. Now, Simpson, if you will--" + +<P> +"Not Simpson! I thought you agreed to call me Featherton," +interrupted the chauffeur, turning to Morse and Appleson. + +<P> +"Oh, so we did. I forgot that this lad met us one day, and heard me +call you Simpson," admitted Morse. "Well, Featherton it shall be. +But we haven't much time. It's stopped raining, and the roads will +soon be well traveled. We must get away, and if we are to take the +lad and his machine to some secluded place, we'd better be at it. No +use waiting for Burke. He can look out after himself. Anyhow, we +have the model now, and there's no use in him hanging around Swift's +shop, as he intended to do, waiting for a chance to sneak in after +it. Appleson, if you and Simpson--I mean Featherton--will carry +young Swift, I'll shove his wheel along to the auto, and we can put +it and him in." + +<P> +The two men, first looking through the hole in the shed to make sure +they were not observed, went out, carrying Tom, who was no light +load. Morse followed them, pushing the motor-cycle, and carrying +under one arm the bundle containing the valuable model, which he had +detached. + +<P> +"I think this is the time we get ahead of Mr. Swift," murmured +Morse, pulling his black mustache, when he and his companions had +reached the car in the field. "We have just what we want now." + +<P> +"Yes, but we had hard enough work getting it," observed Appleson. +"Only by luck we saw this lad come in here, or we would have had to +chase all over for him, and maybe then we would have missed him. +Hurry, Simpson--I mean Featherton. It's getting late, and we've got +lots to do." + +<P> +The chauffeur sprang to his seat, Appleson taking his place beside +him. The motor-cycle was tied on behind the big touring car, and +with the unconscious form of Tom in the tonneau, beside Morse, who +stroked his mustache nervously, the auto started off. The storm had +passed, and the sun was shining brightly, but Tom could not see it. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XV A Vain Search</H3> + + +<P> +Several hours later Tom had a curious dream. He imagined he was +wandering about in the polar regions, and that it was very cold. He +was trying to reason with himself that he could not possibly be on +an expedition searching for the North Pole, still he felt such a +keen wind blowing over his scantily-covered body that he shivered. +He shivered so hard, in fact, that he shivered himself awake, and +when he tried to pierce the darkness that enveloped him he was +startled, for a moment, with the idea that perhaps, after all, he +had wandered off to some unknown country. + +<P> +For it was quite dark and cold. He was in a daze, and there was a +curious smell about him--an odor that he tried to recall. Then, all +at once, it came to him what it was--chloroform. Once his father had +undergone an operation, and to deaden his pain chloroform had been +used. + +<P> +"I've been chloroformed!" exclaimed the young inventor, and his +words sounded strange in his ears. "That's it. I've met with an +accident riding my motor-cycle. I must have hit my head, for it +hurts fearful. They picked me up, carried me to a hospital and have +operated on me. I wonder if they took off an arm or leg? I wonder +what hospital I'm in? Why is it so dark and cold?" + +<P> +As he asked himself these questions his brain gradually cleared from +the haze caused by the cowardly blow, and from the chloroform that +had been administered by Featherton. + +<P> +Tom's first act was to feel first of one arm, then the other. Having +satisfied himself that neither of these members were mutilated he +reached down to his legs. + +<P> +"Why, they're all right, too," he murmured. "I wonder what they did +to me? That's certainly, chloroform I smell, and my head feels as if +some one had sat on it. I wonder--" + +<P> +Quickly he put up his hands to his head. There appeared to be +nothing the matter with it, save that there was quite a lump on the +back, where the club had struck. + +<P> +"I seem to be all here," went on Tom, much mystified. "But where am +I? That's the question. It's a funny hospital, so cold and dark--" + +<P> +Just then his hands came in contact with the cold ground on which he +was lying. + +<P> +"Why, I'm outdoors!" he exclaimed. Then in a flash it all came back +to him--how he had gone to wait under the church shed until the rain +was over. + +<P> +"I fell asleep, and now it's night," the youth went on. "No wonder I +am sore and stiff. And that chloroform--" He could not account for +that, and he paused, puzzled once more. Then he struggled to a +sitting position. His head was strangely dizzy, but he persisted, +and got to his feet. He could see nothing, and groped around In the +dark, until he thought to strike a match. Fortunately he had a +number in his pocket. As the little flame flared up Tom started in +surprise. + +<P> +"This isn't the church shed!" he exclaimed. "It's much smaller! I'm +in a different place! Great Scott! but what has happened to me?" + +<P> +The match burned Tom's fingers and he dropped it. The darkness +closed in once more, but Tom was used to it by this time, and +looking ahead of him he could make out that the shed was an open +one, similar to the one where he had taken shelter. He could see the +sky studded with stars, and could feel the cold night wind blowing +in. + +<P> +"My motor-cycle!" he exclaimed in alarm. "The model of dad's +invention--the papers!" + +<P> +Our hero thrust his hand into his pocket. The papers were gone! +Hurriedly he lighted another match. It took but an instant to glance +rapidly about the small shed. His machine was not in sight! + +<P> +Tom felt his heart sink. After all his precautions he had been +robbed. The precious model was gone, and it had been his proposition +to take it to Albany in this manner. What would his father say? + +<P> +The lad lighted match after match, and made a rapid tour of the +shed. The motor-cycle was not to be seen. But what puzzled Tom more +than anything else was how he had been brought from the church shed +to the one where he had awakened from his stupor. + +<P> +"Let me try to think," said the boy, speaking aloud, for it seemed +to help him. "The last I remember is seeing that automobile, with +those mysterious men in, approaching. Then it disappeared in the +rain. I thought I heard it again, but I couldn't see it. I was +sitting on the log, and--and--well, that's all I can remember. I +wonder if those men--" + +<P> +The young inventor paused. Like a flash it came to him that the men +were responsible for his predicament. They had somehow made him +insensible, stolen his motor-cycle, the papers and the model, and +then brought him to this place, wherever it was. Tom was a shrewd +reasoner, and he soon evolved a theory which he afterward learned +was the correct one. He reasoned out almost every step in the crime +of which he was the victim, and at last came to the conclusion that +the men had stolen up behind the shed and attacked him. + +<P> +"Now, the next question to settle," spoke Tom, "is to learn where I +am. How far did those scoundrels carry me, and what has become of my +motor-cycle?" + +<P> +He walked toward the point of the shed where he could observe the +stars gleaming, and there he lighted some more matches, hoping he +might see his machine. By the gleam of the little flame he noted +that he was in a farmyard, and he was just puzzling his brain over +the question as to what city or town he might be near when he heard +a voice shouting: + +<P> +"Here, what you lightin' them matches for? You want to set the place +afire? Who be you, anyhow--a tramp?" + +<P> +It was unmistakably the voice of a farmer, and Tom could hear +footsteps approaching on the run. + +<P> +"Who be you, anyhow?" the voice repeated. "I'll have the constable +after you in a jiffy if you're a tramp." + +<P> +"I'm not a tramp," called Tom promptly. "I've met with an accident. +Where am I?" + +<P> +"Humph! Mighty funny if you don't know where you are," commented the +farmer. "Jed, bring a lantern until I take a look at who this is." + +<P> +"All right, pop," answered another voice, and a moment later Tom saw +a tall man standing in front of him. + +<P> +"I'll give you a look at me without waiting for the lantern," said +Tom quickly, and he struck a match, holding it so that the gleam +fell upon his face. + +<P> +"Salt mackerel! It's a young feller!" exclaimed the farmer. "Who be +you, anyhow, and what you doin' here?" + +<P> +"That's just what I would like to know," said Tom, passing his hand +over his head, which was still paining him. "Am I near Albany? +That's where I started for this morning." + +<P> +"Albany? You're a good way from Albany," replied the farmer. "You're +in the village of Dunkirk." + +<P> +"How far is that from Centreford?" + +<P> +"About seventy miles." + +<P> +"As far as that?" cried Tom. "They must have carried me a good way +in their automobile." + +<P> +"Was you in that automobile?" demanded the farmer. + +<P> +"Which one?" asked Tom quickly. + +<P> +"The one that stopped down the road just before supper. I see it, +but I didn't pay no attention to it. If I'd 'a' knowed you fell out, +though, I'd 'a' come to help you." + +<P> +"I didn't fall out, Mr.--er--" Tom paused. + +<P> +"Blackford is my name; Amos Blackford." + +<P> +"Well, Mr. Blackford, I didn't fall out. I was drugged and brought +here." + +<P> +"Drugged! Salt mackerel! But there's been a crime committed, then. +Jed, hurry up with that lantern an' git your deputy sheriff's badge +on. There's been druggin' an' all sorts of crimes committed. I've +caught one of the victims. Hurry up! My son's a deputy sheriff," he +added, by way of an explanation. + +<P> +"Then I hope he can help me catch the scoundrels who robbed me," +said Tom. + +<P> +"Robbed you, did they? Hurry up, Jed. There's been a robbery! We'll +rouse the neighborhood an' search for the villains. Hurry up, Jed!" + +<P> +"I'd rather find my motor-cycle, and a valuable model which was on +it, than locate those men," went on Tom. "They also took some papers +from me." + +<P> +Then he told how he had started for Albany, adding his theory of how +he had been attacked and carried away in the auto. The latter part +of it was borne out by the testimony of Mr. Blackford. + +<P> +"What I know about it," said the farmer, when his son Jed had +arrived on the scene with a lantern and his badge, "is that jest +about supper time I saw an automobile stop down the road a bit, It +was gittin' dusk, an' I saw some men git out. I didn't pay no +attention to them, 'cause I was busy about the milkin'. The next I +knowed I seen some one strikin' matches in my wagon shed, an' I come +out to see what it was." + +<P> +"The men must have brought me all the way from the church shed near +Centreford to here," declared Tom. "Then they lifted me out and put +me in your shed. Maybe they left my motor-cycle also." + +<P> +"I didn't see nothin' like that," said the farmer. "Is that what you +call one of them two-wheeled lickity-split things that a man sits on +the middle of an' goes like chain-lightning?" + +<P> +"It is," said Tom. "I wish you'd help me look for it." + +<P> +The farmer and his son agreed, and other lanterns having been +secured, a search was made. After about half an hour the motor-cycle +was discovered in some bushes at the side of the road, near where +the automobile had stopped. But the model was missing from it, and a +careful search near where the machine had been hidden did not reveal +it. Nor did as careful a hunt as they could make in the darkness +disclose any dues to the scoundrels who had drugged and robbed Tom. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVI Back Home</H3> + + +<P> +"We've got to organize a regular searchin' party," declared Jed +Blackford, after he and his father, together with Tom and the +farmer's hired man, had searched up and down the road by the light +of lanterns. "We'll organize a posse an' have a regular hunt. This +is the worst crime that's been committed in this deestrict in many +years, an' I'm goin' to run the scoundrels to earth." + +<P> +"Don't be talkin' nonsense, Jed," interrupted his father. "You won't +catch them fellers in a hundred years. They're miles an' miles away +from here by this time in their automobile. All you can do is to +notify the sheriff. I guess we'd better give this young man some +attention. Let's see, you said your name was Quick, didn't you?" + +<P> +"No, but it's very similar," answered Tom with a smile. "It's +Swift." + +<P> +"I knowed it was something had to do with speed," went on Mr. +Blackford. "Wa'al, now, s'pose you come in the house an' have a hot +cup of tea. You look sort of draggled out." + +<P> +Tom was glad enough to avail himself of the kind invitation, and he +was soon in the comfortable kitchen, relating his story, with more +detail, to the farmer and his family. Mrs. Blackford applied some +home-made remedies to the lump on the youth's head, and it felt much +better. + +<P> +"I'd like to take a look at my motor-cycle," he said, after his +second cup of tea. "I want to see if those men damaged it any. If +they have I'm going to have trouble getting back home to tell my +father of my bad luck. Poor dad! He will be very much worried when I +tell him the model and his patent papers have been stolen." + +<P> +"It's too bad!" exclaimed Mrs. Blackford. "I wish I had hold of them +scoundrels!" and her usually gentle face bore a severe frown. "Of +course you can have your thing-a-ma-bob in to see if it's hurt, but +please don't start it in here. They make a terrible racket." + +<P> +"No, I'll look it over in the woodshed," promised Tom. "If it's all +right I think I'll start back home at once." + +<P> +"No, you can't do that," declared Mr. Blackford. "You're in no +condition to travel. You might fall off an' git hurt. It's nearly ten +o'clock now. You jest stay here all night, an' in the mornin', if you +feel all right, you can start off. I couldn't let you go to-night." + + +<P> +Indeed, Tom did not feel very much like undertaking the journey, for +the blow on his head had made him dazed, and the chloroform caused a +sick feeling. Mr. Blackford wheeled the motor-cycle into the +woodhouse, which opened from the kitchen, and there the youth went +over the machine. He was glad to find that it had sustained no +damage. In the meanwhile Jed had gone off to tell the startling news +to near-by farmers. Quite a throng, with lanterns, went up and down +the road, but all the evidence they could find were the marks of the +automobile wheels, which clews were not very satisfactory. + +<P> +"But we'll catch them in the mornin'," declared the deputy sheriff. +"I'll know that automobile again if I see it. It was painted red." + +<P> +"That's the color of a number of automobiles," said Tom with a +smile. "I'm afraid you'll have trouble identifying it by that means. +I am surprised, though, that they did not carry my motor-cycle away +with them. It is a valuable machine." + +<P> +"They were afraid to," declared Jed. "It would look queer to see a +machine like that in an auto. Of course when they were going along +country roads in the evening it didn't much matter, but when they +headed for the city, as they probably did, they knew it would +attract suspicion to 'em. I know, for I've been a deputy sheriff +'most a year." + +<P> +"I believe you're right," agreed Tom. "They didn't dare take the +motor-cycle with them, but they hid it, hoping I would not find it. +I'd rather have the model and the papers, though, than half a dozen +motor-cycles." + +<P> +"Maybe the police will help you find them," said Mrs. Blackford. +"Jed, you must telephone to the police the first thing in the +morning. It's a shame the way criminals are allowed to go on. If +honest people did those things, they'd be arrested in a minute, but +it seems that scoundrels can do as they please." + +<P> +"You wait; I'll catch 'em!" declared Jed confidently. "I'll organize +another posse in the mornin'." + +<P> +"Well, I know one thing, and that is that the place for this young +man is in bed!" exclaimed motherly Mrs. Blackford, and she insisted +on Tom retiring. He was somewhat restless at first, and the thought +of the loss of the model and the papers preyed on his mind. Then, +utterly exhausted, he sank into a heavy slumber, and did not awaken +until the sun was shining in his window the next morning. A good +breakfast made him feel somewhat better, and he was more like the +resourceful Tom Swift of old when he went to get his motor-cycle in +shape for the ride back to Shopton. + +<P> +"Well, I hope you find those criminals," said Mr. Blackford, as he +watched Tom oiling the machine. "If you're ever out this way again, +stop off and see us." + +<P> +"Yes, do," urged Mrs. Blackford, who was getting ready to churn. Her +husband looked at the old-fashioned barrel and dasher arrangement, +which she was filling with cream. + +<P> +"What's the matter with the new churn?" he asked in some surprise. + +<P> +"It's broken," she replied. "It's always the way with those newfangled +things. It works ever so much nicer than this old one, +though," she went on to Tom, "but it gets out of order easy." + +<P> +"Let me look at it," suggested the young inventor. "I know something +about machinery." + +<P> +The churn, which worked by a system of cogs and a handle, was +brought from the woodshed. Tom soon saw what the trouble was. One of +the cogs had become displaced. It did not take him five minutes, +with the tools he carried on his motor-cycle, to put it back, and +the churn was ready to use. + +<P> +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Mrs. Blackford. "You are handy at such +things!" + +<P> +"Oh, it's just a knack," replied Tom modestly. "Now I'll put a plug +in there, and the cog wheel won't come loose again. The +manufacturers of it ought to have done that. I imagine lots of +people have this same trouble with these churns." + +<P> +"Indeed they do," asserted Mrs. Blackford. "Sallie Armstrong has +one, and it got out of order the first week they had it. I'll let +her look at mine, and maybe her husband can fix it." + +<P> +"I'd go and do it myself, but I want to get home," said Tom, and +then he showed her how, by inserting a small iron plug in a certain +place, there would be no danger of the cog coming loose again. + +<P> +"That's certainly slick!" exclaimed Mr. Blackford. "Well, I wish you +good luck, Mr. Swift, and if I see those scoundrels around this +neighborhood again I'll make 'em wish they'd let you alone." + +<P> +"That's what," added Jed, polishing his badge with his big, red +handkerchief. + +<P> +Mrs. Blackford transferred the cream to the new churn which Tom had +fixed, and as he rode off down the highway on his motor-cycle, she +waved one hand to him, while with the other she operated the handle +of the apparatus. + +<P> +"Now for a quick run to Shopton to tell dad the bad news," spoke Tom +to himself as he turned on full speed and dashed away. "My trip has +been a failure so far." + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVII Mr. Swift In Despair</H3> + + +<P> +Tom was thinking of many things as his speedy machine carried him +mile after mile nearer home. By noon he was over half way on his +journey, and he stopped in a small village for his dinner. + +<P> +"I think I'll make inquiries of the police here, to see if they +caught sight of those men," decided Tom as he left the restaurant. +"Though I am inclined to believe they kept on to Albany, or some +large city, where they have their headquarters. They will want to +make use of dad's model as soon as possible, though what they will +do with it I don't know." He tried to telephone to his father, but +could get no connection, as the wire was being repaired. + +<P> +The police force of the place where Tom had stopped for lunch was +like the town itself--small and not of much consequence. The chief +constable, for he was not what one could call a chief of police, had +heard of the matter from the alarm sent out in all directions from +Dunkirk, where Mr. Blackford lived. + +<P> +"You don't mean to tell me you're the young man who was chloroformed +and robbed!" exclaimed the constable, looking at Tom as if he +doubted his word. + +<P> +"I'm the young man," declared our hero. "Have you seen anything of +the thieves?" + +<P> +"Not a thing, though I've instructed all my men to keep a sharp +lookout for a red automobile, with three scoundrels in it. My men +are to make an arrest on sight." + +<P> +"How many men have you?" + +<P> +"Two," was the rather surprising answer; "but one has to work on a +farm daytimes, so I ain't really got but one in what you might call +active service." + +<P> +Tom restrained a desire to laugh. At any rate, the aged constable +meant well. + +<P> +"One of my men seen a red automobile, a little while before you come +in my office," went on the official, "but it wasn't the one wanted, +'cause a young woman was running it all alone. It struck me as +rather curious that a woman would trust herself all alone in one of +them things; wouldn't it you?" + +<P> +"Oh, no, women and young ladies often operate them," said Tom. + +<P> +"I should think you'd find one handier than the two-wheeled +apparatus you have out there," went on the constable, indicating the +motor-cycle, which Tom had stood up against a tree. + +<P> +"I may have one some day," replied the young inventor. "But I guess +I'll be moving on now. Here's my address, in case you hear anything +of those men, but I don't imagine you will." + +<P> +"Me either. Fellows as slick as them are won't come back this way +and run the chance of being arrested by my men. I have two on duty +nights," he went on proudly, "besides myself, so you see we're +pretty well protected." + +<P> +Tom thanked him for the trouble he had taken, and was soon on his +way again. He swept on along the quiet country roads anxious for the +time when he could consult with his father over what would be the +best course to take. + +<P> +When Tom was about a mile away from his house he saw in the road +ahead of him a rickety old wagon, and a second glance at it told him +the outfit belonged to Eradicate Sampson, for the animal drawing the +vehicle was none other than the mule, Boomerang. + +<P> +"But what in the world is Rad up to?" mused Tom, for the colored man +was out of the wagon and was going up and down in the grass at the +side of the highway in a curious fashion. "I guess he's lost +something," decided Tom. + +<P> +When he got nearer he saw what Eradicate was doing. The colored man +was pushing a lawn-mower slowly to and fro in the tall, rank grass +that grew beside the thoroughfare, and at the sound of Tom's motor-cycle +the negro looked up. There was such a woe-begone expression on +his face that Tom at once stopped his machine and got off. + +<P> +"What's the matter, Rad?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"Mattah, Mistah Swift? Why, dere's a pow'ful lot de mattah, an' +dat's de truff. I'se been swindled, dat's what I has." + +<P> +"Swindled? How?" + +<P> +"Well, it's dis-a-way. Yo' see dis yeah lawn-moah?" + +<P> +"Yes; it doesn't seem to work," and Tom glanced critically at it. As +Eradicate pushed it slowly to and fro, the blades did not revolve, +and the wheels slipped along on the grass. + +<P> +"No, sah, it doan't work, an' dat's how I've been swindled, Mistah +Swift. Yo' see, I done traded mah ole grindstone off for dis yeah +lawn-moah, an' I got stuck." + +<P> +"What, that old grindstone that was broken in two, and that you +fastened together with concrete?" asked Tom, for he had seen the +outfit with which Eradicate, in spare times between cleaning and +whitewashing, had gone about the country, sharpening knives and +scissors. "You don't mean that old, broken one?" + +<P> +"Dat's what I mean, Mistah Swift. Why, it was all right. I mended it +so dat de break wouldn't show, an' it would sharpen things if yo' +run it slow. But dis yeah lawn-moah won't wuk slow ner fast." + +<P> +"I guess it was an even exchange, then," went on Tom. "You didn't +get bitten any worse than the other fellow did." + +<P> +"Yo' doan't s'pose yo' kin fix dis yeah moah so's I kin use it, does +yo', Mistah Swift?" asked Eradicate, not bothering to go into the +ethics of the matter. "I reckon now with summah comin' on I kin make +mo' with a lawn-moah than I kin with a grindstone--dat is, ef I kin +git it to wuk. I jest got it a while ago an' decided to try it, but +it won't cut no grass." + +<P> +"I haven't much time," said Tom, "for I'm anxious to get home, but +I'll take a look at it." + +<P> +Tom leaned his motor-cycle against the fence. He could no more pass +a bit of broken machinery, which he thought he could mend, than some +men and boys can pass by a baseball game without stopping to watch +it, no matter how pressed they are for time. It was Tom's hobby, and +he delighted in nothing so much as tinkering with machines, from +lawn-mowers to steam engines. + +<P> +Tom took hold of the handle, which Eradicate gladly relinquished to +him, and his trained touch told him at once what was the trouble. + +<P> +"Some one has had the wheels off and put them on wrong, Rad," he +said. "The ratchet and pawl are reversed. This mower would work +backwards, if that were possible." + +<P> +"Am dat so, Mistah Swift?" + +<P> +"That's it. All I have to do is to take off the wheels and reverse +the pawl." + +<P> +"I--I didn't know mah lawn-moah was named Paul," said the colored +man. "Is it writ on it anywhere?" + +<P> +"No, it's not the kind of Paul you mean," said Tom with a laugh. +"It's spelled differently. A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into +a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch +to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a +derrick. I'll have it fixed in a jiffy for you." + +<P> +Tom worked rapidly. With a monkey-wrench he removed the two big +wheels of the lawn-mower and reversed the pawl in the cogs. In five +minutes he had replaced the wheels, and the machine, except for +needed sharpening, did good work. + +<P> +"There you are, Rad!" exclaimed Tom at length. + +<P> +"Yo' suah am a wonder at inventin'!" cried the colored man +gratefully. "I'll cut yo' grass all summah fo' yo' to pay fo' this, +Mistah Swift." + +<P> +"Oh, that's too much. I didn't do a great deal, Rad." + +<P> +"Well, yo' saved me from bein' swindled, Mistah Swift, an' I suah +does 'preciate dat." + +<P> +"How about the fellow you traded the cracked grindstone to, Rad?" + +<P> +"Oh, well, ef he done run it slow it won't fly apart, an' he'll do +dat, anyhow, fo' he suah am a lazy coon. I guess we am about even +there, Mistah Swift." + +<P> +"All right," spoke Tom with a laugh. "Sharpen it up, Rad, and start +in to cut grass. It will soon be summer," and Tom, leaping upon his +motor-cycle, was off like a shot. + +<P> +He found his father in his library, reading a book on scientific +matters. Mr. Swift looked up in surprise at seeing his son. + +<P> +"What! Back so soon?" he asked. "You did make a flying trip. Did you +give the model and papers to Mr. Crawford?" + +<P> +"No, dad, I was robbed yesterday. Those scoundrels got ahead of us, +after all. They have your model. I tried to telephone to you, but +the wires were down, or something." + +<P> +"What!" cried Mr. Swift. "Oh, Tom! That's too bad! I will lose ten +thousand dollars if I can't get that model and those papers back!" +and with a despairing gesture Mr. Swift rose and began to pace the +floor. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVIII Happy Harry Again</H3> + + +<P> +Tom watched his father anxiously. The young inventor knew the loss +had been a heavy one, and he blamed himself for not having been more +careful. + +<P> +"Tell me all about it, Tom," said Mr. Swift at length. "Are you sure +the model and papers are gone? How did it happen?" + +<P> +Then Tom related what had befallen him. + +<P> +"Oh, that's too bad!" cried Mr. Swift. "Are you much hurt, Tom? +Shall I send for the doctor?" For the time being his anxiety over +his son was greater than that concerning his loss. + +<P> +"No, indeed, dad. I'm all right now. I got a bad blow on the head, +but Mrs. Blackford fixed me up. I'm awfully sorry---" + +<P> +"There, there! Now don't say another word," interrupted Mr. Swift. +"It wasn't your fault. It might have happened to me. I dare say it +would, for those scoundrels seemed very determined. They are +desperate, and will stop at nothing to make good the loss they +sustained on the patent motor they exploited. Now they will probably +try to make use of my model and papers." + +<P> +"Do you think they'll do that, dad?" + +<P> +"Yes. They will either make a motor exactly like mine, or construct +one so nearly similar that it will answer their purpose. I will have +no redress against them, as my patent is not fully granted yet. Mr. +Crawford was to attend to that." + +<P> +"Can't you do anything to stop them, dad? File an injunction, or +something like that?" + +<P> +"I don't know. I must see Mr. Crawford at once. I wonder if he could +come here? He might be able to advise me. I have had very little +experience with legal difficulties. My specialty is in other lines +of work. But I must do something. Every moment is valuable. I wonder +who the men were?" + +<P> +"I'm sure one of them was the same man who came here that night--the +man with the black mustache, who dropped the telegram," said Tom. "I +had a pretty good look at him as the auto passed me, and I'm sure it +was he. Of course I didn't see who it was that struck me down, but I +imagine it was some one of the same gang." + +<P> +"Very likely. Well, Tom, I must do something. I suppose I might +telegraph to Mr. Crawford--he will be expecting you in Albany--" Mr. +Swift paused musingly. "No, I have it!" he suddenly exclaimed. "I'll +go to Albany myself." + +<P> +"Go to Albany, dad?" + +<P> +"Yes; I must explain everything to the lawyers and then he can +advise me what to do. Fortunately I have some papers, duplicates of +those you took, which I can show him. Of course the originals will +be necessary before I can prove my claim. The loss of the model is +the most severe, however. Without that I can do little. But I will +have Mr. Crawford take whatever steps are possible. I'll take the +night train, Tom. I'll have to leave you to look after matters here, +and I needn't caution you to be on your guard, though, having got +what they were after, I fancy those financiers, or their tools, will +not bother us again." + +<P> +"Very likely not," agreed Tom, "but I will keep my eyes open, just +the same. Oh, but that reminds me, dad. Did you see anything of a +tramp around here while I was away?" + +<P> +"A tramp? No; but you had better ask Mrs. Baggert. She usually +attends to them. She's so kind-hearted that she frequently gives +them a good meal." + +<P> +The housekeeper, when consulted, said that no tramps had applied in +the last few days. + +<P> +"Why do you ask, Tom?" inquired his father. + +<P> +"Because I had an experience with one, and I believe he was a member +of the same gang who robbed me." And thereupon Tom told of his +encounter with Happy Harry, and how the latter had broken the wire +on the motor-cycle. + +<P> +"You had a narrow escape," commented Mr. Swift. "If I had known the +dangers involved I would never have allowed you to take the model to +Albany." + +<P> +"Well, I didn't take it there, after all," said Tom with a grim +smile, for he could appreciate a joke. + +<P> +"I must hurry and pack my valise," went on Mr. Swift. "Mrs. Baggert, +we will have an early supper, and I will start at once for Albany." + +<P> +"I wish I could go with you, dad, to make up for the trouble I +caused," spoke Tom. + +<P> +"Tut, tut! Don't talk that way," advised his father kindly. "I will +be glad of the trip. It will ease my mind to be doing something." + +<P> +Tom felt rather lonesome after his father had left, but he laid out +a plan of action for himself that he thought would keep him occupied +until his father returned. In the first place he made a tour of the +house and various machine shops to see that doors and windows were +securely fastened. + +<P> +"What's the matter? Do you expect burglars, Master Tom?" asked +Garret Jackson, the aged engineer. + +<P> +"Well, Garret, you never can tell," replied the young inventor, as +he told of his experience and the necessity for Mr. Swift going to +Albany. "Some of those scoundrels, finding how easy it was to rob +me, may try it again, and get some at dad's other valuable models. +I'm taking no chances." + +<P> +"That's right, Master Tom. I'll keep steam up in the boiler to-night, +though we don't really need it, as your father told me you +would probably not run any machinery when he was gone. But with a +good head of steam up, and a hose handy, I can give any burglars a +hot reception. I almost wish they'd come, so I could get square with +them." + +<P> +"I don't, Garret. Well, I guess everything is in good shape. If you +hear anything unusual, or the alarm goes off during the night, call +me." + +<P> +"I will, Master Tom," and the old engineer, who had a living-room in +a shack adjoining the boiler-room, locked the door after Tom left. + +<P> +The young inventor spent the early evening in attaching a new wire +to his motor-cycle to replace the one he had purchased while on his +disastrous trip. The temporary one was not just the proper thing, +though it answered well enough. then, having done some work on a new +boat propeller he was contemplating patenting, Tom felt that it was +time to go to bed, as he was tired. He made a second round of the +house, looking to doors and windows, until Mrs. Baggert exclaimed: + +<P> +"Oh, Tom, do stop! You make me nervous, going around that way. I'm +sure I shan't sleep a wink to-night, thinking of burglars and +tramps." + +<P> +Tom laughingly desisted, and went up to his room. He sat up a few +minutes, writing a letter to a girl of his acquaintance, for, in +spite of the fact that the young inventor was very busy with his own +and his father's work, he found time for lighter pleasures. Then, as +his eyes seemed determined to close of their own accord, if he did +not let them, he tumbled into bed. + +<P> +Tom fancied it was nearly morning when he suddenly awoke with a +start. He heard a noise, and at first he could not locate it. Then +his trained ear traced it to the dining-room. + +<P> +"Why, Mrs. Baggert must be getting breakfast, and is rattling the +dishes," he thought. "But why is she up so early?" + +<P> +It was quite dark in Tom's room, save for a little gleam from the +crescent moon, and by the light of this Tom arose and looked at his +watch. + +<P> +"Two o'clock," he whispered. "That can't be Mrs. Baggert, unless +she's sick, and got up to take some medicine." + +<P> +He listened intently. Below, in the dining-room, he could hear +stealthy movements. + +<P> +"Mrs. Baggert would never move around like that," he decided. "She's +too heavy. I wonder--it's a burglar--one of the gang has gotten in!" +he exclaimed in tense tones. "I'm going to catch him at it!" + +<P> +Hurriedly he slipped on some clothes, and then, having softly turned +on the electric light in his room, he took from a corner a small +rifle, which he made sure was loaded. Then, having taken a small +electric flashlight, of the kind used by police men, and sometimes +by burglars, he started on tiptoe toward the lower floor. + +<P> +As Tom softly descended the stairs he could more plainly hear the +movements of the intruder. He made out now that the burglar was in +Mr. Swift's study, which opened from the dining-room. + +<P> +"He's after dad's papers!" thought Tom. "I wonder which one this +is?" + +<P> +The youth had often gone hunting in the woods, and he knew how to +approach cautiously. Thus he was able to reach the door of the +dining-room without being detected. He had no need to flash his +light, for the intruder was doing that so frequently with one he +carried that Tom could see him perfectly. The fellow was working at +the safe in which Mr. Swift kept his more valuable papers. + +<P> +Softly, very softly Tom brought his rifle to bear on the back of the +thief. Then, holding the weapon with one hand, for it was very +light, Tom extended the electric flash, so that the glare would be +thrown on the intruder and would leave his own person in the black +shadows. Pressing the spring which caused the lantern to throw out a +powerful glow, Tom focused the rays on the kneeling man. + +<P> +"That will be about all!" the youth exclaimed in as steady a voice +as he could manage. + +<P> +The burglar turned like a flash, and Tom had a glimpse of his face. +It was the tramp--Happy Harry--whom he had encountered on the lonely +road. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIX"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIX Tom On A Hunt</H3> + + +<P> +Tom held his rifle in readiness, though he only intended it as a +means of intimidation, and would not have fired at the burglar +except to save his own life. But the sight of the weapon was enough +for the tramp. He crouched motionless. His own light had gone out, +but by the gleam of the electric he carried Tom could see that the +man had in his hand some tool with which he had been endeavoring to +force the safe. + +<P> +"I guess you've got me!" exclaimed the intruder, and there was in +his tones no trace of the tramp dialect. + +<P> +"It looks like it," agreed Tom grimly. "Are you a tramp now, or in +some other disguise?" + +<P> +"Can't you see?" asked the fellow sullenly, and then Tom did notice +that the man still had on his tramp make-up. + +<P> +"What do you want?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Hard to tell." replied the burglar calmly. "I hadn't got the safe +open before you came down and disturbed me. I'm after money, +naturally." + +<P> +"No, you're not!" exclaimed Tom. + +<P> +"What's that?" and the man seemed surprised. + +<P> +"No, you're not!" went on Tom, and he held his rifle in readiness. +"You're after the patent papers and the model of the turbine motor. +But it's gone. Your confederates got it away from me. They probably +haven't told you yet, and you're still on the hunt for it. You'll +not get it, but I've got you." + +<P> +"So I see," admitted Happy Harry, and he spoke with some culture. +"If you don't mind," he went on, "would you just as soon move that +gun a little? It's pointing right at my head, and it might go off." + +<P> +"It is going off--very soon!" exclaimed Tom grimly, and the tramp +started in alarm. "Oh, I'm not going to shoot you," continued the +young inventor. "I'm going to fire this as an alarm, and the +engineer will come in here and tie you up. Then I'm going to hand +you over to the police. This rifle is a repeater, and I am a pretty +good shot. I'm going to fire once now, to summon assistance, and if +you try to get away I'll be ready to fire a second time, and that +won't be so comfortable for you. I've caught you, and I'm going to +hold on to you until I get that model and those papers back." + +<P> +"Oh, you are, eh?" asked the burglar calmly. "Well, all I've got to +say is that you have grit. Go ahead. I'm caught good and proper. I +was foolish to come in here, but I thought I'd take a chance." + +<P> +"Who are you, anyhow? Who are the men working with you to defraud my +father of his rights?" asked Tom somewhat bitterly. + +<P> +"I'll never tell you," answered the burglar. "I was hired to do +certain work, and that's all there is to it. I'm not going to peach +on my pals." + +<P> +"We'll see about that!" burst out Tom. Then he noticed that a +dining-room window behind where the burglar was kneeling was open. +Doubtless the intruder had entered that way, and intended to escape +in the same manner. + +<P> +"I'm going to shoot," announced Tom, and, aiming his rifle at the +open window, where the bullet would do no damage, he pressed the +trigger. He noticed that the burglar was crouching low down on the +floor, but Tom thought nothing of this at the time. He imagined that +Happy Harry--or whatever his name was--might be afraid of getting +hit. + +<P> +There was a flash of fire and a deafening report as Tom fired. The +cloud of smoke obscured his vision for a moment, and as the echoes +died away Tom could hear Mrs. Baggert screaming in her room. + +<P> +"It's all right!" cried the young inventor reassuringly. "No one is +hurt, Mrs. Baggert!" Then he flashed his light on the spot where the +burglar had crouched. As the smoke rolled away Tom peered in vain +for a sight of the intruder. + +<P> +Happy Harry was gone! + +<P> +Holding his rifle in readiness, in case he should be attacked from +some unexpected quarter, Tom strode forward. He flashed his light in +every direction. There was no doubt about it. The intruder had fled. +Taking advantage of the noise when the gun was fired, and under +cover of the smoke, the burglar had leaped from the open window. Tom +guessed as much. He hurried to the casement and peered out, at the +same time noticing the cut wire of the burglar alarm. It was quite +dark, and he fancied he could hear the noise of some one running +rapidly. Aiming his rifle into the air, he fired again, at the same +time crying out: + +<P> +"Hold on!" + +<P> +"All right, Master Tom, I'm coming!" called the voice of the +engineer from his shack. "Are you hurt? Is Mrs. Baggert murdered? I +hear her screaming." + +<P> +"That's pretty good evidence that she isn't murdered," said Tom with +a grim smile. + +<P> +"Are you hurt?" again called Mr. Jackson. + +<P> +"No, I'm all right," answered Tom. "Did you see any one running away +as you came up?" + +<P> +"No, Master Tom, I didn't. What happened?" + +<P> +"A burglar got in, and I had him cornered, but he got away when I +fired to arouse you." + +<P> +By this time the engineer was at the stoop, on which the window +opened. Tom unlocked a side door and admitted Mr. Jackson, and then, +the incandescent light having been turned on, the two looked around +the apartment. Nothing in it had been disturbed, and the safe had +not been opened. + +<P> +"I heard him just in time," commented Tom, telling the engineer what +had happened. "I wish I had thought to get between him and the +window. Then he couldn't have gotten away." + +<P> +"He might have injured you, though," said Mr. Jackson. "We'll go +outside now, and look--" + +<P> +"Is any one killed? Are you both murdered?" cried Mrs. Baggert at +the dining-room door. "If any one is killed I'm not coming in there. +I can't bear the sight of blood." + +<P> +"No one is hurt," declared Tom with a laugh. "Come on in, Mrs. +Baggert," and the housekeeper entered, her hair all done up in curl +papers. + +<P> +"Oh, my goodness me!" she exclaimed. "When I heard that cannon go +off I was sure the house was coming down. How is it some one wasn't +killed?" + +<P> +"That wasn't a cannon; it was only my little rifle," said Tom, and +then he told again, for the benefit of the housekeeper, the story of +what had happened. + +<P> +"We'd better hurry and look around the premises," suggested Mr. +Jackson. "Maybe he is hiding, and will come back, or perhaps he has +some confederates on the watch." + +<P> +"Not much danger of that," declared Tom. "Happy Harry is far enough +away from here now, and so are his confederates, if he had any, +which I doubt. Still, it will do no harm to take a look around." + +<P> +A search resulted in nothing, however, and the Swift household had +soon settled down again, though no one slept soundly during the +remainder of the night. + +<P> +In the morning Tom sent word of what had happened to the police of +Shopton. Some officers came out to the house, but, beyond looking +wisely at the window by which the burglar had entered and at some +footprints in the garden, they could do nothing. Tom wanted to go +off on his motor-cycle on a tour of the surrounding neighborhood to +see if he could get any clews, but he did not think it would be wise +in the absence of his father. He thought it would be better to +remain at home, in case any further efforts were made to get +possession of valuable models or papers. + +<P> +"There's not much likelihood of that, though," said Tom to the old +engineer. "Those fellows have what they want, and are not going to +bother us again. I would like to get that model back for dad, +though. If they file it and take out a patent, even if he can prove +that it is his, it will mean a long lawsuit and he may be defrauded +of his rights, after all. Possession is nine points of the law, and +part of the tenth, too, I guess." + +<P> +So Tom remained at home and busied himself as well as he could over +some new machines he was constructing. He got a telegram from his +father that afternoon, stating that Mr. Swift had safely arrived in +Albany, and would return the following day. + +<P> +"Did you have any luck, dad?" asked the young inventor, when his +father, tired and worn from the unaccustomed traveling, reached home +in the evening. + +<P> +"Not much, Tom," was the reply. "Mr. Crawford has gone back to +Washington, and he is going to do what he can to prevent those men +taking advantage of me." + +<P> +"Did you get any trace of the thieves? Does Mr. Crawford think he +can?" + +<P> +"No to both questions. His idea is that the men will remain in +hiding for a while, and then, when the matter has quieted down, they +will proceed to get a patent on the motor that I invented." + +<P> +"But, in the meanwhile, can't you make another model and get a +patent yourself?" + +<P> +"No; there are certain legal difficulties in the way. Besides, those +men have the original papers I need. As for the model, it will take +me nearly a year to build a new one that will work properly, as it +is very complicated. I am afraid, Tom, that all my labor on the +turbine motor is thrown away. Those scoundrels will reap the benefit +of it." + +<P> +"Oh, I hope not, dad! I'm sure those fellows will be caught. Now +that you are back home again, I'm going out on a hunt on my own +account. I don't put much faith in the police. It was through me, +dad, that you lost your model and the papers, and I'll get them +back!" + +<P> +"No, you must not think it was your fault, Tom," said his father. +"You could not help it, though I appreciate your desire to recover +the missing model." + +<P> +"And I'll do it, too, dad. I'll start to-morrow, and I'll make a +complete circuit of the country for a hundred miles around. I can +easily do it on my motor-cycle. If I can't get on the trail of the +three men who robbed me, maybe I can find Happy Harry." + +<P> +"I doubt it, my son. Still, you may try. Now I must write to Mr. +Crawford and tell him about the attempted burglary while I was away. +It may give him a clew to work on. I'm afraid you ran quite a risk, +Tom." + +<P> +"I didn't think about that, dad. I only wish I had managed to keep +that rascal a prisoner." + +<P> +The next day Tom started off on a hunt. He planned to be gone +overnight, as he intended to go first to Dunkirk, where Mr. +Blackford lived, and begin his search from there. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XX"></A> +<H3>Chapter XX Eradicate Saws Wood</H3> + + +<P> +The farmer's family, including the son who was a deputy sheriff, was +glad to see Tom. Jed said he had "been on the job" ever since the +mysterious robbery of Tom had taken place, but though he had seen +many red automobiles he had no trace of the three men. + +<P> +From Dunkirk Tom went back over the route he had taken in going from +Pompville to Centreford, and made some inquiries in the neighborhood +of the church shed, where he had taken shelter. The locality was +sparsely settled, however, and no one could give any clews to the +robbers. + +<P> +The young inventor next made a trip over the lonely, sandy road, +where he had met with the tramp, Happy Harry. But there were even +fewer houses near that stretch than around the church, so he got no +satisfaction there. Tom spent the night at a country inn, and +resumed his search the next morning, but with no results. The men +had apparently completely disappeared, leaving no traces behind +them. + +<P> +"I may as well go home," thought Tom, as he was riding his motor-cycle +along a pleasant country road. "Dad may be worried, and +perhaps something has turned up in Shopton that will aid me. If +there isn't, I'm going to start out again in a few days in another +direction." + +<P> +There was no news in Shopton, however. Town found his father +scarcely able to work, so worried was he over the loss of his most +important invention. + +<P> +Two weeks passed, the young machinist taking trips of several days' +duration to different points near his home, in the hope of +discovering something. But he was unsuccessful, and, in the +meanwhile, no reassuring word was received from the lawyers in +Washington. Mr. Crawford wrote that no move had yet been made by the +thieves to take out patent papers, and while this, in a sense, was +some aid to Mr. Swift, still he could not proceed on his own account +to protect his new motor. All that could be done was to await the +first movement on the part of the scoundrels. + +<P> +"I think I'll try a new plan to-morrow, dad," announced Tom one +night, when he and his father had talked over again, for perhaps the +twentieth time, the happenings of the last few weeks. + +<P> +"What is it, Tom?" asked the inventor. + +<P> +"Well, I think I'll take a week's trip on my machine. I'll visit all +the small towns around here, but, instead of asking in houses for +news of the tramp or his confederates, I'll go to the police and +constables. I'll ask if they have arrested any tramps recently, and, +if they have, I'll ask them to let me see the 'hobo' prisoners." + +<P> +"What good will that do?" + +<P> +"I'll tell you. I have an idea that though the burglar who got in +here may not be a regular tramp, yet he disguises himself like one +at times, and may be known to other tramps. If I can get on the +trail of Happy Harry, as he calls himself, I may locate the other +men. Tramps would be very likely to remember such a peculiar chap as +Happy Harry, and they will tell me where they had last seen him. +Then I will have a starting point." + +<P> +"Well, that may be a good plan," assented Mr. Swift. "At any rate it +will do no harm to try. A tramp locked up in a country police +station will very likely be willing to talk. Go ahead with that +scheme, Tom, but don't get into any danger. How long will you be +away?" + +<P> +"I don't know. A week, perhaps; maybe longer. I'll take plenty of +money with me, and stop at country hotels overnight." + +<P> +Tom lost no time in putting his plan into execution. He packed some +clothes in a grip, which he attached to the rear of his motor-cycle, +and then having said good-by to his father, started off. The first +three days he met with no success. He located several tramps in +country lock-ups, where they had been sent for begging or loitering, +but none of them knew Happy Harry or had ever heard of a tramp +answering his description. + +<P> +"He ain't one of us, youse can make up your mind to dat," said one +"hobo" whom Tom interviewed. "No real knight of de highway goes +around in a disguise. We leaves dat for de story-book detectives. +I'm de real article, I am, an' I don't know Happy Harry. But, fer +dat matter, any of us is happy enough in de summer time, if we don't +strike a burgh like dis, where dey jugs you fer panhandlin'." + +<P> +In general, Tom found the tramp willing enough to answer his +questions, though some were sullen, and returned only surly growls +to his inquiries. + +<P> +"I guess I'll have to give it up and go back home," he decided one +night. But there was a small town, not many miles from Shopton, +which he had not yet visited, and he resolved to try there before +returning. Accordingly, the next morning found him inquiring of the +police authorities in Meadton. But no tramps had been arrested in +the last month, and no one had seen anything of a tramp like Happy +Harry or three mysterious men in an automobile. + +<P> +Tom was beginning to despair. Riding along a silent road, that +passed through a strip of woods, he was trying to think of some new +line of procedure, when the silence of the highway, that, hitherto, +had resounded only with the muffled explosions of his machine, was +broken by several exclamations. + +<P> +"Now, Boomerang, yo' might jest as well start now as later," Tom heard +a voice saying--a voice he recognized well. "Yo' hab got t' do dis +yeah wuk, an' dere ain't no gittin' out ob it. Dis yeah wood am got to +be sawed, an' yo' hab got to saw it. But it am jest laik yo' to go +back on yo' ole friend Eradicate in dis yeah fashion. I neber could +tell what yo' were gwine t' do next, an' I cain't now. G'lang, now, +won't yo'? Let's git dis yeah sawmill started." + +<P> +Tom shut off the power and leaped from his wheel. From the woods at +his left came the protesting "hee-haw" of a mule. + +<P> +"Boomerang and Eradicate Sampson!" exclaimed the young inventor. +"What can they be doing here?" + +<P> +He leaned his motor-cycle against the fence and advanced toward +where he had heard the voice of the colored man. In a little +clearing he saw him. Eradicate was presiding over a portable +sawmill, worked by a treadmill, on the incline of which was the +mule, its ears laid back, and an unmistakable expression of anger on +its face. + +<P> +"Why, Rad, what are you doing?" cried Tom. + +<P> +"Good land o' massy! Ef it ain't young Mistah Swift!" cried the +darky. "Howdy, Mistah Swift! Howdy! I'm jest tryin' t' saw some +wood, t' make a livin', but Boomerang he doan't seem t' want t' +lib," and with that Eradicate looked reproachfully at the animal. + +<P> +"What seems to be the trouble, and how did you come to own this +sawmill?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I'll tell yo', Mistah Swift, I'll tell yo'," spoke Eradicate. "Sit +right yeah on dis log, an' I'll explanation it to yo'." + +<P> +"The last time I saw you, you were preparing to go into the grasscutting +business," went on Tom. + +<P> +"Yais, sah! Dat's right. So I was. Yo' has got a memory, yo' suah +has. But it am dis yeah way. Grass ain't growin' quick enough, an' +so I traded off dat lawn-moah an' bought dis yeah mill. But now it +won't go, an' I suah am in trouble," and once more Eradicate Sampson +looked indignantly at Boomerang. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXI Eradicate Gives A Clew</H3> + + +<P> +"Tell me all about it," urged Tom sympathetically, for he had a +friendly feeling toward the aged darky. + +<P> +"Well," began Eradicate, "I suah thought I were gwine to make money +cuttin' grass, 'specially after yo' done fixed mah moah. But 'peared +laik nobody wanted any grass cut. I trabeled all ober, an' I +couldn't git no jobs. Now me an' Boomerang has to eat, no mattah ef +he is contrary, so I had t' look fo' some new wuk. I traded dat +lawn-moah off fo' a cross-cut saw, but dat was such hard wuk dat I +gib it up. Den I got a chance to buy dis yeah outfit cheap, an' I +bought it." + +<P> +Eradicate then went on to tell how he had purchased the portable +sawmill from a man who had no further use for it, and how he had +managed to transport it from a distant village to the spot where Tom +had met him. There he had secured permission to work a piece of +woodland on shares, sawing up the smaller trees into cord wood. He +had started in well enough, cutting down considerable timber, for +the colored man was a willing worker, but when he tried to start his +mill he met with trouble. + +<P> +"I counted on Boomerang helpin' me," he said to Tom. "All he has to +do is walk on dat tread mill, an' keep goin'. Dat makes de saw go +'round, an' I saws de wood. But de trouble am dat I can't git +Boomerang to move. I done tried ebery means I knows on, an' he won't +go. I talked kind to him, an' I talked harsh. I done beat him wif a +club, an' I rub his ears soft laik, an' he allers did laik dat, but +he won't go. I fed him on carrots an' I gib him sugar, an' I eben +starve him, but he won't go. Heah I been tryin' fo' three days now +t' git him started, an' not a stick hab I sawed. De man what I'm +wukin' wif on shares he git mad, an' he say ef I doan't saw wood +pretty soon he gwine t' git annuder mill heah. Now I axes yo' fair, +Mistah Swift, ain't I got lots ob trouble?" + +<P> +"You certainly seem to have," agreed Tom "But why is Boomerang so +obstinate? Usually on a treadmill a horse or a mule has to work +whether they like it or not. If they don't keep moving the platform +slides out from under them, and they come up against the back bar." + +<P> +"Dat's what done happened to Boomerang," declared Eradicate. "He +done back up against de bar, an' dere he stay." + +<P> +Tom went over and looked at the mill. The outfit was an old one, and +had seen much service, but the trained eye of the young inventor saw +that it could still be used effectively. Boomerang watched Tom, as +though aware that something unusual was about to happen. + +<P> +"Heah I done gone an' 'vested mah money in dis yeah mill," +complained Eradicate, "an' I ain't sawed up a single stick. Ef I +wasn't so kind-hearted I'd chastise dat mule wuss dan I has, dat's +what I would." + +<P> +Tom said nothing. He was stooping down, looking at the gearing that +connected the tread mill with the shaft which revolved the saw. +Suddenly he uttered an exclamation, + +<P> +"Rad, have you been monkeying with this machinery?" he asked. + +<P> +"Me? Good land, Mistah Swift, no, sah! I wouldn't tech it. It's jest +as I got it from de man I bought it oh. It worked when he had it, +but he used a hoss. It's all due to de contrariness ob Boomerang, +an' if I--" + +<P> +"No, it isn't the mule's fault at all!" exclaimed Tom. "The mill is +out of gear, and tread is locked; that's all. The man you bought it +off probably did it so you could haul it along the road. I'll have +it fixed for you in a few minutes. Wait until I get some tools." + +<P> +From the bag on his motor-cycle Tom got his implements. He first +unlocked the treadmill, so that the inclined platform, on which the +animal slowly walked, could revolve. No sooner had he done this than +Boomerang, feeling the slats under his hoofs moving away, started +forward. With a rattle the treadmill slid around. + +<P> +"Good land o' massy! It's goin'!" cried Eradicate delightedly. "It +suah am goin'!" he added as he saw the mule, with nimble feet, send +the revolving, endless string of slats around and around. "But de +saw doan't move, Mistah Swift. Yo' am pretty smart at fixin' it as +much as yo' has, but I reckon it's too busted t' eber saw any wood. +I'se got bad luck, dat's what I has." + +<P> +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "The sawmill will be going in a moment. +All I have to do is to throw it into gear. See here, Rad. When you +want the saw to go you just throw this handle forward. That makes +the gears mesh." + +<P> +"What's dat 'bout mush?" asked Eradicate. + +<P> +"Mesh--not mush. I mean it makes the cogs fit together. See," and +Tom pressed the lever. In an instant, with a musical whirr, the saw +began revolving. + +<P> +"Hurrah! Dere it goes! Golly! see de saw move!" cried the delighted +colored man. He seized a stick of wood, and in a trice it was sawed +through. + +<P> +"Whoop!" yelled Eradicate. "I'm sabed now! Bless yo', Mistah Swift, +yo' suttinly am a wondah!" + +<P> +"Now I'll show you how it works," went on Tom. "When you want to +stop Boomerang, you just pull this handle. That locks the tread, and +he can't move it," and, suiting the action to his words, Tom stopped +the mill. "Then," he went on, "when you want him to move, you pull +the handle this way," and he showed the darky how to do it. In a +moment the mule was moving again. Then Tom illustrated how to throw +the saw in and out of gear, and in a few minutes the sawmill was in +full operation, with a most energetic colored man feeding in logs to +be cut up into stove lengths. + +<P> +"You ought to have an assistant, Rad," said Tom, after he had +watched the work for a while. "You could get more done then, and +move on to some other wood-patch." + +<P> +"Dat's right, Mistah Swift, so I had. But I 'done tried, an' +couldn't git any. I ast seberal colored men, but dey'd radder +whitewash an' clean chicken coops. I guess I'll hab t' go it alone. +I ast a white man yisterday ef he wouldn't like t' pitch in an' +help, but he said he didn't like to wuk. He was a tramp, an' he had +de nerve to ask me fer money--me, a hard-wukin' coon." + +<P> +"You didn't give it to him, I hope." + +<P> +"No, indeedy, but he come so close to me dat I was askeered he might +take it from me, so I kept hold ob a club. He suah was a bad-lookin' +tramp, an' he kept laffin' all de while, like he was happy." + +<P> +"What's that?" cried Tom, struck by the words of the colored man. +"Did he have a thick, brown beard?" + +<P> +"Dat's what he had," answered Eradicate, pausing in the midst of his +work. "He suah were a funny sort ob tramp. His hands done looked +laik he neber wuked, an' he had a funny blue ring one finger, only +it wasn't a reg'lar ring, yo' know. It was pushed right inter his +skin, laik a man I seen at de circus once, all cobered wid funny +figgers." + +<P> +Tom leaped to his feet. + +<P> +"Which finger was the blue ring tattooed on?" he asked, and he +waited anxiously for the answer. + +<P> +"Let me see, it were on de right--no, it were on de little finger ob +de left hand." + +<P> +"Are you sure, Rad?" + +<P> +"Suah, Mistah Swift. I took 'tic'lar notice, 'cause he carried a +stick in dat same hand." + +<P> +"It must be my man--Happy Harry!" exclaimed Tom half aloud. "Which +way did he go, Rad, after he left you?" + +<P> +"He went up de lake shore," replied the colored man. "He asked me if +I knowed ob an ole big house up dere, what nobody libed in, an' I +said I did. Den he left, an' I were glad ob it." + +<P> +"Which house did you mean, Rad?" + +<P> +"Why, dat ole mansion what General Harkness used t' lib in befo' de +wah. Dere ain't nobody libed in it fo' some years now, an' it's +deserted. Maybe a lot ob tramps stays in it, an' dat's where dis man +were goin'." + +<P> +"Maybe," assented Tom, who was all excitement now. "Just where is +this old house, Rad?" + +<P> +"Away up at de head ob Lake Carlopa. I uster wuk dere befo' de wah, +but it's been a good many years since quality folks libed dere. Why, +did yo' want t' see dat man, Mistah Swift?" + +<P> +"Yes, Rad, I did, and very badly, too. I think he is the very person +I want. But don't say anything about it. I'm going to take a trip up +to that strange mansion. Maybe I'll get on the trail of Happy Harry +and the men who robbed me. I'm much obliged to you, Rad, for this +information. It's a good clew, I think. Strange that you should meet +the very tramp I've been searching for." + +<P> +"Well, I suah am obliged to yo', Mistah Swift, fo' fixin' mah +sawmill." + +<P> +"That's all right. What you told me more than pays for what I did, +Rad. Well, I'm going home now to tell dad, and then I'm going to +start out. Yesterday, you said it was, you saw Happy Harry? Well, +I'll get right after him," and leaving a somewhat surprised, but +very much delighted, colored man behind him, Tom mounted his motor-cycle +and started for home at a fast pace. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXII The Strange Mansion</H3> + + +<P> +"Dad, I've got a clew!" exclaimed Tom, hurrying into the house late +that afternoon, following a quick trip from where he had met +Eradicate with his sawmill. "A good clew, and I'm going to start +early in the morning to run it down." + +<P> +"Wait a minute, now, Tom," cautioned his father slowly. "You know +what happens when you get excited. Nothing good was ever done in a +hurry." + +<P> +"Well, I can't help being excited, dad. I think I'm on the trail of +those scoundrels. I almost wish I could start to-night." + +<P> +"Suppose you tell me all about it," and Mr. Swift laid aside a +scientific book he was reading. + +<P> +Whereupon Tom told of his meeting with the colored man, and what +Eradicate had said about the tramp. + +<P> +"But he may not be the same Happy Harry you are looking for," +interposed Mr. Swift. "Tramps who don't like to work, and who have a +jolly disposition, also those who ask for money and have designs +tattooed on their hands, are very common." + +<P> +"Oh, but I'm sure this is the same one," declared Tom. "He wants to +stay in this neighborhood until he locates his confederates. That's +why he's hanging around. Now I have an idea that the deserted +mansion, where Eradicate used to work, and which once housed General +Harkness and his family, is the rendezvous of this gang of thieves." + +<P> +"You are taking a great deal for granted, Tom." + +<P> +"I don't think so, dad. I've got to assume something, and maybe I'm +wrong, but I don't think so. At any rate, I'm going to try, if +you'll let me." + +<P> +"What do you mean to do?" + +<P> +"I want to go to that deserted mansion and see what I can find. If I +locate the thieves, well--" + +<P> +"You may run into danger." + +<P> +"Then you admit I may be on the right track, dad?" + +<P> +"Not at all," and Mr. Swift smiled at the quick manner in which Tom +turned the tables on him. "I admit there may be a band of tramps in +that house. Very likely there is--almost any deserted place would be +attractive to them. But they may not be the ones you seek. In fact, +I hardly see how they can be. The men who stole my model and patent +papers are wealthy. They would not be very likely to stay in +deserted houses." + +<P> +"Perhaps some of the scoundrels whom they hired might, and through +them I can get on the track of the principals." + +<P> +"Well, there is something in that," admitted Mr. Swift. + +<P> +"Then may I go, dad?" + +<P> +"I suppose so. We must leave nothing untried to get back the stolen +model and papers. But I don't want you to run any risks. If you +would only take some one with you. There's your chum, Ned Newton. +Perhaps he would go." + +<P> +"No, I'd rather work it alone, dad. I'll be careful. Besides, Ned +could not get away from the bank. I may have to be gone a week, and +he has no motor-cycle. I can manage all right." + +<P> +Tom was off bright and early. He had carefully laid his plans, and +had decided that he would not go direct to Pineford, which was the +nearest village to the old Harkness mansion. + +<P> +"If those fellows are in hiding they will probably keep watch on who +comes to the village," thought Tom. "The arrival of some one on a +motor-cycle will be sure to be reported to them, and they may skip +out. I've got to come up from another direction, so I think I'll +circle around, and reach the mansion from the stretch of woods on +the north." + +<P> +He had inquired from Eradicate as to the lay of the land, and had a +good general idea of it. He knew there was a patch of woodland on +one side of the mansion, while the other sides were open. + +<P> +"I may not be able to ride through the woods," mused Tom, "but I'll +take my machine as close as I can, and walk the rest of the way. +Once I discover whether or not the gang is in the place, I'll know +what to do." + +<P> +To follow out the plan he had laid down for himself meant that Tom +must take a roundabout way. It would necessitate being a whole day +on the road, before he would be near the head of Lake Carlopa, where +the Harkness house was located. The lake was a large one, and Tom +had never been to the upper end. + +<P> +When he was within a few miles of Pineford, Tom took a road that +branched off and went around it. Stopping at night in a lonely +farmhouse, he pushed on the next morning, hoping to get to the woods +that night. But a puncture to one of the tires delayed him, and +after that was repaired he discovered something wrong with his +batteries. He had to go five miles out of his way to get new cells, +and it was dusk when he came to the stretch of woods which he knew +lay between him and the old mansion. + +<P> +"I don't fancy starting in there at night," said Tom to himself. +"Guess I'd better stay somewhere around here until morning, and then +venture in. But the question is where to stay?" + +<P> +The country was deserted, and for a mile or more he had seen no +houses. He kept on for some distance farther, the dusk falling +rapidly, and when he was about to turn back to retrace his way to +the last farmhouse he had passed, he saw a slab shanty at the side +of the road. + +<P> +"That's better than nothing, provided they'll take me in for the +night," murmured Tom. "I'm going to ask, anyhow." + +<P> +He found the shanty to be inhabited by an old man who made a living +burning charcoal. The place was not very attractive, but Tom did not +mind that, and finding the charcoal-burner a kindly old fellow, soon +made a bargain with him to remain all night. + +<P> +Tom slept soundly, in spite of his strange surroundings, and after a +simple breakfast in the morning inquired of the old man the best way +of penetrating the forest. + +<P> +"You'd best strike right along the old wood road," said the +charcoal-burner. "That leads right to the lake, and I think will +take you where you want to go. The old mansion is not far from the +lake shore." + +<P> +"Near the lake, eh?" mused Tom as he started off, after thanking the +old fellow. "Now I wonder if I'd better try to get to it from the +water or the land side?" + +<P> +He found it impossible to ride fast on the old wood road, and when +he judged he was so close to the lake that the noise of his motor-cycle +might be heard, he shut off the power, and walked along, +pushing it. It was hard traveling, and he felt weary, but he kept +on, and about noon was rewarded by a sight of something glittering +through the trees. + +<P> +"That's the lake!" Tom exclaimed, half aloud. "I'm almost there." + +<P> +A little later, having hidden his motor-cycle in a clump of bushes, +he made his way through the underbrush and stood on the shore of +Lake Carlopa. Cautiously Tom looked about him. It was getting well +on in the afternoon, and the sun was striking across the broad sheet +of water. Tom glanced up along the shore. Something amid a clump of +trees caught his eyes. It was the chimney of a house. The young +inventor walked a little distance along the lake shore. Suddenly he +saw, looming up in the forest, a large building. It needed but a +glance to show that it was falling into ruins, and had no signs of +life about it. Nor, for that matter, was there any life in the +forest around him, or on the lake that stretched out before him. + +<P> +"I wonder if that can be the place?" whispered Tom, for, somehow, +the silence of the place was getting on his nerves. "It must be it," +he went on. "It's just as Rad described it." + +<P> +He stood looking at it, the sun striking full on the mysterious +mansion, hidden there amid the trees. Suddenly, as Tom looked, he +heard the "put-put" of a motor-boat. He turned to one side, and saw, +putting out from a little dock that he had not noticed before, a +small craft. It contained one man, and no sooner had the young +inventor caught a glimpse of him than he cried out: + +<P> +"That's the man who jumped over our fence and escaped!" + +<P> +Then, before the occupant of the boat could catch sight of him, Tom +turned and fled back into the bushes, out of view. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXIII Tom Is Pursued</H3> + + +<P> +Tom was so excited that he hardly knew what to do. His first thought +was to keep out of sight of the man in the boat, for the young +inventor did not want the criminals to suspect that he was on their +trail. To that end he ran back until he knew he could not be seen +from the lake. There he paused and peered through the bushes. He +caught a glimpse of the man in the motor-boat. The craft was making +fast time across the water. + +<P> +"He didn't see me," murmured Tom. "Lucky I saw him first. Now what +had I better do?" + +<P> +It was a hard question to answer. If he only had some one with whom +to consult he would have felt better, but he knew he had to rely on +himself. Tom was a resourceful lad, and he had often before been +obliged to depend on his wits. But this time very much was at stake, +and a false move might ruin everything. + +<P> +"This is certainly the house," went on Tom, "and that man in the +boat is one of the fellows who helped rob me. Now the next thing to +do is to find out if the others of the gang are in the old mansion, +and, if they are, to see if dad's model and papers are there. Then +the next thing to do will he to get our things away, and I fancy +I'll have no easy job." + +<P> +Well might Tom think this, for the men with whom he had to deal were +desperate characters, who had already dared much to accomplish their +ends, and who would do more before they would suffer defeat. Still, +they under-estimated the pluck of the lad who was pitted against +them. + +<P> +"I might as well proceed on a certain plan, and have some system +about this affair," reasoned the lad. "Dad is a great believer in +system, so I'll lay out a plan and see how nearly I can follow it. +Let's see--what is the first thing to do?" + +<P> +Tom considered a moment, going over the whole situation in his mind. +Then he went on, talking to himself alone there in the woods: + +<P> +"It seems to me the first thing to do is to find out if the men are +in the house. To do that I've got to get closer and look in through +a window. Now, how to get closer?" + +<P> +He considered that problem from all sides. + +<P> +"It will hardly do to approach from the lake shore," he reasoned. +"for if they have a motor-boat and a dock, there must be a path from +the house to the water. If there is a path people are likely to walk +up or down it at any minute. The man in the boat might come back +unexpectedly and catch me. No, I can't risk approaching from the +lake shore. I've got to work my way up to the house by going through +the woods. That much is settled. Now to approach the house, and when +I get within seeing distance I'll settle the next point. One thing +at a time is a good rule, as dad used to say. Poor dad! I do hope I +can get his model and papers back for him." + +<P> +Tom, who had been sitting on a log under a bush, staring at the +lake, arose. He was feeling rather weak and faint, and was at a loss +to account for it, until he remembered that he had had no dinner. + +<P> +"And I'm not likely to get any," he remarked. "I'm not going to eat +until I see who's in that house. Maybe I won't then, and where +supper is coming from I don't know. But this is too important to be +considered in the same breath with a meal. Here goes." + +<P> +Cautiously Tom made his way forward, taking care not to make too +much disturbance in the bushes. He had been on hunting trips, and +knew the value of silence in the woods. He had no paths to follow, +but he had noted the position of the sun, and though that luminary +was now sinking lower and lower in the west, he could see the gleam +of it through the trees, and knew in which direction from it lay the +deserted mansion. + +<P> +Tom moved slowly, and stopped every now and then to listen. All the +sounds he heard were those made by the creatures of the woods-- +birds, squirrels and rabbits. He went forward for half an hour, +though in that time he did not cover much ground, and he was just +beginning to think that the house must be near at hand when through +a fringe of bushes he saw the old mansion. It stood in the midst of +what had once been a fine park, but which was now overgrown with +weeds and tangled briars. The paths that led to the house were +almost out of sight, and the once beautiful home was partly in +ruins. + +<P> +"I guess I can sneak up there and take a look in one of the +windows," thought the young inventor. He was about to advance, when +he suddenly stopped. He heard some one or some thing coming around +the corner of the mansion. A moment later a man came into view, and +Tom easily recognized him as one of those who had been in the +automobile. The heart of the young inventor beat so hard that he was +afraid the man would hear it, and Tom crouched down in the bushes to +keep out of sight. The man evidently did not suspect the presence of +a stranger, for, though he cast sharp glances into the tangled +undergrowth that fringed the house like a hedge, he did not seek to +investigate further. He walked slowly on, making a circuit of the +grounds. Tom remained hidden for several minutes, and was about to +proceed again, when the man reappeared. Then Tom saw the reason for +it. + +<P> +"He's on guard!" the lad said to himself. "He's doing sentry duty. I +can't approach the house when he's there." + +<P> +For an instant Tom felt a bitter disappointment. He had hoped to be +able to carry out his plan as he had mapped it. Now he would have to +make a change. + +<P> +"I'll have to wait until night," he thought. "Then I can sneak up +and look in. The guard won't see me after dark. But it's going to be +no fun to stay here, without anything to eat. Still, I've got to do +it." + +<P> +He remained where he was in the bushes. Several times, before the +sun set, the man doing sentry duty made the circuit of the house, +and Tom noted that occasionally he was gone for a long period. He +reasoned that the man had gone into the mansion to confer with his +confederates. + +<P> +"If I only knew what was going on in there," thought Tom. "Maybe, +after all, the men haven't got the model and papers here. Yet, if +they haven't, why are they staying in the old house? I must get a +look in and see what's going on. Lucky there are no shades to the +windows. I wish it would get dark." + +<P> +It seemed that the sun would never go down and give place to dusk, +but finally Tom, crouching in his hiding place, saw the shadows grow +longer and longer, and finally the twilight of the woods gave place +to a density that was hard to penetrate. Tom waited some time to see +if the guard kept up the circuit, but with the approach of night the +man seemed to have gone into the house. Tom saw a light gleam out +from the lonely mansion. It came from a window on the ground floor. + +<P> +"There's my chance!" exclaimed the lad, and, crawling from his +hiding place, he advanced cautiously toward it. + +<P> +Tom went forward only a few feet at a time, pausing almost every +other step to listen. He heard no sounds, and was reassured. Nearer +and nearer he came to the old house. The gleam of the light fell +upon his face, and fearful that some one might be looking from the +window, he shifted his course, so as to come up from one side. +Slowly, very slowly he advanced, until he was right under the +window. Then he found that it was too high up to admit of his +looking in. He felt about until he had a stone to stand on. + +<P> +Softly he drew himself up inch by inch. He could hear the murmur of +voices in the room. Now the top of his head was on a level with the +sill. A few more inches and his eyes could take in the room and the +occupants. He was scarcely breathing. Up, up he raised himself until +he could look into the apartment, and the sight which met his eyes +nearly caused him to lose his hold and topple backward. For grouped +around a table in a big room were the three men whom he had seen in +the automobile. But what attracted his attention more than the sight +of the men was an object on the table. It was the stolen model! The +men were inspecting it, and operating it, as he could see. One of +the trio had a bundle of papers in his hand, and Tom was sure they +were the ones stolen from him. But there could be no doubt about the +model of the turbine motor. There it was in plain sight. He had +tracked the thieves to their hiding place. + +<P> +Then, as he watched, Tom saw one of the men produce from under the +table a box, into which the model was placed. The papers were next +put in, and a cover was nailed on. Then the men appeared to consult +among themselves. + +<P> +By their gestures Tom concluded that they were debating where to +hide the box. One man pointed toward the lake, and another toward +the forest. Tom was edging himself up farther, in order to see +better, and, if possible, catch their words, when his foot slipped, +and he made a slight noise. Instantly the men turned toward the +window, but Tom had stooped down out of sight, just in time. + +<P> +A moment later, however, he heard some one approaching through the +woods behind him, and a voice called out: + +<P> +"What are you doing? Get away from there!" + +<P> +Rapid footsteps sounded, and Tom, in a panic, turned and fled, with +an unknown pursuer after him. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXIV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXIV Unexpected Help</H3> + + +<P> +Tom rushed on through the woods. The lighted room into which he had +been looking had temporarily blinded him when it came to plunging +into the darkness again, and he could not see where he was going. He +crashed full-tilt into a tree, and was thrown backward. Bruised and +cut, he picked himself up and rushed off in another direction. +Fortunately he struck into some sort of a path, probably one made by +cows, and then, as his eyes recovered their faculties, he could +dimly distinguish the trees on either side of him and avoid them. + +<P> +His heart, that was beating fiercely, calmed down after his first +fright, and when he had run on for several minutes he stopped. + +<P> +"That--that must--have been--the--the man--from the boat," panted +our hero, whispering to himself. "He came back and saw me. I wonder +if he's after me yet?" + +<P> +Tom listened. The only sound he could hear was the trill and chirp +of the insects of the woods. The pursuit, which had lasted only a +few minutes, was over. But it might be resumed at any moment. Tom +was not safe yet, he thought, and he kept on. + +<P> +"I wonder where I am? I wonder where my motor-cycle is? I wonder +what I had better do?" he asked himself. + +<P> +Three big questions, and no way of settling them; Tom pulled himself +up sharply. + +<P> +"I've got to think this thing out," he resumed. "They can't find me +in these woods to-night, that's sure, unless they get dogs, and +they're not likely to do that. So I'm safe that far. But that's +about all that is in my favor. I won't dare to go back to the house, +even if I could find it in this blackness, which is doubtful. It +wouldn't be safe, for they'll be on guard now. It looks as though I +was up against it. I'm afraid they may imagine the police are after +them, and go away. If they do, and take the model and papers with +them, I'll have an awful job to locate them again, and probably I +won't be able to. That's the worst of it. Here I have everything +right under my hands, and I can't do a thing. If I only had some one +to help me; some one to leave on guard while I went for the police. +I'm one against three--no, four, for the man in the boat is back. +Let's see what can I do?" + +<P> +Then a sudden plan came to him. + +<P> +"The lake shore!" he exclaimed, half aloud. "I'll go down there and +keep watch. If they escape they'll probably go in the boat, for they +wouldn't venture through the woods at night. That's it. I'll watch +on shore, and if they do leave in the boat--" He paused again, +undecided. "Why, if they do," he finished, "I'll sing out, and make +such a row that they'll think the whole countryside is after them. +That may drive them back, or they may drop the box containing the +papers and model, and cut for it. If they do I'll be all right. I +don't care about capturing them, if I can get dad's model back." + +<P> +He felt more like himself, now that he had mapped out another plan. + +<P> +"The first thing to do is to locate the lake," reasoned Tom. "Let's +see; I ran in a straight line away from the house--that is, as +nearly straight as I could. Now if I turn around and go straight +back, bearing off a little to the left, I ought to come to the +water. I'll do it." + +<P> +But it was not so easy as Tom imagined, and several times he found +himself in the midst of almost impenetrable bushes. He kept on, +however, and soon had the satisfaction of emerging from the woods +out on the shore of the lake. Then, having gotten his bearings as +well as he could in the darkness, he moved down until he was near +the deserted house. The light was still showing from the window, and +Tom judged by this that the men had not taken fright and fled. + +<P> +"I suppose I could sneak down and set the motor-boat adrift," he +argued. "That would prevent them leaving by way of the lake, anyhow. +That's what I'll do! I'll cut off one means of escape. I'll set the +boat adrift!" + +<P> +Very cautiously he advanced toward where he had seen the small craft +put out. He was on his guard, for he feared the men would be on the +watch, but he reached the dock in safety, and was loosening the rope +that tied the boat to the little wharf when another thought came to +him. + +<P> +"Why set this boat adrift?" he reasoned. "It is too good a boat to +treat that way, and, besides, it will make a good place for me to +spend the rest of the night. I've got to stay around here until +morning, and then I'll see if I can't get help. I'll just +appropriate this boat for my own use. They have dad's model, and +I'll take their boat." + +<P> +Softly he got into the craft, and with an oar which was kept in it +to propel it in case the engine gave out, he poled it along the +shore of the lake until he was some distance away from the dock. + +<P> +That afternoon he had seen a secluded place along the shore, a spot +where overhanging bushes made a good hiding place, and for this he +headed the craft. A little later it was completely out of sight, and +Tom stretched out on the cushioned seats, pulling a tarpaulin over +him. There he prepared to spend the rest of the night. + +<P> +"They can't get away except through the woods now, which I don't +believe they'll do," he thought, "and this is better for me than +staying out under a tree. I'm glad I thought of it." + +<P> +The youth, naturally, did not pass a very comfortable night, though +his bed was not a half bad one. He fell into uneasy dozes, only to +arouse, thinking the men in the old mansion were trying to escape. +Then he would sit up and listen, but he could hear nothing. It +seemed as if morning would never come, but at length the stars began +to fade, and the sky seemed overcast with a filmy, white veil. Tom +sat up, rubbed his smarting eyes, and stretched his cramped limbs. + +<P> +"Oh, for a hot cup of coffee!" he exclaimed. "But not for mine, +until I land these chaps where they belong. Now the question is, how +can I get help to capture them?" + +<P> +His hunger was forgotten in this. He stepped from the boat to a +secluded spot on the shore. The craft, he noted, was well hidden. + +<P> +"I've got to go back to where I left my motor-cycle, jump on that, +and ride for aid," he reasoned. "Maybe I can get the charcoal-burner +to go for me, while I come back and stand guard. I guess that would +be the best plan. I certainly ought to be on hand, for there is no +telling when these fellows will skip out with the model, if they +haven't gone already. I hate to leave, yet I've got to. It's the +only way. I wish I'd done as dad suggested, and brought help. But +it's too late for that. Well, I'm off." + +<P> +Tom took a last look at the motor-boat, which was a fine one. He +wished it was his. Then he struck through the woods. He had his +bearings now, and was soon at the place where he had left his +machine. It had not been disturbed. He caught a glimpse of the old +mansion on his way out of the woods. There appeared to be no one +stirring about it. + +<P> +"I hope my birds haven't flown!" he exclaimed, and the thought gave +him such uneasiness that he put it from him. Pushing his heavy +machine ahead of him until he came to a good road, he mounted it, +and was soon at the charcoal-burner's shack. There came no answer to +his knock, and Tom pushed open the door. The old man was not in. Tom +could not send him for help. + +<P> +"My luck seems to be against me!" he murmured. "But I can get +something to eat here, anyhow. I'm almost starved!" + +<P> +He found the kitchen utensils, and made some coffee, also frying +some bacon and eggs. Then, feeling much refreshed, and having left +on the table some money to pay for the inroad he had made on the +victuals, he started to go outside. + +<P> +As our hero stepped to the door he was greeted by a savage growl +that made him start in alarm. + +<P> +"A dog!" he mused. "I didn't know there was one around." + +<P> +He looked outside and there, to his dismay, saw a big, savage-appearing +bulldog standing close to where he had left his motor-cycle. +The animal had been sniffing suspiciously at the machine. + +<P> +"Good dog!" called Tom. "Come here!" + +<P> +But the bulldog did not come. Instead the beast stood still, showed +his teeth to Tom and growled in a low tone. + +<P> +"Wonder if the owner can be near?" mused the young inventor. "That +dog won't let me get my machine, I am afraid." + +<P> +Tom spoke to the animal again and again the dog growled and showed +his teeth. He next made a move as if to leap into the house, and Tom +quickly stepped back and banged shut the door. + +<P> +"Well, if this isn't the worst yet!" cried the youth to himself. +"Here, just at the time I want to be off, I must be held up by such +a brute as that outside. Wonder how long he'll keep me a prisoner?" + +<P> +Tom went to a window and peered out. No person had appeared and the +lad rightly surmised that the bulldog had come to the cottage alone. +The beast appeared to be hungry, and this gave Tom a sudden idea. + +<P> +"Maybe if I feed him, he'll forget that I am around and give me a +chance to get away," he reasoned. "Guess I had better try that dodge +on him." + +<P> +Tom looked around the cottage and at last found the remains of a +chicken dinner the owner had left behind. He picked up some of the +bones and called the bulldog. The animal came up rather +suspiciously. Tom threw him one bone, which he proceeded to crunch +up vigorously. + +<P> +"He's hungry right enough," mused Tom. "I guess he'd like to sample +my leg. But he's not going to do it--not if I can help it." + +<P> +At the back of the cottage was a little shed, the door to which +stood open. Tom threw a bone near to the door of this shed and then +managed to throw another bone inside the place. The bulldog found +the first bone and then disappeared after the second. + +<P> +"Now is my time, I guess," the young inventor told himself, and +watching his chance, he ran from the cottage toward his motor-cycle. +He made no noise and quickly shoved the machine into the roadway. +Just as he turned on the power the bulldog came out of the shed, +barking furiously. + +<P> +"You've missed it!" said Tom grimly as the machine started, and +quickly the cottage and the bulldog were left behind. The road was +rough for a short distance and he had to pay strict attention to +what he was doing. + +<P> +"I've got to ride to the nearest village," he said. "It's a long +distance, and, in the meanwhile, the men may escape. But I can't do +anything else. I dare not tackle them alone, and there is no telling +when the charcoal-burner may come back. I've got to make speed, +that's all." + +<P> +Out on the main road the lad sent his machine ahead at a fast pace. +He was fairly humming along when, suddenly, from around a curve in +the highway he heard the "honk-honk" of an automobile horn. For an +instant his heart failed him. + +<P> +"I wonder if those are the thieves? Maybe they have left the house, +and are in their auto!" he whispered as he slowed down his machine. + +<P> +The automobile appeared to have halted. As Tom came nearer the turn +he heard voices. At the sound of one he started. The voice +exclaimed: + +<P> +"Bless my spectacles! What's wrong now? I thought that when I got +this automobile I would enjoy life, but it's as bad as my motor-cycle +was for going wrong! Bless my very existence, but has anything +happened?" + +<P> +"Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, for he recognized the eccentric +individual of whom he had obtained the motor-cycle. + +<P> +The next moment Tom was in sight of a big touring car, containing, +not only Mr. Damon, whom Tom recognized at once, but three other +gentlemen. + +<P> +"Oh, Mr. Damon," cried Tom, "will you help me capture a gang of +thieves? They are in a deserted mansion in the woods, and they have +one of my father's patent models! Will you help me, Mr. Damon?" + +<P> +"Why, bless my top-knots," exclaimed the odd gentleman. "If it isn't +Tom Swift, the young inventor! Bless my very happiness! There's my +motor-cycle, too! Help you? Why, of course we will. Bless my +shoe-leather! Of course we'll help you!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXV The Capture--Good-By</H3> + + +<P> +Tom's story was soon told, and Mr. Damon quickly explained to his +friends in the automobile how he had first made the acquaintance of +the young inventor. + +<P> +"But how does it happen that you are trusting yourself in a car like +this?" asked Tom. "I thought you were done with gasolene machines, +Mr. Damon." + +<P> +"I thought so, too, Tom, but, bless my batteries, my doctor insisted +that I must get out in the open air. I'm too stout to walk, and I +can't run. The only solution was in an automobile, for I never would +dream of a motor-cycle. I wonder that one of mine hasn't run away +with you and killed you. But there! My automobile is nearly as bad. +We went along very nicely yesterday, and now, just when I have a +party of friends out, something goes wrong. Bless my liver! I do +seem to have the worst luck!" + +<P> +Tom lost no time in looking for the trouble. He found it in the +ignition, and soon had it fixed. Then a sort of council of war was +held. + +<P> +"Do you think those scoundrels are there yet?" asked Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"I hope so," answered Tom. + +<P> +"So do I," went on the odd character. "Bless my soul, but I want a +chance to pummel them. Come, gentlemen, let's be moving. Will you +ride with us, Tom Swift, or on that dangerous motor-cycle?" + +<P> +"I think I'll stick to my machine, Mr. Damon. I can easily keep up +with you." + +<P> +"Very well. Then we'll get along. We'll proceed until we get close +to the old mansion, and then some of us will go down to the lake +shore, and the rest of us will surround the house. We'll catch the +villains red-handed, and I hope we bag that tramp among them." + +<P> +"I hardly think he is there," said Tom. + +<P> +In a short time the auto and the motor-cycle had carried the +respective riders to the road through the woods. There the machines +were left, and the party proceeded on foot. Tom had a revolver with +him, and one member of Mr. Damon's party also had a small one, more +to scare dogs than for any other purpose. Tom gave his weapon to one +of the men, and cut a stout stick for himself, an example followed +by those who had no firearms. + +<P> +"A club for mine!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "The less I have to do with +machinery the better I like it. Now, Tom Swift is just the other way +around," he explained to his friends. + +<P> +Cautiously they approached the house, and when within seeing +distance of it they paused for a consultation. There seemed to be no +one stirring about the old mansion, and Tom was fearful lest the men +had left. But this could not be determined until they came closer. +Two of Mr. Damon's friends elected to go down to the shore of the +lake and prevent any escape in that direction, while the others, +including Tom, were to approach from the wood side. When the two who +were to form the water attacking party were ready, one of them was +to fire his revolver as a signal. Then Tom, Mr. Damon and the others +would rush in. + +<P> +The young inventor, Mr. Damon, and his friend, whom he addressed as +Mr. Benson, went as close to the house as they considered prudent. +Then, screening themselves in the bushes, they waited. They +conversed in whispers, Tom giving more details of his experience +with the patent thieves. + +<P> +Suddenly the silence of the woods was broken by some one advancing +through the underbrush. + +<P> +"Bless my gaiters, some one is coming!" exclaimed Mr. Damon in a +hoarse whisper. "Can that be Munson or Dwight coming back?" He +referred to his two friends who had gone to the lake. + +<P> +"Or perhaps the fellows are escaping," suggested Mr. Benson. +"Suppose we take a look." + +<P> +At that moment the person approaching, whoever he was, began to +sing. Tom started. + +<P> +"I'll wager that's Happy Harry, the tramp!" he exclaimed. "I know +his voice." + +<P> +Cautiously Tom peered over the screen of bushes. + +<P> +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"It's Happy Harry!" said Tom. "We'll get them all, now. He's going +up to the house." + +<P> +They watched the tramp. All unconscious of the eyes of the men and +boy in the bushes, he kept on. Presently the door of the house +opened, and a man came out. Tom recognized him as Anson Morse--the +person who had dropped the telegram. + +<P> +"Say, Burke," called the man at the door, "have you taken the +motor-boat?" + +<P> +"Motor-boat? No," answered the tramp. "I just came here. I've had a +hard time--nearly got caught in Swift's house the other night by +that cub of a boy. Is the boat gone?" + +<P> +"Yes. Appleson came back in it last night and saw some one looking +in the window, but we thought it was only a farmer and chased him +away. This morning the boat's gone. I thought maybe you had taken it +for a joke." + +<P> +"Not a bit of it! Something's wrong!" exclaimed Happy Harry. "We'd +better light out. I think the police are after us. That young Swift +is too sharp for my liking. We'd better skip. I don't believe that +was a farmer who looked in the window. Tell the others, get the +stuff, and we'd leave this locality." + +<P> +"They're here still," whispered Tom. "That's good!" + +<P> +"I wonder if Munson and Dwight are at the lake yet?" asked Mr. +Damon. "They ought to be--" + +<P> +At that instant a pistol shot rang out. The tramp, after a hasty +glance around, started on the run for the house. The man in the +doorway sprang out. Soon two others joined him. + +<P> +"Who fired that shot?" cried Morse. + +<P> +"Come on, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, grabbing up his club and springing +from the bushes. "Our friends have arrived!" The young inventor and +Mr. Benson followed him. + +<P> +No sooner had they come into the open space in front of the house +than they were seen. At the same instant, from the rear, in the +direction of the lake, came Mr. Munson and Mr. Dwight. + +<P> +"We're caught!" cried Happy Harry. + +<P> +He made a dash far the house, just as a man, carrying a box, rushed +out. + +<P> +"There it is! The model and papers are in that box!" cried Tom. +"Don't let them get away with it!" + +<P> +The criminals were taken by surprise. With leveled weapons the +attacking party closed in on them. Mr. Damon raised his club +threateningly. + +<P> +"Surrender! Surrender!" he cried. "We have you! Bless my stars, but +you're captured! Surrender!" + +<P> +"It certainly looks so," admitted Anson Morse. "I guess they have +us, boys." + +<P> +The man with the box made a sudden dash toward the woods, but Tom +was watching him. In an instant he sprang at him, and landed on the +fellow's back. The two went down in a heap, and when Tom arose he +had possession of the precious box. + +<P> +"I have it! I have it!" he cried. "I've got dad's model back!" + +<P> +The man who had had possession of the box quickly arose, and, before +any one could stop him, darted into the bushes. + +<P> +"After him! Catch him! Bless my hat-band, stop him!" shouted Mr. +Damon. + +<P> +Instinctively his friends turned to pursue the fugitive, forgetting, +for the instant, the other criminals. The men were quick to take +advantage of this, and in a moment had disappeared in the dense +woods. Nor could any trace be found of the one with whom Tom had +struggled. + +<P> +"Pshaw! They got away from us!" cried Mr. Damon regretfully. "Let's +see if we can't catch them. Come on, we'll organize a posse and run +them down." He was eager for the chase, but his companions dissuaded +him. Tom had what he wanted, and he knew that his father would +prefer not to prosecute the men. The lad opened the box, and saw +that the model and papers were safe. + +<P> +"Let those fellows go," advised the young inventor, and Mr. Damon +reluctantly agreed to this. "I guess we've seen the last of them," +added the youth, but he and Mr. Swift had not, for the criminals +made further trouble, which will be told of in the second volume of +this series, to be called "Tom Swift and His Motor-Boat; or, The +Rivals of Lake Carlopa." In that our hero will be met in adventures +even more thrilling than those already related, and Andy Foger, who +so nearly ran Tom down in the automobile, will have a part in them. + +<P> +"Now," said Mr. Damon, after it had been ascertained that no one was +injured, and that the box contained all of value that had been +stolen, "I suppose you are anxious to get back home, Tom, aren't +you? Will you let me take you in my car? Bless my spark plug, but +I'd like to have you along in case of another accident!" + +<P> +The lad politely declined, however, and, with the valuable model and +papers safe on his motor-cycle, he started for Shopton. Arriving at +the first village after leaving the woods, Tom telephoned the good +news to his father, and that afternoon was safely at home, to the +delight of Mr. Swift and Mrs. Baggert. + +<P> +The inventor lost no time in fully protecting his invention by +patents. As for the unprincipled men who made an effort to secure +it, they had so covered up their tracks that there was no way of +prosecuting them, nor could any action be held against Smeak & +Katch, the unscrupulous lawyers. + +<P> +"Well," remarked Mr. Swift to Tom, a few nights after the recovery +of the model, "your motor-cycle certainly did us good service. Had +it not been for it I might never have gotten back my invention." + +<P> +"Yes, it did come in handy," agreed the young inventor. "There's +that motor-boat, too. I wish I had it. I don't believe those fellows +will ever come back for it. I turned it over to the county +authorities, and they take charge of it for a while. I certainly had +some queer adventures since I got this machine from Mr. Damon," +concluded Tom. I think my readers will agree with him.</P> + +<PRE> +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle +by Victor Appleton + +************************************************************************ + +This file should be named 01tom11h.txt or 01tom11h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 01tom12h.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 01tom11a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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