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\title{Tom Swift and his Motor-Cycle\\
 {\normalsize or Fun and Adventures on the Road}}


\author{Victor Appleton}

\maketitle
\vspace*{\stretch{1}}

\noindent This public-domain (U.S.) text is the 1st book from the
Tom Swift series. This version is adapted from Project Gutenberg edition
({}``01tom10''), which was prepared by Greg Weeks, Charles Franks
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

\bigskip{}
\noindent The present edition was converted to \LaTeX{} using \textbf{GutenMark}
software and modified (principally to correct formatting problems)
by Ron Burkey. Problems should be reported to info@sandroid.org. Revision
B1 differs from B in that {}``----'' has everywhere been corrected
to {}``---''.

\noindent \begin{center}Revision: B1\\
Date: 01/27/2008\end{center}

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\frontmatter

\pagestyle{myheadings} {\footnotesize \tableofcontents{}}

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\mainmatter


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER I. A NARROW ESCAPE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER I. A NARROW ESCAPE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}I'm\mbox{---}try\mbox{---}ing\mbox{---}not\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}try\mbox{---}ing\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER II. TOM OVERHEARS SOMETHING}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER II. TOM OVERHEARS \\
SOMETHING}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}'' 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\mbox{---}yes\mbox{---}that is\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER III. IN A SMASH-UP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER III. IN A SMASH-UP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}he whom the young inventor had noticed in the post-office\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}I can't!''\ she answered frightenedly. {}``They
have dropped down! Oh, do please stop the horse! I'm so\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}and
Tom made a motion to raise his cap, only to find that it had blown
off.

{}``Oh, no\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER IV. TOM AND A MOTOR-CYCLE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER IV. TOM AND A MOTOR-CYCLE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}just yet!''\ exclaimed the youth
with a sigh of relief. {}``But I guess he's pretty badly hurt. I
must get help\mbox{---}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 \mbox{---} out in front \mbox{---} motor-cycle smash
\mbox{---} I'm going to bring him in here \mbox{---} get some things
ready \mbox{---} 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\mbox{---}in good hands,'' said Mr.\ Swift.
{}``Are you much hurt?''\ 

{}``Not much\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

{}``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.\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}''
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\mbox{---}'' 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\mbox{---}why\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}liver or no liver\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER V. MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER V. MR. SWIFT IS ALARMED}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}''

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 \mbox{---}
an important engagement \mbox{---} will be back directly \mbox{---}
will see you again, Mr.\ Swift \mbox{---} excuse the trouble I have
put you to \mbox{---} 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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

{}``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*{\raggedright CHAPTER VI. AN INTERVIEW IN THE DARK}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER VI. AN INTERVIEW IN THE DARK}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}um\mbox{---}is\mbox{---} 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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}that is, Morse said\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER VII. OFF ON A SPIN}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER VII. OFF ON A SPIN}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER VIII. SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER VIII. SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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 be 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*{\raggedright CHAPTER IX. A FRUITLESS PURSUIT}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER IX. A FRUITLESS PURSUIT}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}I'll\mbox{---}be\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER X. OFF TO ALBANY}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER X. OFF TO ALBANY}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

{}``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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XI. A VINDICTIVE TRAMP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XI. A VINDICTIVE TRAMP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}dat's me\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XII. THE MEN IN THE AUTO}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XII. THE MEN IN THE AUTO}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}no, sir,'' replied the youthful inventor, who had
hardly recovered his composure. {}``I heard your gun, and I imagined\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XIII. CAUGHT IN A STORM}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XIII. CAUGHT IN A STORM}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}'' 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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}''

He shrugged his shoulders. The puzzle was getting beyond him.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XIV. ATTACKED FROM BEHIND}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XIV. ATTACKED FROM BEHIND}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}I don't like\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}I mean Featherton\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XV. A VAIN SEARCH}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XV. A VAIN SEARCH}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}an odor that he tried to recall.
Then, all at once, it came to him what it was\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}'' 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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}and\mbox{---}well, that's all I
can remember. I wonder if those men\mbox{---}''

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\mbox{---}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.\mbox{---}er\mbox{---}'' 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
clues to the scoundrels who had drugged and robbed Tom.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XVI. BACK HOME}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XVI. BACK HOME}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XVII. MR. SWIFT IN DESPAIR}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XVII. MR. SWIFT IN DESPAIR}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XVIII. HAPPY HARRY AGAIN}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XVIII. HAPPY HARRY AGAIN}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}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 some\-thing. I suppose I might
telegraph to Mr.\ Crawford\mbox{---}he will be expecting you in
\mbox{Albany\mbox{---}''} 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\mbox{---}it's a burglar\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}Happy Harry\mbox{---}whom he had encountered
on the lonely road.


\chapter*{\raggedright CHAPTER XIX. TOM ON A HUNT}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XIX. TOM ON A HUNT}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}or whatever his name was\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

{}``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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XX. ERADICATE SAWS WOOD}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XX. ERADICATE SAWS WOOD}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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 tramps 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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXI. ERADICATE GIVES A CLUE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXI. ERADICATE GIVES A CLUE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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 off. It worked when he had
it, but he used a hoss. It's all due to de contrariness ob Boomerang,
an' if I\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXII. THE STRANGE MANSION}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXII. THE STRANGE MANSION}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}''

{}``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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXIII. TOM IS PURSUED}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXIII. TOM IS PURSUED}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXIV. UNEXPECTED HELP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXIV. UNEXPECTED HELP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{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 \mbox{---} that must \mbox{---} have been \mbox{---}
the \mbox{---} the man \mbox{---} 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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}'' 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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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*{\raggedright CHAPTER XXV. THE CAPTURE \mbox{---} GOOD-BY}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{CHAPTER XXV. THE CAPTURE\mbox{---}GOOD-BY}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE}{THE CAPTURE\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}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\mbox{---}''

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. 
\end{document}
