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A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE + XIII. THE TELEPHONE PICTURE + XIV. MAKING IMPROVEMENTS + XV. THE AIRSHIP CLUE + XVI. SUCCESS + XVII. THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE + XVIII. ANOTHER CALL + XIX. THE BUZZING SOUND + XX. SETTING THE TRAP + XXI. THE PHOTO TELEPHONE + XXII. THE ESCAPE + XXIII. ON THE TRAIL + XXIV. THE LONELY HOUSE + XXV. THE AIRSHIP CAPTURE + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A MAN ON THE ROOF + + +"Tom, I don't believe it can be done!" + +"But, Dad, I'm sure it can!" + +Tom Swift looked over at his father, who was seated in an easy +chair in the library. The elderly gentleman--his hair was quite +white now--slowly shook his head, as he murmured again: + +"It can't be done, Tom! It can't be done! I admit that you've made +a lot of wonderful things--things I never dreamed of--but this is +too much. To transmit pictures over a telephone wire, so that +persons cannot only see to whom they are talking, as well as hear +them--well, to be frank with you, Tom, I should be sorry to see +you waste your time trying to invent such a thing." + +"I don't agree with you. Not only do I think it can be done, but +I'm going to do it. In fact, I've already started on it. As for +wasting my time, well, I haven't anything in particular to do, now +that my giant cannon has been perfected, so I might as well be +working on my new photo telephone instead of sitting around idle." + +"Yes, Tom, I agree with you there," said Mr. Swift. "Sitting +around idle isn't good for anyone--man or boy, young or old. So +don't think I'm finding fault because you're busy." + +"It's only that I don't want to see you throw away your efforts, +only to be disappointed in the end. It can't be done, Tom, it +can't be done," and the aged inventor shook his head in pitying +doubt. + +Tom only smiled confidently, and went on: + +"Well, Dad, all you'll have to do will be to wait and see. It +isn't going to be easy--I grant that. In fact, I've run up against +more snags, the little way I've gone so far, than I like to admit. +But I'm going to stick at it, and before this year is out I'll +guarantee, Father, that you can be at one end of the telephone +wire, talking to me, at the other, and I'll see you and you'll see +me--if not as plainly as we see each other now, at least plainly +enough to make sure of each other." + +Mr. Swift chuckled silently, gradually breaking into a louder +laugh. Instead of being angry, Tom only regarded his father with +an indulgent smile, and continued: + +"All right, Dad. Go ahead, laugh!" + +"Well, Tom, I'm not exactly laughing at YOU--it's more at the +idea than anything else. The idea of talking over a wire and, at +the same time, having light waves, as well as electrical waves +passing on the same conductor!" + +"All right, Dad, go ahead and laugh. I don't mind," said Tom, +good-naturedly. "Folks laughed at Bell, when he said he could send +a human voice over a copper spring; but Bell went ahead and to-day +we can talk over a thousand miles by wire. That was the telephone." + +"Folks laughed at Morse when he said he could send a message over +the wire. He let 'em laugh, but we have the telegraph. Folks +laughed at Edison, when he said he could take the human voice--or +any other sound--and fix it on a wax cylinder or a hard-rubber +plate--but he did it, and we have the phonograph. And folks +laughed at Santos Dumont, at the Wrights, and at all the other +fellows, who said they could take a heavier-than-air machine, and +skim above the clouds like a bird; but we do it--I've done it-- +you've done it." + +"Hold on, Tom!" protested Mr. Swift. "I give up! Don't rub it in +on your old dad. I admit that folks did laugh at those inventors, +with their seemingly impossible schemes, but they made good. And +you've made good lots of times where I thought you wouldn't. But +just stop to consider for a moment. This thing of sending a +picture over a telephone wire is totally out of the question, and +entirely opposed to all the principles of science." + +"What do I care for principles of science?" cried Tom, and he +strode about the room so rapidly that Eradicate, the old colored +servant, who came in with the mail, skipped out of the library +with the remark: + +"Deed, an' Massa Tom must be pow'fully preragitated dis mawnin'!" + +"Some of the scientists said it was totally opposed to all natural +laws when I planned my electric rifle," went on Tom. "But I made +it, and it shot. They said my air glider would never stay up, but +she did." + +"But, Tom, this is different. You are talking of sending light +waves--one of the most delicate forms of motion in the world--over +a material wire. It can't be done!" + +"Look here, Dad!" exclaimed Tom, coming to a halt in front of his +parent. "What is light, anyhow? Merely another form of motion; +isn't it?" + +"Well, yes, Tom, I suppose it is." + +"Of course it is," said Tom. "With vibrations of a certain length +and rapidity we get sound--the faster the vibration per second the +higher the sound note. Now, then, we have sound waves, or +vibrations, traveling at the rate of a mile in a little less than +five seconds; that is, with the air at a temperature of sixty +degrees. With each increase of a degree of temperature we get an +increase of about a foot per second in the rapidity with which +sound travels." + +"Now, then, light shoots along at the rate of 186,000,000 miles a +second. That is more than many times around the earth in a second +of time. So we have sound, one kind of wave motion, or energy; we +have light, a higher degree of vibration or wave motion, and then +we come to electricity--and nobody has ever yet exactly measured +the intensity or speed of the electric vibrations." + +"But what I'm getting at is this--that electricity must travel +pretty nearly as fast as light--if not faster. So I believe that +electricity and light have about the same kind of vibrations, or +wave motion." + +"Now, then, if they do have--and I admit it's up to me to prove +it," went on Tom, earnestly--"why can't I send light-waves over a +wire, as well as electrical waves?" + +Mr. Swift was silent for a moment. Then he said, slowly: + +"Well, Tom, I never heard it argued just that way before. Maybe +there's something in your photo telephone after all. But it never +has been done. You can't deny that!" + +He looked at his son triumphantly. It was not because he wanted to +get the better of him in argument, that Mr. Swift held to his own +views; but he wanted to bring out the best that was in his +offspring. Tom accepted the challenge instantly. + +"Yes, Dad, it has been done, in a way!" he said, earnestly. "No +one has sent a picture over a telephone wire, as far as I know, +but during the recent hydroplane tests at Monte Carlo, photographs +taken of some of the events in the morning, and afternoon, were +developed in the evening, and transmitted over five hundred miles +of wire to Paris, and those same photographs were published in the +Paris newspapers the next morning." + +"Is that right, Tom?" + +"It certainly is. The photographs weren't so very clear, but you +could make out what they were. Of course that is a different +system than the one I'm thinking of. In that case they took a +photograph, and made a copper plate of it, as they would for a +half-tone illustration. This gave them a picture with ridges and +depressions in copper, little hills and valleys, so to speak, +according to whether there were light or dark tints in the +picture. The dark places meant that the copper lines stood up +higher there than where there were light colors." + +"Now, by putting this copper plate on a wooden drum, and revolving +this drum, with an electrical needle pressing lightly on the +ridges of copper, they got a varying degree of electrical current. +Where the needle touched a high place in the copper plate the +contact was good, and there was a strong current. When the needle +got to a light place in the copper--a depression, so to speak--the +contact was not so good, and there was only a weak current." + +"At the receiving end of the apparatus there was a sensitized film +placed on a similar wooden drum. This was to receive the image +that came over the five hundred miles of wire. Now then, as the +electrical needle, moving across the copper plate, made electrical +contacts of different degrees of strength, it worked a delicate +galvanometer on the receiving end. The galvanometer caused a beam +of light to vary--to grow brighter or dimmer, according as the +electrical current was stronger or weaker. And this light, falling +on the sensitive plate, made a picture, just like the one on the +copper plate in Monte Carlo." + +"In other words, where the copper plate was black, showing that +considerable printing ink was needed, the negative on the other +end was made light. Then when that negative was printed it would +come out black, because more light comes through the light places +on a photograph negative than through the dark places. And so, +with the galvanometer making light flashes on the sensitive plate, +the galvanometer being governed by the electrical contacts five +hundred miles away, they transmitted a photograph by wire." + +"But not a telephone wire, Tom." + +"That doesn't make any difference, Dad. It was a wire just the +same. But I'm not going into that just now, though later I may +want to send photographs by wire. What I'm aiming at is to make an +apparatus so that when you go into a telephone booth to talk to a +friend, you can see him and he can see you, on a specially +prepared plate that will be attached to the telephone." + +"You mean see him as in a looking-glass, Tom?" + +"Somewhat, yes. Though I shall probably use a metal plate instead +of glass. It will be just as if you were talking over a telephone +in an open field, where you could see the other party and he could +see you." + +"But how are you going to do it, Tom?" + +"Well, I haven't quite decided. I shall probably have to use the +metal called selenium, which is very sensitive to light, and which +makes a good or a poor electrical conductor according as more or +less light falls on it. After all, a photograph is only lights and +shadows, fixed on sensitive paper or films." + +"Well, Tom, maybe you can do it, and maybe you can't. I admit +you've used some good arguments," said Mr. Swift. "But then, it +all comes down to this: What good will it be if you can succeed in +sending a picture over a telephone wire?" + +"What good, Dad? Why, lots of good. Just think how important it +will be in business, if you can make sure that you are talking to +the party you think you are. As it is now, unless you know the +person's voice, you can't tell that the man on the other end of +the wire is the person he says he is. And even a voice can be +imitated." + +"But if you know the person yourself, he can't be imitated. If you +see him, as well as hear his voice, you are sure of what you are +doing. Why, think of the big business deals that could be made +over the telephone if the two parties could not only hear but see +each other. It would be a dead sure thing then. And Mr. Brown +wouldn't have to take Mr. Smith's word that it was he who was +talking. He could even get witnesses to look at the wire-image if +he wanted to, and so clinch the thing. It will prevent a lot of +frauds." + +"Well, Tom, maybe you're right. Go ahead. I'll say no more against +your plans. I wish you all success, and if I can help you, call on +me." + +"Thanks, Dad. I knew you'd feel that way when you understood. Now +I'm going--" + +But what Tom Swift was going to do he did not say just then, for +above the heads of father and son sounded a rattling, crashing +noise, and the whole house seemed to shake Then the voice of +Eradicate was heard yelling: + +"Good land! Good land ob massy! Come out yeah, Massa Tom! Come +right out yeah! Dere's a man on de roof an' he am all tangled up +suthin' scandalous! Come right out yeah befo' he falls and +translocates his neck! Come on!" + + + + + +CHAPTER II + +BAD NEWS + + +With startled glances at each other, Tom and his father rushed +from the library to the side of the house, whence came the cries +of Eradicate. + +"What is it, Rad! what is it?" questioned Tom. + +"Is someone hurt?" Mr. Swift wanted to know. + +"He mighty soon will be!" exclaimed the colored man. "Look where +he am holdin' on! Lucky fo' him he grabbed dat chimbley!" + +Tom and his father looked to where Eradicate pointed, and saw a +strange sight. A small biplane-airship had become entangled in +some of the aerials of Tom's wireless apparatus, and the craft had +turned turtle, being held from falling by some of the wire braces. + +The birdman had fallen out, but had managed to cling to the +chimney, so that he had not reached the ground, and there he +clung, while the motor of his airship was banging away, and +revolving the propeller blades dangerously close to his head. + +"Are you hurt?" cried Tom, to the unknown birdman. + +"No, but I'm likely to be unless I get out of here!" was the +gasped-out answer. + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom. "We'll have you down in a jiffy. Here, +Rad, you get the long ladder. Where's Koku? That giant is never +around when he's wanted. Find Koku, Rad, and send him here." + +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom; directly, sah!" and the colored man hastened +off as fast as his aged legs would take him. + +And while preparations are thus under way to rescue the birdman +from the roof, I will take just a few minutes to tell you a little +something more about Tom Swift and his numerous inventions, as set +forth in the previous books of this series. + +"Tom Swift and His Motor Cycle" was the first book, and in that I +related how Tom made the acquaintance of a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of +the neighboring town of Waterford, and how Tom bought that +gentleman's motor cycle, after it had tried to climb a tree with +its rider in the saddle. Mr. Wakefield Damon was an odd man, whose +favorite expression was "Bless my shoelaces!" or something equally +absurd. Waterford was not far from Shopton, where Tom and his +father made their home. + +Mr. Swift was also an inventor of note, and Tom soon followed in +his father's footsteps. They lived in a large house, with many +shops about it, for their work at times required much machinery. + +Mrs. Baggert was the housekeeper who looked after Tom and his +father, and got their meals, when they consented to take enough +time from their inventive work to eat. Another member of the +household was Eradicate Sampson, a genial old colored man, who +said he was named Eradicate because he used to eradicate the dirt +about the place. + +Koku, just referred to by Tom, was an immense man, a veritable +giant, whom Tom had brought back with him from one of his trips, +after escaping from captivity. The young inventor really brought +two giants, brothers they were, but one had gone to a museum, and +the other took service with our hero, making himself very useful +when it came to lifting heavy machinery. + +Tom had a close friend in Ned Newton, who was employed in the +Shopton bank. Another friend was Miss Mary Nestor, a young lady +whose life Tom had once saved. He had many other friends, and some +enemies, whom you will meet from time to time in this story. + +After Tom had had many adventures on his motor cycle he acquired a +motor boat, and in that he and Ned went through some strenuous +times on Lake Carlopa, near Tom's home. Then followed an airship, +for Tom got that craze, and in the book concerning that machine I +related some of the things that happened to him. He had even more +wonderful adventures in his submarine, and with his electric +runabout our hero was instrumental in saving a bank from ruin by +making a trip in the speediest car on the road. + +After Tom Swift had sent his wireless message, and saved the +castaways of Earthquake Island, he thought he would give up his +inventive work for a time, and settle down to a life of ease and +quiet. + +But the call of the spirit of adventure was still too strong for +him to resist. That was why he sought out the diamond makers, and +learned the secret of Phantom Mountain. And when he went to the +Caves of Ice, and there saw his airship wrecked, Tom was well-nigh +discouraged, But he managed to get back to civilization, and later +undertook a journey to elephant land, with his powerful electric +rifle. + +Marvelous adventures underground did Tom Swift have when he went +to the City of Gold, and I have set down some of them in the book +bearing the latter title. Later on he sought the platinum treasure +in his air glider. And when Tom was taken captive, in giant land, +only his speedy airship saved him from a hard fate. + +By this time moving pictures were beginning to occupy a large +place in the scientific, as well as the amusement world, and Tom +invented a Wizard Camera which did excellent work. Then came the +need of a powerful light, to enable Uncle Sam's custom officers on +the border to detect the smugglers, and Tom was successful in +making his apparatus. + +He thought he would take a rest after that, but with the opening +of the Panama Canal came the need of powerful guns to protect that +important waterway, and Tom made a Giant Cannon, which enabled the +longest shots on record to be fired. + +Now, some months had passed, after the successful trial of the big +weapon, and Tom longed for new activities. He found them in the +idea of a photo telephone, and he and his father were just talking +of this when interrupted by the accident to the birdman on the +roof of the Swift home. + +"Have you got that ladder, Rad?" cried the young inventor, +anxiously, as he saw the dangerous position of the man from the +airship. + +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom! I'se a-camin' wif it!" + +"And where's Koku? We'll need him!" + +"He's a-camin', too!" + +"Here Koku!" exclaimed a deep voice, and a big man came running +around the corner of the house. "What is it, Master?" + +"We must get him down, Koku!" said Tom, simply. "I will go up on +the roof. You had better come, too. Rad, go in the house and get a +mattress from the bed. Put it down on the ground where he's likely +to fall. Lively now!" + +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom!" + +"Me git my own ladder--dat one not strong 'nuff!" grunted Koku, +who did not speak very good English. He had a very strong ladder, +of his own make, built to hold his enormous bulk, and this he soon +brought and placed against the side of the house. + +Meanwhile Tom and his father had raised the one Eradicate had +brought, though Tom did most of the lifting, for his father was +elderly, and had once suffered from heart trouble. + +"We're coming for you!" cried the young inventor as he began to +ascend the ladder, at the same time observing that the giant was +coming with his. "Can you hold on a little longer?" + +"Yes, I guess so. But I dare not move for fear the propellers will +strike me." + +"I see. I'll soon shut off the motor," said Tom. "What happened, +anyhow?" + +"Well, I was flying over your house. I was on my way to pay you a +visit, but I didn't intend to do it in just this way," and the +birdman smiled grimly. "I didn't see your wireless aerials until I +was plumb into them, and then it was too late. I hope I haven't +damaged them any." + +"Oh, they are easily fixed," said Tom. "I hope you and your +biplane are not damaged. This way, Koku!" he called to the giant. + +"Say, is--is he real, or am I seeing things?" asked the aviator, +as he looked at the big man. + +"Oh, he's real, all right," laughed Tom. "Now, then, I'm going to +shut off your motor, and then you can quit hugging that chimney, +and come down." + +"I'll be real glad to," said the birdman. + +Making his way cautiously along the gutters of the roof, Tom +managed to reach the motor controls. He pulled out the electrical +switch, and with a sort of cough and groan the motor stopped. The +big propellers ceased revolving, and the aviator could leave his +perch in safety. + +This he did, edging along until he could climb down and meet Tom, +who stood near the ladder. + +"Much obliged," said the birdman, as he shook hands with Tom. "My +name is Grant Halling. I'm a newcomer in Mansburg," he added, +naming a town not far from Shopton. "I know you by reputation, so +you don't need to introduce yourself." + +"Glad to meet you," said the young inventor, cordially. "Rather a +queer place to meet a friend," he went on with a laugh and a +glance down to the ground. "Can you climb?" + +"Oh, yes, I'm used to that. The next thing will be to get my +machine down." + +"Oh, we can manage that with Koku's help," spoke Tom. "Koku, get +some ropes, and see what you and Rad can do toward getting the +aeroplane down," he added to the giant. "Let me know if you need +any help." + +"Me can do!" exclaimed the big man. "Me fix him!" + +Tom and Mr. Halling made their way down the ladder, while the +giant proceeded to study out a plan for getting the airship off +the roof. + +"You say you were coming over to see me, when you ran into my +wireless aerials?" asked Tom, curiously, when he had introduced +his father to the birdman. + +"Yes," went on Mr. Halling. "I have been having some trouble with +my motor, and I thought perhaps you could tell me what was wrong. +My friend, Mr. Wakefield Damon, sent me to you." + +"What! Do you know Mr. Damon?" cried Tom. + +"I've known' him for some years. I met him in the West, but I +hadn't seen him lately, until I came East. He sent me to see you, +and said you would help me." + +"Well, any friend of Mr. Damon's is a friend of mine!" exclaimed +Tom, genially. "I'll have a look at your machine as soon as Koku +gets it down. How is Mr. Damon, anyhow? I haven't seen him in over +two weeks." + +"I'm sorry to say he isn't very well, Mr. Swift." + +"Is he ill? What is the trouble?" + +"He isn't exactly ill," went on Mr. Halling, "but he is fretting +himself into a sickness, worrying over his lost fortune." + +"His lost fortune!" cried Tom, in surprise at the bad news +concerning his friend. "I didn't know he had lost his money!" + +"He hasn't yet, but he's in a fair way to, he says. It's something +about bad investments, and he did speak of the trickery of one +man, I didn't get the particulars. But he certainly feels very +badly over it." + +"I should think he would," put in Mr. Swift. "Tom, we must look +into this. If we can help Mr. Damon--" + +"We certainly will," interrupted Tom. "Now come in the house, Mr. +Halling. I'm sure you must be quite shaken up by your upset." + +"I am, to tell you the truth, though it isn't the first accident +I've had in my airship." + +They were proceeding toward the house, when there came a cry from +Koku, who had fastened a rope about the airship to lower it. + +"Master! Master!" cried the giant. "The rope am slippin'. Grab the +end of it!" + + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TOM'S FAILURE + + +"Come on!" cried Tom, quickly, as, turning', he saw the accident +about to happen. "Your craft will surely be smashed if she slips +to the ground, Mr. Halling!" + +"You're right! This seems to be my unlucky day!" The birdman, +limping slightly from his fall, hurried with Tom to where a rope +trailed on the ground. Koku had fastened one end to the airship, +and had taken a turn of the cable about the chimney. He had been +lowering the biplane to the ground, but he had not allowed for its +great weight, and the rope had slipped from his big hands. + +But Tom and Mr. Halling were just in time. They grabbed the +slipping hempen strands, and thus checked the falling craft until +Koku could get a better grip. + +"All right now," said the giant, when he had made fast the rope. +"Me fix now. Master can go." + +"Think he can lower it?" asked Mr. Halling, doubtfully. + +"Oh, surely," said Tom. "Koku's as strong as a horse. You needn't +worry. He'll get it down all right. But you are limping." + +"Yes, I jammed my leg a little." + +"Don't you want a doctor?" + +"Oh, no, not for a little thing like that." + +But Tom insisted on looking at his new friend's wound, and found +quite a cut on the thigh, which the young inventor insisted on +binding up. + +"That feels better," said the birdman, as he stretched out on a +couch. "Now if you can look my machine over, and tell me what's +the matter with it, I'll be much obliged to you, and I'll get on +my way." + +"Not quite so fast as that!" laughed Tom. "I wouldn't want to see +you start off with your lame leg, and certainly I would not want +to see you use your aircraft after what she's gone through, until +we've given her a test. You can't tell what part you might have +strained." + +"Well, I suppose you are right. But I think I'd better go to a +hotel, or send for an auto and go home." + +"Now you needn't do anything of the kind," spoke Tom, hospitably. +"We've got lots of room here, and for that matter we have plenty +of autos and airships, too, as well as a motor boat. You just rest +yourself here. Later we'll look over your craft." + +After dinner, when Mr. Halling said he felt much better, Tom +agreed to go out with him and look at the airship. As he feared, +he found several things the matter with it, in addition to the +motor trouble which had been the cause for Mr. Halling's call on +the young inventor. + +"Can she be fixed?" asked the birdman, who explained that, as yet, +he was only an amateur in the practice of flying. + +"Oh, yes, we can fix her up for you," said Tom. "But it will take +several days. You'll have to leave it here." + +"Well, I'll be glad to do that, for I know she will be all the +better when you get through with her. But I think I am able to go +on home now, and I really ought to. There is some business I must +attend to." + +"Speaking of business," remarked Tom, "can you tell me anything +more of Mr. Damon's financial troubles?" + +"No, not much. All I know is that when I called on him the other +day I found him with his check book out, and he was doing a lot of +figuring. He looked pretty blue and downcast, I can tell you." + +"I'm sorry about that," spoke Tom, musingly. "Mr. Damon is a very +good friend of mine, and I'd do anything to help him. I certainly +wouldn't like to see him lose his fortune. Bad investments, you +say it was?" + +"Partly so, and yet I'm inclined to think if he does lose his +money it will be due to some trickery. Mr. Damon is not the man to +make bad investments by himself." + +"Indeed he is not," agreed Tom. "You say he spoke of some man?" + +"Yes, but not definitely. He did not mention any name. But Mr. +Damon was certainly quite blue." + +"That's unlike him," remarked Tom. "He is usually very jolly. He +must be feeling quite badly. I'll go over and have a talk with +him, as soon as I can." + +"Do. I think he would appreciate it. And now I must see about +getting home." + +"I'll take you in one of my cars," said Tom, who had several +automobiles. "I don't want to see you strain that injured leg of +yours." + +"You're very good--especially after I tangled up your wireless +aerials; but I didn't see them until I was right into them," +apologized Mr. Halling. + +"They're a new kind of wire," said Tom, "and are not very plain to +see. I must put up some warning signs. But don't worry about +damaging them. They were only up temporarily anyhow, and I was +going to take them down to arrange for my photo telephone." + +"Photo telephone, eh? Is that something new?" + +"It will be--if I can get it working," said Tom, with a smile. + +A little later Tom had taken Mr. Halling home, and then he set +about making arrangements for repairing the damaged airship. This +took him the better part of a week, but he did not regret the +time, for while he was working he was busy making plans for his +newest invention--the photo telephone. + +One afternoon, when Tom had completed the repairs to the airship, +and had spent some time setting up an experimental telephone line, +the young inventor received a call from his chum, Ned Newton. + +"Well, well, what are you up to now?" asked Ned, as he saw his +chum seated in a booth, with a telephone receiver to his ear, +meanwhile looking steadily at a polished metal plate in front of +him. "Trying to hypnotize yourself, Tom?" + +"Not exactly. Quiet, Ned, please. I'm trying to listen." + +Ned was too familiar with his chum's work to take offense at this. +The young banker took a seat on a box, and silently watched Tom. +The inventor shifted several switches, pressed one button after +another, and tilted the polished metal plate at different angles. +Then he closed the door of the little telephone booth, and Ned, +through the ground glass door, saw a light shining. + +"I wonder what new game Tom is up to?" Ned mused. + +Presently the door opened, and Tom stuck out his head. + +"Ned, come here," he invited. "Look at that metal plate and see if +you can notice anything on it. I've been staring at it so steadily +that my eyes are full of sticks. See what you can make out." + +"What is this?" asked Ned. "No trick; is it? I won't be blown up, +or get my eyes full of pepper; will I?" + +"Nonsense! Of course not. I'm trying to make a photo telephone. I +have the telephone part down pat, but I can't see anything of the +photo image. See if you can." + +Ned stared at the polished plate, while Tom did things to it, +making electrical connections, and tilting it at various angles. + +"See anything, Ned?" asked Tom. + +The other shook his head. + +"Whom am I supposed to see?" he asked. + +"Why, Koku is at the other end of the wire. I'm having him help +me." + +Ned gazed from the polished plate out of a side window of the +shop, into the yard. + +"Well, that Koku is certainly a wonderful giant," said Ned, with a +laugh. + +"How so?" asked Tom. + +"Why he can not be in two places at once. You say he ought to be +at the other end of this wire, and there he is out there, spading +up the garden." + +Tom stared for a second and then exclaimed: + +"Well, if that isn't the limit! I put him in the telephone booth +in the machine shop, and told him to stay there until I was +through. What in the world is he doing out there?" + +"Koku!" he called to the giant, "why didn't you stay at the +telephone where I put you? Why did you run away?" + +"Ha!" exclaimed the giant, who, for all his great size was a +simple chap, "little thing go 'tick-tick' and then 'clap-clap!' +Koku no like--Koku t'ink bad spirit in telumfoam--Koku come out!" + +"Well, no wonder I couldn't see any image on the plate!" exclaimed +Tom. "There was nobody there. Now, Ned, you try it; will you, +please?" + +"Sure. Anything to oblige!" + +"Then go in the other telephone booth. You can talk to me on the +wire. Say anything you like--the telephone part is all right. Then +you just stand so that the light in the booth shines on your face. +The machine will do the rest--if it works." + +Ned hurried off and was soon talking to his chum over the wire +from the branch telephone in the machine shop. Ned stood in the +glare of an electric light, and looked at a polished plate similar +to the one in the other booth. + +"Are you there, Ned?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, I'm here." + +"Is the light on?" + +"Yes." + +"And you're looking at the plate?" + +"Sure. Can you see any reflection in your plate?" + +"No, not a thing," answered Tom, and there was great +discouragement in his voice. "The thing is a failure, Ned. Come on +back," and the young banker could hear his chum hang up the +telephone receiver at the other end. + +"That's too bad," murmured Ned, knowing how Tom must feel. "I'll +have to cheer him up a bit." + + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +RUN DOWN + + +When Ned Newton got back to where Tom sat in the small telephone +booth, the young banker found his chum staring rather moodily at +the polished metal plate on the shelf that held the talking +instrument. + +"So it was no go; eh, Tom?" + +"No go at all, Ned, and I thought sure I had it right this time." + +"Then this isn't your first experiment?" + +"Land no! I've been at it, off and on, for over a month, and I +can't seem to get any farther. I'm up against a snag now, good and +hard." + +"Then there wasn't any image on your plate?" + +"Not a thing, Ned. I don't suppose you caught any glimpse of me in +your plate?" asked Tom, half hopefully. + +"No. I couldn't see a thing. So you are going to try and make this +thing work both ways, are you?" + +"That's my intention, But I can fix it so that a person can +control the apparatus at his end, and only see the person he is +talking to, not being seen himself, unless he wishes it. That is, +I hope to do that. Just now nobody can see anybody," and Tom +sighed. + +"Give it up," advised Ned. "It's too hard a nut to crack, Tom!" + +"Indeed, I'll not give it up, Ned! I'm going to work along a new +line. I must try a different solution of selenium on the metal +plate. Perhaps I may have to try using a sensitized plate, and +develop it later, though I do want to get the machine down so you +can see a perfect image without the need of developing. And I +will, too!" cried Tom. "I'll get some new selenium." + +Eradicate, who came into the shop just then, heard the end of +Tom's remarks. A strange look came over his honest black face, and +he exclaimed: + +"What all am dat, Massa Tom? Yo'ah gwine t' bring de new millenium +heah? Dat's de end of de world, ain't it-dat millenium? Golly! +Dish yeah coon neber 'spected t' lib t' see dat. De millenium! Oh +mah landy!" + +"No, Rad!" laughed Tom. "I was speaking about selenium, a sort of +metallic combination that is a peculiar conductor of electricity. +The more light that shines on it the better conductor it is, and +the less light, the poorer." + +"It must be queer stuff," said Ned. + +"It is," declared Tom. "I think it is the only thing to use in +this photo telephone experiment, though I might try the metal +plate method, as they did between Monte Carlo and Paris. But I am +not trying to make newspaper pictures." + +"What is selenium, anyhow?" asked Ned. "Remember, Tom, I'm not up +on this scientific stuff as you are." + +"Selenium," went on Tom, "was discovered in 1817, by J. J. +Berzelius, and he gave it that name from the Greek word for moon, +on account of selenium being so similar, in some ways, to +tellurium. That last is named after the Latin word tellus, the +earth." + +"Do they dig it?" Ned wanted to know. + +"Well, sometimes selenium is found in combination with metals, in +the form of selenides, the more important minerals of that kind +being eucharite, crooksite, clausthalite, naumannite and zorgite--" + +"Good night!" interrupted Ned, with a laugh, holding up his hands. +"Stop it, Tom!" he pleaded. "You'll give me a headache with all +those big words." + +"Oh, they're easy, once you get used to them," said the young +inventor, with a smile. "Perhaps it will be easier if I say that +sometimes selenium is found in native sulphur. Selenium is usually +obtained from the flue-dust or chamber deposits of some factory +where sulphuric acid is made. They take this dust and treat it +with acids until they get the pure selenium. Sometimes selenium +comes in crystal forms, and again it is combined with various +metals for different uses." + +"There's one good thing about it. There are several varieties, and +I'll try them all before I give up." + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Ned. "Never say die! Don't give up +the ship, and all that. But, Tom, what you need now is a little +fun. You've been poking away at this too long. Come on out on the +lake, and have a ride in the motor boat. It will do you good. It +will do me good. I'm a bit rusty myself--been working hard lately. +Come on--let's go out on the lake." + +"I believe I will!" exclaimed Tom, after thinking it over for a +moment. "I need a little fresh air. Sitting in that telephone +booth, trying to get an image on a plate, and not succeeding, has +gotten on my nerves. I want to write out an order for Koku to take +to town, though. I want to get some fresh selenium, and then I'm +going to make new plates." + +Tom made some memoranda, and then, giving Koku the order for the +chemist, the young inventor closed up his shop, and went with Ned +down to Lake Carlopa, where the motor boat was moored. + +This was not the same boat Tom had first purchased, some years +ago, but a comparatively new and powerful craft. + +"It sure is one grand little day for a ride," remarked Ned, as he +got in the craft, while Tom looked over the engine. + +"Yes, I'm glad you came over, and routed me out," said the young +inventor. "When I get going on a thing I don't know enough to +stop. Oh, I forgot something!" + +"What?" asked Ned. + +"I forgot to leave word about Mr. Railing's airship. It's all +fixed and ready for him, but I put on a new control, and I wanted +to explain to him about it. He might not know how to work it. I +left word with father, though, that if he came for it he must not +try it until he had seen me. I guess it will be all right. I don't +want to go back to the house now." + +"No, it's too far," agreed Ned. + +"I have it!" exclaimed Tom. "I'll telephone to dad from here, not +to let Halling go up until I come back. He may not come for his +machine; but, if he does, it's best to be on the safe side Ned." + +"Oh, sure." + +Accordingly, Tom 'phoned from his boat-house, and Mr. Swift +promised to see the bird-man if he called. Then Ned and Tom gave +themselves up to the delights of a trip on the water. + +The Kilo, which name Tom had selected for his new craft, was a +powerful boat, and comfortable. It swept on down the lake, and +many other persons, in their pleasure craft, turned to look at +Tom's fine one. + +"Lots of folks out to-day," observed Ned, as they went around a +point of the shore. + +"Yes, quite a number," agreed Tom, leaning forward to adjust the +motor. "I wonder what's got into her?" he said, in some annoyance, +as he made various adjustments. "One of the cylinders is missing." + +"Maybe it needs a new spark plug," suggested Ned. + +"Maybe. Guess I'll stop and put one in." + +Tom slowed down the motor, and headed his boat over toward shore, +intending to tie up there for a while. + +As he shifted the wheel he heard a cry behind him, and at the same +time a hoarse, domineering voice called out: + +"Here, what do you mean, changing your course that way? Look out, +or I'll run you down! Get out of my way, you land-lubber, you!" + +Startled, Ned and Tom turned. They saw, rushing up on them from +astern, a powerful red motor boat, at the wheel of which sat a +stout man, with a very florid face and a commanding air. + +"Get out of my way!" he cried. "I can't stop so short! Look out, +or I'll run you down!" + +Tom, with a fierce feeling of resentment at the fellow, was about +to shift the course of the Kilo, but he was too late. + +A moment later there came a smashing blow on the stern port +quarter and the Kilo heeled over at a dangerous angle, while, with +a rending, splintering sound of wood, the big red motorboat swept +on past Tom and Ned, her rubstreak grinding along the side of the +Kilo. + + + + + +CHAPTER V + +SHARP WORDS + + +"Great Scott, Tom! What happened?" + +"I know as much as you, Ned. That fellow ran us down, that's all." + +"Are we leaking?" and with this question Ned sprang from his place +near the bow, and looked toward the stern, where the heaviest blow +had been struck. + +The Kilo had swung back to an even keel again, but was still +bobbing about on the water. + +"Any hole there?" cried Tom, as he swung the wheel over to point +his craft toward shore, in case she showed a tendency to sink. + +"I can't see any hole," answered Ned. "But water is coming in +here." + +"Then there's a leak all right! Probably some of the seams are +opened, or it may be coming in around the shaft stuffing-box. +Here, Ned, take the wheel, and I'll start up the engine again," +for with the blow the motor had stopped. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ned, as he again made his way +forward. + +"Take her to shore, of course. It's deep out here and I don't want +her to go down at this point." + +"Say, what do you think of that fellow, anyhow, Tom?" + +"I wouldn't like to tell you. Look, he's coming back." + +This was so, for, as the boys watched, the big red motor boat had +swung about in a circle and was headed for them. + +"I'll tell him what I think of him, at any rate," murmured Tom, as +he bent over his motor. "And, later on, I'll let the lawyers talk +to him." + +"You mean you'll sue him, Tom?" + +"Well, I'm certainly not going to let him run into me and spring a +leak, for nothing. That won't go with me!" + +By this time Tom had the motor started, but he throttled it down +so that it just turned the propeller. With it running at full +speed there was considerable vibration, and this would further +open the leaking seams. So much water might thus be let in that +the craft could not be gotten ashore. + +"Head her over, Ned," cried Tom, when he found he had sufficient +headway. "Steer for Ramsey's dock. There's a marine railway next +to him, and I can haul her out for repairs." + +"That's the talk, Tom!" cried his chum. + +By this time the big, red motor boat was close beside Tom's craft. + +The man at the wheel, a stout-bodied and stout-faced man, with a +complexion nearly the color of his boat, glared at the two young +men. + +"What do you fellows mean?" called out the man, in deep booming +tones--tones that he tried to make imposing, but which, to the +trained ears of Tom and Ned, sounded only like the enraged bellow +of some bully. "What do you mean, I say? Getting on my course like +that!" + +Ned could see Tom biting his lips, and clenching his hands to keep +down his temper. But it was too much. To be run into, and then +insulted, was more than Tom could stand. + +"Look here!" he cried, standing up and facing the red-faced man, +"I don't know who you are, and I don't care. But I'll tell you one +thing--you'll pay for the damage you did to my boat!" + +"I'll pay for it? Come, that's pretty good! Ha! Ha!" laughed the +self-important man. "Why, I was thinking of making a complaint +against you for crossing my course that way. If I find my boat is +damaged I shall certainly do so anyhow. Have we suffered any +damage, Snuffin?" and he looked back at a grimy-faced mechinician +who was oiling the big, throbbing motor, which was now running +with the clutch out. + +"No, sir, I don't think we're damaged, sir," answered the man, +deferentially. + +"Well, it's a lucky thing for these land-lubbers that we aren't. I +should certainly sue them. The idea of crossing my course the way +they did. Weren't they in the wrong, Snuffin?" + +The man hesitated for a moment, and glanced at Tom and Ned, as +though asking their indulgence. + +"Well, I asked you a question, Snuffin!" exclaimed the red-faced +man sharply. + +"Yes--yes, sir, they shouldn't have turned the way they did," +answered the man, in a low voice. + +"Well, of all the nerve!" murmured Tom, and stopped his motor. +Then, stepping to the side of his disabled and leaking boat, he +exclaimed: + +"Look here! Either you folks don't know anything about navigation +rules, or you aren't heeding them. I had a perfect right to turn +and go ashore when I did, for I found my engine was out of order, +and I wanted to fix it. I blew the usual signal on the whistle, +showing my intention to turn off my course, and if you had been +listening you would have heard it." + +"If you had even been watching you would have seen me shift, and +then, coming on at the speed you did, it was your place to warn me +by a whistle, so that I could keep straight on until you had +passed me." + +"But you did not. You kept right on and ran into me, and the only +wonder is that you didn't sink me. Talk about me getting in your +way! Why, you deliberately ran me down after I had given the right +signal. I'll make a complaint against you, that's what I will." + +If possible the red-faced man got even more rosy than usual. He +fairly puffed up, he was so angry. + +"Listen to that, will you, Snuffin!" he cried. "Listen to that! He +says he blew his whistle to tell us he was going to turn in." + +"That's what I did!" said Tom, calmly. + +"Preposterous! Did you hear it, Snuffin?" puffed the important +man. + +"Yes--yes, I think I did, sir," answered the machinist, in a +hesitating voice. + +"You did? What! You mean to tell me you heard their whistle?" + +"Yes--yes, sir!" + +"Why--why--er--I--" the big man puffed and blew, but seemed to +find no words in which to express himself. "Snuffin, I'll have a +talk with you when we get home," he finally said. most +significantly. "The idea of saying you heard a whistle blown! +There was nothing of the kind! I shall make a complaint against +these land-lubbers myself. Do you know who they are, Snuffin?" + +"Yes--yes, sir," was the answer, as the man glanced at Tom. "At +least I know one of them, sir." + +"Very good. Give me his name. I'll attend to the rest." + +Tom looked at the big man sharply. He had never seen him before, +as far as he could recall. As for the machinist, the young +inventor had a dim recollection that once the man might have +worked in his shop. + +"Go ahead, Snuffin!" said the big man, mopping his face with a +large silk handkerchief, which, even at that distance, gave out a +powerful perfume. "Go ahead, Snuffin, and we will settle this +matter later," and, adjusting a large rose in his buttonhole, the +self-important individual took his place on the cushioned seat at +the wheel, while the big red motor boat drew off down the river. + +"Well, of all the nerve!" gasped Ned. "Isn't he the limit?" + +"Never mind," spoke Tom, with a little laugh. "I'm sorry I lost my +temper, and even bothered to answer him. We'll let the lawyers do +the rest of the talking. Take the wheel, Ned." + +"But are you going to let him get away like this, Tom? Without +asking him to pay for the damage to your boat, when he was clearly +in the wrong?" + +"Oh, I'll ask him to pay all right; but I'll do it the proper way. +Now come on. If we stay here chinning much longer the Kilo will go +down. I must find out who he is. I think I know Snuffin--he used +to work for me, I now recall." + +"Don't you know who that big man is?" asked Ned, as he took the +wheel, while Tom again started the motor. The water was now almost +up to the lower rim of the fly wheel. + +"No; who is he?" asked Tom. + +"Shallock Peters." + +"Well, I know as much as I did before," laughed Tom. "That doesn't +tell me anything." + +"Why, I thought everybody in the town knew Shallock Peters," went +on Ned. "He tried to do some business with our bank, but was +turned down. I hear he's gone to the other one, though. He's what +we call a get-rich-quick schemer, Tom--a promoter." + +"I thought he acted like that sort of a character." + +"Well, that's what he is. He's got half a dozen schemes under way, +and he hasn't been in town over a month. I wonder you haven't seen +or heard of him." + +"I've been too busy over my photo telephone." + +"I suppose so. Well, this fellow Peters struck Shopton about a +month ago. He bought the old Wardell homestead, and began to show +off at once. He's got two autos, and this big motor boat. He +always goes around with a silk hat and a flower in his buttonhole. +A big bluff--that's what he is." + +"He acted so to me," was Tom's comment. "Well, he isn't going to +scare me. The idea! Why, he seemed to think we were in the wrong; +whereas he was, and his man knew it, too." + +"Yes, but the poor fellow was afraid to say so. I felt sorry for +him." + +"So did I," added Tom. "Well, Kilo is out of commission for the +present. Guess we'll have to finish our outing by walking, Ned." + +"Oh, I don't mind. But it makes me mad to have a fellow act the +way he did." + +"Well, there's no good in getting mad," was Tom's smiling +rejoinder. "We'll take it out of him legally. That's the best way +in the end. But I can't help saying I don't like Mr. Shallock +Peters." + +"And I don't either," added Ned. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A WARNING + + +"There, she's about right now, Ned. Hold her there!" + +"Aye, aye, Captain Tom!" + +"Jove, she's leaking like a sieve! We only got her here just in +time!" + +"That's right," agreed Ned. + +Tom and his chum had managed to get the Kilo to Ramsey's dock, and +over the ways of the inclined marine railway that led from the +shop on shore down into the river. Then, poling the craft along, +until she was in the "cradle," Ned held her there while Tom went +on shore to wind up the windlass that pulled the car, containing +the boat, up the incline. + +"I'll give you a hand, as soon as I find she sets level," called +Ned, from his place in the boat. + +"All right--don't worry. There are good gears on this windlass, +and she works easy," replied Tom. + +In a short time the boat was out of the water, but, as Tom grimly +remarked, "the water was not out of her," for a stream poured from +the stuffing-box, through which the propeller shaft entered, and +water also ran out through the seams that had been opened by the +collision. + +"Quite a smash, Tom," observed the boat repairer, when he had come +out to look over the Kilo. "How'd it happen?" + +"Oh, Shallock Peters, with his big red boat, ran into us!" said +Ned, sharply. + +"Ha, Peters; eh?" exclaimed the boatman. "That's the second craft +he's damaged inside a week with his speed mania. There's Bert +Johnson's little speeder over there," and he pointed to one over +which some men were working. "Had to put a whole new stern in her, +and what do you think that man Peters did?" + +"What?" asked Tom, as he bent down to see how much damage his +craft had sustained. + +"He wouldn't pay young Johnson a cent of money for the repairs," +went on Mr. Houston, the boatman. "It was all Peters's fault, +too." + +"Couldn't he make him pay?" asked Tom. + +"Well, young Johnson asked for it--no more than right, too; but +Peters only sneered and laughed at him." + +"Why didn't he sue?" asked Ned. + +"Costs too much money to hire lawyers, I reckon. So he played you +the same trick; eh. Tom?" + +"Pretty much, yes. But he won't get off so easily, I can tell you +that!" and there was a grim and determined look on the face of the +young inventor. "How long will it take to fix my boat, Mr. +Houston?" + +"Nigh onto two weeks, Tom. I'm terrible rushed now." + +Tom whistled ruefully. + +"I could do it myself quicker, if I could get her back to my +shop," he said. "But she'd sink on the home trip. All right, do +the best you can, Mr. Houston." + +"I will that, Tom." + +The two chums walked out of the boat-repair place. + +"What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, as they strolled +along. + +"Well, since we can't go motor boating, I guess I may as well go +back and see if that new supply of selenium has come. I do want to +get my photo telephone working, Ned." + +"And that's all the outing you're going to take--less than an +hour!" exclaimed Ned, reproachfully. + +"Oh, well, all you wanted to do was to get me out of a rut, as you +called it," laughed Tom. "And you've done it--you and Mr. Peters +together. It jolted up my brain, and I guess I can think better +now. Come on back and watch me tinker away, Ned." + +"Not much! I'm going to stay out and get some fresh air while I +can. You'd better, too." + +"I will, later." + +So Tom turned back to his workshop, and Ned strolled on into the +country, for his day's work at the bank was over. And for some +time after that--until far into the night--Tom Swift worked at the +knotty problem of the photo telephone. + +But the young inventor was baffled. Try as he might, he could not +get the image to show on the metal plate, nor could he get any +results by using a regular photographic plate, and developing it +afterward. + +"There is something wrong with the transmission of the light waves +over the wire," Tom confessed to his father. + +"You'll never do it, Tom," said the aged inventor. "You are only +wasting a whole lot of time." + +"Well, as I haven't anything else to do now, it isn't much loss," +spoke Tom, ruefully. "But I'm going to make this work, Dad!" + +"All right, son. It's up to you. Only I tell you it can't be +done." + +Tom, himself, was almost ready to admit this, when, a week later, +he seemed to be no nearer a solution of the problem than he was at +first. He had tried everything he could think of, and he had +Eradicate and Koku, the giant, almost distracted, by making them +stay in small telephone booths for hours at a time, while the +young inventor tried to get some reflection of one face or the +other to come over the wire. + +Koku finally got so nervous over the matter, that he flatly +refused to "pose" any longer, so Tom was forced to use Eradicate. +As for that elderly man of all work, after many trials, all +unsuccessful, he remarked: + +"Massa Tom, I reckon I knows what's wrong." + +"Yes, Rad? Well, what is it?" + +"Mah face am too black--dat's de trouble. You done want a white- +complected gen'man to stand in dat booth an' look at dat lookin' +glass plate. I'se too black! I suah is!" + +"No, that isn't it, Rad," laughed Tom, hopelessly. "If the thing +works at all it will send a black man's face over the wire as well +as a white man's. I guess the truth of it is that you're like +Koku. You're getting tired. I don't know as I blame you. I'm +getting a bit weary myself. I'm going to take a rest. I'll send +for another kind of selenium crystals I've heard of, and we'll try +them. In the meanwhile--I'll take a little vacation." + +"Get out my small airship, Rad, and I'll take a little flight." + +"Dat's de way to talk, Massa Tom," was the glad rejoinder. + +"I'm going over to see Mr. Damon, Father," announced Tom to Mr. +Swift a little later, when his speedy monoplane was waiting for +him. "I haven't seen him in some time, and I'd like to get at the +truth of what Mr. Halling said about Mr. Damon's fortune being in +danger. I'll be back soon." + +"All right, Tom. And say--" + +"Yes, Dad, what is it?" asked Tom, as he paused in the act of +getting in the seat. + +"If he wants any ready cash, you know we've got plenty." + +"Oh, sure. I was going to tell him we'd help him out." + +Then, as Koku spun the propeller blades, Tom grasped the steering +wheel, and, tilting the elevating rudder, he was soon soaring into +the air, he and his craft becoming smaller and smaller as they +were lost to sight in the distance, while the rattle and roar of +the powerful motor became fainter. + +In a comparatively short time Tom had made a successful landing in +the big yard in front of Mr. Damon's house, and, walking up the +path, kept a lookout for his friend. + +"I wonder why he didn't come out to meet me?" mused Tom, for +usually when the eccentric man heard the throbbing of Tom's motor, +he was out waiting for the young inventor. But this time it was +not the case. + +"Is Mr. Damon in?" Tom asked of the maid who answered his ring. + +"Yes, Mr. Swift. You'll find him in the library," and she ushered +him in. + +"Oh, hello, Tom," greeted Mr. Damon, but the tone was so listless, +and his friend's manner so gloomy that the young inventor was +quite embarrassed. + +"Have a chair," went on Mr. Damon. "I'll talk to you in a minute, +Tom. I've got to finish this letter, and it's a hard one to write, +let me tell you." + +Now Tom was more astonished than ever. Not once had Mr. Damon +"blessed," anything, and when this did not happen Tom was sure +something was wrong. He waited until his friend had sealed the +letter, and turned to him with a sigh. Then Tom said boldly: + +"Mr. Damon, is it true that you're having hard luck--in money +matters?" + +"Why, yes, Tom, I'm afraid I am," was the quick answer. "But who +told you?" + +"Grant Halling. He was over to get me to fix his airship," and Tom +briefly related what had happened. + +"Oh, yes, I did mention the matter to him," went on Mr. Damon, and +his tone was still listless. "So he told you; did he? Well, +matters aren't any better, Tom. In fact, they're worse. I just had +to write to a man who was asking for help, and I had to refuse +him, though he needs it very much. The truth is I hadn't the +money. Tom, I'm afraid I'm going to be a very poor man soon." + +"Impossible, Mr. Damon! Why, I thought your investments--" + +"I've made some bad ones of late, Tom. I've been pretty foolish, +I'm afraid. I drew out some money I had in government bonds, and +invested in certain stocks sold by a Mr. Shallock Peters." + +"Shallock Peters!" cried Tom, almost jumping out of his chair. +"Why, I know him--I mean I've met him." + +"Have you, Tom? Well, then, all I've got to say is to steer clear +of him, my boy. Don't have anything to do with him," and, with +something of a return of his usual energy Mr. Damon banged his +fist down on his desk. "Give him a wide berth, Tom, and if you see +him coming, turn your back. He'd talk a miser into giving him his +last cent. Keep away from Shallock Peters, Tom. Bless my necktie, +he's a scoundrel, that's what he is!" and again Mr. Damon banged +his desk forcibly. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SOFT WORDS + + +"Well, I'm glad of one thing!" exclaimed Tom, when the ink bottle +and the paper cutter on Mr. Damon's desk had ceased rattling, +because of the violence of the blow. "I'm glad of one thing." + +"What's that, Tom?" asked his friend. + +"I heard you bless something at last--the first time since I came +in." + +"Oh!" and Mr. Damon laughed. "Well, Tom, I haven't been blessing +things lately--that's a fact. I haven't had the heart for it. +There are too many business complications. I wish I'd never met +this Peters." + +"So do I," said Tom. "My motor boat would not have been damaged +then." + +"Did he do that, Tom?" + +"He certainly did, and then he accused me of being at fault." + +"That would be just like him. Tell me about it, Tom." + +When the young inventor finished the story of the collision Mr. +Damon sat silent for a moment. Then he remarked slowly: + +"That's just like Peters. A big bluff--that's what he is. I wish +I'd discovered that fact sooner--I'd be money in pocket. But I +allowed myself to be deceived by his talk about big profits. At +first he seemed like a smart business man, and he certainly had +fine recommendations. But I am inclined to believe, now, that the +recommendations were forged." + +"What did he do to you, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, with ready +sympathy. + +"It's too complicated to go into details over, Tom, but to make a +long story short, he got me to invest nearly all my fortune in +some enterprises that, I fear, are doomed to failure. And if they +do fail, I'll be a ruined man." + +"No, you won't!" exclaimed Tom. "That's one reason why I came here +to-day. Father told me to offer you all the ready money you needed +to get out of your trouble. How much do you need, Mr. Damon?" + +"Bless my collar button! That's like your father, Tom," and now +Mr. Damon seemed more like his old self. "Bless my shoes, a man +never knows who his real friends are until trouble comes. I can't +say how I thank you and your father, Tom. But I'm not going to +take advantage of him." + +"It wouldn't be taking any advantage of him, Mr. Damon. He has +money lying idle, and he'd like to have you use it." + +"Well, Tom, I might use it, if I had only myself to think about. +But there's no use in throwing good money after bad. If I took +yours now this fellow Peters would only get it, and that would be +the last of it." + +"No, Tom, thank you and your father just the same, but I'll try to +weather the storm a bit longer myself. Then, if I do go down I +won't drag anybody else with me. I'll hang on to the wreck a bit +longer. The storm may blow over, or--or something may happen to +this fellow Peters." + +"Has he really got you in his grip, Mr. Damon?" + +"He has, and, to a certain extent, it's my own fault. I should +have been suspicious of him. And now, Tom, let me give you a +further word of warning. You heard me say to steer clear of this +Peters?" + +"Yes, and I'm going to. But I'm going to make him pay for damaging +my boat, if I possibly can." + +"Maybe it would be wiser not to try that, Tom. I tell you he's a +tricky man. And one thing more. I have heard that this man Peters +makes a specialty of organizing companies to take up new +inventions." + +"Is that so?" asked Tom, interestedly. + +"Yes, but that's as far as it goes. Peters gets the invention, and +the man, out of whose brain it came, gets nothing." + +"In other words, he swindles them?" + +"That's it, Tom. If not in one way, then in another. He cheats +them out of the profits of their inventions. So I want to warn you +to be on the lookout." + +"Don't worry," said Tom. "Peters will get nothing from my father +or me. We'll be on our guard. Not that I think he will try it, but +it's just as well to be warned. I didn't like him from the moment +he ran into me, and, now that I know what he has done to you, I +like him still less. He won't get anything from me!" + +"I'm glad to hear you say so, Tom. I wish he'd gotten nothing out +of me." + +"Are you sure you won't let my father help you, financially, Mr. +Damon?" + +"No, Tom, at least not for the present. I'm going to make another +fight to hold on to my fortune. If I find I can't do it alone, +then I'll call on you. I'm real glad you called. Bless my +shoestring! I feel better now." + +"I'm glad of it," laughed Tom, and he saw that his friend was in a +better state of mind, as his "blessings" showed. + +Tom remained for a little longer, talking to Mr. Damon, and then +took his leave, flying back home in the airship. + +"Gen'man t' see yo', Massa Tom," announced Eradicate, as he helped +Tom wheel the monoplane back into the shed. + +"Is that so, Rad? Where is he?" + +"Settin' in th' library. Yo' father am out, so I asted him in +dere." + +"That's right, Rad. Who is he, do you know?" + +"No, sah, Massa Tom, I doan't. He shore does use a pow'ful nice +perfume on his pocket hanky, though. Yum-yum!" + +"Perfume!" exclaimed Tom, his mind going back to the day he had +had the trouble with Mr. Peters. "Is he a big, red-faced man, +Rad?" + +"No, sah, Massa Tom. He's a white-faced, skinny man." + +"Then it can't be Peters," mused Tom. "I guess perhaps it's that +lawyer I wrote to about bringing suit to get back what it cost me +to have the Kilo fixed. I'll see him at once. Oh, by the way, it +isn't Mr. Grant Halling; is it? The gentleman who got tangled up +in our aerials with his airship? Is it he?" + +"No, sah, Massa Tom. 'Tain't him." + +"I thought perhaps he had gotten into more trouble," mused Tom, as +he took off his airship "togs," and started for the house. For Mr. +Halling had called for his repaired airship some time ago, and had +promised to pay Tom another and more conventional visit, some +future day. + +Tom did not know the visitor whom he greeted in the library a +little later. The man, as Eradicate had said, was rather pale of +face, and certainly he was not very fleshy. + +"Mr. Tom Swift, I think?" said the man, rising and holding out his +hand. + +"That's my name. I don't believe I know you, though." + +"No, I haven't your reputation," said the man, with a laugh that +Tom did not like. "We can't all be great inventors like you," and, +somehow, Tom liked the man less than before, for he detected an +undertone of sneering patronage in the words. Tom disliked praise, +and he felt that this was not sincere. + +"I have called on a little matter of business," went on the man. +"My name is Harrison Boylan, and I represent Mr. Shallock Peters." + +Instinctively Tom stiffened. Receiving a call from a +representative of the man against whom Mr. Damon had warned him +only a short time before was a strange coincidence, Tom thought. + +"You had some little accident, when your motor boat and that of +Mr. Peters collided, a brief time ago; did you not?" went on Mr. +Boylan. + +"I did," said Tom, and, as he motioned the caller to be seated Tom +saw, with a start, that some of the drawings of his photo +telephone were lying on a desk in plain sight. They were within +easy reach of the man, and Tom thought the sheets looked as though +they had been recently handled. They were not in the orderly array +Tom had made of them before going out. + +"If he is a spy, and has been looking at them," mused Tom, "he may +steal my invention." Then he calmed himself, as he realized that +he, himself, had not yet perfected his latest idea. "I guess he +couldn't make much of the drawings," Tom thought. + +"Yes, the collision was most unfortunate," went on Mr. Boylan, +"and Mr. Peters has instructed me to say--" + +"If he's told you to say that it was my fault, you may as well +save your time," cut in Tom. "I don't want to be impolite, but I +have my own opinion of the affair. And I might add that I have +instructed a lawyer to begin a suit against Mr. Peters--" + +"No necessity for that at all!" interrupted the man, in soft +accents. "No necessity at all. I am sorry you did that, for there +was no need. Mr. Peters has instructed me to say that he realizes +the accident was entirely his own fault, and he is very willing-- +nay, anxious, to pay all damages. In fact, that is why I am here, +and I am empowered, my dear Mr. Swift, to offer you five hundred +dollars, to pay for the repairs to your motor boat. If that is not +enough--" + +The man paused, and drew a thick wallet front his pocket. Tom felt +a little embarrassed over what he had said. + +"Oh," spoke the young inventor, "the repair bill is only about +three hundred dollars. I'm sorry--" + +"Now that's all right, Mr. Swift! It's all right," and the man, +with his soft words, raised a white, restraining hand. "Not +another word. Mr. Peters did not know who you were that day he so +unfortunately ran into you. If he had, he would not have spoken as +he did. He supposed you were some amateur motor-boatist, and he +was--well, he admits it--he was provoked." + +"Since then he has made inquiries, and, learning who you were, he +at once authorized me to make a settlement in full. So if five +hundred dollars--" + +"The repair bill," said Tom, and his voice was not very cordial, +in spite of the other's persuasive smile, "the bill came to three +hundred forty-seven dollars. Here is the receipted bill. I paid +it, and, to be frank with you, I intended bringing suit against +Mr. Peters for that sum." + +"No need, no need at all, I assure you!" interrupted Mr. Boylan, +as he counted off some bills. "There you are, and I regret that +you and Mr. Peters had such a misunderstanding. It was all his +fault, and he wants to apologize to you." + +"The apology is accepted," said Tom, and he smiled a trifle. "Also +the money. I take it merely as a matter of justice, for I assure +you that Mr. Peters's own machinist will say the accident was his +employer's fault." + +"No doubt of it, not the least in the world," said the caller. +"And now that I have this disagreeable business over, let me speak +of something more pleasant." + +Instinctively Tom felt that now the real object of the man's call +would be made plain--that the matter of paying the damages was +only a blind. Tom steeled himself for what was to come. + +"You know, I suppose," went on Mr. Boylan, smiling at Tom, "that +Mr. Peters is a man of many and large interests." + +"I have heard something like that," said Tom, cautiously. + +"Yes. Well, he is an organizer--a promoter, if you like. He +supplies the money for large enterprises, and is, therefore, a +benefactor of the human race. Where persons have no cash with +which to exploit their--well, say their inventions. Mr. Peters +takes them, and makes money out of them." + +"No doubt," thought Tom, grimly. + +"In other cases, where an inventor is working at a handicap, say +with too many interests, Mr. Peters takes hold of one of his +ideas, and makes it pay much better than the inventor has been +able to do." + +"Now, Mr. Peters has heard of you, and he would like to do you +good." + +"Yes, I guess he would," thought Tom. "He would like to do me--and +do me good and brown. Here's where I've got to play a game +myself." + +"And so," went on Mr. Boylan, "Mr. Peters has sent me to you to +ask you to allow him to exploit one, or several, of your +inventions. He will form a large stock company, put one of your +inventions on the market, and make you a rich man. Now what do you +say?" and he looked at Tom and smiled--smiled, the young inventor +could not help thinking, like a cat looking at a mouse. "What do +you say, Mr. Swift?" + +For a moment Tom did not answer. Then getting up and opening the +library door, to indicate that the interview was at an end, the +young inventor smiled, and said: + +"Tell Mr. Peters that I thank him, but that I have nothing for him +to exploit, or with which to form a company to market." + +"Wha--what!" faltered the visitor. "Do you mean to say you will +not take advantage of his remarkable offer?" + +"That's just what I mean to say," replied Tom, with a smile. + +"You won't do business with Mr. Peters? You won't let him do you +good?" + +"No," said Tom, quietly. + +"Why--why, that's the strangest--the most preposterous thing I +ever heard of!" protested Mr. Boylan. "What--what shall I say to +Mr. Peters?" + +"Tell him," said Tom, "tell him, from me, and excuse the slang, if +you like, but tell him there is--nothing doing!" + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +TOM IS BAFFLED + + +Amazement held Mr. Boylan silent for a moment, and then, staring +at Tom, as though he could not believe what he had heard the young +inventor say, the representative of Mr. Peters exclaimed: + +"Nothing doing?" + +"That's what I said," repeated Tom, calmly. + +"But--but you don't understand, I'm afraid." + +"Oh, but indeed I do." + +"Then you refuse to let my friend, Mr. Peters, exploit some of +your inventions?" + +"I refuse absolutely." + +"Oh, come now. Take an invention that hasn't been very +successful." + +"Well, I don't like to boast," said Tom with a smile, "but all of +my inventions have been successful. They don't need any aid from +Mr. Peters, thank you." + +"But this one!" went on the visitor eagerly, "this one about some +new kind of telephone," and he motioned to the drawings on the +table. "Has that been a success? Excuse me for having looked at +the plans, but I did not think you would mind. Has that telephone +been a success? If it has not perhaps Mr. Peters could form a +company to--" + +"How did you know those drawings referred to a telephone?" asked +Tom, suspiciously, for the papers did not make it clear just what +the invention was. + +"Why, I understood--I heard, in fact, that you were working on a +new photo telephone, and--" + +"Who told you?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Oh, no one in particular. The colored man who sent me here +mentioned--" + +"Eradicate!" thought Tom. "He must have been talking. That isn't +like him. I must look into this." + +Then to his caller he said: + +"Really, you must excuse me, Mr. Boylan, but I don't care to do +any business with Mr. Peters. Tell him, with my thanks, that there +is really nothing doing in his line. I prefer to exploit my own +inventions." + +"That is your last word?" + +"Yes," returned Tom, as he gathered up the drawings. + +"Well," said Mr. Boylan, and Tom could not help thinking there was +a veiled threat in his tones, "you will regret this. You will be +sorry for not having accepted this offer." + +"I think not," replied Tom, confidently. "Good-day." + +The young inventor sat for some time thinking deeply, when his +visitor had gone. He called Eradicate to him, and gently +questioned the old colored man, for Eradicate was ageing fast of +late, and Tom did not want him to feel badly. + +It developed that the servant had been closely cross-questioned by +Mr. Boylan, while he was waiting for Tom, and it was small wonder +that the old colored man had let slip a reference to the photo +telephone. But he really knew nothing of the details of the +invention, so he could have given out no secrets. + +"But at the same time," mused Tom, "I must be on guard against +these fellows. That Boylan seems a pretty slick sort of a chap. As +for Peters, he's a big 'bluff,' to be perfectly frank. I'm glad I +had Mr. Damon's warning in mind, or I might have been tempted to +do business with him." + +"Now to get busy at this photo telephone again. I'm going to try a +totally different system of transmission. I'll use an alternating +current on the third wire, and see if that makes it any better. +And I'll put in the most sensitive selenium plate I can make. I'm +going to have this thing a success." + +Tom carefully examined the drawings of his invention, at which +papers Mr. Boylan had confessed to looking. As far as the young +inventor could tell none was missing, and as they were not +completed it would be hard work for anyone not familiar with them +to have gotten any of Tom's ideas. + +"But at the same time I'm going to be on my guard," mused Tom. +"And now for another trial." + +Tom Swift worked hard during the following week, and so closely +did he stick to his home and workshop that he did not even pay a +visit to Mr. Damon, so he did not learn in what condition that +gentleman's affairs were. Tom even denied himself to his chum Ned, +so taken up was the young inventor with working out the telephone +problem, until Ned fairly forced himself into the shop one day, +and insisted on Tom coming out. + +"You need some fresh air!" exclaimed Ned. "Come on out in the +motor boat again. She's all fixed now; isn't she?" + +"Yes," answered Tom, "but--" + +"Oh, 'but me no buts,' as Mr. Shakespeare would say. Come on, Tom. +It will do you good. I want a spin myself." + +"All right, I will go for a little while," agreed Tom. "I am +feeling a bit rusty, and my head seems filled with cobwebs." + +"Can't get the old thing to come out properly; eh?" + +"No. I guess dad was more than half right when he said it couldn't +be done. But I haven't given up. Maybe I'll think of some new plan +if I take a little run. Come along." + +They went down to the boat house, and soon were out on the lake in +the Kilo. + +"She runs better since you had her fixed," remarked Ned. + +"Yes, they did a good job." + +"Did you sue Peters?" + +"Didn't have to. He sent the money," and Tom told of his interview +with Mr. Boylan. This was news to Ned, as was also the financial +trouble of Mr. Damon. + +"Well," said the young banker, "that bears out what I had heard of +Peters--that he was a get-rich-quick chap, and a good one to steer +clear of." + +"Speaking of steering clear," laughed Tom, "there he is now, in +his big boat," and he pointed to a red blur coming up the lake. +"I'll give him a wide enough berth this time." + +But though Mr. Peters, in his powerful motor boat, passed close to +Tom's more modest craft, the big man did not glance toward our +hero and his chum. Nor did Mr. Boylan, who was with his friend, +look over. + +"I guess they've had enough of you," chuckled Ned. + +"Probably he wishes he hadn't paid me that money," said Tom. "Very +likely he thought, after he handed it over, that I'd be only too +willing to let him manage one of my inventions. But he has another +guess coming." + +Tom and Ned rode on for some distance, thoroughly enjoying the +spin on the lake that fine Summer day. They stopped for lunch at a +picnic resort, and coming back in the cool of the evening they +found themselves in the midst of a little flotilla of pleasure +craft, all decorated with Japanese lanterns. + +"Better slow down a bit," Ned advised Tom, for many of the +pleasure craft were canoes and light row boats. "Our wash may +upset some of them." + +"Guess you're right, old man," agreed Tom, as he closed the +gasoline throttle, to reduce speed. Hardly had he done so than +there broke in upon the merry shouts and singing of the pleasure- +seekers the staccato exhaust of a powerful motor boat, coming +directly behind Tom's craft. + +Then came the shrill warning of an electrical siren horn. + +"Somebody's in a hurry," observed Tom. + +"Yes," answered Ned. "It sound's like Peters's boat, too." + +"It is!" exclaimed Tom. "Here he comes. He ought to know better +than to cut through this raft of boats at that speed." + +"Is he headed toward us?" + +"No, I guess he's had enough of that. But look at him!" + +With undiminished speed the burly promoter was driving his boat +on. The big vibrating horn kept up its clamor, and a powerful +searchlight in front dazzled the eyes. + +"Look out! Look out!" cried several. + +Many of the rowers and paddlers made haste to clear a lane for the +big, speedy motor craft, and Peters and his friends (for there +were several men in his boat now) seemed to accept this as a +matter of course, and their right. + +"Somebody'll be swamped!" exclaimed Ned. + +Hardly had he spoken than, as the big red boat dashed past in a +smother of foam, there came a startled cry in girls' voices. + +"Look!" cried Tom. "That canoe's upset! Speed her up, Ned! We've +got to get 'em!" + + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A GLEAM OF HOPE + + +"Where are they?" + +"Who are they?" + +"Over this way! There's their canoe!" + +"Look out for that motor boat!" + +"Who was it ran them down? They ought to be arrested!" + +These were only a few of the cries that followed the upsetting of +the frail canoe by the wash from the powerful red boat. On Tom's +Kilo there was a small, electrical searchlight which he had not +yet switched on. But, with his call to Ned Newton to speed up the +motor, that had been slowed down, Tom, with one turn of his +fingers, set the lamp aglow, while, with the other hand, he +whirled the wheel over to head his craft for the spot where he saw +two figures struggling in the water. + +Fortunately the lanterns on the various canoes and row-boats, as +well as the light on the bow of Tom's Kilo, made an illumination +that gave the rescuers a good chance to work. Many other boats +besides Tom's had headed for the scene, but his was the more +practical, since the others--all quite small ones--were pretty +well filled. + +"There they are, Ned!" Tom suddenly cried. "Throw out the clutch! +I'll get 'em!" + +"Want any help?" + +"No, you stay at the engine, and mind what I say. Reverse now! +We're going to pass them!" + +Ned threw in the backing gear, and the screw churned the water to +foam under the stern of the Kilo. + +Tom leaned over the bow, and made a grab for the gasping, +struggling figure of a girl in the water. At the same time he had +tossed overboard a cork life ring, attached to a rope which, in +turn, was made fast to the forward deck-cleat. "Grab that!" cried +Tom. "Hold on, and I'll have you out in a second! That's enough, +Ned! Shut her off!" + +The Kilo came to a standstill, and, a second later, Tom had pulled +into his boat one of the girls. She would have collapsed, and +fallen in a heap on the bottom boards, had not Ned, who had come +forward from the engine, caught her. + +Then Tom, again leaning over the side, pulled in the other girl, +who was clinging to the life ring. + +"You're all right," Tom assured her, as she came up, gasping, +choking and crying hysterically. "You're all right!" + +"Is--is Minnie saved?" she sobbed. + +"Yes, Grace! I'm here," answered the one Ned was supporting. + +"Oh, wasn't it terrible!" cried the second girl Tom had saved. + +"I thought we would be drowned, even though we can swim." + +"Yes, it--it was so--so sudden!" gasped her companion. "What +happened?" + +"The wash from that big boat upset you," explained Tom. "That +fellow ought to be ashamed of himself, rushing along the way he +did. Now, can I take you girls anywhere? Your canoe seems to have +drifted off." + +"I have it!" someone called. "It's turned over, but I can tow it +to shore." + +"And I'll take the girls home," offered a gentleman in a large +rowboat. "My wife will look after them. They live near us," and he +mentioned his own name and the names of the two girls Tom had +saved. The young inventor did not know them, but he introduced +himself and Ned. + +"This is the annual moonlight outing of our little boat club," +explained the man who had offered to look after the girls, "and it +is the first time we ever had an accident. This was not our fault, +though." + +"Indeed it was not," agreed Tom, after he had helped the two +dripping young ladies into the rowboat. "It was due to Mr. +Peters's speed mania." + +"I shall make a complaint against him to the navigation +authorities," said Mr. Ralston, who was looking after the girls. +"He must think he, alone, has any rights on this lake." + +With renewed thanks to Tom and Ned, the rescued girls were rowed +off to their homes, while the interrupted water carnival was +continued. + +"Some little excitement; eh, Tom?" remarked Ned, when they were +once more under way. + +"Yes. We seem to run into that fellow Peters, or some of his +doings, quite often lately." + +"And it isn't a good sign, either," murmured Ned. + +For some minutes after that Tom did not speak. In fact he was so +silent that Ned at last inquired: + +"What's the matter, Tom--in love?" + +"Far from it. But, Ned, I've got an idea." + +"And I've got a wet suit of clothes where that nice young lady +fainted in my arms. I'm soaked." + +"That's what gave me the idea--the water, I mean. I noticed how +everything was reflected in it, and, do you know, Ned, I believe I +have been working on the wrong principle for my photo telephone." + +"Wrong, Tom, how is that?" + +"Why, I've been using a dry plate, and I think I should have used +a wet one. You know how even in a little puddle of water on the +sidewalk you can see yourself reflected?" + +"Yes, I've often seen that." + +"Well then, 'bless my watch chain!' as Mr. Damon would say, I +think I've got just what I want. I'm going to try a wet plate now, +and I think it will work. Come on now. Speed up! I'm in a great +big hurry to get home and try it!" + +"Well, Tom, I sure will be glad if you've got the right idea," +laughed Ned. "It will be worth getting wet through for, if you +strike something. Good luck!" + +Tom could hardly wait to fasten up his boat for the night, so +eager was he to get to his shop laboratory and try the new idea. A +gleam of hope had come to him. + +It was still early evening, and Tom, when enticed out by Ned, had +left his photo telephone apparatus in readiness to go on with his +trials as soon as he should have come back. + +"Now for it, Ned!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he took off +his coat. "First I'll sensitize a selenium plate, and then I'll +wet it. Water is always a good conductor of electricity, and it's +a wonder that I forgot that when I was planning this photo +telephone. But seeing the sparkle of lights, and the reflection of +ourselves in the lake to-night, brought it back to me. Now then, +you haven't anything special to do; have you?" + +"Not a thing, Tom." + +"That's good. Then you get in this other telephone closet--the one +in the casting shop. I'll put a prepared plate in there, and one +in the booth where I'm to sit. Then I'll switch on the current, +and we'll see if I can make you out, and you notice whether my +image appears on your plate." + +It took some little time to make ready for this new test. Tom was +filled with enthusiasm, and he was sure it was going to be +successful this time. Ned watched him prepare the selenium plates +--plates that were so sensitive to illumination that, in the dark, +the metal would hardly transmit a current of electricity, but in +the light would do so readily, its conductivity depending on the +amount of light it received. + +"There, I guess we're all ready, Ned," announced Tom, at last. +"Now you go to your little coop, and I'll shut myself up in mine. +We can talk over the telephone." + +Seated in the little booth in one of the smaller of Tom's shops, +Ned proceeded with his part in the new experiment. A small shelf +had been fitted up in the booth, or closet, and on this was the +apparatus, consisting of a portable telephone set, and a small +box, in which was set a selenium plate. This plate had been wet by +a spray of water in order to test Tom's new theory. + +In a similar booth, several hundred feet away, and in another +building, Tom took his place. The two booths were connected by +wires, and in each one was an electric light. + +"All ready, Ned?" asked Tom, through the telephone. + +"All ready," came the answer. + +"Now then, turn on your switch--the one I showed you--and look +right at the sensitized plate. Then turn out your light, and +slowly turn it on. It's a new kind, and the light comes up +gradually, like gas or an oil lamp. Turn it on easily." + +"I get you, Tom." + +Ned did as requested. Slowly the illumination in the booth +increased. + +"Do you get anything, Tom?" asked Ned, over the wire. + +"Not yet," was the somewhat discouraged answer. "Go ahead, turn on +more light, and keep your face close to the plate." + +Ned did so. + +"How about it now?" he asked, a moment later. + +"Nothing--yet," was the answer. And then suddenly Tom's voice rose +to a scream over the wire. + +"Ned--Ned! Quick!" he called. "Come here--I--I--" + +The voice died off into a meaningless gurgle. + + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MIDNIGHT VISITORS + + +Ned Newton never knew exactly how he got out of the telephone +booth. He seemed to give but one jump, tearing the clamped +receiver from his ear, and almost upsetting the photo apparatus in +his mad rush to help Tom. Certain it is, however, that he did get +out, and a few seconds later he was speeding toward the shop where +Tom had taken his position in a booth. + +Ned burst in, crying out: + +"Tom! What is it? What happened? What's the matter?" + +There was no answer. Fearing the worst, Ned hurried to the small +booth, in one corner of the big, dimly lighted shop. He could see +Tom's lamp burning in the telephone compartment, + +"Tom! Tom!" called the young banker. + +Still there was no answer, and Ned, springing forward, threw open +the double, sound-proof door of the booth. Then he saw Tom lying +unconscious, with his head and arms on the table in front of him, +while the low buzzing of the electrical apparatus in the +transmitting box told that the current had not been shut off. + +"Tom! Tom!" cried Ned in his chum's ear He shook him by the +shoulder, + +"Are you hurt? What is the matter?" + +The young inventor seemed unconscious, and for a moment Ned had a +wild idea that Tom had been shocked to death, possibly by some +crossed live wire coming in contact with the telephone circuit. + +"But that couldn't have happened, or I'd have been shocked +myself," mused Ned. + +Then he became aware of a curious, sweet, sickish odor in the +booth. It was overpowering. Ned felt himself growing dizzy. + +"I have it--chloroform!" he gasped. "In some way Tom has been +overcome by chloroform. I've got to get him to the fresh air." + +Once he had solved the puzzle of Tom's unconsciousness, Ned was +quick to act. He caught Tom under the arms, and dragged him out of +the booth, and to the outer door of the shop. Almost before Ned +had reached there with his limp burden, Tom began to revive, and +soon the fresh, cool night air completed the work. + +"I--I," began the young inventor. "Ned, I--I--" + +"Now take it easy, Tom," advised his chum. "You'll be all right in +a few minutes. What happened? Shall I call your father, or Koku?" + +"No--don't. It would only--only alarm dad," faltered Tom. "I'm +getting all right now. But he--he nearly had me, Ned!" + +"He had you? What do you mean, Tom? Who had you?" + +"I don't know who it was, but when I was talking to you over the +wire, all of a sudden I felt a hand behind me. It slipped over my +mouth and nose, and I smelled chloroform. I knew right away +something was wrong, and I called to you. That's all I remember. I +guess I must have gone off." + +"You did," spoke Ned. "You were unconscious when I got to you. I +couldn't imagine what had happened. First I thought it was an +electrical shock. Then I smelled that chloroform. But who could it +have been, Tom?" + +"Give it up, Ned! I haven't the slightest idea." + +"Could they have been going to rob you?" + +"I haven't a thing but a nickel watch on me," went on Tom. "I left +all my cash in the house. If it was robbery, it wasn't me, +personally, they were after." + +"What then? Some of your inventions?" + +"That's my idea now, Ned. You remember some years ago Jake Burke +and his gang held me up and took one of dad's patents away from +me?" + +"Yes, I've heard you mention that. It was when you first got your +motor cycle; wasn't it?" + +"That's right. Well, what I was going to say was that they used +chloroform on me then, and--" + +"You think this is the same crowd? Why, I thought they were +captured." + +"No, they got away, but I haven't heard anything of them in years. +Now it may be they have come back for revenge, for you know we got +back the stolen property." + +"That's right. Say, Tom, it might be so. What are you going to do +about it?" + +"I hardly know. If it was Jake Burke, alias Happy Harry, and his +crowd, including Appleson, Morse and Featherton, they're a bad +lot. I wouldn't want father to know they were around, for he'd be +sure to worry himself sick. He never really got over the time they +attacked me, and got the patent away. Dad sure thought he was +ruined then." + +"Now if I tell him I was chloroformed again to-night, and that I +think it was Burke and his crowd, he'd be sure to get ill over it. +So I'm just going to keep mum." + +"Well, perhaps it's the best plan. But you ought to do something." + +"Oh, I will, Ned, don't worry about that. I feel much better now." + +"How did it happen?" asked Ned, his curiosity not yet satisfied. + +"I don't know, exactly. I was in the booth, talking to you, and +not paying much attention to anything else. I was adjusting and +readjusting the current, trying to get that image to appear on the +plate. All at once, I felt someone back of me, and, before I could +turn, that hand, with the chloroform sponge, was over my mouth and +nose. I struggled, and called out, but it wasn't much use." + +"But they didn't do anything else--they didn't take anything; did +they, Tom?" + +"I don't know, Ned. We'll have to look around. They must have +sneaked into the shop. I left the door open, you see. It would +have been easy enough." + +"How many were there?" + +"I couldn't tell. I only felt one fellow at me; but he may have +had others with him." + +"What particular invention were they after, Tom?" + +"I'm sure I don't know. There are several models in here that +would be valuable. I know one thing, though, they couldn't have +been after my photo telephone," and Tom laughed grimly. + +"Why not?" Ned wanted to know. + +"Because it's a failure--that's what! It's a dead, sure failure, +Ned, and I'm going to give it up!" and Tom spoke bitterly. + +"Oh, don't say that!" urged his chum. "You may be right on the +verge of perfecting it, Tom. Didn't you see any image at all on +the plate?" + +"Not a shadow. I must be on the wrong track. Well, never mind +about that now. I'm going to look around, and see if those fellows +took anything." + +Tom was feeling more like himself again, the effects of the +chloroform having passed away. He had breathed the fumes of it for +only a little while, so no harm had been done. He and Ned made an +examination of the shop, but found nothing missing. + +There were no traces of the intruders, however, though the two +chums looked carefully about outside the building. + +"You were too quick for them, Ned," said Tom. "You came as soon as +I called. They heard me speaking, and must have known that I had +given the alarm." + +"Yes, I didn't lose any time," admitted Ned, "but I didn't see a +sign of anyone as I ran up." + +"They must have been pretty quick at getting away. Well, now to +decide what's best to do to-night." + +After some consultation and consideration it was decided to set +the burglar alarms in every building of the Swift plant. Some time +previous, when he had been working on a number of valuable +inventions, unscrupulous men had tried to steal his ideas and +models. To prevent this Tom had arranged a system of burglar +alarms, and had also fitted up a wizard camera that would take +moving pictures of anyone coming within its focus. The camera +could be set to work at night, in connection with the burglar +alarms. + +The apparatus was effective, and thus an end was put to the +efforts of the criminals. But now it seemed Tom would have to take +new precautionary measures. His camera, however, was not +available, as he had loaned it to a scientific society for +exhibition. + +"But we'll attach the burglar wires," decided Tom, "and see what +happens." + +"It might be a good plan to have Koku on guard," said Tom's chum. +"That giant could handle four or five of the chaps as easily as +you and I could tackle one." + +"That's right," agreed Tom. "I'll put him on guard. Whew! That +chloroform is giving me a headache. Guess I'll go to bed. I wish +you'd stay over to-night, Ned, if you haven't anything else to do. +I may need you." + +"Then of course I'll stay, Tom. I'll telephone home that I won't +be in." + +A little later Tom had put away his new photo telephone apparatus, +and had prepared for the warm reception of any unbidden callers. + +"I wish I hadn't started on this new invention," said Tom, half +bitterly, as he locked up the main parts of his machine, "I know +it will never work." + +"Oh, yes it will," spoke Ned, cheerfully. "You never failed yet, +Tom Swift, in anything you undertook, and you're not going to +now." + +"Well, that's good of you to say, Ned, but I think you're wrong +this time. But I'm not going to think any more about it to-night, +anyhow. Now to find Koku and put him on watch." + +The giant listened carefully to Tom's simple instructions. + +"If any bad men come in the night, Koku," said the young inventor, +"you catch them!" + +"Yes, master, me catch!" said Koku, grimly. "Me catch!" and he +stretched out his powerful arms, and clenched his big hands in a +way that boded no good to evildoers. + +Nothing was said to Mr. Swift, to Mrs. Baggert, or to Eradicate +about what had happened, for Tom did not want to worry them. The +burglar alarms were set, Koku took his place where he could watch +the signals, and at the same time be ready to rush out, for, +somehow, Tom had an idea that the men who had attacked him would +come back. + +Tom and Ned occupied adjoining rooms, and soon were ready for bed. +But, somehow, Tom could not sleep. He lay awake, tossing from side +to side, and, in spite of his resolution not to think about his +photo telephone invention, his mind ran on nothing but that. + +"I can't see what next to do to make it work," he told himself, +over and over again. "Something is wrong--but what?" + +At length he fell into a fitful doze, and he had a wild dream that +he was sliding down hill on a big mirror in which all sorts of +reflections were seen--reflections that he could not get to show +in the selenium plates. + +Then Tom felt the mirror bobbing up and down like a motor boat in +a storm. He felt the vibration, and he heard a voice calling in +his ear: + +"Get up, Tom! Get up!" + +"Yes! What is it?" he sleepily exclaimed, + +"Hush!" was the caution he heard, and then he realized that his +dream had been caused by Ned shaking him. + +"Well?" whispered Tom, in tense tones. + +"Midnight visitors!" answered his chum "The burglar alarm has just +gone off! The airship hangar drop fell. Koku has gone out. Come +on!" + + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE AIRSHIP IS TAKEN + + +Tom leaped silently out of bed, and stood for a moment half +dazed, so soundly had he been sleeping. + +"Come on!" urged Ned softly, realizing that his chum had not fully +comprehended. "Koku will hold them until we get there. I haven't +roused anyone else." + +"That's right," whispered Tom, as he began putting on his clothes. +"I don't want father to know. When did it happen?" + +"Just a little while ago. I couldn't sleep very well, but I fell +into a doze, and then I heard the buzzer of the alarm go off. I +saw that the drop, showing that the hangar had been entered, had +fallen. I got to the window in time to see Koku going toward the +shed from his little coop. Then I came to you." + +"Glad you did," answered Tom. "I didn't think I was sleeping so +soundly." + +Together the two chums made their way from their rooms down the +dimly-lighted hall to a side door, whence they could reach the +airship hangar, or shed. + +"Won't we need something--a gun or--" began Ned. + +"Clubs are better--especially at night when you can't see to aim +very well," whispered back Tom. "I've got a couple of good ones +downstairs. I could use my electric rifle, and set it merely to +disable temporarily whoever the charge hit, but it's a little too +risky. Koku has a habit of getting in the way at the most +unexpected times. He's so big, you know. I think clubs will be +best." + +"All right, Tom, just as you say," agreed Ned. "But who do you +think it can be?" + +"I haven't the least idea. Probably the same fellows who were +after me before, though. This time I'll find out what their game +is, and what they're after." + +The chums reached the lower hall, and there Tom picked out two +African war clubs which he had brought back with him from one of +his many trips into wild lands. + +"These are just the thing!" exclaimed Ned, swinging his about. + +"Careful," cautioned Tom, "If you hit something you'll rouse the +house, and I don't want my father and Mrs. Baggert, to say nothing +of Eradicate, awakened." + +"Excuse me," murmured Ned. "But we'd better be getting a move on." + +"That's right," agreed Tom. He dropped into a side pocket a small +but powerful electric flash lamp, and then he and Ned let +themselves out. + +There had been a bright moon, but it was now overcast by clouds. +However, there was sufficient light to enable the two lads to see +objects quite clearly. All about them were the various buildings +that made up the manufacturing and experimental plant of Tom Swift +and his father. Farthest away from the house was the big shed +where once Tom had kept a balloon, but which was now given over to +his several airships. In front of it was a big, level grassy +space, needed to enable the aircraft to get a "running start" +before they could mount into the clouds. + +"See anything of Koku?" whispered Ned. + +"No," answered Tom, in the same cautious voice. "I guess he must +be hiding--" + +"There he goes now!" hissed Ned, pointing to a big figure that was +approaching the hangar. It was undoubtedly that of the giant, and +he could be seen, in the dim light, stalking cautiously along. + +"I wonder where the uninvited guests are?" asked Tom. + +"Probably in the airship shed," answered Ned. "Koku was after them +as soon as the alarm went off, and they couldn't have gotten away. +They must be inside there yet. But what can their game be?" + +"It's hard to say," admitted Tom. "They may be trying to get +something belonging to me, or they may imagine they can pick up +some valuable secrets. Or they may--" He stopped suddenly, and +then exclaimed: + +"Come on, Ned! They're after one of the airships! That's it! My +big biplane is all ready to start, and they can get it in motion +inside of a few seconds. Oh, why didn't I hurry?" he added, +bitterly. + +But the hangar was still some distance away, and it would take two +or three minutes of running to reach it. + +Meanwhile, and at the instant Tom had his thought of the possible +theft of his biggest aircraft, something happened. + +The doors of the shed were suddenly thrown open, and the two boys +could see the large airship being wheeled out. The hazy light of +the moon behind the clouds shone on the expanse of white planes, +and on the fish-tail rudder, one of Tom's latest ideas. + +"Hey, there!" cried Tom, warningly. + +"Leave that alone!" yelled Ned. + +"Koku! Koku!" shouted Tom, shrilly. "Get after those fellows!" + +"Me get!" boomed out the giant, in his deep voice. + +He had been standing near the entrance to the hangar, probably +waiting for developments, and watching for the arrival of Tom and +Ned. The big form was seen to leap forward, and then several dark +shadows swarmed from around the airship, and were seen to fling +themselves upon the giant. + +"That's a fight!" cried Ned. "They're attacking him!" + +"Koku can take care of himself!" murmured Tom. "But come on. I +don't see what their game is." + +He understood a moment later, however, for while several of the +midnight visitors were engaged in a hand-to-hand tussle with the +giant there came a sharp, throbbing roar of the airship motor in +motion. The propellers were being whirled rapidly about. + +"Koku! Koku!" cried Tom, for he was still some distance off. +"Never mind them! Don't let the airship be taken!" + +But Koku could only grunt. Big and strong as he was, half a dozen +men attacking him at once hampered him. He threw them from him, +one after another, and was gradually making his way toward the now +slowly-moving airship. But would he be in time? + +Tom and Ned could not hope to reach the machine before Koku, +though they were running at top speed. + +"Koku! Koku!" yelled Tom. "Don't let them get away!" + +But Koku could only grunt--harder this time--for he fell heavily, +being tripped by a stick thrust between his legs. He lay for a +moment stunned. + +"They're going to get away!" panted Tom, making an effort to +increase his speed. + +"That's what!" agreed Ned. + +Even as they spoke the roar of the airship motor increased. +Several of the dark forms which had been engaged in the struggle +with Koku were seen to pick themselves up, and run toward the +airship, that was now in motion, moving on the bicycle wheels over +the grass plot, preparatory to mounting upward in the sky. + +"Stop! Stop!" commanded Tom. But it was all in vain. + +The men leaped aboard the airship, which could carry six persons, +and a moment later, with a deafening roar, as the engine opened up +full, the big craft shot upward, taking away all but two of the +midnight visitors. These, who had seemingly been stunned by Koku, +now arose from the ground, and staggered off in the darkness. + +"Get them!" cried Tom. + +"We must see to Koku!" added Ned, "Look, there goes your airship, +Tom!" + +"Yes, I know. But we can't stop that now. Let's see if we can get +a clue in these fellows!" + +He pointed toward the two who had run off in the dark underbrush +surrounding the hangar plaza, and he and Ned trailed them as well +as they could. But from the first they knew it would be useless, +for there were many hiding places, and, a little way beyond, was a +clump of trees. + +After a short search Tom gave up reluctantly, and came back to +where Koku was now sitting on the ground. + +"Are you hurt?" he asked of the giant. + +"My mind hurt--that all," said the big man. + +"I guess he means his feelings are hurt," Tom explained. "Do you +know who they were, Koku?" + +"No, master." + +"But we must do something!" cried Ned. "They've got your airship, +Tom." + +"I know it," said the young inventor, calmly. "But we can't do +anything now. You can hardly hear her, let alone see her. She's +moving fast!" + +He pointed upward to the darkness. Like some black bird of prey +the airship was already lost to sight, though it would have seemed +as if her white planes might render her visible. But she had moved +so swiftly that, during the short search, she had already +disappeared. + +"Aren't you going to do anything?" asked Ned. + +"Certainly," spoke Tom. "I'm going to telephone an alarm to all +the nearby towns. This is certainly a queer game, Ned." + + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE + + +Disappointed and puzzled, Tom and Ned went to where Koku was +standing in rather a dazed attitude. The giant, like all large +bodies, moved slowly, not only bodily but mentally. He could +understand exactly what had happened, except that he had not +prevailed over the "pygmies" who had attacked him. They had been +too many for him. + +"Let's take a look inside," suggested Tom, when, by another glance +upward, he had made sure that all trace of his big airship was +gone. "Maybe we can get a clue. Then, Koku, you tell us what +happened." + +"It all happened to me," said the giant, simply. "Me no make +anything happen to them." + +"That's about right," laughed Tom, ruefully. "It all happened to +us." + +The lights in the hangar were switched on, but a careful search +revealed little. The men, half a dozen or more, had come evidently +well prepared for the taking away of Tom Swift's airship, and they +had done so. + +Entrance had been effected by forcing a small side door. True, the +burglar alarm had given notice of the presence of the men, but Tom +and Ned had not acted quite quickly enough. Koku had been at the +hangar almost as soon as the men themselves, but he had watched +and waited for orders, instead of going in at once, and this had +given the intruders time to wheel out the craft and start the +motor. + +"Why didn't you jump right in on them when you saw what they were +up to, Koku?" asked Tom. + +"Me wait for master. Me think master want to see who men were. Me +go in--they run." + +"Well, of course that's so, in a way," admitted Tom. "They +probably would have run, but they'd have run WITHOUT my airship +instead of WITH it, if they hadn't had time to get it outside the +hangar. However, there's no use in crying over lost biplanes. The +next thing is how to get her back. Did you know any of the men, +Koku?" + +"No, master." + +"Then we haven't any clue that way. They laid their plans well. +They just let you tangle yourself up with them, Koku, while the +head ones got the motor going; an easy matter, since it was all +ready to start. Then they tripped you, Koku, and as many of them +as could, made a jump for the machine. Then they were off." + +"Well, what's the next thing to do?" asked Ned, when another look +about the shed had shown that not the slightest clue was +available. + +"I'm going to do some telephoning," Tom stated. "A big airship +like mine can't go scooting around the country without being +noticed. And those fellows can't go on forever. They've got to +have gasoline and oil, and to get them they'll have to come down. +I'll get it back, sooner or later; but the question is: Why did +they take her?" + +"To sell," suggested Ned. + +"I think not," Tom said. "A big airship like mine isn't easy to +sell. People who would buy it would ask questions that might not +easily be answered. I'm inclined to think that some other reason +made them take her, and it's up to us to find out what it was. +Let's go into the house." + +"Hark!" suddenly exclaimed Ned, holding up his hand for silence. +They all heard footsteps outside the hangar. + +Tom sprang to the door, flashing his electric light, and a voice +exclaimed: + +"Golly! Chicken thieves!" + +"Oh, is it you, Eradicate?" asked the young inventor, with a +laugh. "No, it isn't chicken thieves--they were after bigger game +this time." + +"Suffin happen?" asked the colored man. "Massa Swift he heah a +noise, an' see a light, an' he sent me out yeah t' see what all am +gwine on." + +"Yes, something happened," admitted Tom. "They got the Eagle, +Rad." + +"What! Yo' big airship?" + +"Yes." + +"Huh! Dat's too bad, Massa Tom. I suah am sorry t' heah dat. Who +done it?" + +"We don't know, Rad." + +"Maybe it was dat low-down cousin ob mine what tried t' git mah +chickens, onct!" + +"No, Rad, it wasn't your cousin. But I'll telephone the alarm to +the police. They may be able to help me get the Eagle back." + +Within the next hour several messages were sent to the authorities +of nearby towns, asking them to be on the watch for the stolen +airship. This was about all that could be done, and after Mr. +Swift had been told the story of the night's happenings, everyone +went back to bed again. + +Further search the next morning brought forth no clues, though +Tom, Ned and the others beat about in the bushes where the men had +disappeared. + +One or two reports were heard from surrounding towns, to the +effect that several persons had heard a strange throbbing sound in +the night, that, possibly, was caused by the passage of the +airship overhead. One such report came from Waterford, the home +town of Mr. Damon. + +"Let's go over there," suggested Ned, to his chum. "I'd like to +see our friend, and maybe we can get some other clues by +circulating around there." + +"Oh, I don't know," spoke Tom, rather listlessly. + +"Why not?" Ned wanted to know. + +"Well, I ought to be working on my photo telephone," was the +answer. "I've got a new idea now. I'm going to try a different +kind of current, and use a more sensitive plate. And I'll use a +tungsten filament lamp in the sending booth." + +"Oh, let your experiments go for a little while, Tom," suggested +Ned. "Come on over to Mr. Damon's. The trouble with you is that +you keep too long at a thing, once you start." + +"That's the only way to succeed," remarked Tom. "Really, Ned, +while I feel sorry about the airship, of course, I ought to be +working on my telephone. I'll get the Eagle back sooner or later." + +"That's not the way to talk, Tom. Let's follow up this clue." + +"Well, if you insist on it I suppose I may as well go. We'll take +the little monoplane. I've fixed her up to carry double. I guess-- +" + +Tom Swift broke off suddenly, as the telephone at his elbow rang. + +"Hello," he said, taking off the receiver. "Yes, this is Tom +Swift. Oh, good morning, Mrs. Damon! Eh! What's that? Mr. Damon +has disappeared? You don't tell me! Disappeared! Yes, yes, I can +come right over. Be there in a few minutes. Eh? You don't know +what to make of it? Oh, well, maybe it can easily be explained. +Yes, Ned Newton and I will be right over. Don't worry." + +Tom hung up the receiver and turned to his chum. + +"What do you think of that?" he asked. + +"What is it?" + +"Why, Mr. Damon mysteriously vanished last night, and this morning +word came from his bankers that every cent of his fortune had +disappeared! He's lost everything!" + +"Maybe--maybe--" hesitated Ned. + +"No, Mr. Damon isn't that kind of a man," said Tom, stoutly. "He +hasn't made away with himself." + +"But something is wrong!" + +"Evidently, and it's up to us to find out what it is. I shouldn't +be surprised but that he knew of this coming trouble and started +out to prevent it if he could." + +"But he wouldn't disappear and make his wife worry." + +"No, that's so. Well, we'll have to go over there and find out all +about it." + +"Say, Tom!" exclaimed Ned, as they were getting the small, but +swift monoplane ready for the flight, "could there be any +connection with the disappearance of Mr. Damon and the taking of +the Eagle?" + +Tom started in surprise. + +"How could there be?" he asked. + +"Oh, I don't know," answered Ned. "It was only an idea." + +"Well, we'll see what Mrs. Damon has to say," spoke the young +inventor, as he took his seat beside Ned, and motioned to Koku to +twirl the propeller. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE TELEPHONE PICTURE + + +"Oh, Tom Swift! I'm so glad to see you!" + +Mrs. Damon clasped her arms, in motherly fashion, about the young +inventor. He held her close, and his own eyes were not free from +tears as he witnessed the grief of his best friend's wife. + +"Now, don't worry, Mrs. Damon," said Tom, sympathetically. +"Everything will be all right," and he led her to a chair. + +"All right, Tom! How can it be?" and the lady raised a tear- +stained face. "My husband has disappeared, without a word! It's +just as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up! I can't find +a trace of him! How can it be all right?" + +"Well, we'll find him, Mrs. Damon. Don't worry. Ned and I will get +right to work, and I'll have all the police and detectives within +fifty miles on the search--if we have to go that far." + +"Oh, it's awfully good of you, Tom. I--I didn't know who else to +turn to in my trouble but you." + +"And why shouldn't you come to me? I'd do anything for you and Mr. +Damon. Now tell me all about it." + +Tom and Ned had just arrived at the Damon home in the airship, to +find the wife of the eccentric man almost distracted over her +husband's strange disappearance. + +"It happened last night," Mrs. Damon said, when she was somewhat +composed. "Last night about twelve o'clock." + +"Twelve o'clock!" cried Tom, in surprise "Why that's about the +time--" + +He stopped suddenly. + +"What were you going to say?" asked Mrs. Damon. + +"Oh--nothing," answered Tom. "I--I'll tell you later. Go on, +please." + +"It is all so confusing," proceeded Mrs. Damon. "You know my +husband has been in trouble of late--financial trouble?" + +"Yes," responded Tom, "he mentioned it to me." + +"I don't know any of the details," sighed Mrs. Damon, "but I know +he was mixed up with a man named Peters." + +"I know him, too," spoke Tom, grimly. + +"My husband has been very gloomy of late," went on Mrs. Damon. "He +foolishly entrusted almost his entire fortune to that man, and +last night he told me it was probably all gone. He said he saw +only the barest chance to save it, but that he was going to take +that chance." + +"Did he go into details?" asked Tom. + +"No, that was all he said. That was about ten o'clock. He didn't +want to go to bed. He just sat about, and he kept saying over and +over again: 'Bless my tombstone!' 'Bless the cemetery!' and all +such stuff as that. You know how he was," and she smiled through +her tears. + +"Yes," said Tom. "I know. Only it wasn't like him to bless such +grewsome things. He was more jolly." + +"He hasn't been, of late," sighed his wife. "Well, he sat about +all the evening, and he kept figuring away, trying, I suppose, to +find some way out of his trouble." + +"Why didn't he come to my father?" cried Tom. "I told him he could +have all the money he needed to tide him over." + +"Well, Mr. Damon was queer that way," said his wife. "He wanted to +be independent. I urged him to call you up, but he said he'd fight +it out alone." + +"As I said, we sat there, and he kept feeling more and more blue, +and blessing his funeral, and the hearse and all such things as +that. He kept looking at the clock, too, and I wondered at that." + +"'Are you expecting someone?' I asked him. He said he wasn't, +exactly, but I made sure he was, and finally, about half-past +eleven, he put on his hat and went out." + +"'Where are you going?' I asked him." + +"'Oh, just to get a breath of air. I can't sleep,' he said. I +didn't think much of that, as he often used to go out and walk +about a bit before going to bed. So he went out, and I began to +see about locking up, for I never trust the servants." + +"It must have been about an hour later when I heard voices out in +front. I looked, and I saw Mr. Damon talking to a man." + +"Who was he?" asked Tom, eagerly, on the alert for the slightest +clue. + +"I thought at the time," said Mrs. Damon, "that it was one of the +neighbors. I have learned since, however, that it was not. Anyhow, +this man and Mr. Damon stood talking for a little while, and then +they went off together. I didn't think it strange at the time, +supposing he was merely strolling up and down in front with Mr. +Blackson, who lives next door, He often had done that before." + +"Well, I saw that the house was locked up, and then I sat down in +a chair to wait for Mr. Damon to come back. I was getting sleepy, +for we don't usually stay up so late. I suppose I must have dozed +off, but I was suddenly awakened by hearing a peculiar noise. I +sat up in alarm, and then I realized that Mr. Damon had not come +in." + +"I was frightened then, and I called my maid. It was nearly one +o'clock, and my husband never stays out as late as that. We went +next door, and found that Mr. Blackson had not been out of his +house that evening. So it could not have been he to whom Mr. Damon +was speaking." + +"We roused up other neighbors, and they searched all about the +grounds, thinking he might have been overcome by a sudden faint. +But we could not find him. My husband had disappeared-- +mysteriously disappeared!" and the lady broke into sobs. + +"Now don't worry," said Tom, soothingly, as he put his arms about +her as he would have done to his own mother, had she been alive, +"We'll get him back!" + +"But how can you? No one knows where he is." + +"Oh, yes!" said Tom, confidently, "Mr. Damon himself knows where +he is, and unless he has gone away voluntarily, I think you will +soon hear from him." + +"What do you mean by--voluntarily?" asked the wife. + +"First let me ask you a question," came from Tom. "You said you +were awakened by a peculiar noise. What sort of a sound was it?" + +"Why, a whirring, throbbing noise, like--like--" + +She paused for a comparison. + +"Like an airship?" asked Tom, with a good deal of eagerness. + +"That was it!" cried Mrs. Damon. "I was trying to think where I +had heard the sound before. It was just like the noise your +airship makes, Tom!" + +"That settles it!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +"Settles what?" asked Ned. + +"The manner of Mr. Damon's disappearance. He was taken away--or +went away--in my airship--the airship that was stolen from my shed +last night!" + +Mrs. Damon stared at Tom in amazement. + +"Why--why--how could that be?" she asked. + +Quickly Tom told of what had happened at his place. + +"I begin to see through it," he said. "There is some plot here, +and we've got to get to the bottom of it. Mr. Damon either went +with these men in the airship willingly, or he was taken away by +force. I'm inclined to think he went of his own accord, or you +would have heard some outcry, Mrs. Damon." + +"Well, perhaps so," she admitted. "But would he go away in that +manner without telling me?" + +"He might," said Tom, willing to test his theory on all sides. "He +might not have wanted you to worry, for you know you dislike him +to go up an airships." + +"Yes, I do. Oh, if I only thought he did go away of his own +accord, I could understand it. He went, if he did, to try and save +his fortune." + +"It does look as though he had an appointment with someone, Tom," +suggested Ned. "His looking at the clock, and then going out, and all +that." + +"Yes," admitted the young inventor, "and now I'm inclined to +change my theory a bit. It may have been some other airship than +mine that was used." + +"How so?" asked Ned. + +"Because the men who took mine were unprincipled fellows. Mr. +Damon would not have gone away with men who would steal an +airship." + +"Not if he knew it," admitted Ned. "Well, then, let's consider two +airships--yours and the other that came to keep the appointment +with Mr. Damon. If the last is true, why should he want to go away +in an airship at midnight? Why couldn't he take a train, or an +auto?" + +"Well, we don't know all the ins and outs," admitted Tom. "Taking +a midnight airship ride is rather strange, but that may have been +the only course open. We'll have to let the explanation go until +later. At any rate, Mrs. Damon, I feel sure that your husband did +go off through the air--either in my Eagle or in some other +craft." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear you say so, Tom Swift, though it sounds a +dreadful thing to say. But if he did go off of his own accord, I +know he did it for the best. And he may not have told me, for fear +I would worry. I can understand that. But why isn't he back now?" + +Tom had been rather dreading that question. It was one he had +asked himself, and he had found no good answer for it. If there +had been such need of haste, that an airship had to be used. why +had not Mr. Damon come back ere this? Unless, as Tom feared to +admit, even to himself, there had been some accident. + +Half a dozen theories flashed through his mind, but he could not +select a good, working one,--particularly as there were no clues. +Disappearing in an airship was the one best means of not leaving a +trace behind. An auto, a motor boat, a train, a horse and +carriage--all these could be more or less easily traced. But an +airship-- + +If Mr. Damon wanted to cover up his tracks, or if he had been +taken away, and his captors wanted to baffle pursuit, the best +means had been adopted. + +"Now don't you worry," advised Tom to Mrs. Damon. "I know it looks +funny, but I think it will come out all right. Ned and I will do +all we can. Mr. Damon must have known what he was about. But, to +be on the safe side, we'll send out a general alarm through the +police." + +"Oh, I don't know what I'd done if you hadn't come to help me!" +exclaimed Mrs. Damon. + +"Just you leave it to me!" said the young inventor, cheerfully. +"I'll find Mr. Damon!" + +But, though he spoke thus confidently, Tom Swift had not the +slightest notion, just then, of how to set about his difficult +task. He had had hard problems to solve before, so he was not +going to give up this one. First he wanted to think matters out, +and arrange a plan of action. + +He and Ned made a careful examination of the grounds of the Damon +homestead. There was little they could learn, though they did find +where an airship had landed in a meadow, not far away, and where +it had made a flying start off again. + +Carefully Tom looked at the marks made by the wheels of the +airship. + +"They're the same distance apart as those on the Eagle," he said +to his chum, "and the tires are the same. But that isn't saying +anything, as lots of airships have the same equipment. So we won't +jump to any conclusions that way." + +Tom and Ned interviewed several of the neighbors, but beyond +learning that some of them had heard the throbbing of the midnight +airship, that was as far as they got on that line. + +There was nothing more they could do in Waterford, and, leaving +Mrs. Damon, who had summoned a relative to stay with her, the two +chums made a quick trip back through the air to Shopton. As +Eradicate came out to help put away the monoplane Tom noticed that +the colored man was holding one hand as though it hurt him. + +"What's the matter, Rad?" asked the young investor. + +"Oh, nuffin--jest natcherly nuffin, Massa Tom." + +But Eradicate spoke evasively and in a manner that roused Tom's +suspicions. + +"Boomerang, your mule, didn't kick you; did he?" + +"No, sah, Massa Tom, no sah. 'Twern't nuffin laik dat." + +"But what was it? Your hand is hurt!" + +"Well, Massa Tom, I s'pose I done bettah tell yo' all. I'se had a +shock!" + +"A shock?" + +"Yas, sah. A shock. A lickrish shock." + +"Oh, you mean an electrical shock. That's too bad. I suppose you +must have touched a live wire." + +"No, sah. 'Twern't dat way." + +"How was it, then?" + +"Well, yo' see, Massa Tom, I were playin' a joke on Koku." + +"Oh, you were; eh? Then I suppose Koku shocked you," laughed Tom. + +"No, sah. I--I'll tell you. Dat giant man he were in de telefoam +boof in de pattern shop--you know--de one where yo' all been +tryin' to make pishures." + +"Yes, I know. Go on!" exclaimed Tom, impatiently. + +"Well, he were in dere, Massa Tom, an' I slipped into de boof in +de next shop--de odder place where yo' all been 'speermentin'. I +called out on de telefoam, loud laik de Angel Gabriel gwine t' +holler at de last trump: 'Look out, yo' ole sinnah!' I yell it +jest t' scare Koku." + +"I see," said Tom, a bit severely, for he did not like Eradicate +interfering with the instruments. "And did you scare Koku?" + +"Oh, yas, sah, Massa Tom. I skeered him all right; but suffin else +done happen. When I put down de telefoam I got a terrible shock. +It hurts yit!" + +"Well," remarked Tom, "I suppose I ought to feel sorry for you, +but I can't. You should let things alone. Now I've got to see if +you did any damage. Come along, Ned." + +Tom was the first to enter the telephone booth where Eradicate had +played the part of the Angel Gabriel. He looked at the wires and +apparatus, but could see nothing wrong. + +Then he glanced at the selenium plate, on which he hoped, some +day, to imprint an image from over the wire. And, as he saw the +smooth surface he started, and cried. + +"Ned! Ned, come here quick!" + +"What is it?" asked his chum, Crowding into the booth. + +"Look at that plate! Tell me what you see!" + +Ned looked. + +"Why--why it's Koku's picture!" he gasped. + +"Exactly!" cried Tom. "In some way my experiment has succeeded +when I was away. Eradicate must have made some new connection by +his monkeying. Ned, it's a success! I've got my first photo +telephone picture! Hurray!" + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +MAKING IMPROVEMENTS + + +Tom Swift was so overjoyed and excited that for a few moments he +capered about, inside the booth, and outside, knocking against his +chum Ned, clapping him on the back, and doing all manner of boyish +"stunts." + +"It's a success, Ned! I've struck it!" cried Tom, in delight. + +"Ouch! You struck ME, you mean!" replied Ned, rubbing his +shoulder, where the young inventor had imparted a resounding blow +of joy. + +"What of it?" exclaimed Tom. "My apparatus works! I can send a +picture by telephone! It's great, Ned!" + +"But I don't exactly understand how it happened," said Ned, in +some bewilderment, as he gazed at the selenium plate. + +"Neither do I," admitted Tom, when he had somewhat calmed down. +"That is, I don't exactly understand what made the thing succeed +now, when it wouldn't work for me a little while ago. But I've got +to go into that. I'll have to interview that rascal Eradicate, and +learn what he did when he played that trick on Koku. Yes, and I'll +have to see Koku, too. We've got to get at the bottom of this, +Ned." + +"I suppose so. You've got your hands full, Tom, with your photo +telephone, and the disappearance of Mr. Damon." + +"Yes, and my own airship, too. I must get after that. Whew! A lot +of things to do! But I like work, Ned. The more the better." + +"Yes, that's like you, Tom. But what are you going to get at +first?" + +"Let me see; the telephone, I think. I'll have Rad and Koku in +here and talk to them. I say, you Eradicate!" he called out of the +door of the shop, as he saw the colored man going past, holding +his shocked arm tenderly. + +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom, I'se comin'! What is it yo' all wants, Massa +Tom?" + +"I want you to show me exactly what you did to the wires, and +other things in here, when you played that Angel Gabriel trick on +your partner Koku." + +"Partner! He ain't mah partner!" exclaimed Eradicate with a scowl, +for there was not the best of feeling between the two. Eradicate +had served in the Swift family many years, and he rather resented +the coming of the giant, who performed many services formerly the +province of the colored man. + +"Well, never mind what he is, Rad," laughed Tom. "You just show me +what you did. Come now, something happened in here, and I want to +find out what it was." + +"Oh, suffin done happened all right, Massa Tom. Yas, sah! Suffin +done happened!" cried Eradicate, with such odd emphasis that Tom +and Ned both laughed. + +"An' suffin happened to me," went on the colored man, rubbing his +shocked arm. + +"Well, tell us about it," suggested Tom. + +"It was dish yeah way," proceeded Eradicate. And he told more in +detail how, seeing Koku cleaning and sweeping out the other +telephone booth, he had thought of the trick to play on him. Both +telephones had what are called "amplifiers" attached, that could +be switched on when needed. These amplifiers were somewhat like +the horn of a phonograph--they increased, or magnified the sound, +so that one could hear a voice from any part of the shop, and need +not necessarily have the telephone receiver at his ear. + +Seeing Koku near the instrument, Eradicate had switched on the +amplifier, and had called into his instrument, trying to scare the +giant. And he did startle Koku, for the loud voice, coming so +suddenly, sent the giant out of the booth on the run. + +"But you must have done something else," insisted Tom. "Look here, +Rad," and the young inventor pointed to the picture on the plate. + +"Mah gracious sakes!" gasped the colored man. "Why dat's Koku +hisse'f!" and he looked in awe at the likeness. + +"That's what you did, Rad!" + +"Me? I done dat? No, sah, Massa Tom. I neber did! No, sah!" +Eradicate spoke emphatically. + +"Yes you did, Rad. You took that picture of Koku over my photo +telephone, and I want you to show me exactly what you did--what +wires and switches you touched and changed, and all that." + +"Yo--yo' done say I tuck dat pishure, Massa Tom?" + +"You sure did, Rad." + +"Well--well, good land o' massy! An' I done dat!" + +Eradicate stared in wonder at the image of the giant on the plate, +and shook his head doubtingly. + +"I--I didn't know I could do it. I never knowed I had it in me!" +he murmured. + +Tom and Ned laughed long and loud, and then the young inventor +said: + +"Now look here, Rad. You've done me a mighty big service, though +you didn't know it, and I want to thank you. I'm sorry about your +arm, and I'll have the doctor look at it. But now I want you to +show me all the things you touched when you played that joke on +Koku. In some way you did what I haven't been able to do, You took +the picture. There's probably just one little thing I've +overlooked, and you stumbled on it by accident. Now go ahead and +show me." + +Eradicate thought for a moment, and then said: + +"Well, I done turned on de current, laik I seen you done, Massa +Tom." + +"Yes, go on. You connected the telephone." + +"Yas, sah. Den I switched on that flyer thing yo' all has rigged +up." + +"You switched on the amplifier, yes. Go on." + +"An'--an' den I plugged in dish year wire," and the colored man +pointed to one near the top of the booth. + +"You switched on that wire, Rad! Why, great Scott, man! That's +connected to the arc light circuit--it carries over a thousand +volts. And you switched that into the telephone circuit?" + +"Dat's what I done did, Massa Tom; yas, Bah!" + +"What for?" + +"Why, I done want t' make mah voice good an' loud t' skeer dat +rascal Koku!" + +Tom stared at the colored man in amazement. + +"No wonder you got a shock!" exclaimed the young inventor. "You +didn't get all the thousand volts, for part of it was shunted off; +but you got a good charge, all right. So that's what did the +business; eh? It was the combination of the two electrical +circuits that sent the photograph over the wire." + +"I understand it now, Rad; but you did more than I've been able to +do. I never, in a hundred years, would have thought of switching +on that current. It never occurred to me. But you, doing it by +accident, brought out the truth. It's often that way in +discoveries. And Koku was standing in the other telephone booth, +near the plate there, when you switched in this current, Rad?" + +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom. He were. An' yo' ought t' see him hop when +he heard mah voice yellin' at him. Ha! ha! ha!" + +Eradicate chuckled at the thought. Then a pain in his shocked arm +made him wince. A wry look passed over his face. + +"Yas, sah, Koku done jump about ten feet," he said. "An'--an' den +I jump too. Ain't no use in denyin' dat fact. I done jump when I +got dat shock!" + +"All right, Rad. You may go now. I think I'm on the right track!" +exclaimed Tom. "Come on, Ned, we'll try some experiments, and +we'll see what we can do." + +"No shocks though--cut out the shocks, Tom," stipulated his chum. + +"Oh, sure! No shocks! Now let's bet busy and improve on +Eradicate's Angel Gabriel system." + +Tom made a quick examination of the apparatus. + +"I understand it, I think," he said. "Koku was near the plate in +the other booth when Rad put on the double current. There was a +light there, and in an instant his likeness was sent over the +wire, and imprinted on this plate. Now let's see what we can do. +You go to that other booth, Ned. I'll see if I can get your +picture, and send you mine. Here, take some extra selenium plates +along. You know how to connect them." + +"I think so," answered Ned. + +"This image is really too faint to be of much use," went on Tom, +as he looked at the one of Koku. "I think I can improve on it. But +we're on the right track." + +A little later Ned stood in the other booth, while Tom arranged +the wires, and made the connections in the way accidently +discovered by Eradicate. The young inventor had put in a new +plate, carefully putting away the one with the picture of the +giant, This plate could be used again, when the film, into which +the image was imprinted, had been washed off. + +"All ready, Ned," called Tom, over the wire, when he was about to +turn the switch. "Stand still, and I'll get you." + +The connection was made, and Tom uttered a cry of joy. For there, +staring at him from the plate in front of him was the face of Ned. + +It was somewhat reduced in size, of course, and was not extra +clear, but anyone who knew Ned could have told he was at the other +end of the wire. + +"Do you get me, Tom?" called Ned, over the telephone. + +"I sure do! Now see if you can get me." + +Tom made other connections, and then looked at the sending plate +of his instrument, there being both a sending and receiving plate +in each booth, just as there was a receiver and a transmitter to +the telephone. + +"Hurray! I see you, Tom!" cried Ned, over the wire. "Say, this is +great!" + +"It isn't as good as I want it," went on Tom. "But it proves that +I'm right. The photo telephone is a fact, and now persons using +the wire can be sure of the other person they are conversing with. +I must tell dad. He wouldn't believe I could do it!" + +And indeed Mr. Swift was surprised when Tom proved, by actual +demonstration, that a picture could be sent over the wire. + +"Tom, I congratulate you!" declared the aged inventor. "It is good +news!" + +"Yes, but we have bad news of Mr. Damon," said Tom, and he told +his father of the disappearance of the eccentric man. Mr. Swift at +once telephoned his sympathy to Mrs. Damon, and offered to do +anything he could for her. + +"But Tom can help you more than I can," he said. "You can depend +on Tom." + +"I know that," replied Mrs. Damon, over the wire. + +And certainly Tom Swift had many things to do now. He hardly knew +at what to begin first, but now, since he was on the right road in +regard to his photo telephone, he would work at improving it. + +And to this end he devoted himself, after he had sent out a +general alarm to the police of nearby towns, in regard to the +disappearance of Mr. Damon. The airship clue, he believed, as did +the police, would be a good one to work on. + +For several days after this nothing of moment occurred. Mr. Damon +could not be located, and Tom's airship might still be sailing +above the clouds as far as getting any trace of it was concerned. + +Meanwhile the young inventor, with the help of Ned, who was given +a leave of absence from the bank, worked hard to improve the photo +telephone. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE AIRSHIP CLUE + + +"Now Ned, we'll try again. I'm going to use a still stronger +current, and this is the most sensitive selenium plate I've turned +out yet. We'll see if we can't get a better likeness of you--one +that will be plainer." + +It was Tom Swift who was speaking, and he and his chum had just +completed some hard work on the new photo telephone. Though the +apparatus did what Tom had claimed for it, still he was far from +satisfied. He could transmit over the wire the picture of a person +talking at the telephone, but the likeness was too faint to make +the apparatus commercially profitable. + +"It's like the first moving pictures," said Tom. "They moved, but +that was about all they did." + +"I say," remarked Ned, as he was about to take his place in the +booth where the telephone and apparatus were located, "this +double-strength electrical current you're speaking of won't shock +me; will it? I don't want what happened to Eradicate to happen to +me, Tom." + +"Don't worry. Nothing will happen. The trouble with Rad was that +he didn't have the wires insulated when he turned that arc current +switch by mistake--or, rather, to play his joke. But he's all +right now." + +"Yes, but I'm not going to take any chances," insisted Ned. "I +want to be insulated myself." + +"I'll see to that," promised Tom. "Now get to your booth." + +For the purpose of experiments Tom had strung a new line between +two of his shops, They were both within sight, and the line was +not very long; but, as I have said, Tom knew that if his apparatus +would work over a short distance, it would also be successful over +a long one, provided he could maintain the proper force of +current, which he was sure could be accomplished. + +"And if they can send pictures from Monte Carlo to Paris I can do +the same," declared Tom, though his system of photo telephony was +different from sending by a telegraph system--a reproduction of a +picture on a copper plate. Tom's apparatus transmitted the +likeness of the living person. + +It took some little time for the young inventor, and Ned working +with him, to fix up the new wires and switch on the current. But +at last it was complete, and Ned took his place at one telephone, +with the two sensitive plates before him. Tom did the same, and +they proceeded to talk over the wire, first making sure that the +vocal connection was perfect. + +"All ready now, Ned! We'll try it," called Tom to his chum, over +the wire. "Look straight at the plate. I want to get your image +first, and then I'll send mine, if it's a success," + +Ned did as requested, and in a few minutes he could hear Tom +exclaim, joyfully: + +"It's better, Ned! It's coming out real clear. I can see you +almost as plainly as if you were right in the booth with me. But +turn on your light a little stronger." + +Tom could hear, through the telephone, his chum moving about, and +then he caught a startled exclamation. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tom anxiously. + +"I got a shock!" cried Ned. "I thought you said you had this thing +fixed. Great Scott, Tom! It nearly yanked the arm off me! Is this +a joke?" + +"No, old man. No, of course not! Something must be wrong. I didn't +mean that. Wait, I'll take a look. Say, it does seem as if +everything was going wrong with this invention. But I'm on the +right track, and soon I'll have it all right. Wait a second. I'll +be right over." + +Tom found that it was only a simple displacement of a wire that +had given Ned a shock, and he soon had this remedied. + +"Now we'll try again," he said. This time nothing wrong occurred, +and soon Tom saw the clearest image he had yet observed on his +telephone photo plate. + +"Switch me on now, Ned," he called to his chum, and Ned reported +that he could see Tom very plainly. + +"So far--so good," observed Tom, as he came from the booth. "But +there are several things I want yet to do." + +"Such as what?" questioned Ned. + +"Well, I want to arrange to have two kinds of pictures come over +the wire. I want it so that a person can go into a booth, call up +a friend, and then switch on the picture plate, so he can see his +friend as well as talk to him. I want this plate to be like a +mirror, so that any number of images can be made to appear on it. +In that way it can be used over and over again. In fact it will be +exactly like a mirror, or a telescope. No matter how far two +persons may be apart they can both see and talk to one another." + +"That's a big contract, Tom." + +"Yes, but you've seen that it can be done. Then another thing I +want to do is to have it arranged so that I can make a photograph +of a person over a wire." + +"Meaning what?" + +"Meaning that if a certain person talks to me over the wire, I can +turn my switch, and get a picture of him here at my apparatus +connected with my telephone. To do that I'll merely need a sending +apparatus at the other end of the telephone line--not a receiving +machine." + +"Could you arrange it so that the person who was talking to you +would have his picture taken whether he wanted it or not?" asked +Ned. + +"Yes, it might be done," spoke Tom, thoughtfully. "I could conceal +the sending plate somewhere in the telephone booth, and arrange +the proper light, I suppose." + +"That might be a good way in which to catch a criminal," went on +Ned. "Often crooks call up on the telephone, but they know they +are safe. The authorities can't see them--they can only hear them. +Now if you could get a photograph of them while they were +telephoning--" + +"I see!" cried Tom, excitedly. "That's a great idea! I'll work on +that, Ned." + +And, all enthusiasm, Tom began to plan new schemes with his photo +telephone. + +The young inventor did not forget his promise to help Mrs. Damon. +But he could get absolutely no clue to her husband's whereabouts. +Mr. Damon had completely and mysteriously disappeared. His +fortune, too, seemed to have been swallowed up by the sharpers, +though lawyers engaged by Tom could fasten no criminal acts on Mr. +Peters, who indignantly denied that he had done anything unlawful. + +If he had, he had done it in such a way that he could not be +brought to justice. The promoter was still about Shopton, as well +groomed as ever, with his rose in his buttonhole, and wearing his +silk hat. He still speeded up and down Lake Carlopa in his +powerful motor boat. But he gave Tom Swift a wide berth. + +Late one night, when Tom and Ned had been working at the new photo +telephone, after all the rest of the household had retired, Tom +suddenly looked up from his drawings and exclaimed: + +"What's that?" + +"What's what?" inquired Ned. + +"That sound? Don't you hear it? Listen!" + +"It's an airship--maybe yours coming back!" cried the young +banker. + +As he spoke Ned did hear, seemingly in the air above the house, a +curious, throbbing, pulsating sound. + +"That's so! It is an airship motor!" exclaimed Tom. "Come on out!" + +Together they rushed from the house, but, ere they reached the +yard, the sound had ceased. They looked up into the sky, but could +see nothing, though the night was light from a full moon. + +"I certainly heard it," said Tom. + +"So did I," asserted Ned. "But where is it now?" + +They advanced toward the group of work-buildings. Something +showing white in the moonlight, before the hangar, caught Ned's +eyes. + +"Look!" he exclaimed. "There's an airship, Tom!" + +The two rushed over to the level landing place before the big +shed. And there, as if she had just been run out for a flight, was +the Eagle. She had come back in the night, as mysteriously as she +had been taken away. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +SUCCESS + + +"Well, this gets me!" exclaimed Tom. + +"It sure is strange," agreed Ned. "How did she come here?" + +"She didn't come alone--that's sure," went on Tom. "Someone +brought her here, made a landing, and got away before we could get +out." + +The two chums were standing near the Eagle, which had come back so +mysteriously. + +"Just a couple of seconds sooner and we'd have seen who brought +her here," went on Tom. "But they must have shut off the motor +some distance up, and then they volplaned down. That's why we +didn't hear them." + +Ned went over and put his hand on the motor. + +"Ouch!" he cried, jumping back. "It's hot!" + +"Showing that she's been running up to within a few minutes ago," +said Tom. "Well, as I said before, this sure does get me. First +these mysterious men take my airship, and then they bring her back +again, without so much as thanking me for the use of her." + +"Who in the world can they be?" asked Ned. + +"I haven't the least idea. But I'm going to find out, if it's at +all possible. We'll look the machine over in the morning, and see +if we can get any clues. No use in doing that now. Come on, we'll +put her back in the hangar." + +"Say!" exclaimed Ned, as a sudden idea came to him. "It couldn't +be Mr. Damon who had your airship; could it, Tom?" + +"I don't know. Why do you ask that?" + +"Well, he might have wanted to get away from his enemies for a +while, and he might have taken your Eagle, and--" + +"Mr. Damon wouldn't trail along with a crowd like the one that +took away my airship," said Tom, decidedly. "You've got another +guess coming, Ned. Mr. Damon had nothing to do with this." + +"And yet the night he disappeared an airship was heard near his +house." + +"That's so. Well, I give up. This is sure a mystery. We'll have a +look at it in the morning. One thing I'll do, though, I'll +telephone over to Mr. Damon's house and see if his wife has heard +any news. I've been doing that quite often of late, so she won't +think anything of it. In that way we can find out if he had +anything to do with my airship. But let's run her into the shed +first." + +This was done, and Koku, the giant, was sent to sleep in the +hangar to guard against another theft. But it was not likely that +the mysterious men, once having brought the airship back, would +come for it again. + +Tom called up Mrs. Damon on the telephone, but there was no news +of the missing man. He expressed his sympathy, and said he would +come and see her soon. He told Mrs. Damon not to get discouraged, +adding that he, and others, were doing all that was possible. But, +in spite of this, Mrs. Damon, naturally, did worry. + +The next morning the two chums inspected the airship, so +mysteriously returned to them. Part after part they went over, and +found nothing wrong. The motor ran perfectly, and there was not so +much as a bent spoke in the landing wheels. For all that could be +told by an inspection of the craft she might never have been out +of the hangar. + +"Hello, here's something!" cried Tom, as he got up from the +operator's seat, where he had taken his place to test the various +controls. + +"What is it?" asked Ned. + +"A button. A queer sort of a button. I never had any like that on +my clothes, and I'm sure you didn't. Look!" and Tom held out a +large, metal button of curious design. + +"It must have come off the coat of one of the men who had your +airship, Tom," said his chum. "Save it. You may find that it's a +clue." + +"I will. No telling what it may lead to. Well, I guess that's all +we can find." + +And it was. But Tom little realized what a clue the button was +going to be. Nothing more could be learned by staring at the +returned airship, so he and Ned went back to the house. + +Tom Swift had many things to do, but his chief concern was for the +photo telephone. Now that he was near the goal of success he +worked harder than ever. The idea Ned had given him of being able +to take the picture of a person at the instrument--without the +knowledge of that person--appealed strongly to Tom. + +"That's going to be a valuable invention!" he declared, but little +he knew how valuable it would prove to him and to others. + +It was about a week later when Tom was ready to try the new +apparatus. Meanwhile he had prepared different plates, and had +changed his wiring system. In the days that had passed nothing new +had been learned concerning the whereabouts of Mr. Damon, nor of +the men who had so mysteriously taken away Tom's airship. + +All was in readiness for the trial. Tom sent Ned to the booth that +he had constructed in the airship hangar, some distance away from +the house. The other booth Tom had placed in his library, an +entirely new system of wires being used. + +"Now Ned," explained Tom, "the idea is this! You go into that +booth, just as if it were a public one, and ring me up in the +regular way. Of course we haven't a central here, but that doesn't +matter. Now while I'm talking to you I want to see you. You don't +know that, of course." + +"The point is to see if I can get your picture while you're +talking to me, and not let you know a thing about it." + +"Think you can do it, Tom?" + +"I'm going to try. We'll soon know. Go ahead." + +A little later Ned was calling up his chum, as casually as he +could, under the circumstances. + +"All right!" called Tom to his chum. "Start in and talk. Say +anything you like--it doesn't matter. I want to see if I can get +your picture. Is the light burning in your booth?" + +"Yes, Tom." + +"All right then. Go ahead." + +Ned talked of the weather--of anything. Meanwhile Tom was busy. +Concealed in the booth occupied by Ned was a sending plate. It +could not be seen unless one knew just where to look for it. In +Tom's booth was a receiving plate. + +The experiment did not take long. Presently Tom called to Ned that +he need stay there no longer. + +"Come on to the house," invited the young inventor, "and we'll +develope this plate." For in this system it was necessary to +develope the receiving plate, as is done with an ordinary +photographic one. Tom wanted a permanent record. + +Eagerly the chums in the dark room looked down into the tray +containing the plate and the developing solution. + +"Something's coming out!" cried Ned, eagerly. + +"Yes! And it's you!" exclaimed Tom. "See, Ned, I got your picture +over the telephone. Success! I've struck it! This is the best +yet!" + +At that moment, as the picture came out more and more plainly, +someone knocked on the door of the dark room. + +"Who is it?" asked Tom. + +"Gen'man t' see you," said Eradicate. "He say he come from Mistah +Peters!" + +"Mr. Peters--that rascally promoter!" whispered Tom to his chum. +"What does this mean?" + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE + + +Tom Swift and his chum looked at one another strangely for a +moment in the dim, red light of the dark room. Then the young +inventor spoke: + +"I'm not going to see him. Tell him so, Rad!" + +"Hold on a second," suggested Ned. "Maybe you had better see him, +Tom. It may have something to with Mr. Damon's lost fortune." + +"That's so! I didn't think of that. And I may get a clue to his +disappearance, though I don't imagine Peters had anything to do +with that. Wait, Rad. Tell the gentleman I'll see him. Did he give +any name, Rad?" + +"Yas, sah. Him done say him Mistah Boylan." + +"The same man who called to see me once before, trying to get me +to do some business with Peters," murmured Tom. "Very well, I'll +see him as soon as this picture is fixed. Tell him to wait, Rad." + +A little later Tom went to where his caller awaited in the +library. This time there were no plans to be looked at, the young +inventor having made a practice of keeping all his valuable papers +locked in a safe. + +"You go into the next room, Ned," Tom had said to his chum. "Leave +the door open, so you can hear what is said." + +"Why, do you think there'll be trouble? Maybe we'd better have +Koku on hand to--" + +"Oh, no, nothing like that," laughed Tom. "I just want you to +listen to what's said so, if need be, you can be a witness later. +I don't know what their game is, but I don't trust Peters and his +crowd. They may want to get control of some of my patents, and +they may try some underhanded work. If they do I want to be in a +position to stop them." + +"All right," agreed Ned, and he took his place. + +But Mr. Boylan's errand was not at all sensational, it would seem. +He bowed to Tom, perhaps a little distantly, for they had not +parted the best of friends on a former occasion. + +"I suppose you are surprised to see me," began Mr. Boylan. + +"Well, I am, to tell the truth," Tom said, calmly. + +"I am here at the request of my employer, Mr. Peters," went on the +caller. "He says he is forming a new and very powerful company to +exploit airships, and he wants to know whether you would not +reconsider your determination not to let him do some business for +you." + +"No, I'm afraid I don't care to go into anything like that," said +Tom. + +"It would be a good thing for you," proceeded Mr. Boylan, eagerly. +"Mr. Peters is able to command large capital, and if you would +permit the use of your airships--or one of them--as a model, and +would supervise the construction of others, we could confidently +expect large sales. Thus you would profit, and I am frank to admit +that the company, and Mr. Peters, also, would make money. Mr. +Peters is perfectly free to confess that he is in business to make +money, but he is also willing to let others share with him. Come +now, what do you say?" + +"I am sorry, but I shall have to say the same thing I said +before," replied Tom. "Nothing doing!" + +Mr. Boylan glanced rather angrily at the young inventor, and then, +with a shrug of his shoulders, remarked: + +"Well, you have the say, of course. But I would like to remind you +that this is going to be a very large airship company, and if your +inventions are not exploited some others will be. And Mr. Peters +also desired me to say that this is the last offer he would make +you." + +"Tell him," said Tom, "that I am much obliged, but that I have no +business that I can entrust to him. If he wishes to make some +other type of airship, that is his affair. Good-day." + +As Mr. Boylan was going out Tom noticed a button dangling from the +back of his caller's coat. It hung by a thread, being one of the +pair usually sewed on the back of a cutaway garment. + +"I think you had better take off that button before it falls," +suggested Tom. "You may lose it, and perhaps it would be hard to +match." + +"That's so. Thank you!" said Mr. Boylan. He tried to reach around +and get it, but he was too stout to turn easily, especially as the +coat was tight-fitting. + +"I'll get it for you," offered Tom, as he pulled it off. "There is +one missing, though," he said, as he handed the button to the man. +And then Tom started as he saw the pattern of the one in his hand. + +"One gone? That's too bad," murmured Mr. Boylan. "Those buttons +were imported, and I doubt if I can replace them. They are rather +odd." + +"Yes," agreed Tom, gazing as if fascinated at the one he still +held. "They are rather odd." + +And then, as he passed it over, like a flash it came to him where +he had seen a button like that before. He had found it in his +airship, which had been so mysteriously taken away and returned. + +Tom could hardly restrain his impatience until Mr. Boylan had +gone. The young inventor had half a notion to produce the other +button, matching the one he had just pulled off his visitor's +coat, and tell where he had found it. But he held himself back. He +wanted to talk first to Ned. + +And, when his chum came in, Tom cried: + +"Ned, what do you think? I know who had my airship!" + +"How?" asked Ned, in wonder. + +"By that button clue! Yes, it's the same kind--they're as alike as +twins!" and Tom brought out the button which he had put away in +his desk. "See, Boylan had one just like this on the back of his +coat. The other was missing. Here it is--it was in the seat of my +airship, where it was probably pulled off as he moved about. Ned, +I think I've got the right clue at last." + +Ned said nothing for several seconds. Then he remarked slowly: + +"Well, Tom, it proves one thing; but not the other." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that it may be perfectly true that the button came off Mr. +Boylan's coat, but that doesn't prove that he wore it. You can be +reasonably sure that the coat was having a ride in your Eagle, but +was Boylan in the coat? That's the question." + +"In the coat? Of course he was in it!" cried Tom. + +"You can't be sure. Someone may have borrowed his coat to take a +midnight ride in the airship." + +"Mr. Boylan doesn't look to be the kind of a man who would lend +his clothes," remarked Tom. + +"You never can tell. Someone may have borrowed it without his +knowledge. You'd better go a bit slow, Tom." + +"Well, maybe I had. But it's a clue, anyhow." + +Ned agreed to this. + +"And all I've got to do is to find out who was in the coat when it +was riding about in my airship," went on Tom. + +"Yes," said Ned, "and then maybe you'll have some clue to the +disappearance of Mr. Damon." + +"Right you are! Come on, let's get busy!" + +"As if we hadn't been busy all the while!" laughed Ned. "I'll lose +my place at the bank if I don't get back soon." + +"Oh, stay a little longer--a few days," urged Tom. "I'm sure that +something is going to happen soon. Anyhow my photo telephone is +about perfected. But I've just thought of another improvement." + +"What is it?" + +"I'm going to arrange a sort of dictaphone, or phonograph, so I +can get a permanent record of what a person says over the wire, as +well as get a picture of him saying it. Then everything will be +complete. This last won't be hard to do, as there are several +machines on the market now, for preserving a record of telephone +conversations. I'll make mine a bit different, though." + +"Tom, is there any limit to what you're going to do?" asked Ned, +admiringly. + +"Oh, yes, I'm going to stop soon, and retire," laughed the young +inventor. + +After talking the matter over, Tom and his chum decided to wait a +day or so before taking any action in regard to the button clue to +the takers of the airship. After all, no great harm had been done, +and Tom was more anxious to locate Mr. Damon, and try to get back +his fortune, as well as to perfect his photo telephone, than he +was to discover those who had helped themselves to the Eagle. + +Tom and Ned put in some busy days, arranging the phonograph +attachment. It was easy, compared to the hard work of sending a +picture over the wire. They paid several visits to Mrs. Damon, but +she had no news of her missing husband, and, as the days went by, +she suffered more and more under the strain. + +Finally Tom's new invention was fully completed. It was a great +success, and he not only secured pictures of Ned and others over +the wire, as he talked to them, but he imprinted on wax cylinders, +to be reproduced later, the very things they said. + +It was a day or so after he had demonstrated his new attachment +for the first time, that Tom received a most urgent message from +Mrs. Damon. + +"Tom," she said, over the telephone, "I wish you would call. +Something very mysterious has happened." + +"Mr. Damon hasn't come back; has he?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"No--but I wish I could say he had. This concerns him, however. +Can you come?" + +"I'll be there right away." + +In his speedy monoplane Tom soon reached Waterford. Ned did not +accompany him this time. + +"Now what is it, Mrs. Damon?" asked the young inventor. + +"About half an hour before I called you," she said, "I received a +mysterious message." + +"Who brought it?" asked Tom quickly. + +"No one. It came over the telephone. Someone, whose voice I did +not know, said to me: 'Sign the land papers, and send them to us, +and your husband will be released.'" + +"That message came over the wire?" cried Tom, excitedly. + +"Yes," answered Mrs. Damon. "Oh, I am so frightened! I don't know +what to do!" and the lady burst into tears. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ANOTHER CALL + + +Tom Swift, for the moment, did not know what to do. It was a +strange situation, and one he had never thought of. What did the +mysterious message mean? He must think it all out, and plan some +line of action. Clearly Mrs. Damon was not able to do so. + +"Now let's get at this in some kind of order," suggested the +youth, when Mrs. Damon had calmed herself. It was his habit to +have a method about doing things. "And don't worry," he advised. +"I am certain some good will come of this. It proves one thing, +that's sure." + +"What is it, Tom?" + +"That Mr. Damon is alive and well. Otherwise the message would not +have said he would be 'released.' It wasn't from anyone you know; +was it?" + +"No, I'm sure I never heard the voice before." + +Tom paused a moment to think how useful his photo telephone and +phonograph arrangement might have been in this case. + +"How did the telephone call come in?" inquired the young inventor. + +"In the usual way," answered Mrs. Damon. "The bell rang, and, as I +happened to be near the instrument, I answered it, as I often do, +when the maid is busy. A voice asked if I was Mrs. Damon, and of +course I said I was. Then I heard this: 'Sign the land papers, and +send them to us, and your husband will be released.'" + +"Was that all?" Tom asked. + +"I think so--I made a note of it at the time." Mrs. Damon looked +into a small red book. "No, that wasn't all," she said, quickly. +"I was so astonished, at hearing those strange words about my +husband, that I didn't know what to say. Before I could ask any +questions the voice went on to say, rather abruptly: 'We will call +you again.'" + +"That's good!" cried Tom. "I only hope they do it while I am here. +Perhaps I can get some clue as to who it was called you. But was +this all you heard?" + +"Yes, I'm sure that was all. I had forgotten about the last words, +but I see I have them written down in my note book." + +"Did you ask any questions?" inquired Tom. + +"Oh, indeed I did! As soon as I got over being stunned by what I +heard, I asked all sorts of questions. I demanded to know who was +speaking, what they meant, where they were, and all that. I begged +them to tell me something of my husband." + +"And what did they say?" + +"Not a thing. There wasn't a sound in the telephone. The receiver +was hung up, breaking the connection after that message to me-- +that mysterious message." + +"Yes, it was mysterious," agreed Tom, thoughtfully. "I can't +understand it. But didn't you try to learn from the central +operator where the call had come from?" + +"Oh, yes, indeed, Tom! As soon as I found out the person speaking +to me had rung off, I got the girl in the exchange." + +"And what did she say?" + +"That the call came from an automatic pay station in a drug store +in town. I have the address. It was one of those telephones where +you put your money for the call in a slot." + +"I see. Well, the first thing to do is for me to go to that drug +store and find out, if I can, who used the telephone about that +time. It's a slim chance, but we'll have to take it. Was it a +man's voice, or a woman's?" + +"Oh, a man's, I'm sure. It was very deep and heavy. No woman could +speak like that." + +"So much is settled, anyhow. Now about the land papers--what was +meant?" + +"I'll tell you," said Mrs. Damon. "You know part of our property-- +considerable land and some buildings--is in my name. Mr. Damon had +it fixed so a number of years ago, in order to protect me. No one +could get this property, and land, unless I signed the deeds, or +agreed to sign them. Now all of Mr. Damon's fortune is tied up in +some of Mr. Peters's companies. That is why my husband has +disappeared." + +"He didn't disappear--he was taken away against his will; I'm +positive of that!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Perhaps so," agreed Mrs. Damon, sadly. "But those are the papers +referred to, I'm sure." + +"Probably," assented Tom. "The rascals want to get control of +everything--even your possessions. Not satisfied with ruining Mr. +Damon, they want to make you a beggar, too. So they are playing on +your fears. They promise to release your husband if you will give +them the land." + +"Yes, that must be it, Tom. What would you advise me to do? I am +so frightened over this!" + +"Do? Don't you do anything!" cried Tom. "We'll fool these rascals +yet. If they got those papers they might release Mr. Damon, or +they might not--fearing he would cause their arrest later. But +we'll have him released anyhow, and we'll save what is left of +your fortune. Put those land papers in a safe-deposit box, and let +me do the rest. I'm going to catch those fellows!" + +"But how, Tom? You don't know who they are. And a mere message +over a telephone won't give you a clue to where they are." + +"Perhaps not an ordinary message," agreed Tom. "But I'm going to +try some of my new inventions. You said they told you they were +going to call again?" + +"That's what they said, Tom." + +"Well, when they do, I want to be here. I want to listen to that +message. If you will allow me, I'll take up my residence here for +a while, Mrs. Damon." + +"Allow you? I'll be only too glad if you will, Tom. But I thought +you were going to try to get some clue from the drug store where +the mysterious message came from." + +"I'll let Ned Newton do that. I want to stay here." + +Tom telephoned to Ned to meet him at Mrs. Damon's house, and also +to bring with him certain things from the laboratory. And when Ned +arrived in an auto, with various bits of apparatus, Tom put in +some busy hours. + +Meanwhile Ned was sent to the drug store, to see if any clues +could be obtained there as to who had sent the message. As Tom had +feared, nothing could be learned. There were several automatic +'phones in the place, and they were used very often during the day +by the public. The drug clerks took little or no notice of the +persons entering or leaving the booths, since the dropping of a +coin in the slot was all that was necessary to be connected with +central. + +"Well, we've got to wait for the second call here," said Tom, who +had been busy during Ned's absence. He had fitted to Mrs. Damon's +telephone a recording wax phonograph cylinder, to get a record of +the speaker's voice. And he had also put in an extension +telephone, so that he could listen while Mrs. Damon talked to the +unknown. + +"There, I guess we're ready for them," said Tom, late that +afternoon. But no queer call came in that day. It was the next +morning. about ten o'clock, after Mrs. Damon had passed a restless +night, that the telephone bell rang. Tom, who was on the alert, +was at his auxiliary instrument in a flash. He motioned to Mrs. +Damon to answer on the main wire. + +"Hello," she spoke into the transmitter. "Who is this?" + +"Are you Mrs. Damon?" Tom heard come over the wire in a deep +voice, and by the manner in which Mrs. Damon signalled the young +inventor knew that, at the other end of the line, was the +mysterious man who had spoken before. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE BUZZING SOUND + + +"Are you Mrs. Damon?" came the question again--rather more +impatiently this time, Tom thought. + +"Yes," answered the lady, glancing over at Tom. The extension +telephone was in the same room. Softly Tom switched on the +phonograph attachment. The little wax cylinder began to revolve +noiselessly, ready to record the faintest word that came over the +wire. + +"You got a message from me yesterday," went on the hoarse voice. +In vain Tom tried to recall whether or not he had heard it before. +He could not place it. + +"Who are you?" asked Mrs. Damon. She and Tom had previously agreed +on a line of talk. "Tell me your name, please." + +"There's no need for any names to be used," went on the unknown at +the other end of the wire. "You heard what I said yesterday. Are +you willing to send me those land title papers, if we release your +husband?" + +"But where shall I send them?" asked Mrs. Damon, to gain time. + +"You'll be told where. And listen--no tricks! You needn't try to +find out who I am, nor where I am. Just send those papers if you +want to see your husband again." + +"Oh, how is he? Tell me about him! You are cruel to keep him a +prisoner like this! I demand that you release him!" + +Tom had not told Mrs. Damon to say this. It came out of her own +heart--she could not prevent the agonized outburst. + +"Never mind about that, now," came the gruff voice over the wire. +"Are you willing to send the papers?" + +Mrs. Damon looked over to Tom for silent instructions. He nodded +his head in assent. + +"Yes, I--I will send them if you tell me where to get them to you +--if you will release Mr. Damon," said the anxious wife. "But tell +me who you are--and where you are!" she begged. + +"None of that! I'm not looking to be arrested. You get the papers +ready, and I'll let you know to-morrow, about this time, where to +send them." + +"Wait a minute!" called Mrs. Damon, to gain more time. "I must +know just what papers you want." + +"All right, I'll tell you," and he began to describe the different +ones. + +It took a little time for the unknown to give this information to +Mrs. Damon. The man was very particular about the papers. There +were trust deeds, among other things, and he probably thought that +once he had possession of them, with Mrs. Damon's signature, even +though it had been obtained under a threat, he could claim the +property. Later it was learned that such was not the case, for +Mrs. Damon, with Tom's aid, could have proved the fraud, had the +scoundrels tried to get the remainder of the Damon fortune. + +But at the time it seemed to the helpless woman that everything +she owned would be taken from her. Though she said she did not +care, as long as Mr. Damon was restored to her. + +As I have said, the telephoning of the instructions about the +papers took some time. Tom had counted on this, and had made his +plans accordingly. + +As soon as the telephone call had come in, Tom had communicated +with a private detective who was in waiting, and this man had gone +to the drug store whence the first call had come. He was going to +try to make the arrest of the man telephoning. + +But for fear the scoundrel would go to a different instrument, Tom +took another precaution. This was to have one of the operators in +the central exchange on the watch. As soon as Mrs. Damon's house +was in connection with another telephone, the location of the +latter would be noted, and another private detective would be sent +there. Thus Tom hoped to catch the man at the 'phone. + +Meanwhile Tom listened to the hoarse voice at the other end of the +wire, giving the directions to Mrs. Damon. Tom hoped that soon +there would be an arrest made. + +Meanwhile the talk was being faithfully recorded on the phonograph +cylinder. And, as the man talked on, Tom became aware of a curious +undercurrent of sound. It was a buzzing noise, that Tom knew did +not come from the instrument itself. It was not the peculiar +tapping, singing noise heard in a telephone receiver, caused by +induced electrical currents, or by wire trouble. + +"This is certainly different," mused Tom. He was trying to recall +where he had heard the noise before. Sometimes it was faint, and +then it would gradually increase, droning off into faintness once +more. Occasionally it was so loud that Mrs. Damon could not hear +the talk about the papers, and the man would have to repeat. + +But finally he came to an end. + +"This is all now," he said, sharply. Tom heard the words above the +queer, buzzing, humming sound. "You are keeping me too long. I +think you are up to some game, but it won't do you any good, Mrs. +Damon. I'll 'phone you to-morrow where to send the papers. And if +you don't send them--if you try any tricks--it will be the worse +for you and Mr. Damon!" + +There was a click, that told of a receiver being placed back on +the hook, and the voice ceased. So, also, did the queer, buzzing +sound over which Tom puzzled. + +"What can it have been?" he asked. "Did you hear it, Mrs. Damon?" + +"What, Tom?" + +"That buzzing sound." + +"Yes, I heard, but I didn't know what it was. Oh, Tom, what shall +I do?" + +"Don't worry. We'll see if anything happened. They may have caught +that fellow. If not I'll plan another scheme." + +Tom's first act was to call up the telephone exchange to learn +where the second call had come from. He got the information at +once. The address was in the suburbs. The man had not gone to the +drug store this time. + +"Did the detective get out to that address?" asked Tom eagerly of +the manager. + +"Yes. As soon as we were certain that he was the party you wanted, +your man got right after him, Mr. Swift." + +"That's good, I hope he catches him!" cried the young inventor. "We'll +have to wait and find out." + +"He said he'd call up and let you know as soon as he reached the +place," the telephone manager informed Tom. + +There was nothing to do but wait, and meanwhile Tom did what he +could to comfort Mrs. Damon. She was quite nervous and inclined to +be hysterical, and the youth thought it wise to have a cousin, who +had come to stay with her, summon the doctor. + +"But, Tom, what shall I do about those papers?" Mrs. Damon asked +him. "Shall I send them?" + +"Indeed not!" + +"But I want Mr. Damon restored to me," she pleaded. "I don't care +about the money. He can make more." + +"Well, we'll not give those scoundrels the satisfaction of getting +any money out of you. Just wait now, I'll work this thing out, and +find a way to catch that fellow. If I could only think what that +buzzing sound was--" + +Then, in a flash, it came to Tom. + +"A sawmill! A planing mill!" he cried. "That's what it was! That +fellow was telephoning from some place near a sawmill!" + +The telephone rang in the midst of Tom's excited comments. + +"Yes--yes!" he called eagerly. "Who is it--what is it?" + +"This is Larsen--the private detective you sent." + +"Oh, yes, you were at the drug store." + +"Yes, Mr. Swift. Well, that party didn't call up from here." + +"I know, Larsen. It was from another station. We're after him. +Much obliged to you. Come on back." + +Tom was sure his theory was right. The man had called up the Damon +house from some telephone near a sawmill. And a little later Tom's +theory was proved to be true. He got a report from the second +detective. Unfortunately the man had not been able to reach the +telephone station before the unknown speaker had departed. + +"Was the place near a sawmill?" asked Tom, eagerly. + +"It was," answered the detective over the wire. "The telephone is +right next door to one. It's an automatic pay station and no one +seems to have noticed who the man was who telephoned. I couldn't +get a single clue. I'm sorry." + +"Never mind," said Tom, as cheerfully as he could. "I think I'm on +the right track now. I'm going to lay a trap for this fellow." + + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +SETTING THE TRAP + + +Troublesome problems seemed to be multiplying for Tom Swift. He +admitted as much himself after the failure to capture the man who +had telephoned to Mrs. Damon. He had hoped that his plan of +sending detectives to the location of the telephones would +succeed. Since it had not the youth must try other means. + +"Now, Ned," he said to his chum, when they were on their way from +Mrs. Damon's, it being impossible to do anything further there. +"Now, Ned, we've got to think this thing out together." + +"I'm willing, Tom. I'll do what I can." + +"I know you will. Now the thing to do is to go at this thing +systematically. Otherwise we'll be working around in a circle, and +won't get anywhere. In the first place, let's set down what we do +know. Then we'll put down what we don't know, and go after that." + +"Put down what you don't know?" exclaimed Ned. "How are you going +to put down a thing when you don't know it?" + +"I mean we can put a question mark after it, so to speak. For +instance we don't know where Mr. Damon is, but we want to find +out." + +"Oh, I see. Well, let's start off with the things we do know." + +The two friends were at Tom's house by now, having come from +Waterford in Tom's airship. After thinking over all the exciting +happenings of the past few days, Tom remarked: "Now, Ned, for the +things we do know. In the first place Mr. Damon is missing, and +his fortune is about gone. There is considerable left to Mrs. +Damon, however, but those scoundrels may get that away from her, +if we don't watch out. Secondly, my airship was taken and brought +back, with a button more than it had when it went away. Said +button exactly matched one off Mr. Boylan's coat." + +"Thirdly, Mr. Damon was either taken away or went away, in an +airship--either in mine or someone else's. Fourthly, Mrs. Damon +has received telephonic communications from the man, or men, who +have her husband. Fifthly, Mr. Peters, either legally or +illegally, is responsible for the loss of Mr. Damon's fortune. +Now: there you are--for the things we do know." + +"Now for the things we don't know. We don't know who has taken +Mr. Damon away, nor where he is, to begin with the most important." + +"Hold on, Tom, I think you're wrong," broke in Ned. + +"In what way?" + +"About not knowing who is responsible for the taking away of Mr. +Damon. I think it's as plain as the nose on your face that Peters +is responsible." + +"I can't see it that way," said Tom, quickly. "I will admit that +it looks as though Boylan had been in my airship, but as for +Peters taking Mr. Damon away--why, Peters is around town all the +while, and if he had a hand in the disappearance of Mr. Damon, do +you think he'd stay here, when he knows we are working on the +case? And would he send Boylan to see me if Boylan had been one of +those who had a hand in it? They wouldn't dare, especially as they +know I'm working on the case." + +"Peters is a bad lot. I'll grant you, though, he was fair enough +to pay for my motor boat. I don't believe he had anything to do +with taking Mr. Damon away." + +"Do you think he was the person who was talking to Mrs. Damon +about the papers?" + +"No, Ned. I don't. I listened to that fellow's voice carefully. It +wasn't like Peters's. I'm going to put it in the phonograph, too, +and let you listen to it. Then see what you say." + +Tom did this, a little later. The record of the voice, as it came +over the wire, was listened to from the wax cylinder, and Ned had +to admit that it was not much like that of the promoter. + +"Well, what's next to be done?" asked the young banker. + +"I'm going to set a trap," replied Tom, with a grin. + +"Set a trap?" + +"Yes, a sort of mouse-trap. I'm glad my photo telephone is now +perfected, Ned." + +"What has that got to do with it?" + +"That's going to be my trap, Ned. Here is my game. You know this +fellow--this strange unknown--is going to call up Mrs. Damon +to-morrow. Well, I'll be ready for him. I'm going to put in the booth +where he will telephone from, one of my photo telephones--that is, the +sending apparatus. In Mrs. Damon's house, attached to her telephone, +will be the receiving plate, as well as the phonograph cylinder." + +"When this fellow starts to talk he'll be sending us his picture, +though he won't know it, and we'll be getting a record of his +voice. Then we'll have him just where we want him." + +"Good!" cried Ned. "But, Tom, there's a weak spot in your mouse- +trap." + +"What is it?" + +"How are you going to know which telephone the unknown will call +up from? He may go to any of a hundred, more or less." + +"He might--yes. But that's a chance we've got to take. It isn't so +much of a chance, though when you stop to think that he will +probably go to some public telephone in an isolated spot, and, +unless I'm much mistaken he will go to a telephone near where he +was to-day. He knows that was safe, since we didn't capture him, +and he's very likely to come back." + +"But to make the thing as sure as possible, I'm going to attach my +apparatus to a number of public telephones in the vicinity of the +one near the sawmill. So if the fellow doesn't get caught in one, +he will in another. I admit it's taking a chance; but what else +can we do?" + +"I suppose you're right, Tom. It's like setting a number of +traps." + +"Exactly. A trapper can't be sure where he is going to get his +catch, so he picks out the place, or run-way, where the game has +been in the habit of coming. He hides his traps about that place, +and trusts to luck that the animal will blunder into one of them." + +"Criminals, to my way of thinking, are a good bit like animals. +They seem to come back to their old haunts. Nearly any police +story proves this. And it's that on which I am counting to capture +this criminal. So I'm going to fit up as many telephones with my +photo and phonograph outfit, as I can in the time we have. You'll +have to help me. Luckily I've got plenty of selenium plates for +the sending end. I'll only need one at the receiving end. Now +we'll have to go and have a talk with the telephone manager, after +which we'll get busy." + +"You've overlooked one thing, Tom." + +"What's that, Ned?" + +"Why, if you know about which telephone this fellow is going to +use, why can't you have police stationed near it to capture him as +soon as he begins to talk?" + +"Well, I did think of that, Ned; but it won't work." + +"Why not?" + +"Because, in the first place this man, or some of his friends, +will be on the watch. When he goes into the place to telephone +there'll be a look-out, I'm sure, and he'd either put off talking +to Mrs. Damon, or he'd escape before we had any evidence against +him." + +"You see I've got to get evidence that will stand in the courts to +convict this fellow, and if he's scared off before we get that, +the game will be up." + +"That's what my photo telephone will do--it will get the evidence, +just as a dictaphone does. In fact, I'm thinking of working it out +on those lines, after I clear up this business." + +"Just suppose we had detectives stationed at all the telephones +near the sawmill, where this fellow would be likely to go. In the +first place no one has seen him, as far as we know, so there's no +telling what sort of a chap he is. And you can't go up to a +perfect stranger and arrest him because you think he is the man +who has spirited away Mr. Damon." + +"Another thing. Until this fellow has talked, and made his offer +to Mrs. Damon, to restore her husband, in exchange for certain +papers, we have no hold over him." + +"But he has done that, Tom. You heard him, and you have his voice +down on the wax cylinder." + +"Yes, but I haven't had a glimpse of his face. That's what I want, +and what I'm going to get. Suppose he does go into the telephone +booth, and tell Mrs. Damon an address where she is to send the +papers. Even if a detective was near at hand he might not catch +what was said. Or, if he did, on what ground could he arrest a man +who, very likely, would be a perfect stranger to him? The +detective couldn't say: 'I take you into custody for telephoning +an address to Mrs. Damon.' That, in itself, is no crime." + +"No, I suppose not," admitted Ned. "You've got this all thought +out, Tom." + +"I hope I have. You see it takes quite a combination to get +evidence against a criminal--evidence that will convict him. +That's why I have to be so careful in setting my trap." + +"I see, Tom. Well, it's about time for us to get busy; isn't it?" + +"It sure is. There's lots to do. First we'll go see the telephone +people." + +Tom explained to the 'phone manager the necessity for what he was +about to do. The manager at once agreed to let the young inventor +have a free hand. He was much interested in the photo telephone, +and Tom promised to give his company a chance to use it on their +lines, later. + +The telephone near the sawmill was easily located. It was in a +general store, and the instrument was in a booth. To this +instrument Tom attached his sending plate, and he also substituted +for the ordinary incandescent light, a powerful tungsten one, that +would give illumination enough to cause the likeness to be +transmitted over the wire. + +The same thing was done to a number of the public telephones in +that vicinity, each one being fitted up so that the picture of +whoever talked would be transmitted over the wire when Tom turned +the switch. To help the plan further the telephone manager marked +a number of other 'phones, "Out of Order," for the time being. + +"Now, I think we're done!" exclaimed the young inventor, with a +sigh, late that night. He and Ned and the line manager had worked +hard. + +"Yes," answered the young banker, "the traps are set. The question +is: Will our rat be caught?" + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE PHOTO TELEPHONE + + +Tom Swift was taking, as he afterward confessed, "a mighty big +chance." But it seemed the only way. He was working against +cunning men, and had to be as cunning as they. + +True, the man he hoped to capture, through the combination of his +photo telephone and the phonograph, might go to some other +instrument than one of those Tom had adjusted. But this could not +be helped. In all he had put his new attachment on eight 'phones +in the vicinity of the sawmill. So he had eight chances in his +favor, and as many against him as there were other telephones in +use. + +"It's a mighty small margin in our favor," sighed Tom. + +"It sure is," agreed Ned. They were at Mrs., Damon's house, +waiting for the call to come in. + +"But we couldn't do anything else," went on Tom. + +"No," spoke Ned, "and I have a great deal of hope in the +proverbial Swift luck, Tom." + +"Well, I only hope it holds good this time!" laughed the young +inventor. + +"There are a good many things that can go wrong," observed Ned. +"The least little slip-up may spoil your traps, Tom." + +"I know it, Ned. But I've got to take the chance. We've just got +to do something for Mrs. Damon. She's wearing herself out by +worrying," he added in a low voice, for indeed the wife of his +friend felt the absence of her husband greatly. She had lost +flesh, she ate scarcely anything, and her nights were wakeful ones +of terror. + +"What if this fails?" asked Ned. + +"Then I'm going to work that button clue to the limit," replied +Tom. "I'll go to Boylan and see what he and Peters have to say." + +"If you'd done as I suggested you'd have gone to them first," +spoke Ned. "You'll find they're mixed up in this." + +"Maybe; but I doubt it. I tell you there isn't a clue leading to +Peters--as yet." + +"But there will be," insisted Ned. "You'll see that that I'm right +this time." + +"I can't see it, Ned. As a matter of fact, I would have gone to +Boylan about that button I found in my airship only I've been so +busy on this photo telephone, and in arranging the trap, that I +haven't had time. But if this fails--and I'm hoping it won't--I'll +get after him," and there was a grim look on the young inventor's +face. + +It was wearying and nervous work--this waiting. Tom and Ned felt +the strain as they sat there in Mrs. Damon's library, near the +telephone. It had been fitted up in readiness. Attached to the +receiving wires was a sensitive plate, on which Tom hoped would be +imprinted the image of the man at the other end of the wire--the +criminal who, in exchange for the valuable land papers, would give +Mr. Damon his liberty. + +There was also the phonograph cylinder to record the man's voice. +Several times, while waiting for the call to come in, Tom got up +to test the apparatus. It was in perfect working order. + +As before, there was an extension telephone, so that Mrs. Damon +could talk to the unknown, while Tom could hear as well. But he +planned to take no part in the conversation unless something +unforeseen occurred. + +Mr. Damon was an enthusiastic photographer, and he had a dark room +adjoining his library. It was in this dark room that Tom planned +to develop the photo telephone plate. + +On this occasion he was not going to use the metal plate in which, +ordinarily, the image of the person talking appeared. That record +was but a fleeting one, as in a mirror. This time Tom wanted a +permanent picture that could, if necessary, be used in a court of +justice. + +Tom's plan was this: If the person who had demanded the papers +came to one of the photo telephones, and spoke to Mrs. Damon, Tom +would switch on the receiving apparatus. Thus, while the man was +talking, his picture would be taken, though he would not know of +the thing being done. + +His voice would also be recorded on the wax cylinder, and he would +be equally unaware of this. + +When Tom had imprinted the fellow's image on the prepared plate, +he would go quickly to the dark room and develop it. A wet print +could be made, and with this as evidence, and to use in +identification, a quick trip could be made to the place whence the +man had telephoned. Tom hoped thus to capture him. + +To this end he had his airship in waiting, and as soon as he had +developed the picture he planned to rush off to the vicinity of +the sawmill, and make a prisoner of the man whose features would +be revealed to him over the wire. + +It was a hazardous plan--a risky one--but it was the best that he +could evolve. Tom had instructed Mrs. Damon to keep the man in +conversation as long as possible, in order to give the young +inventor himself time to rush off in his airship. But of course +the man might get suspicious and leave. That was another chance +that had to be taken. + +"If I had thought of it in time," said Tom, musingly, as he paced +up and down in the library waiting for the 'phone to ring, "if I +had thought of it in time I would have rigged up two plates--one +for a temporary, or looking-glass, picture, and the other for a +permanent one. In that way I could rush off as soon as I got a +glimpse of the fellow. But it's too late to do that now. I'll have +to develop this plate." + +Waiting is the most wearisome work there is. Tom and Ned found +this to be the case, as they sat there, hoping each moment that +the telephone bell would ring, and that the man at the other end +of the wire would be the mysterious stranger. Mrs. Damon, too, +felt the nervous strain. + +"This is about the hour he called up yesterday," said Tom, in a +low voice, after coming back from a trip to the window to see that +his airship was in readiness. He had brought over to help in +starting it, for he was using his most powerful and speedy craft, +and the propellers were hard to turn. + +"Yes," answered Mrs. Damon. "It was just about this hour, Tom. Oh, +I do hope--" + +She was interrupted by the jingle of the telephone bell. With a +jump Tom was at the auxiliary instrument, while Mrs. Damon lifted +off the receiver of her own telephone. + +"Yes; what is it?" she asked, in a voice that she tried to make +calm. + +"Do you know who this is?" Tom heard come over the wire. + +"Are you the--er--the person who was to give me an address where I +am to send certain papers?" + +"Yes. I'm the same one. I'm glad to see that you have acted +sensibly. If I get the papers all right, you'll soon have your +husband back. Now do as I say. Take down this address." + +"Very well," assented Mrs. Damon. She looked over at Tom. He was +intently listening, and he, too, would note the address given. The +trap was about to be sprung. The game had walked into it. Just +which telephone was being used Tom could not as yet tell. It was +evidently not the one nearest the planing mill, for Tom could not +hear the buzzing sound. It was well he had put his attachment on +several instruments. + +"One moment, please," said Mrs. Damon, to the unknown at the other +end of the wire. This was in accordance with the pre-arranged +plan. + +"Well, what is it?" asked the man, impatiently. "I have no time to +waste." + +Tom heard again the same gruff tones, and he tried in vain to +recognize them. + +"I want you take down a message to Mr. Damon," said his wife. +"This is very important. It can do you no harm to give him this +message; but I want you to get it exact. If you do not promise to +deliver it I shall call all negotiations off." + +"Oh, all right I'll take the message; but be quick about it. Then +I'll give you the address where you are to send the papers." + +"This is the message," went on Mrs. Damon. "Please write it down. +It is very important to me. Have you a pencil?" + +"Yes, I have one. Wait until I get a bit of paper. It's so dark in +this booth--wait until I turn on the light." + +Tom could not repress a pleased and joyful exclamation. It was +just what he had hoped the man would do--turn on the light in the +booth. Indeed, it was necessary for the success of the trap that +the light be switched on. Otherwise no picture could be +transmitted over the wire. And the plan of having the man write +down a message to Mr. Damon was arranged with that end in view. +The man would need a light to see to write, and Tom's apparatus +must be lighted in order to make it work. The plot was coming +along finely. + +"There!" exclaimed the man at the other end of the wire. "I have a +light now. Go ahead with your message, Mrs. Damon. But make it +short. I can't stay here long." + +Then Mrs. Damon began dictating the message she and Tom had agreed +upon. It was as long as they dared make it, for they wanted to +keep the man in the booth to the last second. + +"Dear Husband," began Mrs. Damon. What the message was does not +matter. It has nothing to do with this story. Sufficient to say +that the moment the man began writing it down, as Tom could tell +over the sensitive wire, by the scratching of the pencil--at that +moment Tom, knowing the light was on in the distant telephone +booth, switched on the picture-taking apparatus. His receiving +apparatus at once indicated that the image was being made on the +sensitive plate. + +It took only a few seconds of time, and with the plate in the +holder Tom hastened to the dark room to develop it. Ned took his +chum's place at the telephone, to see that all worked smoothly. +The photo telephone had done it's work. Whose image would be found +imprinted on the sensitive plate? Tom's hands trembled so that he +could scarcely put it in the developing solution. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE ESCAPE + + +Ned Newton, listening at the auxiliary telephone heard the man, to +whom Mrs. Damon was dictating her message to her husband, utter an +exclamation of impatience. + +"I'm afraid I can't take down any more," he called. "That is +enough. Now you listen. I want you to send me those papers." + +"And I am willing to," went on Mrs. Damon, while Ned listened to +the talk, the phonograph faithfully recording it. + +"I wonder whose picture Tom will find," mused Ned. + +The unknown, at the other end of the wire, began giving Mrs. Damon +a description of just what papers he wanted, and how to mail them +to him. He gave an address that Ned recognized as that of a cigar +store, where many persons received their mail under assumed names. +The postal authorities had, for a long time, tried to get evidence +against it + +"That's going to make it hard to get him, when he comes for the +papers," thought Ned. "He's a foxy criminal, all right. But I +guess Tom will turn the trick." + +Mrs. Damon was carefully noting down the address. She really +intended to send the papers, if it proved that there was no other +way in which she could secure the release of her husband. But she +did not count on all of Tom's plans. "Why doesn't he develop that +plate?" thought Ned. "He'll be too late, in spite of his airship. +That fellow will skip." + +It was at that moment that Tom came into the library. He moved +cautiously, for he realized that a loud sound in the room would +carry to the man at the other end of the wire. Tom motioned for +Ned to come to him. He held out a dripping photographic plate. + +"It's Peters!" said Tom, in a hoarse whisper. + +"Peters?" gasped Ned. "How could it be? His voice--" + +"I know. It didn't sound a bit like Peters over the 'phone, but +there's his picture, all right!" + +Tom held up the plate. There, imprinted on it by the wonderful +power of the young inventor's latest appliance, was the image of +the rascally promoter. As plainly as in life he was shown, even to +his silk hat and the flower in his button-hole. He was in a +telephone booth--that much could be told from the photograph that +had been transmitted over the wire, but which booth could not be +said--they were nearly all alike. + +"Peters!" gasped Ned. "I thought he was the fellow, Tom." + +"Yes, I know. You were right, and I was wrong. But I did not +recognize his voice. It was very hoarse. He must have a bad cold." +Later this was learned to have been the case. "There's no time to +lose," whispered Tom, while Mrs. Damon was doing her best to +prolong the conversation in order to hold the man at the other end +of the wire. "Ned, get central on the other telephone, and see +where this call came from. Then we'll get there as fast as the +airship will take us." + +A second and temporary telephone line had been installed in the +Damon home, and on this Ned was soon talking, while Tom, putting +the photographic plate away for future use, rushed out to get his +airship in shape for a quick flight. He had modified his plans. +Instead of having a detective take a print of the photo telephone +image, and make the arrest, Tom was going to try to capture Peters +himself. He believed he could do it. One look at the wet plate was +enough. He knew Peters, though it upset some of his theories to +learn that it was the promoter who was responsible for Mr. Damon's +disappearance. + +The man at the other end of the wire was evidently getting +impatient. Possibly he suspected some trick. "I've got to go now," +he called to Mrs. Damon. "If I don't get those papers in the +morning it will be the worse for Mr. Damon." + +"Oh, I'll send you the papers," she said. + +By this time Ned had gotten into communication with the manager of +the central telephone exchange, and had learned the location of +the instrument Peters was using. It was about a mile from the one +near the sawmill. + +"Come on!" called Tom to his chum, as the latter gave him this +information. "The Firefly is tuned up for a hundred miles an hour! +We'll be there in ten minutes! We must catch him red-handed, if +possible!" + +"He's gone!" gasped Mrs. Damon as she came to the outer door, and +watched Tom and Ned taking their places in the airship, while Koku +prepared to twirl the propellers. + +"Gone!" echoed Tom, blankly. + +"Yes, he hung up the receiver." + +"See if you can't get him back," suggested the young inventor. +"Ask Central to ring that number again. We'll be there in a jiffy. +Maybe he'll come to the telephone again. Or he may even call up +his partners and tell them the game is working his way. Try to get +him back, Mrs. Damon." + +"I will," she said. + +And, as she hurried back to the instrument, Tom and Ned shot up +toward the blue sky in an endeavor to capture the man at the other +telephone. + +"And to think it was Peters!" cried Tom into Ned's ear, shouting +to be heard above the roar of the motor exhaust. + +"I thought he'd turn out to be mixed up in the affair," said Ned. + +"Well, you were right. I was off, that time," admitted Tom, as he +guided his powerful craft above the trees. "I was willing to admit +that he had something to do with Mr. Damon's financial trouble, +but as for kidnapping him--well, you never can tell." + +They drove on at a breath-catching pace, and it seemed hardly a +minute after leaving Mrs. Damon's house before Tom called: + +"There's the building where the telephone is located." + +"And now for that rascal Peters!" cried Ned. + +The airship swooped down, to the great astonishment of some +workmen nearby. + +Hardly had the wheels ceased revolving on the ground, as Tom made +a quick landing, than he was out of his seat, and running toward +the telephone. He knew the place at once from having heard Ned's +description, and besides, this was one of the places where he had +installed his apparatus. + +Into the store Tom burst, and made a rush for the 'phone booth. He +threw open the door. The place was empty! + +"The man--the man who was telephoning!" Tom called to the +proprietor of the place. + +"You mean that big man, with the tall hat, who was in there so +long?" + +"Yes, where is he?" + +"Gone. About two minutes ago." + +"Which way?" + +"Over toward Shopton, and in one of the fastest autos that ever +scattered dust in this section." + +"He's escaped us!" said Tom to Ned. "But we'll get him yet! Come +on!" + +"I'm with you. Say, do you know what this looks like to me?" + +"What?" + +"It looks as if Peters was scared and was going to run away to +stay!" + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ON THE TRAIL + + +Such a crowd had quickly gathered about Tom's airship that it was +impossible to start it. Men and boys, and even some girls and +women, coming from no one knew where, stood about the machine, +making wondering remarks about it. + +"Stand back, if you please!" cried Tom, good-naturedly. "We've +got to get after the fellow in the auto." + +"You'll have hard work catching him, friend, in that rig," +remarked a man. "He was fracturing all the speed laws ever passed. +I reckon he was going nigh onto sixty miles an hour." + +"We can make a hundred," spoke Ned, quietly. + +"A hundred! Get out!" cried the man. "Nothing can go as fast as +that!" + +"We'll show you, if we once get started," said Tom. "I guess we'll +have to get one of these fellows to twirl the propellers for us, +Ned," he added. "I didn't think, or I'd have brought the self- +starting machine," for this one of Tom's had to be started by +someone turning over the propellers, once or twice, to enable the +motor to begin to speed. On some of his aircraft the young +inventor had attached a starter, something like the ones on the +newest autos. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ned, as Tom looked to the +priming of the cylinders. + +"I'm going to get on the trail of Peters," he said. "He's at the +bottom of the whole business; and it's a surprise to me. I'm going +to trail him right down to the ground now, and make him give up +Mr. Damon and his fortune," + +"But you don't know where he is, Tom." + +"I'll find out. He isn't such an easy man to miss--he's too +conspicuous. Besides, if he's just left in his auto we may catch +him before he gets to Shopton." + +"Do you think he's going there?" + +"I think so. And I think, Ned, that he's become suspicious and +will light out. Something must have happened, while he was +telephoning, and he got frightened, as big a bluff as he is. But +we'll get him. Come on! Will you turn over the propellers, please? +I'll show you how to do it," Tom went on to a big, strong man +standing close to the blades. + +"Sure I'll do it," was the answer. "I was a helper once at an +airship meet, and I know how." + +"Get back out of the way in time," the young inventor warned him. +"They start very suddenly, sometimes." + +"All right, friend, I'll watch out," was the reply, and with Tom +and Ned in their seats, the former at the steering wheel, the +craft of the air was soon throbbing and trembling under the first +turn, for the cylinders were still warm from the run from Mrs. +Damon's house. + +The telephone was in an outlying section of Waterford--a section +devoted in the main to shops and factories, and the homes of those +employed in various lines of manufacture. Peters had chosen his +place well, for there were many roads leading to and from this +section, and he could easily make his escape. + +"But we'll get after him," thought Tom, grimly, as he let the +airship run down the straight road a short distance on the bicycle +wheels, to give it momentum enough so that it would rise. + +Then, with the tilting of the elevation rudder, the craft rose +gracefully, amid admiring cheers from the crowd. Tom did not go up +very far, as he wanted to hover near the ground, to pick out the +speeding auto containing Peters. + +But this time luck was not with Tom. He and Ned did sight a number +of cars speeding along the highway toward Shopton, but when they +got near enough to observe the occupants they were disappointed +not to behold the man they sought. Tom circled about for some +time, but it was of no use, and then he headed his craft back +toward Waterford. + +"Where are you going?" asked Ned, yelling the words into the ear +of his chum. + +"Back to Mrs. Damon's," answered Tom, in equally loud tones. + +It was impossible to talk above the roaring and throbbing of the +motor, so the two lads kept silent until the airship had landed +near Mrs. Damon's home. + +"I want to see if Mrs. Damon is all right," Tom explained, as he +jumped from the still moving machine. "Then we'll go to Shopton, +and cause Peters's arrest. I can make a charge against him now, +and the evidence of the photo telephone will convict him, I'm +sure. And I also want to see if Mrs. Damon has had any other +word." + +She had not, however, though she was more nervous and worried than +ever. + +"Oh, Tom, what shall I do?" she exclaimed. "I am so frightened! +What do you suppose they will do to Mr. Damon?" + +"Nothing at all!" Tom assured her. "He will be all right. I think +matters are coming to a crisis now, and very likely he'll be with +you inside of twenty-four hours. The game is up, and I guess +Peters knows it. I'm going to have him arrested at once." + +"Shall I send those land papers, Tom?" + +"Indeed you must not! But I'll talk to you about that later. Just +put away that phonograph record of Peters's talk. I'll take along +the photo telephone negative, and have some prints made--or, I +guess, since we're going in the airship, that I'd better leave it +here for the present. We'll use it as evidence against Peters. +Come on, Ned." + +"Where to now?" + +"Peters's house. He's probably there, arranging to cover up his +tracks when he lights out." + +But Shallock Peters did better than merely cover up his tracks. He +covered himself up, so to speak. For when Ned and Tom, after a +quick flight in the airship, reached his house, the promoter had +left, and the servants, who were quite excited, did not know where +he had gone. + +"He just packed up a few clothes and ran out," said one of the +maids. "He didn't say anything about our wages, either, and he +owes me over a month." + +"Me too," said another. + +"Well, if he doesn't pay me some of my back wages soon, I'll sue +him!" declared the gardener. "He owes me more than three months, +but he kept putting me off." + +And, so it seemed, Peters had done with several of his employes. +When the promoter came to Shopton he had taken an elaborate house +and engaged a staff of servants. Peters was not married, but he +gave a number of entertainments to which the wealthy men of +Shopton and their wives came. Later it was found that the bills +for these had never been paid. In short, Peters was a "bluff" in +more ways than one. + +Tom told enough of his story to the servants to get them on his +side. Indeed, now that their employer had gone, and under such +queer circumstances, they had no sympathy for him. They were only +concerned about their own money, and Tom was given admittance to +the house. + +Tom made a casual search, hoping to find some clue to the +whereabouts of Mr. Damon, or to get some papers that would save +his fortune. But the search was unsuccessful. + +There was a safe in the room Peters used for an office, but when +Tom got there the strong box was open, and only some worthless +documents remained. + +"He smelled a rat, all right," said Tom, grimly. "After he +telephoned to Mrs. Damon something happened that gave him an +intimation that someone was after him. So he got away as soon as +he could." + +"But what are you going to do about it, Tom?" + +"Get right after him. He can't have gotten very far. I want him +and I want Boylan. We're getting close to the end of the trail, +Ned." + +"Yes, but we haven't found Mr. Damon yet, and his fortune seems to +have vanished." + +"Well, we'll do the best we can," said Tom, grimly. "Now I'm going +to get a warrant for the arrest of Peters, and one for Boylan, and +I'm going to get myself appointed a special officer with power to +serve them. We've got our work cut out for us, Ned." + +"Well, I'm with you to the end." + +"I know you are!" cried Tom. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE LONELY HOUSE + + +The young inventor had little difficulty in getting the warrants +he sought. In the case of Boylan, who seemed to be Peters's right- +hand man, when it came to criminal work, Tom made a charge of +unlawfully taking the airship. This would be enough to hold the +man on until other evidence could be obtained against him. + +As for Peters, he was accused of taking certain valuable bonds and +stocks belonging to Mr. Damon. Mrs. Damon gave the necessary +evidence in this case, and the authorities were told that later, +when Peters should have been arrested, other evidence so +skillfully gotten by Tom's photo telephone, would be brought +before the court. + +"It's a new way of convicting a man--by a photo telephone--but I +guess it's a good one," said the judge who signed the warrants. + +"Well, now that we've got what we want, the next thing to do is to +get the men--Peters, and the others," said Tom, as he and Ned sat +in Tom's library after several hours of strenuous work. + +"How are you going to start?" the young banker wanted to know. "It +seems a strange thing that a man like Mr. Damon could be made away +with, and kept in hiding so long without something being heard of +him. I'm afraid, Tom, that something must have happened to him." + +"I think so too, Ned. Nothing serious, though," Tom added, +quickly, as he saw the look of alarm on his chum's face. "I think +Mr. Damon at first went away of his own accord." + +"Of his own accord?" + +"Yes. I think Peters induced him to go with him, on the pretense +that he could recover his fortune. After getting Mr. Damon in +their power they kept him, probably to get the rest of his fortune +away from him." + +"But you stopped that, Tom," said Ned, proud of his chum's +abilities. + +"Well, I hope so," admitted the young inventor. "But I've still +got plenty to do." + +"Have you a starting point?" + +"For one thing," Tom answered, "I'm going to have Mrs. Damon mail +a fake package to the address Peters gave. If he, or any of his +men, call for it, we'll have a detective on the watch, and arrest +them." + +"Good!" + +"Of course it may not work," spoke Tom; "but it's something to +try, and we can't miss any chances." + +Accordingly, the next day, a package containing only blank paper, +made up to represent the documents demanded by Peters as the price +of releasing Mr. Damon, was mailed to the address Mrs. Damon had +received over the wire from the rascally promoter. Then a private +detective was engaged to be on the watch, to take into custody +whoever called for the bundle. Tom, though, had not much hope of +anything coming of this, as it was evident that Peters had taken +the alarm, and left. + +"And now," said Tom, when he had safely put away the wax record, +containing the incriminating talk of Peters, and had printed +several photographs, so wonderfully taken over the wire, "now to +get on the trail again." + +It was not an easy one to follow. Tom began at the deserted home +of the alleged financier. The establishment was broken up, for +many tradesmen came with bills that had not been paid, and some of +them levied on what little personal property there was to satisfy +their claims. The servants left, sorrowful enough over their +missing wages. The place was closed up under the sheriff's orders. + +But of Peters and his men not a trace could be found. Tom and Ned +traveled all over the surrounding country, looking for clues, but +in vain. They made several trips in the airship, but finally +decided that an automobile was more practical for their work, and +kept to that. + +They did find some traces of Peters. As Tom had said, the man was +too prominent not to be noticed. He might have disguised himself, +though it seemed that the promoter was a proud man, and liked to +be seen in flashy clothes, a silk hat, and with a buttonhole +bouquet. + +This made it easy to get the first trace of him. He had been seen +to take a train at the Shopton station, though he had not bought a +ticket. The promoter had paid his fare to Branchford, a junction +point, but there all trace of him was lost. It was not even +certain that he went there. + +"He may have done that to throw us off," said Tom. "Just because +he paid his way to Branchford, doesn't say he went there. He may +have gotten off at the next station beyond Shopton." + +"Do you think he's still lingering around here?" asked Ned. + +"I shouldn't be surprised," was Tom's answer. "He knows that there +is still some of the Damon property left, and he is probably +hungry for that. We'll get him yet, Ned." + +But at the end of several days Tom's hopes did not seem in a fair +way to be realized. He and Ned followed one useless clue after +another. All the trails seemed blind ones. But Tom never gave up. + +He was devoting all his time now to the finding of his friend Mr. +Damon, and to the recovery of his fortune. In fact the latter was +not so important to Tom as was the former. For Mrs. Damon was on +the verge of a nervous collapse on account of the absence of her +husband. + +"If I could only have some word from him, Tom!" she cried, +helplessly. + +To Tom the matter was very puzzling. It seemed utterly impossible +that Mr. Damon could be kept so close a prisoner that he could not +manage to get some word to his friends. It was not as if he was a +child. He was a man of more than ordinary abilities. Surely he +might find a way to outwit his enemies. + +But the days passed, and no word came. A number of detectives had +been employed, but they were no more successful than Tom. The +latter had given up his inventive work, for the time being, to +devote all his time to the solution of the mystery. + +Tom and Ned had been away from Shopton for three days, following +the most promising clue they had yet received. But it had failed +at the end, and one afternoon they found themselves in a small +town, about a hundred miles from Shopton. They had been motoring. + +"I think I'll call up the house," said Tom. "Dad may have received +some news, or Mrs. Damon may have sent him some word. I'll get my +father on the wire." + +Connection to Tom's house was soon made, and Ned, who was +listening to his chum's remarks, was startled to hear him cry out: + +"What's that you say? My airship taken again? When did it happen? +Yes, I'm listening. Go on, Father!" + +Then followed a silence while Tom listened, breaking in now and +then with an excited remark, Suddenly he called: + +"Good-by, Dad! I'm coming right home!" + +Tom hung up the receiver with a bang, and turned to his chum. + +"What do you think!" he cried. "The Eagle was taken again last +night! The same way as before. Nobody got a glimpse of the +thieves, though. Dad has been trying to get in communication with +me ever since. I'm glad I called up. Now we'll get right back to +Shopton, and see what we can do. This is the limit! Peters and his +crowd will be kidnapping us, next." + +"That's right," agreed Ned. + +He and Tom were soon off again, speeding in the auto toward +Shopton. But the roads were bad, after a heavy rain, and they did +not make fast time. + +The coming of dusk found them with more than thirty miles to go. +They were in an almost deserted section of the country when +suddenly, as they were running slowly up a hill, there was a +sudden crack, the auto gave a lurch to one side of the roadway and +then settled heavily. Tom clapped on both brakes quickly, and gave +a cry of dismay. + +"Broken front axle!" he said. "We're dished, Ned!" + +They got out, being no more harmed than by the jolting. The car +was out of commission. The two chums looked around Except for a +lonely house, that bore every mark of being deserted, not a +dwelling was in sight where they might ask for aid or shelter. + +And, as they looked, from that lonely house came a strange cry--a +cry as though for help! + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE AIRSHIP CAPTURE + + +"Did you hear that?" cried Ned. + +"I certainly did," answered Tom. "What was it." + +"Sounded to me like a cry of some sort." + +"It was. An animal, I'd say." + +The two chums moved away from the broken auto, and looked at each +other. Then, by a common impulse, they started toward the lonely +house, which was set back some distance from the road. + +"Let's see who it was," suggested Tom, "After all, though it looks +deserted, there may be someone in the house, and we've got to have +some kind of help. I don't want to leave my car on the road all +night, though it will have to be repaired before I can use it +again." + +"It sure is a bad break," agreed Ned. + +As they walked toward the deserted House they heard the strange +cry again. It was louder this time, and following it the boys +heard a sound as if a blow had been struck. + +"Someone is being attacked!" cried Tom. "Maybe some poor tramp has +taken shelter in there and a dog is after them. Come on, Ned, +we've got to help!" + +They started on a run for the lonely house, but while still some +distance away a curious thing happened. + +There was a sudden cry--an appeal for help it seemed--but this +time in the open. And, as Tom and Ned looked, they saw several men +running from the rear of the old house. Between them they carried +an inert form, + +"Something's wrong!" exclaimed Tom, "There's crooked work going on +here, Ned." + +"You're right! It's up to us to stop it! Come on!" + +But before the boys had taken half a dozen more steps they heard +that which caused them great surprise. For from a shed behind the +house came the unmistakable throb and roar of a motor. + +"They're going off in an auto!" cried Ned. + +"And they're carrying someone with them!" exclaimed Tom. + +By this time they had gotten to a point where they could see the +shed, and what was their astonishment to see being rolled from it +a big biplane. At the sight of it Tom cried: + +"It's the Eagle! That's my airship, Ned!" + +"You're right! How did it get here?" + +"That's for us to find out. I shouldn't wonder, Ned, but what +we're at last on the trail of Peters and his crowd!" + +The men--there were four or five of them, Ned guessed--now broke +into a run, still carrying among them the inert form of another. +The cries for help had ceased, and it seemed as if the unfortunate +one was unconscious. + +A moment later, and before the boys could do anything, had they +the power, the men fairly jumped aboard Tom Swift's biggest +airship. The unconscious one was carried with them. + +Then the motor was speeded up. The roar and throbbing were almost +deafening. + +"Stop that! Hold on! That's my machine!" yelled Tom. + +He might as well have spoken to the wind. With a rush and a roar +the big Eagle shot away and upward, carrying the men and their +mysterious, unconscious companion. It was getting too dark for Tom +and Ned to make out the forms or features of the strangers. + +"We're too late!" said Ned, hopelessly. + +"Yes, they got away," agreed Tom. "Oh, if only I had my speedy +little monoplane!" + +"But who can they be? How did your airship get here? And who is +that man they carried out of the house?" cried Ned. + +"I don't know the last--maybe one of their crowd who was injured +in a fight." + +"What crowd?" + +"The Peters gang, of course. Can't you see it, Ned?" + +Unable to do anything, the two youths watched the flight of the +Eagle. She did not move at her usual speed, for she was carrying +too heavy a load. + +Presently from the air overhead, and slightly behind them, the +boys heard the sound of another motor. They turned quickly. + +"Look!" cried Ned. "Another airship, by all that's wonderful!" + +"If we could only stop them!" exclaimed Tom. "That's a big +machine, and they could take us aboard. Then we could chase the +Eagle. We could catch her, too, for she's overloaded!" + +Frantically he and Tom waved their caps at the man who was now +almost overhead in his airship. The boys did not call. They well +knew, with the noise of the motor, the occupant of the airship +could not hear them. But they waved and pointed to the slowly- +moving Eagle. + +To their surprise and delight the man above them shut off his +engine, and seemed about to come down. Then Tom cried, knowing he +could be heard: + +"Help us capture that airship? It's mine and they've stolen it!" + +"All right! Be with you in a minute!" came back the answer from +above. + +The second biplane came down to earth, ands as it ceased running +along on its bicycle wheels, the occupant jumped out. + +"Hello, Tom Swift!" he called, as he took off his goggles. + +"Why--why it's Mr. Halling!" cried the young inventor, in delight, +recognizing the birdman who had brought him the first news of Mr. +Damon's trouble, the day the airship became entangled in the +aerials of the wireless on Tom's house. + +"What are you doing here, Tom?" asked Mr. Hailing. "What has +happened?" + +"We're looking for Mr. Damon. That's a bad crowd there," and he +pointed toward the other aircraft. "They have my Eagle. Can you +help me catch them?" + +"I certainly can--and will! Get aboard! I can carry four." + +"Then you have a new machine?" + +"Yes, and a dandy! All the latest improvements--self-starter and +all! I'm glad of a chance to show it to you." + +"And I'm glad, too!" cried Tom. "It was providential that you +happened along. What were you doing here?" + +"Just out on a trial spin. But come on, if we're going to catch +those fellows!" + +Quickly Tom, Ned, and Mr. Halling climbed into the seats of the +new airship. It was started from a switch, and in a few seconds it +was on the wing, chasing after the Eagle. + +Then began a strange race, a race in the air after the unknown +strangers who had Tom's machine. Had the Eagle not been so heavily +laden it might have escaped, for Tom's craft was a speedy one. But +this time it had to give the palm to Mr. Grant Halling's. Faster +and faster in pursuit flew the Star, as the new craft was called. +Faster and faster, until at last, coming directly over the Eagle, +Mr. Halling sent his craft down in such a manner as to "blanket" +the other. In an instant she began to sink, and with cries of +alarm the men shut off the motor and started to volplane to the +earth. + +But they made an unskillful landing. The Eagle tilted to one side, +and came down with a crash. There were cries of pain, then +silence, and a few seconds later two men ran away from the +disabled airship. But there were three senseless forms on the +ground beside the craft when Tom, Ned and Mr. Halling ran up. In +the fading light Tom saw a face he knew--three faces in fact. + +"Mr. Damon!" he cried. "We've found him, Ned!" + +"But--too late--maybe!" answered Ned, in a low voice, as he, too, +recognized the man who had been missing so long. + +Mr. Halling was bending over the unconscious form of his friend. + +"He's alive!" he cried, joyfully. "And not much hurt, either. But +he has been ill, and looks half starved. Who are these men?" + +Tom gave a hasty look. + +"Shallock Peters and Harrison Boylan!" he cried. "Ned, at last +we've caught the scoundrels!" + +It was true. Chance had played into the hands of Tom Swift. While +Mr. Halling was looking after Mr. Damon, reviving him, the young +inventor and Ned quickly bound the hands and feet of the two +plotters with pieces of wire from the broken airship. + +Presently Mr. Damon opened his eyes. + +"Where am I? What happened? Oh, bless my watch chain--it's Tom +Swift! Bless my cigar case, I--" + +"He's all right!" cried Tom, joyfully. "When Mr. Damon blesses +something beside his tombstone he's all right." + +Peters and Boylan soon revived, both being merely stunned, as was +Mr. Damon. They looked about in wonder, and then, feeling that +they were prisoners, resigned themselves to their fate. Both men +were shabbily dressed, and Tom would hardly have known the once +spick and span Mr. Peters. He had no rose in his buttonhole now. + +"Well, you have me, I see," he said, coolly. "I was afraid we were +playing for too high a stake." + +"Yes, we've got you," replied Tom, + +"But you can't prove much against me," went on Peters. "I'll deny +everything." + +"We'll see about that," added the young inventor, grimly, and +thought of the picture in the plate and the record on the wax +cylinder. + +"We've got to get Mr. Damon to some place where he can be looked +after," broke in Mr. Halling. "Then we'll hear the story." + +A passing farmer was prevailed on to take the party in his big +wagon to the nearest town, Mr. Hailing going on ahead in his +airship. Tom's craft could not be moved, being badly damaged. + +Once in town Peters and Boylan were put in jail, on the charges +for which Tom carried warrants. Mr. Damon was taken to a hotel and +a doctor summoned. It was as Mr. Halling had guessed. His friend +had been ill, and so weak that he could not get out of bed. It was +this that enabled the plotters to so easily keep him a prisoner. + +By degrees Mr. Damon told his story. He had rashly allowed Peters +to get control of most of his fortune, and, in a vain hope of +getting back some of his losses, had, one night--the night he +disappeared, in fact--agreed to meet Peters and some of his men to +talk matters over. Of this Mr. Damon said nothing to his wife. + +He went out that night to meet Peters in the garden, but the +plotters had changed their plans. They boldly kidnapped their +victim, chloroformed him and took him away in Tom's airship, which +Boylan and some of his tools daringly stole a short time +previously. Later they returned it, as they had no use for it at +the lonely house. + +Mr. Damon was taken to the house, and there kept a prisoner. The +men hoped to prevail on the fears of his wife to make her give up +the valuable property. But we have seen how Tom foiled Peters. + +The experience of Mr. Damon, coupled with rough treatment he +received, and lack of good food, soon made him ill. He was so weak +that he could not help himself, and with that he was kept under +guard. So he had no chance to escape or send his wife or friends +any word. + +"But I'm all right now, Tom, thanks to you!" said he. "Bless my +pocketbook, I don't care if my fortune is lost, as long as I'm +alive and can get back to my wife." + +"But I don't believe your fortune will be lost," said Tom. "I +think I have the picture and other evidence that will save it," +and he told of his photo telephone, and of what it had +accomplished. + +"Bless my eyelashes!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a young man you are, +Tom Swift!" + +Tom smiled gladly. He knew now that his old friend was himself +once more. + +There is little left to tell. Chance had aided Tom in a most +wonderful way--chance and the presence of Mr. Halling with his +airship at just the right moment. + +Tom made a diligent effort to find out who it was that had +chloroformed him in the telephone booth that time, but learned +nothing definite. Peters and Boylan were both examined as to this +on their trials, but denied it, and the young inventor was forced +to conclude that it must have been some of the unscrupulous men +who had taken his father's patent some time before. + +"They may have heard of your prosperity, and thought it a good +chance to rob you," suggested Ned. + +"Maybe," agreed Tom. "Well, we'll let it go at that. Only I hope +they don't come again." + +Mr. Damon was soon home with his wife again, and Peters and Boylan +were held in heavy bail. They had secreted most of Mr. Damon's +wealth, falsely telling him it was lost, and they were forced to +give back his fortune. The evidence against them was clear and +conclusive. When Tom went into court with his phonograph record of +the talk of Peters, even though the man's voice was hoarse from a +cold when he talked, and when his picture was shown, in the +telephone booth, the jury at once convicted him. + +Boylan, when he learned of the missing button in Tom's possession, +confessed that he and some of his men who were birdmen had taken +Tom's airship. They wanted a means of getting Mr. Damon to the +lonely house without being traced, and they accomplished it. + +As Tom had surmised, Peters had become suspicious after his last +talk with Mrs. Damon, and had fled. He disguised himself and went +into hiding with the others at the lonely house. Then he learned +that the authorities of another city. where he had swindled many, +were on his trail, and he decided to decamp with his gang, taking +Mr. Damon with them. For this purpose Tom's airship was taken the +second time, and a wholesale escape, with Mr. Damon a prisoner, +was planned. + +But fate was against the plotters. Two of them did manage to get +away, but they were not really wanted. The big fish were Peters +and Boylan, and they were securely caught in the net of the law. +Peters was greatly surprised when he learned of Tom's trap, and of +the photo telephone. He had no idea he had been incriminating +himself when he talked over the wire. + +"Well, it's all over," remarked Ned to Tom, one day, when the +disabled auto and the airship had been brought home and repaired. +"The plotters are in prison for long terms, and Mr. Damon is +found, together with his fortune. The photo telephone did it, +Tom." + +"Not all of it--but a good bit," admitted the young inventor, with +a smile. + +"What are you going to do next, Tom?" + +"I hardly know. I think--" + +Before Tom could finish, a voice was heard in the hall outside the +library. + +"Bless my overshoes! Where's Tom? I want to thank him again for +what he did for me," and Mr. Damon, now fully recovered, came in. +"Bless my suspender button, but it's good to be alive, Tom!" he +cried. + +"It certainly is," agreed Tom. "And the next time you go for a +conference with such men as Peters, look out for airships." + +"I will, Tom, I will!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my watch chain, +I will!" + +And now, for a time, we will say good-bye to Tom Swift, leaving +him to perfect his other inventions. + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of Tom Swift And His Photo Telephone +by Victor Appleton + diff --git a/old/17tom10.zip b/old/17tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4de4241 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/17tom10.zip diff --git a/old/17tom10h.htm b/old/17tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..939e8d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/17tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7751 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> +<TITLE>The Project Gutenberg etext of Tom Swift and His Photo Telephone</TITLE> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<meta name="author" content="Victor Appleton"> +</HEAD> +<BODY> +<P> +<h2 align="center">The Project Gutenberg etext of <a href="#start">Tom Swift and His Photo Telephone</a></h2> +<h3>#17 in our series by Victor Appleton</h3> + +<PRE> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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The elderly gentleman--his hair was quite +white now--slowly shook his head, as he murmured again: + +<P> +"It can't be done, Tom! It can't be done! I admit that you've made +a lot of wonderful things--things I never dreamed of--but this is +too much. To transmit pictures over a telephone wire, so that +persons cannot only see to whom they are talking, as well as hear +them--well, to be frank with you, Tom, I should be sorry to see +you waste your time trying to invent such a thing." + +<P> +"I don't agree with you. Not only do I think it can be done, but +I'm going to do it. In fact, I've already started on it. As for +wasting my time, well, I haven't anything in particular to do, now +that my giant cannon has been perfected, so I might as well be +working on my new photo telephone instead of sitting around idle." + +<P> +"Yes, Tom, I agree with you there," said Mr. Swift. "Sitting +around idle isn't good for anyone--man or boy, young or old. So +don't think I'm finding fault because you're busy." + +<P> +"It's only that I don't want to see you throw away your efforts, +only to be disappointed in the end. It can't be done, Tom, it +can't be done," and the aged inventor shook his head in pitying +doubt. + +<P> +Tom only smiled confidently, and went on: + +<P> +"Well, Dad, all you'll have to do will be to wait and see. It +isn't going to be easy--I grant that. In fact, I've run up against +more snags, the little way I've gone so far, than I like to admit. +But I'm going to stick at it, and before this year is out I'll +guarantee, Father, that you can be at one end of the telephone +wire, talking to me, at the other, and I'll see you and you'll see +me--if not as plainly as we see each other now, at least plainly +enough to make sure of each other." + +<P> +Mr. Swift chuckled silently, gradually breaking into a louder +laugh. Instead of being angry, Tom only regarded his father with +an indulgent smile, and continued: + +<P> +"All right, Dad. Go ahead, laugh!" + +<P> +"Well, Tom, I'm not exactly laughing at <i>you</i>--it's more at the +idea than anything else. The idea of talking over a wire and, at +the same time, having light waves, as well as electrical waves +passing on the same conductor!" + +<P> +"All right, Dad, go ahead and laugh. I don't mind," said Tom, +good-naturedly. "Folks laughed at Bell, when he said he could send +a human voice over a copper spring; but Bell went ahead and to-day +we can talk over a thousand miles by wire. That was the telephone." + +<P> +"Folks laughed at Morse when he said he could send a message over the +wire. He let 'em laugh, but we have the telegraph. Folks laughed at +Edison, when he said he could take the human voice--or any other +sound--and fix it on a wax cylinder or a hard-rubber plate--but he did +it, and we have the phonograph. And folks laughed at Santos Dumont, at +the Wrights, and at all the other fellows, who said they could take a +heavier-than-air machine, and skim above the clouds like a bird; but +we do it--I've done it--you've done it." + +<P> +"Hold on, Tom!" protested Mr. Swift. "I give up! Don't rub it in +on your old dad. I admit that folks did laugh at those inventors, +with their seemingly impossible schemes, but they made good. And +you've made good lots of times where I thought you wouldn't. But +just stop to consider for a moment. This thing of sending a +picture over a telephone wire is totally out of the question, and +entirely opposed to all the principles of science." + +<P> +"What do I care for principles of science?" cried Tom, and he +strode about the room so rapidly that Eradicate, the old colored +servant, who came in with the mail, skipped out of the library +with the remark: + +<P> +"Deed, an' Massa Tom must be pow'fully preragitated dis mawnin'!" + +<P> +"Some of the scientists said it was totally opposed to all natural +laws when I planned my electric rifle," went on Tom. "But I made +it, and it shot. They said my air glider would never stay up, but +she did." + +<P> +"But, Tom, this is different. You are talking of sending light +waves--one of the most delicate forms of motion in the world--over +a material wire. It can't be done!" + +<P> +"Look here, Dad!" exclaimed Tom, coming to a halt in front of his +parent. "What is light, anyhow? Merely another form of motion; +isn't it?" + +<P> +"Well, yes, Tom, I suppose it is." + +<P> +"Of course it is," said Tom. "With vibrations of a certain length +and rapidity we get sound--the faster the vibration per second the +higher the sound note. Now, then, we have sound waves, or +vibrations, traveling at the rate of a mile in a little less than +five seconds; that is, with the air at a temperature of sixty +degrees. With each increase of a degree of temperature we get an +increase of about a foot per second in the rapidity with which +sound travels." + +<P> +"Now, then, light shoots along at the rate of 186,000,000 miles a +second. That is more than many times around the earth in a second +of time. So we have sound, one kind of wave motion, or energy; we +have light, a higher degree of vibration or wave motion, and then +we come to electricity--and nobody has ever yet exactly measured +the intensity or speed of the electric vibrations." + +<P> +"But what I'm getting at is this--that electricity must travel +pretty nearly as fast as light--if not faster. So I believe that +electricity and light have about the same kind of vibrations, or +wave motion." + +<P> +"Now, then, if they do have--and I admit it's up to me to prove +it," went on Tom, earnestly--"why can't I send light-waves over a +wire, as well as electrical waves?" + +<P> +Mr. Swift was silent for a moment. Then he said, slowly: + +<P> +"Well, Tom, I never heard it argued just that way before. Maybe +there's something in your photo telephone after all. But it never +has been done. You can't deny that!" + +<P> +He looked at his son triumphantly. It was not because he wanted to +get the better of him in argument, that Mr. Swift held to his own +views; but he wanted to bring out the best that was in his +offspring. Tom accepted the challenge instantly. + +<P> +"Yes, Dad, it has been done, in a way!" he said, earnestly. "No +one has sent a picture over a telephone wire, as far as I know, +but during the recent hydroplane tests at Monte Carlo, photographs +taken of some of the events in the morning, and afternoon, were +developed in the evening, and transmitted over five hundred miles +of wire to Paris, and those same photographs were published in the +Paris newspapers the next morning." + +<P> +"Is that right, Tom?" + +<P> +"It certainly is. The photographs weren't so very clear, but you +could make out what they were. Of course that is a different +system than the one I'm thinking of. In that case they took a +photograph, and made a copper plate of it, as they would for a +half-tone illustration. This gave them a picture with ridges and +depressions in copper, little hills and valleys, so to speak, +according to whether there were light or dark tints in the +picture. The dark places meant that the copper lines stood up +higher there than where there were light colors." + +<P> +"Now, by putting this copper plate on a wooden drum, and revolving +this drum, with an electrical needle pressing lightly on the +ridges of copper, they got a varying degree of electrical current. +Where the needle touched a high place in the copper plate the +contact was good, and there was a strong current. When the needle +got to a light place in the copper--a depression, so to speak--the +contact was not so good, and there was only a weak current." + +<P> +"At the receiving end of the apparatus there was a sensitized film +placed on a similar wooden drum. This was to receive the image +that came over the five hundred miles of wire. Now then, as the +electrical needle, moving across the copper plate, made electrical +contacts of different degrees of strength, it worked a delicate +galvanometer on the receiving end. The galvanometer caused a beam +of light to vary--to grow brighter or dimmer, according as the +electrical current was stronger or weaker. And this light, falling +on the sensitive plate, made a picture, just like the one on the +copper plate in Monte Carlo." + +<P> +"In other words, where the copper plate was black, showing that +considerable printing ink was needed, the negative on the other +end was made light. Then when that negative was printed it would +come out black, because more light comes through the light places +on a photograph negative than through the dark places. And so, +with the galvanometer making light flashes on the sensitive plate, +the galvanometer being governed by the electrical contacts five +hundred miles away, they transmitted a photograph by wire." + +<P> +"But not a telephone wire, Tom." + +<P> +"That doesn't make any difference, Dad. It was a wire just the +same. But I'm not going into that just now, though later I may +want to send photographs by wire. What I'm aiming at is to make an +apparatus so that when you go into a telephone booth to talk to a +friend, you can see him and he can see you, on a specially +prepared plate that will be attached to the telephone." + +<P> +"You mean see him as in a looking-glass, Tom?" + +<P> +"Somewhat, yes. Though I shall probably use a metal plate instead +of glass. It will be just as if you were talking over a telephone +in an open field, where you could see the other party and he could +see you." + +<P> +"But how are you going to do it, Tom?" + +<P> +"Well, I haven't quite decided. I shall probably have to use the +metal called selenium, which is very sensitive to light, and which +makes a good or a poor electrical conductor according as more or +less light falls on it. After all, a photograph is only lights and +shadows, fixed on sensitive paper or films." + +<P> +"Well, Tom, maybe you can do it, and maybe you can't. I admit +you've used some good arguments," said Mr. Swift. "But then, it +all comes down to this: What good will it be if you can succeed in +sending a picture over a telephone wire?" + +<P> +"What good, Dad? Why, lots of good. Just think how important it +will be in business, if you can make sure that you are talking to +the party you think you are. As it is now, unless you know the +person's voice, you can't tell that the man on the other end of +the wire is the person he says he is. And even a voice can be +imitated." + +<P> +"But if you know the person yourself, he can't be imitated. If you +see him, as well as hear his voice, you are sure of what you are +doing. Why, think of the big business deals that could be made +over the telephone if the two parties could not only hear but see +each other. It would be a dead sure thing then. And Mr. Brown +wouldn't have to take Mr. Smith's word that it was he who was +talking. He could even get witnesses to look at the wire-image if +he wanted to, and so clinch the thing. It will prevent a lot of +frauds." + +<P> +"Well, Tom, maybe you're right. Go ahead. I'll say no more against +your plans. I wish you all success, and if I can help you, call on +me." + +<P> +"Thanks, Dad. I knew you'd feel that way when you understood. Now +I'm going--" + +<P> +But what Tom Swift was going to do he did not say just then, for +above the heads of father and son sounded a rattling, crashing +noise, and the whole house seemed to shake Then the voice of +Eradicate was heard yelling: + +<P> +"Good land! Good land ob massy! Come out yeah, Massa Tom! Come +right out yeah! Dere's a man on de roof an' he am all tangled up +suthin' scandalous! Come right out yeah befo' he falls and +translocates his neck! Come on!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="II"></A> +<H3>Chapter II Bad News</H3> + + +<P> +With startled glances at each other, Tom and his father rushed +from the library to the side of the house, whence came the cries +of Eradicate. + +<P> +"What is it, Rad! what is it?" questioned Tom. + +<P> +"Is someone hurt?" Mr. Swift wanted to know. + +<P> +"He mighty soon will be!" exclaimed the colored man. "Look where +he am holdin' on! Lucky fo' him he grabbed dat chimbley!" + +<P> +Tom and his father looked to where Eradicate pointed, and saw a +strange sight. A small biplane-airship had become entangled in +some of the aerials of Tom's wireless apparatus, and the craft had +turned turtle, being held from falling by some of the wire braces. + +<P> +The birdman had fallen out, but had managed to cling to the +chimney, so that he had not reached the ground, and there he +clung, while the motor of his airship was banging away, and +revolving the propeller blades dangerously close to his head. + +<P> +"Are you hurt?" cried Tom, to the unknown birdman. + +<P> +"No, but I'm likely to be unless I get out of here!" was the +gasped-out answer. + +<P> +"Hold fast!" cried Tom. "We'll have you down in a jiffy. Here, +Rad, you get the long ladder. Where's Koku? That giant is never +around when he's wanted. Find Koku, Rad, and send him here." + +<P> +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom; directly, sah!" and the colored man hastened +off as fast as his aged legs would take him. + +<P> +And while preparations are thus under way to rescue the birdman +from the roof, I will take just a few minutes to tell you a little +something more about Tom Swift and his numerous inventions, as set +forth in the previous books of this series. + +<P> +"Tom Swift and His Motor Cycle" was the first book, and in that I +related how Tom made the acquaintance of a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of +the neighboring town of Waterford, and how Tom bought that +gentleman's motor cycle, after it had tried to climb a tree with +its rider in the saddle. Mr. Wakefield Damon was an odd man, whose +favorite expression was "Bless my shoelaces!" or something equally +absurd. Waterford was not far from Shopton, where Tom and his +father made their home. + +<P> +Mr. Swift was also an inventor of note, and Tom soon followed in +his father's footsteps. They lived in a large house, with many +shops about it, for their work at times required much machinery. + +<P> +Mrs. Baggert was the housekeeper who looked after Tom and his +father, and got their meals, when they consented to take enough +time from their inventive work to eat. Another member of the +household was Eradicate Sampson, a genial old colored man, who +said he was named Eradicate because he used to eradicate the dirt +about the place. + +<P> +Koku, just referred to by Tom, was an immense man, a veritable +giant, whom Tom had brought back with him from one of his trips, +after escaping from captivity. The young inventor really brought +two giants, brothers they were, but one had gone to a museum, and +the other took service with our hero, making himself very useful +when it came to lifting heavy machinery. + +<P> +Tom had a close friend in Ned Newton, who was employed in the +Shopton bank. Another friend was Miss Mary Nestor, a young lady +whose life Tom had once saved. He had many other friends, and some +enemies, whom you will meet from time to time in this story. + +<P> +After Tom had had many adventures on his motor cycle he acquired a +motor boat, and in that he and Ned went through some strenuous +times on Lake Carlopa, near Tom's home. Then followed an airship, +for Tom got that craze, and in the book concerning that machine I +related some of the things that happened to him. He had even more +wonderful adventures in his submarine, and with his electric +runabout our hero was instrumental in saving a bank from ruin by +making a trip in the speediest car on the road. + +<P> +After Tom Swift had sent his wireless message, and saved the +castaways of Earthquake Island, he thought he would give up his +inventive work for a time, and settle down to a life of ease and +quiet. + +<P> +But the call of the spirit of adventure was still too strong for +him to resist. That was why he sought out the diamond makers, and +learned the secret of Phantom Mountain. And when he went to the +Caves of Ice, and there saw his airship wrecked, Tom was well-nigh +discouraged, But he managed to get back to civilization, and later +undertook a journey to elephant land, with his powerful electric +rifle. + +<P> +Marvelous adventures underground did Tom Swift have when he went +to the City of Gold, and I have set down some of them in the book +bearing the latter title. Later on he sought the platinum treasure +in his air glider. And when Tom was taken captive, in giant land, +only his speedy airship saved him from a hard fate. + +<P> +By this time moving pictures were beginning to occupy a large +place in the scientific, as well as the amusement world, and Tom +invented a Wizard Camera which did excellent work. Then came the +need of a powerful light, to enable Uncle Sam's custom officers on +the border to detect the smugglers, and Tom was successful in +making his apparatus. + +<P> +He thought he would take a rest after that, but with the opening +of the Panama Canal came the need of powerful guns to protect that +important waterway, and Tom made a Giant Cannon, which enabled the +longest shots on record to be fired. + +<P> +Now, some months had passed, after the successful trial of the big +weapon, and Tom longed for new activities. He found them in the +idea of a photo telephone, and he and his father were just talking +of this when interrupted by the accident to the birdman on the +roof of the Swift home. + +<P> +"Have you got that ladder, Rad?" cried the young inventor, +anxiously, as he saw the dangerous position of the man from the +airship. + +<P> +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom! I'se a-camin' wif it!" + +<P> +"And where's Koku? We'll need him!" + +<P> +"He's a-camin', too!" + +<P> +"Here Koku!" exclaimed a deep voice, and a big man came running +around the corner of the house. "What is it, Master?" + +<P> +"We must get him down, Koku!" said Tom, simply. "I will go up on +the roof. You had better come, too. Rad, go in the house and get a +mattress from the bed. Put it down on the ground where he's likely +to fall. Lively now!" + +<P> +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom!" + +<P> +"Me git my own ladder--dat one not strong 'nuff!" grunted Koku, +who did not speak very good English. He had a very strong ladder, +of his own make, built to hold his enormous bulk, and this he soon +brought and placed against the side of the house. + +<P> +Meanwhile Tom and his father had raised the one Eradicate had +brought, though Tom did most of the lifting, for his father was +elderly, and had once suffered from heart trouble. + +<P> +"We're coming for you!" cried the young inventor as he began to +ascend the ladder, at the same time observing that the giant was +coming with his. "Can you hold on a little longer?" + +<P> +"Yes, I guess so. But I dare not move for fear the propellers will +strike me." + +<P> +"I see. I'll soon shut off the motor," said Tom. "What happened, +anyhow?" + +<P> +"Well, I was flying over your house. I was on my way to pay you a +visit, but I didn't intend to do it in just this way," and the +birdman smiled grimly. "I didn't see your wireless aerials until I +was plumb into them, and then it was too late. I hope I haven't +damaged them any." + +<P> +"Oh, they are easily fixed," said Tom. "I hope you and your +biplane are not damaged. This way, Koku!" he called to the giant. + +<P> +"Say, is--is he real, or am I seeing things?" asked the aviator, +as he looked at the big man. + +<P> +"Oh, he's real, all right," laughed Tom. "Now, then, I'm going to +shut off your motor, and then you can quit hugging that chimney, +and come down." + +<P> +"I'll be real glad to," said the birdman. + +<P> +Making his way cautiously along the gutters of the roof, Tom +managed to reach the motor controls. He pulled out the electrical +switch, and with a sort of cough and groan the motor stopped. The +big propellers ceased revolving, and the aviator could leave his +perch in safety. + +<P> +This he did, edging along until he could climb down and meet Tom, +who stood near the ladder. + +<P> +"Much obliged," said the birdman, as he shook hands with Tom. "My +name is Grant Halling. I'm a newcomer in Mansburg," he added, +naming a town not far from Shopton. "I know you by reputation, so +you don't need to introduce yourself." + +<P> +"Glad to meet you," said the young inventor, cordially. "Rather a +queer place to meet a friend," he went on with a laugh and a +glance down to the ground. "Can you climb?" + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I'm used to that. The next thing will be to get my +machine down." + +<P> +"Oh, we can manage that with Koku's help," spoke Tom. "Koku, get +some ropes, and see what you and Rad can do toward getting the +aeroplane down," he added to the giant. "Let me know if you need +any help." + +<P> +"Me can do!" exclaimed the big man. "Me fix him!" + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Halling made their way down the ladder, while the +giant proceeded to study out a plan for getting the airship off +the roof. + +<P> +"You say you were coming over to see me, when you ran into my +wireless aerials?" asked Tom, curiously, when he had introduced +his father to the birdman. + +<P> +"Yes," went on Mr. Halling. "I have been having some trouble with +my motor, and I thought perhaps you could tell me what was wrong. +My friend, Mr. Wakefield Damon, sent me to you." + +<P> +"What! Do you know Mr. Damon?" cried Tom. + +<P> +"I've known' him for some years. I met him in the West, but I +hadn't seen him lately, until I came East. He sent me to see you, +and said you would help me." + +<P> +"Well, any friend of Mr. Damon's is a friend of mine!" exclaimed +Tom, genially. "I'll have a look at your machine as soon as Koku +gets it down. How is Mr. Damon, anyhow? I haven't seen him in over +two weeks." + +<P> +"I'm sorry to say he isn't very well, Mr. Swift." + +<P> +"Is he ill? What is the trouble?" + +<P> +"He isn't exactly ill," went on Mr. Halling, "but he is fretting +himself into a sickness, worrying over his lost fortune." + +<P> +"His lost fortune!" cried Tom, in surprise at the bad news +concerning his friend. "I didn't know he had lost his money!" + +<P> +"He hasn't yet, but he's in a fair way to, he says. It's something +about bad investments, and he did speak of the trickery of one +man, I didn't get the particulars. But he certainly feels very +badly over it." + +<P> +"I should think he would," put in Mr. Swift. "Tom, we must look +into this. If we can help Mr. Damon--" + +<P> +"We certainly will," interrupted Tom. "Now come in the house, Mr. +Halling. I'm sure you must be quite shaken up by your upset." + +<P> +"I am, to tell you the truth, though it isn't the first accident +I've had in my airship." + +<P> +They were proceeding toward the house, when there came a cry from +Koku, who had fastened a rope about the airship to lower it. + +<P> +"Master! Master!" cried the giant. "The rope am slippin'. Grab the +end of it!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="III"></A> +<H3>Chapter III Tom's Failure</H3> + + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom, quickly, as, turning', he saw the accident +about to happen. "Your craft will surely be smashed if she slips +to the ground, Mr. Halling!" + +<P> +"You're right! This seems to be my unlucky day!" The birdman, +limping slightly from his fall, hurried with Tom to where a rope +trailed on the ground. Koku had fastened one end to the airship, +and had taken a turn of the cable about the chimney. He had been +lowering the biplane to the ground, but he had not allowed for its +great weight, and the rope had slipped from his big hands. + +<P> +But Tom and Mr. Halling were just in time. They grabbed the +slipping hempen strands, and thus checked the falling craft until +Koku could get a better grip. + +<P> +"All right now," said the giant, when he had made fast the rope. +"Me fix now. Master can go." + +<P> +"Think he can lower it?" asked Mr. Halling, doubtfully. + +<P> +"Oh, surely," said Tom. "Koku's as strong as a horse. You needn't +worry. He'll get it down all right. But you are limping." + +<P> +"Yes, I jammed my leg a little." + +<P> +"Don't you want a doctor?" + +<P> +"Oh, no, not for a little thing like that." + +<P> +But Tom insisted on looking at his new friend's wound, and found +quite a cut on the thigh, which the young inventor insisted on +binding up. + +<P> +"That feels better," said the birdman, as he stretched out on a +couch. "Now if you can look my machine over, and tell me what's +the matter with it, I'll be much obliged to you, and I'll get on +my way." + +<P> +"Not quite so fast as that!" laughed Tom. "I wouldn't want to see +you start off with your lame leg, and certainly I would not want +to see you use your aircraft after what she's gone through, until +we've given her a test. You can't tell what part you might have +strained." + +<P> +"Well, I suppose you are right. But I think I'd better go to a +hotel, or send for an auto and go home." + +<P> +"Now you needn't do anything of the kind," spoke Tom, hospitably. +"We've got lots of room here, and for that matter we have plenty +of autos and airships, too, as well as a motor boat. You just rest +yourself here. Later we'll look over your craft." + +<P> +After dinner, when Mr. Halling said he felt much better, Tom +agreed to go out with him and look at the airship. As he feared, +he found several things the matter with it, in addition to the +motor trouble which had been the cause for Mr. Halling's call on +the young inventor. + +<P> +"Can she be fixed?" asked the birdman, who explained that, as yet, +he was only an amateur in the practice of flying. + +<P> +"Oh, yes, we can fix her up for you," said Tom. "But it will take +several days. You'll have to leave it here." + +<P> +"Well, I'll be glad to do that, for I know she will be all the +better when you get through with her. But I think I am able to go +on home now, and I really ought to. There is some business I must +attend to." + +<P> +"Speaking of business," remarked Tom, "can you tell me anything +more of Mr. Damon's financial troubles?" + +<P> +"No, not much. All I know is that when I called on him the other +day I found him with his check book out, and he was doing a lot of +figuring. He looked pretty blue and downcast, I can tell you." + +<P> +"I'm sorry about that," spoke Tom, musingly. "Mr. Damon is a very +good friend of mine, and I'd do anything to help him. I certainly +wouldn't like to see him lose his fortune. Bad investments, you +say it was?" + +<P> +"Partly so, and yet I'm inclined to think if he does lose his +money it will be due to some trickery. Mr. Damon is not the man to +make bad investments by himself." + +<P> +"Indeed he is not," agreed Tom. "You say he spoke of some man?" + +<P> +"Yes, but not definitely. He did not mention any name. But Mr. +Damon was certainly quite blue." + +<P> +"That's unlike him," remarked Tom. "He is usually very jolly. He +must be feeling quite badly. I'll go over and have a talk with +him, as soon as I can." + +<P> +"Do. I think he would appreciate it. And now I must see about +getting home." + +<P> +"I'll take you in one of my cars," said Tom, who had several +automobiles. "I don't want to see you strain that injured leg of +yours." + +<P> +"You're very good--especially after I tangled up your wireless +aerials; but I didn't see them until I was right into them," +apologized Mr. Halling. + +<P> +"They're a new kind of wire," said Tom, "and are not very plain to +see. I must put up some warning signs. But don't worry about +damaging them. They were only up temporarily anyhow, and I was +going to take them down to arrange for my photo telephone." + +<P> +"Photo telephone, eh? Is that something new?" + +<P> +"It will be--if I can get it working," said Tom, with a smile. + +<P> +A little later Tom had taken Mr. Halling home, and then he set +about making arrangements for repairing the damaged airship. This +took him the better part of a week, but he did not regret the +time, for while he was working he was busy making plans for his +newest invention--the photo telephone. + +<P> +One afternoon, when Tom had completed the repairs to the airship, +and had spent some time setting up an experimental telephone line, +the young inventor received a call from his chum, Ned Newton. + +<P> +"Well, well, what are you up to now?" asked Ned, as he saw his +chum seated in a booth, with a telephone receiver to his ear, +meanwhile looking steadily at a polished metal plate in front of +him. "Trying to hypnotize yourself, Tom?" + +<P> +"Not exactly. Quiet, Ned, please. I'm trying to listen." + +<P> +Ned was too familiar with his chum's work to take offense at this. +The young banker took a seat on a box, and silently watched Tom. +The inventor shifted several switches, pressed one button after +another, and tilted the polished metal plate at different angles. +Then he closed the door of the little telephone booth, and Ned, +through the ground glass door, saw a light shining. + +<P> +"I wonder what new game Tom is up to?" Ned mused. + +<P> +Presently the door opened, and Tom stuck out his head. + +<P> +"Ned, come here," he invited. "Look at that metal plate and see if +you can notice anything on it. I've been staring at it so steadily +that my eyes are full of sticks. See what you can make out." + +<P> +"What is this?" asked Ned. "No trick; is it? I won't be blown up, +or get my eyes full of pepper; will I?" + +<P> +"Nonsense! Of course not. I'm trying to make a photo telephone. I +have the telephone part down pat, but I can't see anything of the +photo image. See if you can." + +<P> +Ned stared at the polished plate, while Tom did things to it, +making electrical connections, and tilting it at various angles. + +<P> +"See anything, Ned?" asked Tom. + +<P> +The other shook his head. + +<P> +"Whom am I supposed to see?" he asked. + +<P> +"Why, Koku is at the other end of the wire. I'm having him help +me." + +<P> +Ned gazed from the polished plate out of a side window of the +shop, into the yard. + +<P> +"Well, that Koku is certainly a wonderful giant," said Ned, with a +laugh. + +<P> +"How so?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Why he can not be in two places at once. You say he ought to be +at the other end of this wire, and there he is out there, spading +up the garden." + +<P> +Tom stared for a second and then exclaimed: + +<P> +"Well, if that isn't the limit! I put him in the telephone booth +in the machine shop, and told him to stay there until I was +through. What in the world is he doing out there?" + +<P> +"Koku!" he called to the giant, "why didn't you stay at the +telephone where I put you? Why did you run away?" + +<P> +"Ha!" exclaimed the giant, who, for all his great size was a +simple chap, "little thing go 'tick-tick' and then 'clap-clap!' +Koku no like--Koku t'ink bad spirit in telumfoam--Koku come out!" + +<P> +"Well, no wonder I couldn't see any image on the plate!" exclaimed +Tom. "There was nobody there. Now, Ned, you try it; will you, +please?" + +<P> +"Sure. Anything to oblige!" + +<P> +"Then go in the other telephone booth. You can talk to me on the +wire. Say anything you like--the telephone part is all right. Then +you just stand so that the light in the booth shines on your face. +The machine will do the rest--if it works." + +<P> +Ned hurried off and was soon talking to his chum over the wire +from the branch telephone in the machine shop. Ned stood in the +glare of an electric light, and looked at a polished plate similar +to the one in the other booth. + +<P> +"Are you there, Ned?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Yes, I'm here." + +<P> +"Is the light on?" + +<P> +"Yes." + +<P> +"And you're looking at the plate?" + +<P> +"Sure. Can you see any reflection in your plate?" + +<P> +"No, not a thing," answered Tom, and there was great +discouragement in his voice. "The thing is a failure, Ned. Come on +back," and the young banker could hear his chum hang up the +telephone receiver at the other end. + +<P> +"That's too bad," murmured Ned, knowing how Tom must feel. "I'll +have to cheer him up a bit." + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="IV"></A> +<H3>Chapter IV Run Down</H3> + + +<P> +When Ned Newton got back to where Tom sat in the small telephone +booth, the young banker found his chum staring rather moodily at +the polished metal plate on the shelf that held the talking +instrument. + +<P> +"So it was no go; eh, Tom?" + +<P> +"No go at all, Ned, and I thought sure I had it right this time." + +<P> +"Then this isn't your first experiment?" + +<P> +"Land no! I've been at it, off and on, for over a month, and I +can't seem to get any farther. I'm up against a snag now, good and +hard." + +<P> +"Then there wasn't any image on your plate?" + +<P> +"Not a thing, Ned. I don't suppose you caught any glimpse of me in +your plate?" asked Tom, half hopefully. + +<P> +"No. I couldn't see a thing. So you are going to try and make this +thing work both ways, are you?" + +<P> +"That's my intention, But I can fix it so that a person can +control the apparatus at his end, and only see the person he is +talking to, not being seen himself, unless he wishes it. That is, +I hope to do that. Just now nobody can see anybody," and Tom +sighed. + +<P> +"Give it up," advised Ned. "It's too hard a nut to crack, Tom!" + +<P> +"Indeed, I'll not give it up, Ned! I'm going to work along a new +line. I must try a different solution of selenium on the metal +plate. Perhaps I may have to try using a sensitized plate, and +develop it later, though I do want to get the machine down so you +can see a perfect image without the need of developing. And I +will, too!" cried Tom. "I'll get some new selenium." + +<P> +Eradicate, who came into the shop just then, heard the end of +Tom's remarks. A strange look came over his honest black face, and +he exclaimed: + +<P> +"What all am dat, Massa Tom? Yo'ah gwine t' bring de new millenium +heah? Dat's de end of de world, ain't it-dat millenium? Golly! +Dish yeah coon neber 'spected t' lib t' see dat. De millenium! Oh +mah landy!" + +<P> +"No, Rad!" laughed Tom. "I was speaking about selenium, a sort of +metallic combination that is a peculiar conductor of electricity. +The more light that shines on it the better conductor it is, and +the less light, the poorer." + +<P> +"It must be queer stuff," said Ned. + +<P> +"It is," declared Tom. "I think it is the only thing to use in +this photo telephone experiment, though I might try the metal +plate method, as they did between Monte Carlo and Paris. But I am +not trying to make newspaper pictures." + +<P> +"What is selenium, anyhow?" asked Ned. "Remember, Tom, I'm not up +on this scientific stuff as you are." + +<P> +"Selenium," went on Tom, "was discovered in 1817, by J. J. +Berzelius, and he gave it that name from the Greek word for moon, +on account of selenium being so similar, in some ways, to +tellurium. That last is named after the Latin word tellus, the +earth." + +<P> +"Do they dig it?" Ned wanted to know. + +<P> +"Well, sometimes selenium is found in combination with metals, in +the form of selenides, the more important minerals of that kind +being eucharite, crooksite, clausthalite, naumannite and zorgite--" + +<P> +"Good night!" interrupted Ned, with a laugh, holding up his hands. +"Stop it, Tom!" he pleaded. "You'll give me a headache with all +those big words." + +<P> +"Oh, they're easy, once you get used to them," said the young +inventor, with a smile. "Perhaps it will be easier if I say that +sometimes selenium is found in native sulphur. Selenium is usually +obtained from the flue-dust or chamber deposits of some factory +where sulphuric acid is made. They take this dust and treat it +with acids until they get the pure selenium. Sometimes selenium +comes in crystal forms, and again it is combined with various +metals for different uses." + +<P> +"There's one good thing about it. There are several varieties, and +I'll try them all before I give up." + +<P> +"That's the way to talk!" cried Ned. "Never say die! Don't give up +the ship, and all that. But, Tom, what you need now is a little +fun. You've been poking away at this too long. Come on out on the +lake, and have a ride in the motor boat. It will do you good. It +will do me good. I'm a bit rusty myself--been working hard lately. +Come on--let's go out on the lake." + +<P> +"I believe I will!" exclaimed Tom, after thinking it over for a +moment. "I need a little fresh air. Sitting in that telephone +booth, trying to get an image on a plate, and not succeeding, has +gotten on my nerves. I want to write out an order for Koku to take +to town, though. I want to get some fresh selenium, and then I'm +going to make new plates." + +<P> +Tom made some memoranda, and then, giving Koku the order for the +chemist, the young inventor closed up his shop, and went with Ned +down to Lake Carlopa, where the motor boat was moored. + +<P> +This was not the same boat Tom had first purchased, some years +ago, but a comparatively new and powerful craft. + +<P> +"It sure is one grand little day for a ride," remarked Ned, as he +got in the craft, while Tom looked over the engine. + +<P> +"Yes, I'm glad you came over, and routed me out," said the young +inventor. "When I get going on a thing I don't know enough to +stop. Oh, I forgot something!" + +<P> +"What?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"I forgot to leave word about Mr. Railing's airship. It's all +fixed and ready for him, but I put on a new control, and I wanted +to explain to him about it. He might not know how to work it. I +left word with father, though, that if he came for it he must not +try it until he had seen me. I guess it will be all right. I don't +want to go back to the house now." + +<P> +"No, it's too far," agreed Ned. + +<P> +"I have it!" exclaimed Tom. "I'll telephone to dad from here, not +to let Halling go up until I come back. He may not come for his +machine; but, if he does, it's best to be on the safe side Ned." + +<P> +"Oh, sure." + +<P> +Accordingly, Tom 'phoned from his boat-house, and Mr. Swift +promised to see the bird-man if he called. Then Ned and Tom gave +themselves up to the delights of a trip on the water. + +<P> +The <i>Kilo</i>, which name Tom had selected for his new craft, was a +powerful boat, and comfortable. It swept on down the lake, and +many other persons, in their pleasure craft, turned to look at +Tom's fine one. + +<P> +"Lots of folks out to-day," observed Ned, as they went around a +point of the shore. + +<P> +"Yes, quite a number," agreed Tom, leaning forward to adjust the +motor. "I wonder what's got into her?" he said, in some annoyance, +as he made various adjustments. "One of the cylinders is missing." + +<P> +"Maybe it needs a new spark plug," suggested Ned. + +<P> +"Maybe. Guess I'll stop and put one in." + +<P> +Tom slowed down the motor, and headed his boat over toward shore, +intending to tie up there for a while. + +<P> +As he shifted the wheel he heard a cry behind him, and at the same +time a hoarse, domineering voice called out: + +<P> +"Here, what do you mean, changing your course that way? Look out, +or I'll run you down! Get out of my way, you land-lubber, you!" + +<P> +Startled, Ned and Tom turned. They saw, rushing up on them from +astern, a powerful red motor boat, at the wheel of which sat a +stout man, with a very florid face and a commanding air. + +<P> +"Get out of my way!" he cried. "I can't stop so short! Look out, +or I'll run you down!" + +<P> +Tom, with a fierce feeling of resentment at the fellow, was about +to shift the course of the <i>Kilo</i>, but he was too late. + +<P> +A moment later there came a smashing blow on the stern port +quarter and the <i>Kilo</i> heeled over at a dangerous angle, while, with +a rending, splintering sound of wood, the big red motorboat swept +on past Tom and Ned, her rubstreak grinding along the side of the +<i>Kilo</i>. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="V"></A> +<H3>Chapter V Sharp Words</H3> + + +<P> +"Great Scott, Tom! What happened?" + +<P> +"I know as much as you, Ned. That fellow ran us down, that's all." + +<P> +"Are we leaking?" and with this question Ned sprang from his place +near the bow, and looked toward the stern, where the heaviest blow +had been struck. + +<P> +The <i>Kilo</i> had swung back to an even keel again, but was still +bobbing about on the water. + +<P> +"Any hole there?" cried Tom, as he swung the wheel over to point +his craft toward shore, in case she showed a tendency to sink. + +<P> +"I can't see any hole," answered Ned. "But water is coming in +here." + +<P> +"Then there's a leak all right! Probably some of the seams are +opened, or it may be coming in around the shaft stuffing-box. +Here, Ned, take the wheel, and I'll start up the engine again," +for with the blow the motor had stopped. + +<P> +"What are you going to do?" asked Ned, as he again made his way +forward. + +<P> +"Take her to shore, of course. It's deep out here and I don't want +her to go down at this point." + +<P> +"Say, what do you think of that fellow, anyhow, Tom?" + +<P> +"I wouldn't like to tell you. Look, he's coming back." + +<P> +This was so, for, as the boys watched, the big red motor boat had +swung about in a circle and was headed for them. + +<P> +"I'll tell him what I think of him, at any rate," murmured Tom, as +he bent over his motor. "And, later on, I'll let the lawyers talk +to him." + +<P> +"You mean you'll sue him, Tom?" + +<P> +"Well, I'm certainly not going to let him run into me and spring a +leak, for nothing. That won't go with me!" + +<P> +By this time Tom had the motor started, but he throttled it down +so that it just turned the propeller. With it running at full +speed there was considerable vibration, and this would further +open the leaking seams. So much water might thus be let in that +the craft could not be gotten ashore. + +<P> +"Head her over, Ned," cried Tom, when he found he had sufficient +headway. "Steer for Ramsey's dock. There's a marine railway next +to him, and I can haul her out for repairs." + +<P> +"That's the talk, Tom!" cried his chum. + +<P> +By this time the big, red motor boat was close beside Tom's craft. + +<P> +The man at the wheel, a stout-bodied and stout-faced man, with a +complexion nearly the color of his boat, glared at the two young +men. + +<P> +"What do you fellows mean?" called out the man, in deep booming +tones--tones that he tried to make imposing, but which, to the +trained ears of Tom and Ned, sounded only like the enraged bellow +of some bully. "What do you mean, I say? Getting on my course like +that!" + +<P> +Ned could see Tom biting his lips, and clenching his hands to keep +down his temper. But it was too much. To be run into, and then +insulted, was more than Tom could stand. + +<P> +"Look here!" he cried, standing up and facing the red-faced man, +"I don't know who you are, and I don't care. But I'll tell you one +thing--you'll pay for the damage you did to my boat!" + +<P> +"I'll pay for it? Come, that's pretty good! Ha! Ha!" laughed the +self-important man. "Why, I was thinking of making a complaint +against you for crossing my course that way. If I find my boat is +damaged I shall certainly do so anyhow. Have we suffered any +damage, Snuffin?" and he looked back at a grimy-faced mechinician +who was oiling the big, throbbing motor, which was now running +with the clutch out. + +<P> +"No, sir, I don't think we're damaged, sir," answered the man, +deferentially. + +<P> +"Well, it's a lucky thing for these land-lubbers that we aren't. I +should certainly sue them. The idea of crossing my course the way +they did. Weren't they in the wrong, Snuffin?" + +<P> +The man hesitated for a moment, and glanced at Tom and Ned, as +though asking their indulgence. + +<P> +"Well, I asked you a question, Snuffin!" exclaimed the red-faced +man sharply. + +<P> +"Yes--yes, sir, they shouldn't have turned the way they did," +answered the man, in a low voice. + +<P> +"Well, of all the nerve!" murmured Tom, and stopped his motor. +Then, stepping to the side of his disabled and leaking boat, he +exclaimed: + +<P> +"Look here! Either you folks don't know anything about navigation +rules, or you aren't heeding them. I had a perfect right to turn +and go ashore when I did, for I found my engine was out of order, +and I wanted to fix it. I blew the usual signal on the whistle, +showing my intention to turn off my course, and if you had been +listening you would have heard it." + +<P> +"If you had even been watching you would have seen me shift, and +then, coming on at the speed you did, it was your place to warn me +by a whistle, so that I could keep straight on until you had +passed me." + +<P> +"But you did not. You kept right on and ran into me, and the only +wonder is that you didn't sink me. Talk about me getting in your +way! Why, you deliberately ran me down after I had given the right +signal. I'll make a complaint against you, that's what I will." + +<P> +If possible the red-faced man got even more rosy than usual. He +fairly puffed up, he was so angry. + +<P> +"Listen to that, will you, Snuffin!" he cried. "Listen to that! He +says he blew his whistle to tell us he was going to turn in." + +<P> +"That's what I did!" said Tom, calmly. + +<P> +"Preposterous! Did you hear it, Snuffin?" puffed the important +man. + +<P> +"Yes--yes, I think I did, sir," answered the machinist, in a +hesitating voice. + +<P> +"You did? What! You mean to tell me you heard their whistle?" + +<P> +"Yes--yes, sir!" + +<P> +"Why--why--er--I--" the big man puffed and blew, but seemed to +find no words in which to express himself. "Snuffin, I'll have a +talk with you when we get home," he finally said. most +significantly. "The idea of saying you heard a whistle blown! +There was nothing of the kind! I shall make a complaint against +these land-lubbers myself. Do you know who they are, Snuffin?" + +<P> +"Yes--yes, sir," was the answer, as the man glanced at Tom. "At +least I know one of them, sir." + +<P> +"Very good. Give me his name. I'll attend to the rest." + +<P> +Tom looked at the big man sharply. He had never seen him before, +as far as he could recall. As for the machinist, the young +inventor had a dim recollection that once the man might have +worked in his shop. + +<P> +"Go ahead, Snuffin!" said the big man, mopping his face with a +large silk handkerchief, which, even at that distance, gave out a +powerful perfume. "Go ahead, Snuffin, and we will settle this +matter later," and, adjusting a large rose in his buttonhole, the +self-important individual took his place on the cushioned seat at +the wheel, while the big red motor boat drew off down the river. + +<P> +"Well, of all the nerve!" gasped Ned. "Isn't he the limit?" + +<P> +"Never mind," spoke Tom, with a little laugh. "I'm sorry I lost my +temper, and even bothered to answer him. We'll let the lawyers do +the rest of the talking. Take the wheel, Ned." + +<P> +"But are you going to let him get away like this, Tom? Without +asking him to pay for the damage to your boat, when he was clearly +in the wrong?" + +<P> +"Oh, I'll ask him to pay all right; but I'll do it the proper way. +Now come on. If we stay here chinning much longer the <i>Kilo</i> will go +down. I must find out who he is. I think I know Snuffin--he used +to work for me, I now recall." + +<P> +"Don't you know who that big man is?" asked Ned, as he took the +wheel, while Tom again started the motor. The water was now almost +up to the lower rim of the fly wheel. + +<P> +"No; who is he?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Shallock Peters." + +<P> +"Well, I know as much as I did before," laughed Tom. "That doesn't +tell me anything." + +<P> +"Why, I thought everybody in the town knew Shallock Peters," went +on Ned. "He tried to do some business with our bank, but was +turned down. I hear he's gone to the other one, though. He's what +we call a get-rich-quick schemer, Tom--a promoter." + +<P> +"I thought he acted like that sort of a character." + +<P> +"Well, that's what he is. He's got half a dozen schemes under way, +and he hasn't been in town over a month. I wonder you haven't seen +or heard of him." + +<P> +"I've been too busy over my photo telephone." + +<P> +"I suppose so. Well, this fellow Peters struck Shopton about a +month ago. He bought the old Wardell homestead, and began to show +off at once. He's got two autos, and this big motor boat. He +always goes around with a silk hat and a flower in his buttonhole. +A big bluff--that's what he is." + +<P> +"He acted so to me," was Tom's comment. "Well, he isn't going to +scare me. The idea! Why, he seemed to think we were in the wrong; +whereas he was, and his man knew it, too." + +<P> +"Yes, but the poor fellow was afraid to say so. I felt sorry for +him." + +<P> +"So did I," added Tom. "Well, <i>Kilo</i> is out of commission for the +present. Guess we'll have to finish our outing by walking, Ned." + +<P> +"Oh, I don't mind. But it makes me mad to have a fellow act the +way he did." + +<P> +"Well, there's no good in getting mad," was Tom's smiling +rejoinder. "We'll take it out of him legally. That's the best way +in the end. But I can't help saying I don't like Mr. Shallock +Peters." + +<P> +"And I don't either," added Ned. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VI"></A> +<H3>Chapter VI A Warning</H3> + + +<P> +"There, she's about right now, Ned. Hold her there!" + +<P> +"Aye, aye, Captain Tom!" + +<P> +"Jove, she's leaking like a sieve! We only got her here just in +time!" + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Ned. + +<P> +Tom and his chum had managed to get the <i>Kilo</i> to Ramsey's dock, and +over the ways of the inclined marine railway that led from the +shop on shore down into the river. Then, poling the craft along, +until she was in the "cradle," Ned held her there while Tom went +on shore to wind up the windlass that pulled the car, containing +the boat, up the incline. + +<P> +"I'll give you a hand, as soon as I find she sets level," called +Ned, from his place in the boat. + +<P> +"All right--don't worry. There are good gears on this windlass, +and she works easy," replied Tom. + +<P> +In a short time the boat was out of the water, but, as Tom grimly +remarked, "the water was not out of her," for a stream poured from +the stuffing-box, through which the propeller shaft entered, and +water also ran out through the seams that had been opened by the +collision. + +<P> +"Quite a smash, Tom," observed the boat repairer, when he had come +out to look over the <i>Kilo</i>. "How'd it happen?" + +<P> +"Oh, Shallock Peters, with his big red boat, ran into us!" said +Ned, sharply. + +<P> +"Ha, Peters; eh?" exclaimed the boatman. "That's the second craft +he's damaged inside a week with his speed mania. There's Bert +Johnson's little speeder over there," and he pointed to one over +which some men were working. "Had to put a whole new stern in her, +and what do you think that man Peters did?" + +<P> +"What?" asked Tom, as he bent down to see how much damage his +craft had sustained. + +<P> +"He wouldn't pay young Johnson a cent of money for the repairs," +went on Mr. Houston, the boatman. "It was all Peters's fault, +too." + +<P> +"Couldn't he make him pay?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Well, young Johnson asked for it--no more than right, too; but +Peters only sneered and laughed at him." + +<P> +"Why didn't he sue?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"Costs too much money to hire lawyers, I reckon. So he played you +the same trick; eh. Tom?" + +<P> +"Pretty much, yes. But he won't get off so easily, I can tell you +that!" and there was a grim and determined look on the face of the +young inventor. "How long will it take to fix my boat, Mr. +Houston?" + +<P> +"Nigh onto two weeks, Tom. I'm terrible rushed now." + +<P> +Tom whistled ruefully. + +<P> +"I could do it myself quicker, if I could get her back to my +shop," he said. "But she'd sink on the home trip. All right, do +the best you can, Mr. Houston." + +<P> +"I will that, Tom." + +<P> +The two chums walked out of the boat-repair place. + +<P> +"What are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, as they strolled +along. + +<P> +"Well, since we can't go motor boating, I guess I may as well go +back and see if that new supply of selenium has come. I do want to +get my photo telephone working, Ned." + +<P> +"And that's all the outing you're going to take--less than an +hour!" exclaimed Ned, reproachfully. + +<P> +"Oh, well, all you wanted to do was to get me out of a rut, as you +called it," laughed Tom. "And you've done it--you and Mr. Peters +together. It jolted up my brain, and I guess I can think better +now. Come on back and watch me tinker away, Ned." + +<P> +"Not much! I'm going to stay out and get some fresh air while I +can. You'd better, too." + +<P> +"I will, later." + +<P> +So Tom turned back to his workshop, and Ned strolled on into the +country, for his day's work at the bank was over. And for some +time after that--until far into the night--Tom Swift worked at the +knotty problem of the photo telephone. + +<P> +But the young inventor was baffled. Try as he might, he could not +get the image to show on the metal plate, nor could he get any +results by using a regular photographic plate, and developing it +afterward. + +<P> +"There is something wrong with the transmission of the light waves +over the wire," Tom confessed to his father. + +<P> +"You'll never do it, Tom," said the aged inventor. "You are only +wasting a whole lot of time." + +<P> +"Well, as I haven't anything else to do now, it isn't much loss," +spoke Tom, ruefully. "But I'm going to make this work, Dad!" + +<P> +"All right, son. It's up to you. Only I tell you it can't be +done." + +<P> +Tom, himself, was almost ready to admit this, when, a week later, +he seemed to be no nearer a solution of the problem than he was at +first. He had tried everything he could think of, and he had +Eradicate and Koku, the giant, almost distracted, by making them +stay in small telephone booths for hours at a time, while the +young inventor tried to get some reflection of one face or the +other to come over the wire. + +<P> +Koku finally got so nervous over the matter, that he flatly +refused to "pose" any longer, so Tom was forced to use Eradicate. +As for that elderly man of all work, after many trials, all +unsuccessful, he remarked: + +<P> +"Massa Tom, I reckon I knows what's wrong." + +<P> +"Yes, Rad? Well, what is it?" + +<P> +"Mah face am too black--dat's de trouble. You done want a white-complected +gen'man to stand in dat booth an' look at dat lookin' +glass plate. I'se too black! I suah is!" + +<P> +"No, that isn't it, Rad," laughed Tom, hopelessly. "If the thing +works at all it will send a black man's face over the wire as well +as a white man's. I guess the truth of it is that you're like +Koku. You're getting tired. I don't know as I blame you. I'm +getting a bit weary myself. I'm going to take a rest. I'll send +for another kind of selenium crystals I've heard of, and we'll try +them. In the meanwhile--I'll take a little vacation." + +<P> +"Get out my small airship, Rad, and I'll take a little flight." + +<P> +"Dat's de way to talk, Massa Tom," was the glad rejoinder. + +<P> +"I'm going over to see Mr. Damon, Father," announced Tom to Mr. +Swift a little later, when his speedy monoplane was waiting for +him. "I haven't seen him in some time, and I'd like to get at the +truth of what Mr. Halling said about Mr. Damon's fortune being in +danger. I'll be back soon." + +<P> +"All right, Tom. And say--" + +<P> +"Yes, Dad, what is it?" asked Tom, as he paused in the act of +getting in the seat. + +<P> +"If he wants any ready cash, you know we've got plenty." + +<P> +"Oh, sure. I was going to tell him we'd help him out." + +<P> +Then, as Koku spun the propeller blades, Tom grasped the steering +wheel, and, tilting the elevating rudder, he was soon soaring into +the air, he and his craft becoming smaller and smaller as they +were lost to sight in the distance, while the rattle and roar of +the powerful motor became fainter. + +<P> +In a comparatively short time Tom had made a successful landing in +the big yard in front of Mr. Damon's house, and, walking up the +path, kept a lookout for his friend. + +<P> +"I wonder why he didn't come out to meet me?" mused Tom, for +usually when the eccentric man heard the throbbing of Tom's motor, +he was out waiting for the young inventor. But this time it was +not the case. + +<P> +"Is Mr. Damon in?" Tom asked of the maid who answered his ring. + +<P> +"Yes, Mr. Swift. You'll find him in the library," and she ushered +him in. + +<P> +"Oh, hello, Tom," greeted Mr. Damon, but the tone was so listless, +and his friend's manner so gloomy that the young inventor was +quite embarrassed. + +<P> +"Have a chair," went on Mr. Damon. "I'll talk to you in a minute, +Tom. I've got to finish this letter, and it's a hard one to write, +let me tell you." + +<P> +Now Tom was more astonished than ever. Not once had Mr. Damon +"blessed," anything, and when this did not happen Tom was sure +something was wrong. He waited until his friend had sealed the +letter, and turned to him with a sigh. Then Tom said boldly: + +<P> +"Mr. Damon, is it true that you're having hard luck--in money +matters?" + +<P> +"Why, yes, Tom, I'm afraid I am," was the quick answer. "But who +told you?" + +<P> +"Grant Halling. He was over to get me to fix his airship," and Tom +briefly related what had happened. + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I did mention the matter to him," went on Mr. Damon, and +his tone was still listless. "So he told you; did he? Well, +matters aren't any better, Tom. In fact, they're worse. I just had +to write to a man who was asking for help, and I had to refuse +him, though he needs it very much. The truth is I hadn't the +money. Tom, I'm afraid I'm going to be a very poor man soon." + +<P> +"Impossible, Mr. Damon! Why, I thought your investments--" + +<P> +"I've made some bad ones of late, Tom. I've been pretty foolish, +I'm afraid. I drew out some money I had in government bonds, and +invested in certain stocks sold by a Mr. Shallock Peters." + +<P> +"Shallock Peters!" cried Tom, almost jumping out of his chair. +"Why, I know him--I mean I've met him." + +<P> +"Have you, Tom? Well, then, all I've got to say is to steer clear +of him, my boy. Don't have anything to do with him," and, with +something of a return of his usual energy Mr. Damon banged his +fist down on his desk. "Give him a wide berth, Tom, and if you see +him coming, turn your back. He'd talk a miser into giving him his +last cent. Keep away from Shallock Peters, Tom. Bless my necktie, +he's a scoundrel, that's what he is!" and again Mr. Damon banged +his desk forcibly. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VII"></A> +<H3>Chapter VII Soft Words</H3> + + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad of one thing!" exclaimed Tom, when the ink bottle +and the paper cutter on Mr. Damon's desk had ceased rattling, +because of the violence of the blow. "I'm glad of one thing." + +<P> +"What's that, Tom?" asked his friend. + +<P> +"I heard you bless something at last--the first time since I came +in." + +<P> +"Oh!" and Mr. Damon laughed. "Well, Tom, I haven't been blessing +things lately--that's a fact. I haven't had the heart for it. +There are too many business complications. I wish I'd never met +this Peters." + +<P> +"So do I," said Tom. "My motor boat would not have been damaged +then." + +<P> +"Did he do that, Tom?" + +<P> +"He certainly did, and then he accused me of being at fault." + +<P> +"That would be just like him. Tell me about it, Tom." + +<P> +When the young inventor finished the story of the collision Mr. +Damon sat silent for a moment. Then he remarked slowly: + +<P> +"That's just like Peters. A big bluff--that's what he is. I wish +I'd discovered that fact sooner--I'd be money in pocket. But I +allowed myself to be deceived by his talk about big profits. At +first he seemed like a smart business man, and he certainly had +fine recommendations. But I am inclined to believe, now, that the +recommendations were forged." + +<P> +"What did he do to you, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, with ready +sympathy. + +<P> +"It's too complicated to go into details over, Tom, but to make a +long story short, he got me to invest nearly all my fortune in +some enterprises that, I fear, are doomed to failure. And if they +do fail, I'll be a ruined man." + +<P> +"No, you won't!" exclaimed Tom. "That's one reason why I came here +to-day. Father told me to offer you all the ready money you needed +to get out of your trouble. How much do you need, Mr. Damon?" + +<P> +"Bless my collar button! That's like your father, Tom," and now +Mr. Damon seemed more like his old self. "Bless my shoes, a man +never knows who his real friends are until trouble comes. I can't +say how I thank you and your father, Tom. But I'm not going to +take advantage of him." + +<P> +"It wouldn't be taking any advantage of him, Mr. Damon. He has +money lying idle, and he'd like to have you use it." + +<P> +"Well, Tom, I might use it, if I had only myself to think about. +But there's no use in throwing good money after bad. If I took +yours now this fellow Peters would only get it, and that would be +the last of it." + +<P> +"No, Tom, thank you and your father just the same, but I'll try to +weather the storm a bit longer myself. Then, if I do go down I +won't drag anybody else with me. I'll hang on to the wreck a bit +longer. The storm may blow over, or--or something may happen to +this fellow Peters." + +<P> +"Has he really got you in his grip, Mr. Damon?" + +<P> +"He has, and, to a certain extent, it's my own fault. I should +have been suspicious of him. And now, Tom, let me give you a +further word of warning. You heard me say to steer clear of this +Peters?" + +<P> +"Yes, and I'm going to. But I'm going to make him pay for damaging +my boat, if I possibly can." + +<P> +"Maybe it would be wiser not to try that, Tom. I tell you he's a +tricky man. And one thing more. I have heard that this man Peters +makes a specialty of organizing companies to take up new +inventions." + +<P> +"Is that so?" asked Tom, interestedly. + +<P> +"Yes, but that's as far as it goes. Peters gets the invention, and +the man, out of whose brain it came, gets nothing." + +<P> +"In other words, he swindles them?" + +<P> +"That's it, Tom. If not in one way, then in another. He cheats +them out of the profits of their inventions. So I want to warn you +to be on the lookout." + +<P> +"Don't worry," said Tom. "Peters will get nothing from my father +or me. We'll be on our guard. Not that I think he will try it, but +it's just as well to be warned. I didn't like him from the moment +he ran into me, and, now that I know what he has done to you, I +like him still less. He won't get anything from me!" + +<P> +"I'm glad to hear you say so, Tom. I wish he'd gotten nothing out +of me." + +<P> +"Are you sure you won't let my father help you, financially, Mr. +Damon?" + +<P> +"No, Tom, at least not for the present. I'm going to make another +fight to hold on to my fortune. If I find I can't do it alone, +then I'll call on you. I'm real glad you called. Bless my +shoestring! I feel better now." + +<P> +"I'm glad of it," laughed Tom, and he saw that his friend was in a +better state of mind, as his "blessings" showed. + +<P> +Tom remained for a little longer, talking to Mr. Damon, and then +took his leave, flying back home in the airship. + +<P> +"Gen'man t' see yo', Massa Tom," announced Eradicate, as he helped +Tom wheel the monoplane back into the shed. + +<P> +"Is that so, Rad? Where is he?" + +<P> +"Settin' in th' library. Yo' father am out, so I asted him in +dere." + +<P> +"That's right, Rad. Who is he, do you know?" + +<P> +"No, sah, Massa Tom, I doan't. He shore does use a pow'ful nice +perfume on his pocket hanky, though. Yum-yum!" + +<P> +"Perfume!" exclaimed Tom, his mind going back to the day he had +had the trouble with Mr. Peters. "Is he a big, red-faced man, +Rad?" + +<P> +"No, sah, Massa Tom. He's a white-faced, skinny man." + +<P> +"Then it can't be Peters," mused Tom. "I guess perhaps it's that +lawyer I wrote to about bringing suit to get back what it cost me +to have the <i>Kilo</i> fixed. I'll see him at once. Oh, by the way, it +isn't Mr. Grant Halling; is it? The gentleman who got tangled up +in our aerials with his airship? Is it he?" + +<P> +"No, sah, Massa Tom. 'Tain't him." + +<P> +"I thought perhaps he had gotten into more trouble," mused Tom, as +he took off his airship "togs," and started for the house. For Mr. +Halling had called for his repaired airship some time ago, and had +promised to pay Tom another and more conventional visit, some +future day. + +<P> +Tom did not know the visitor whom he greeted in the library a +little later. The man, as Eradicate had said, was rather pale of +face, and certainly he was not very fleshy. + +<P> +"Mr. Tom Swift, I think?" said the man, rising and holding out his +hand. + +<P> +"That's my name. I don't believe I know you, though." + +<P> +"No, I haven't your reputation," said the man, with a laugh that +Tom did not like. "We can't all be great inventors like you," and, +somehow, Tom liked the man less than before, for he detected an +undertone of sneering patronage in the words. Tom disliked praise, +and he felt that this was not sincere. + +<P> +"I have called on a little matter of business," went on the man. +"My name is Harrison Boylan, and I represent Mr. Shallock Peters." + +<P> +Instinctively Tom stiffened. Receiving a call from a +representative of the man against whom Mr. Damon had warned him +only a short time before was a strange coincidence, Tom thought. + +<P> +"You had some little accident, when your motor boat and that of +Mr. Peters collided, a brief time ago; did you not?" went on Mr. +Boylan. + +<P> +"I did," said Tom, and, as he motioned the caller to be seated Tom +saw, with a start, that some of the drawings of his photo +telephone were lying on a desk in plain sight. They were within +easy reach of the man, and Tom thought the sheets looked as though +they had been recently handled. They were not in the orderly array +Tom had made of them before going out. + +<P> +"If he is a spy, and has been looking at them," mused Tom, "he may +steal my invention." Then he calmed himself, as he realized that +he, himself, had not yet perfected his latest idea. "I guess he +couldn't make much of the drawings," Tom thought. + +<P> +"Yes, the collision was most unfortunate," went on Mr. Boylan, +"and Mr. Peters has instructed me to say--" + +<P> +"If he's told you to say that it was my fault, you may as well +save your time," cut in Tom. "I don't want to be impolite, but I +have my own opinion of the affair. And I might add that I have +instructed a lawyer to begin a suit against Mr. Peters--" + +<P> +"No necessity for that at all!" interrupted the man, in soft +accents. "No necessity at all. I am sorry you did that, for there was +no need. Mr. Peters has instructed me to say that he realizes the +accident was entirely his own fault, and he is very willing--nay, +anxious, to pay all damages. In fact, that is why I am here, and I am +empowered, my dear Mr. Swift, to offer you five hundred dollars, to +pay for the repairs to your motor boat. If that is not enough--" + +<P> +The man paused, and drew a thick wallet front his pocket. Tom felt +a little embarrassed over what he had said. + +<P> +"Oh," spoke the young inventor, "the repair bill is only about +three hundred dollars. I'm sorry--" + +<P> +"Now that's all right, Mr. Swift! It's all right," and the man, +with his soft words, raised a white, restraining hand. "Not +another word. Mr. Peters did not know who you were that day he so +unfortunately ran into you. If he had, he would not have spoken as +he did. He supposed you were some amateur motor-boatist, and he +was--well, he admits it--he was provoked." + +<P> +"Since then he has made inquiries, and, learning who you were, he +at once authorized me to make a settlement in full. So if five +hundred dollars--" + +<P> +"The repair bill," said Tom, and his voice was not very cordial, +in spite of the other's persuasive smile, "the bill came to three +hundred forty-seven dollars. Here is the receipted bill. I paid +it, and, to be frank with you, I intended bringing suit against +Mr. Peters for that sum." + +<P> +"No need, no need at all, I assure you!" interrupted Mr. Boylan, +as he counted off some bills. "There you are, and I regret that +you and Mr. Peters had such a misunderstanding. It was all his +fault, and he wants to apologize to you." + +<P> +"The apology is accepted," said Tom, and he smiled a trifle. "Also +the money. I take it merely as a matter of justice, for I assure +you that Mr. Peters's own machinist will say the accident was his +employer's fault." + +<P> +"No doubt of it, not the least in the world," said the caller. +"And now that I have this disagreeable business over, let me speak +of something more pleasant." + +<P> +Instinctively Tom felt that now the real object of the man's call +would be made plain--that the matter of paying the damages was +only a blind. Tom steeled himself for what was to come. + +<P> +"You know, I suppose," went on Mr. Boylan, smiling at Tom, "that +Mr. Peters is a man of many and large interests." + +<P> +"I have heard something like that," said Tom, cautiously. + +<P> +"Yes. Well, he is an organizer--a promoter, if you like. He +supplies the money for large enterprises, and is, therefore, a +benefactor of the human race. Where persons have no cash with +which to exploit their--well, say their inventions. Mr. Peters +takes them, and makes money out of them." + +<P> +"No doubt," thought Tom, grimly. + +<P> +"In other cases, where an inventor is working at a handicap, say +with too many interests, Mr. Peters takes hold of one of his +ideas, and makes it pay much better than the inventor has been +able to do." + +<P> +"Now, Mr. Peters has heard of you, and he would like to do you +good." + +<P> +"Yes, I guess he would," thought Tom. "He would like to do me--and +do me good and brown. Here's where I've got to play a game +myself." + +<P> +"And so," went on Mr. Boylan, "Mr. Peters has sent me to you to +ask you to allow him to exploit one, or several, of your +inventions. He will form a large stock company, put one of your +inventions on the market, and make you a rich man. Now what do you +say?" and he looked at Tom and smiled--smiled, the young inventor +could not help thinking, like a cat looking at a mouse. "What do +you say, Mr. Swift?" + +<P> +For a moment Tom did not answer. Then getting up and opening the +library door, to indicate that the interview was at an end, the +young inventor smiled, and said: + +<P> +"Tell Mr. Peters that I thank him, but that I have nothing for him +to exploit, or with which to form a company to market." + +<P> +"Wha--what!" faltered the visitor. "Do you mean to say you will +not take advantage of his remarkable offer?" + +<P> +"That's just what I mean to say," replied Tom, with a smile. + +<P> +"You won't do business with Mr. Peters? You won't let him do you +good?" + +<P> +"No," said Tom, quietly. + +<P> +"Why--why, that's the strangest--the most preposterous thing I +ever heard of!" protested Mr. Boylan. "What--what shall I say to +Mr. Peters?" + +<P> +"Tell him," said Tom, "tell him, from me, and excuse the slang, if +you like, but tell him there is--nothing doing!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter VIII Tom Is Baffled</H3> + + +<P> +Amazement held Mr. Boylan silent for a moment, and then, staring +at Tom, as though he could not believe what he had heard the young +inventor say, the representative of Mr. Peters exclaimed: + +<P> +"Nothing doing?" + +<P> +"That's what I said," repeated Tom, calmly. + +<P> +"But--but you don't understand, I'm afraid." + +<P> +"Oh, but indeed I do." + +<P> +"Then you refuse to let my friend, Mr. Peters, exploit some of +your inventions?" + +<P> +"I refuse absolutely." + +<P> +"Oh, come now. Take an invention that hasn't been very +successful." + +<P> +"Well, I don't like to boast," said Tom with a smile, "but all of +my inventions have been successful. They don't need any aid from +Mr. Peters, thank you." + +<P> +"But this one!" went on the visitor eagerly, "this one about some +new kind of telephone," and he motioned to the drawings on the +table. "Has that been a success? Excuse me for having looked at +the plans, but I did not think you would mind. Has that telephone +been a success? If it has not perhaps Mr. Peters could form a +company to--" + +<P> +"How did you know those drawings referred to a telephone?" asked +Tom, suspiciously, for the papers did not make it clear just what +the invention was. + +<P> +"Why, I understood--I heard, in fact, that you were working on a +new photo telephone, and--" + +<P> +"Who told you?" asked Tom quickly. + +<P> +"Oh, no one in particular. The colored man who sent me here +mentioned--" + +<P> +"Eradicate!" thought Tom. "He must have been talking. That isn't +like him. I must look into this." + +<P> +Then to his caller he said: + +<P> +"Really, you must excuse me, Mr. Boylan, but I don't care to do +any business with Mr. Peters. Tell him, with my thanks, that there +is really nothing doing in his line. I prefer to exploit my own +inventions." + +<P> +"That is your last word?" + +<P> +"Yes," returned Tom, as he gathered up the drawings. + +<P> +"Well," said Mr. Boylan, and Tom could not help thinking there was +a veiled threat in his tones, "you will regret this. You will be +sorry for not having accepted this offer." + +<P> +"I think not," replied Tom, confidently. "Good-day." + +<P> +The young inventor sat for some time thinking deeply, when his +visitor had gone. He called Eradicate to him, and gently +questioned the old colored man, for Eradicate was ageing fast of +late, and Tom did not want him to feel badly. + +<P> +It developed that the servant had been closely cross-questioned by +Mr. Boylan, while he was waiting for Tom, and it was small wonder +that the old colored man had let slip a reference to the photo +telephone. But he really knew nothing of the details of the +invention, so he could have given out no secrets. + +<P> +"But at the same time," mused Tom, "I must be on guard against +these fellows. That Boylan seems a pretty slick sort of a chap. As +for Peters, he's a big 'bluff,' to be perfectly frank. I'm glad I +had Mr. Damon's warning in mind, or I might have been tempted to +do business with him." + +<P> +"Now to get busy at this photo telephone again. I'm going to try a +totally different system of transmission. I'll use an alternating +current on the third wire, and see if that makes it any better. +And I'll put in the most sensitive selenium plate I can make. I'm +going to have this thing a success." + +<P> +Tom carefully examined the drawings of his invention, at which +papers Mr. Boylan had confessed to looking. As far as the young +inventor could tell none was missing, and as they were not +completed it would be hard work for anyone not familiar with them +to have gotten any of Tom's ideas. + +<P> +"But at the same time I'm going to be on my guard," mused Tom. +"And now for another trial." + +<P> +Tom Swift worked hard during the following week, and so closely +did he stick to his home and workshop that he did not even pay a +visit to Mr. Damon, so he did not learn in what condition that +gentleman's affairs were. Tom even denied himself to his chum Ned, +so taken up was the young inventor with working out the telephone +problem, until Ned fairly forced himself into the shop one day, +and insisted on Tom coming out. + +<P> +"You need some fresh air!" exclaimed Ned. "Come on out in the +motor boat again. She's all fixed now; isn't she?" + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tom, "but--" + +<P> +"Oh, 'but me no buts,' as Mr. Shakespeare would say. Come on, Tom. +It will do you good. I want a spin myself." + +<P> +"All right, I will go for a little while," agreed Tom. "I am +feeling a bit rusty, and my head seems filled with cobwebs." + +<P> +"Can't get the old thing to come out properly; eh?" + +<P> +"No. I guess dad was more than half right when he said it couldn't +be done. But I haven't given up. Maybe I'll think of some new plan +if I take a little run. Come along." + +<P> +They went down to the boat house, and soon were out on the lake in +the <i>Kilo</i>. + +<P> +"She runs better since you had her fixed," remarked Ned. + +<P> +"Yes, they did a good job." + +<P> +"Did you sue Peters?" + +<P> +"Didn't have to. He sent the money," and Tom told of his interview +with Mr. Boylan. This was news to Ned, as was also the financial +trouble of Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Well," said the young banker, "that bears out what I had heard of +Peters--that he was a get-rich-quick chap, and a good one to steer +clear of." + +<P> +"Speaking of steering clear," laughed Tom, "there he is now, in +his big boat," and he pointed to a red blur coming up the lake. +"I'll give him a wide enough berth this time." + +<P> +But though Mr. Peters, in his powerful motor boat, passed close to +Tom's more modest craft, the big man did not glance toward our +hero and his chum. Nor did Mr. Boylan, who was with his friend, +look over. + +<P> +"I guess they've had enough of you," chuckled Ned. + +<P> +"Probably he wishes he hadn't paid me that money," said Tom. "Very +likely he thought, after he handed it over, that I'd be only too +willing to let him manage one of my inventions. But he has another +guess coming." + +<P> +Tom and Ned rode on for some distance, thoroughly enjoying the +spin on the lake that fine Summer day. They stopped for lunch at a +picnic resort, and coming back in the cool of the evening they +found themselves in the midst of a little flotilla of pleasure +craft, all decorated with Japanese lanterns. + +<P> +"Better slow down a bit," Ned advised Tom, for many of the +pleasure craft were canoes and light row boats. "Our wash may +upset some of them." + +<P> +"Guess you're right, old man," agreed Tom, as he closed the +gasolene throttle, to reduce speed. Hardly had he done so than +there broke in upon the merry shouts and singing of the pleasureseekers +the staccato exhaust of a powerful motor boat, coming +directly behind Tom's craft. + +<P> +Then came the shrill warning of an electrical siren horn. + +<P> +"Somebody's in a hurry," observed Tom. + +<P> +"Yes," answered Ned. "It sound's like Peters's boat, too." + +<P> +"It is!" exclaimed Tom. "Here he comes. He ought to know better +than to cut through this raft of boats at that speed." + +<P> +"Is he headed toward us?" + +<P> +"No, I guess he's had enough of that. But look at him!" + +<P> +With undiminished speed the burly promoter was driving his boat +on. The big vibrating horn kept up its clamor, and a powerful +searchlight in front dazzled the eyes. + +<P> +"Look out! Look out!" cried several. + +<P> +Many of the rowers and paddlers made haste to clear a lane for the +big, speedy motor craft, and Peters and his friends (for there +were several men in his boat now) seemed to accept this as a +matter of course, and their right. + +<P> +"Somebody'll be swamped!" exclaimed Ned. + +<P> +Hardly had he spoken than, as the big red boat dashed past in a +smother of foam, there came a startled cry in girls' voices. + +<P> +"Look!" cried Tom. "That canoe's upset! Speed her up, Ned! We've +got to get 'em!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="IX"></A> +<H3>Chapter IX A Gleam Of Hope</H3> + + +<P> +"Where are they?" + +<P> +"Who are they?" + +<P> +"Over this way! There's their canoe!" + +<P> +"Look out for that motor boat!" + +<P> +"Who was it ran them down? They ought to be arrested!" + +<P> +These were only a few of the cries that followed the upsetting of +the frail canoe by the wash from the powerful red boat. On Tom's +<i>Kilo</i> there was a small, electrical searchlight which he had not +yet switched on. But, with his call to Ned Newton to speed up the +motor, that had been slowed down, Tom, with one turn of his +fingers, set the lamp aglow, while, with the other hand, he +whirled the wheel over to head his craft for the spot where he saw +two figures struggling in the water. + +<P> +Fortunately the lanterns on the various canoes and row-boats, as +well as the light on the bow of Tom's <i>Kilo</i>, made an illumination +that gave the rescuers a good chance to work. Many other boats +besides Tom's had headed for the scene, but his was the more +practical, since the others--all quite small ones--were pretty +well filled. + +<P> +"There they are, Ned!" Tom suddenly cried. "Throw out the clutch! +I'll get 'em!" + +<P> +"Want any help?" + +<P> +"No, you stay at the engine, and mind what I say. Reverse now! +We're going to pass them!" + +<P> +Ned threw in the backing gear, and the screw churned the water to +foam under the stern of the <i>Kilo</i>. + +<P> +Tom leaned over the bow, and made a grab for the gasping, +struggling figure of a girl in the water. At the same time he had +tossed overboard a cork life ring, attached to a rope which, in +turn, was made fast to the forward deck-cleat. "Grab that!" cried +Tom. "Hold on, and I'll have you out in a second! That's enough, +Ned! Shut her off!" + +<P> +The <i>Kilo</i> came to a standstill, and, a second later, Tom had pulled +into his boat one of the girls. She would have collapsed, and +fallen in a heap on the bottom boards, had not Ned, who had come +forward from the engine, caught her. + +<P> +Then Tom, again leaning over the side, pulled in the other girl, +who was clinging to the life ring. + +<P> +"You're all right," Tom assured her, as she came up, gasping, +choking and crying hysterically. "You're all right!" + +<P> +"Is--is Minnie saved?" she sobbed. + +<P> +"Yes, Grace! I'm here," answered the one Ned was supporting. + +<P> +"Oh, wasn't it terrible!" cried the second girl Tom had saved. + +<P> +"I thought we would be drowned, even though we can swim." + +<P> +"Yes, it--it was so--so sudden!" gasped her companion. "What +happened?" + +<P> +"The wash from that big boat upset you," explained Tom. "That +fellow ought to be ashamed of himself, rushing along the way he +did. Now, can I take you girls anywhere? Your canoe seems to have +drifted off." + +<P> +"I have it!" someone called. "It's turned over, but I can tow it +to shore." + +<P> +"And I'll take the girls home," offered a gentleman in a large +rowboat. "My wife will look after them. They live near us," and he +mentioned his own name and the names of the two girls Tom had +saved. The young inventor did not know them, but he introduced +himself and Ned. + +<P> +"This is the annual moonlight outing of our little boat club," +explained the man who had offered to look after the girls, "and it +is the first time we ever had an accident. This was not our fault, +though." + +<P> +"Indeed it was not," agreed Tom, after he had helped the two +dripping young ladies into the rowboat. "It was due to Mr. +Peters's speed mania." + +<P> +"I shall make a complaint against him to the navigation +authorities," said Mr. Ralston, who was looking after the girls. +"He must think he, alone, has any rights on this lake." + +<P> +With renewed thanks to Tom and Ned, the rescued girls were rowed +off to their homes, while the interrupted water carnival was +continued. + +<P> +"Some little excitement; eh, Tom?" remarked Ned, when they were +once more under way. + +<P> +"Yes. We seem to run into that fellow Peters, or some of his +doings, quite often lately." + +<P> +"And it isn't a good sign, either," murmured Ned. + +<P> +For some minutes after that Tom did not speak. In fact he was so +silent that Ned at last inquired: + +<P> +"What's the matter, Tom--in love?" + +<P> +"Far from it. But, Ned, I've got an idea." + +<P> +"And I've got a wet suit of clothes where that nice young lady +fainted in my arms. I'm soaked." + +<P> +"That's what gave me the idea--the water, I mean. I noticed how +everything was reflected in it, and, do you know, Ned, I believe I +have been working on the wrong principle for my photo telephone." + +<P> +"Wrong, Tom, how is that?" + +<P> +"Why, I've been using a dry plate, and I think I should have used +a wet one. You know how even in a little puddle of water on the +sidewalk you can see yourself reflected?" + +<P> +"Yes, I've often seen that." + +<P> +"Well then, 'bless my watch chain!' as Mr. Damon would say, I +think I've got just what I want. I'm going to try a wet plate now, +and I think it will work. Come on now. Speed up! I'm in a great +big hurry to get home and try it!" + +<P> +"Well, Tom, I sure will be glad if you've got the right idea," +laughed Ned. "It will be worth getting wet through for, if you +strike something. Good luck!" + +<P> +Tom could hardly wait to fasten up his boat for the night, so +eager was he to get to his shop laboratory and try the new idea. A +gleam of hope had come to him. + +<P> +It was still early evening, and Tom, when enticed out by Ned, had +left his photo telephone apparatus in readiness to go on with his +trials as soon as he should have come back. + +<P> +"Now for it, Ned!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he took off +his coat. "First I'll sensitize a selenium plate, and then I'll +wet it. Water is always a good conductor of electricity, and it's +a wonder that I forgot that when I was planning this photo +telephone. But seeing the sparkle of lights, and the reflection of +ourselves in the lake to-night, brought it back to me. Now then, +you haven't anything special to do; have you?" + +<P> +"Not a thing, Tom." + +<P> +"That's good. Then you get in this other telephone closet--the one +in the casting shop. I'll put a prepared plate in there, and one +in the booth where I'm to sit. Then I'll switch on the current, +and we'll see if I can make you out, and you notice whether my +image appears on your plate." + +<P> +It took some little time to make ready for this new test. Tom was +filled with enthusiasm, and he was sure it was going to be +successful this time. Ned watched him prepare the selenium plates +--plates that were so sensitive to illumination that, in the dark, +the metal would hardly transmit a current of electricity, but in +the light would do so readily, its conductivity depending on the +amount of light it received. + +<P> +"There, I guess we're all ready, Ned," announced Tom, at last. +"Now you go to your little coop, and I'll shut myself up in mine. +We can talk over the telephone." + +<P> +Seated in the little booth in one of the smaller of Tom's shops, +Ned proceeded with his part in the new experiment. A small shelf +had been fitted up in the booth, or closet, and on this was the +apparatus, consisting of a portable telephone set, and a small +box, in which was set a selenium plate. This plate had been wet by +a spray of water in order to test Tom's new theory. + +<P> +In a similar booth, several hundred feet away, and in another +building, Tom took his place. The two booths were connected by +wires, and in each one was an electric light. + +<P> +"All ready, Ned?" asked Tom, through the telephone. + +<P> +"All ready," came the answer. + +<P> +"Now then, turn on your switch--the one I showed you--and look +right at the sensitized plate. Then turn out your light, and +slowly turn it on. It's a new kind, and the light comes up +gradually, like gas or an oil lamp. Turn it on easily." + +<P> +"I get you, Tom." + +<P> +Ned did as requested. Slowly the illumination in the booth +increased. + +<P> +"Do you get anything, Tom?" asked Ned, over the wire. + +<P> +"Not yet," was the somewhat discouraged answer. "Go ahead, turn on +more light, and keep your face close to the plate." + +<P> +Ned did so. + +<P> +"How about it now?" he asked, a moment later. + +<P> +"Nothing--yet," was the answer. And then suddenly Tom's voice rose +to a scream over the wire. + +<P> +"Ned--Ned! Quick!" he called. "Come here--I--I--" + +<P> +The voice died off into a meaningless gurgle. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="X"></A> +<H3>Chapter X Midnight Visitors</H3> + + +<P> +Ned Newton never knew exactly how he got out of the telephone +booth. He seemed to give but one jump, tearing the clamped +receiver from his ear, and almost upsetting the photo apparatus in +his mad rush to help Tom. Certain it is, however, that he did get +out, and a few seconds later he was speeding toward the shop where +Tom had taken his position in a booth. + +<P> +Ned burst in, crying out: + +<P> +"Tom! What is it? What happened? What's the matter?" + +<P> +There was no answer. Fearing the worst, Ned hurried to the small +booth, in one corner of the big, dimly lighted shop. He could see +Tom's lamp burning in the telephone compartment, + +<P> +"Tom! Tom!" called the young banker. + +<P> +Still there was no answer, and Ned, springing forward, threw open +the double, sound-proof door of the booth. Then he saw Tom lying +unconscious, with his head and arms on the table in front of him, +while the low buzzing of the electrical apparatus in the +transmitting box told that the current had not been shut off. + +<P> +"Tom! Tom!" cried Ned in his chum's ear He shook him by the +shoulder, + +<P> +"Are you hurt? What is the matter?" + +<P> +The young inventor seemed unconscious, and for a moment Ned had a +wild idea that Tom had been shocked to death, possibly by some +crossed live wire coming in contact with the telephone circuit. + +<P> +"But that couldn't have happened, or I'd have been shocked +myself," mused Ned. + +<P> +Then he became aware of a curious, sweet, sickish odor in the +booth. It was overpowering. Ned felt himself growing dizzy. + +<P> +"I have it--chloroform!" he gasped. "In some way Tom has been +overcome by chloroform. I've got to get him to the fresh air." + +<P> +Once he had solved the puzzle of Tom's unconsciousness, Ned was +quick to act. He caught Tom under the arms, and dragged him out of +the booth, and to the outer door of the shop. Almost before Ned +had reached there with his limp burden, Tom began to revive, and +soon the fresh, cool night air completed the work. + +<P> +"I--I," began the young inventor. "Ned, I--I--" + +<P> +"Now take it easy, Tom," advised his chum. "You'll be all right in +a few minutes. What happened? Shall I call your father, or Koku?" + +<P> +"No--don't. It would only--only alarm dad," faltered Tom. "I'm +getting all right now. But he--he nearly had me, Ned!" + +<P> +"He had you? What do you mean, Tom? Who had you?" + +<P> +"I don't know who it was, but when I was talking to you over the +wire, all of a sudden I felt a hand behind me. It slipped over my +mouth and nose, and I smelled chloroform. I knew right away +something was wrong, and I called to you. That's all I remember. I +guess I must have gone off." + +<P> +"You did," spoke Ned. "You were unconscious when I got to you. I +couldn't imagine what had happened. First I thought it was an +electrical shock. Then I smelled that chloroform. But who could it +have been, Tom?" + +<P> +"Give it up, Ned! I haven't the slightest idea." + +<P> +"Could they have been going to rob you?" + +<P> +"I haven't a thing but a nickel watch on me," went on Tom. "I left +all my cash in the house. If it was robbery, it wasn't me, +personally, they were after." + +<P> +"What then? Some of your inventions?" + +<P> +"That's my idea now, Ned. You remember some years ago Jake Burke +and his gang held me up and took one of dad's patents away from +me?" + +<P> +"Yes, I've heard you mention that. It was when you first got your +motor cycle; wasn't it?" + +<P> +"That's right. Well, what I was going to say was that they used +chloroform on me then, and--" + +<P> +"You think this is the same crowd? Why, I thought they were +captured." + +<P> +"No, they got away, but I haven't heard anything of them in years. +Now it may be they have come back for revenge, for you know we got +back the stolen property." + +<P> +"That's right. Say, Tom, it might be so. What are you going to do +about it?" + +<P> +"I hardly know. If it was Jake Burke, alias Happy Harry, and his +crowd, including Appleson, Morse and Featherton, they're a bad +lot. I wouldn't want father to know they were around, for he'd be +sure to worry himself sick. He never really got over the time they +attacked me, and got the patent away. Dad sure thought he was +ruined then." + +<P> +"Now if I tell him I was chloroformed again to-night, and that I +think it was Burke and his crowd, he'd be sure to get ill over it. +So I'm just going to keep mum." + +<P> +"Well, perhaps it's the best plan. But you ought to do something." + +<P> +"Oh, I will, Ned, don't worry about that. I feel much better now." + +<P> +"How did it happen?" asked Ned, his curiosity not yet satisfied. + +<P> +"I don't know, exactly. I was in the booth, talking to you, and +not paying much attention to anything else. I was adjusting and +readjusting the current, trying to get that image to appear on the +plate. All at once, I felt someone back of me, and, before I could +turn, that hand, with the chloroform sponge, was over my mouth and +nose. I struggled, and called out, but it wasn't much use." + +<P> +"But they didn't do anything else--they didn't take anything; did +they, Tom?" + +<P> +"I don't know, Ned. We'll have to look around. They must have +sneaked into the shop. I left the door open, you see. It would +have been easy enough." + +<P> +"How many were there?" + +<P> +"I couldn't tell. I only felt one fellow at me; but he may have +had others with him." + +<P> +"What particular invention were they after, Tom?" + +<P> +"I'm sure I don't know. There are several models in here that +would be valuable. I know one thing, though, they couldn't have +been after my photo telephone," and Tom laughed grimly. + +<P> +"Why not?" Ned wanted to know. + +<P> +"Because it's a failure--that's what! It's a dead, sure failure, +Ned, and I'm going to give it up!" and Tom spoke bitterly. + +<P> +"Oh, don't say that!" urged his chum. "You may be right on the +verge of perfecting it, Tom. Didn't you see any image at all on +the plate?" + +<P> +"Not a shadow. I must be on the wrong track. Well, never mind +about that now. I'm going to look around, and see if those fellows +took anything." + +<P> +Tom was feeling more like himself again, the effects of the +chloroform having passed away. He had breathed the fumes of it for +only a little while, so no harm had been done. He and Ned made an +examination of the shop, but found nothing missing. + +<P> +There were no traces of the intruders, however, though the two +chums looked carefully about outside the building. + +<P> +"You were too quick for them, Ned," said Tom. "You came as soon as +I called. They heard me speaking, and must have known that I had +given the alarm." + +<P> +"Yes, I didn't lose any time," admitted Ned, "but I didn't see a +sign of anyone as I ran up." + +<P> +"They must have been pretty quick at getting away. Well, now to +decide what's best to do to-night." + +<P> +After some consultation and consideration it was decided to set +the burglar alarms in every building of the Swift plant. Some time +previous, when he had been working on a number of valuable +inventions, unscrupulous men had tried to steal his ideas and +models. To prevent this Tom had arranged a system of burglar +alarms, and had also fitted up a wizard camera that would take +moving pictures of anyone coming within its focus. The camera +could be set to work at night, in connection with the burglar +alarms. + +<P> +The apparatus was effective, and thus an end was put to the +efforts of the criminals. But now it seemed Tom would have to take +new precautionary measures. His camera, however, was not +available, as he had loaned it to a scientific society for +exhibition. + +<P> +"But we'll attach the burglar wires," decided Tom, "and see what +happens." + +<P> +"It might be a good plan to have Koku on guard," said Tom's chum. +"That giant could handle four or five of the chaps as easily as +you and I could tackle one." + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Tom. "I'll put him on guard. Whew! That +chloroform is giving me a headache. Guess I'll go to bed. I wish +you'd stay over to-night, Ned, if you haven't anything else to do. +I may need you." + +<P> +"Then of course I'll stay, Tom. I'll telephone home that I won't +be in." + +<P> +A little later Tom had put away his new photo telephone apparatus, +and had prepared for the warm reception of any unbidden callers. + +<P> +"I wish I hadn't started on this new invention," said Tom, half +bitterly, as he locked up the main parts of his machine, "I know +it will never work." + +<P> +"Oh, yes it will," spoke Ned, cheerfully. "You never failed yet, +Tom Swift, in anything you undertook, and you're not going to +now." + +<P> +"Well, that's good of you to say, Ned, but I think you're wrong +this time. But I'm not going to think any more about it to-night, +anyhow. Now to find Koku and put him on watch." + +<P> +The giant listened carefully to Tom's simple instructions. + +<P> +"If any bad men come in the night, Koku," said the young inventor, +"you catch them!" + +<P> +"Yes, master, me catch!" said Koku, grimly. "Me catch!" and he +stretched out his powerful arms, and clenched his big hands in a +way that boded no good to evildoers. + +<P> +Nothing was said to Mr. Swift, to Mrs. Baggert, or to Eradicate +about what had happened, for Tom did not want to worry them. The +burglar alarms were set, Koku took his place where he could watch +the signals, and at the same time be ready to rush out, for, +somehow, Tom had an idea that the men who had attacked him would +come back. + +<P> +Tom and Ned occupied adjoining rooms, and soon were ready for bed. +But, somehow, Tom could not sleep. He lay awake, tossing from side +to side, and, in spite of his resolution not to think about his +photo telephone invention, his mind ran on nothing but that. + +<P> +"I can't see what next to do to make it work," he told himself, +over and over again. "Something is wrong--but what?" + +<P> +At length he fell into a fitful doze, and he had a wild dream that +he was sliding down hill on a big mirror in which all sorts of +reflections were seen--reflections that he could not get to show +in the selenium plates. + +<P> +Then Tom felt the mirror bobbing up and down like a motor boat in +a storm. He felt the vibration, and he heard a voice calling in +his ear: + +<P> +"Get up, Tom! Get up!" + +<P> +"Yes! What is it?" he sleepily exclaimed, + +<P> +"Hush!" was the caution he heard, and then he realized that his +dream had been caused by Ned shaking him. + +<P> +"Well?" whispered Tom, in tense tones. + +<P> +"Midnight visitors!" answered his chum "The burglar alarm has just +gone off! The airship hangar drop fell. Koku has gone out. Come +on!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XI The Airship Is Taken</H3> + + +<P> +Tom leaped silently out of bed, and stood for a moment half +dazed, so soundly had he been sleeping. + +<P> +"Come on!" urged Ned softly, realizing that his chum had not fully +comprehended. "Koku will hold them until we get there. I haven't +roused anyone else." + +<P> +"That's right," whispered Tom, as he began putting on his clothes. +"I don't want father to know. When did it happen?" + +<P> +"Just a little while ago. I couldn't sleep very well, but I fell +into a doze, and then I heard the buzzer of the alarm go off. I +saw that the drop, showing that the hangar had been entered, had +fallen. I got to the window in time to see Koku going toward the +shed from his little coop. Then I came to you." + +<P> +"Glad you did," answered Tom. "I didn't think I was sleeping so +soundly." + +<P> +Together the two chums made their way from their rooms down the +dimly-lighted hall to a side door, whence they could reach the +airship hangar, or shed. + +<P> +"Won't we need something--a gun or--" began Ned. + +<P> +"Clubs are better--especially at night when you can't see to aim +very well," whispered back Tom. "I've got a couple of good ones +downstairs. I could use my electric rifle, and set it merely to +disable temporarily whoever the charge hit, but it's a little too +risky. Koku has a habit of getting in the way at the most +unexpected times. He's so big, you know. I think clubs will be +best." + +<P> +"All right, Tom, just as you say," agreed Ned. "But who do you +think it can be?" + +<P> +"I haven't the least idea. Probably the same fellows who were +after me before, though. This time I'll find out what their game +is, and what they're after." + +<P> +The chums reached the lower hall, and there Tom picked out two +African war clubs which he had brought back with him from one of +his many trips into wild lands. + +<P> +"These are just the thing!" exclaimed Ned, swinging his about. + +<P> +"Careful," cautioned Tom, "If you hit something you'll rouse the +house, and I don't want my father and Mrs. Baggert, to say nothing +of Eradicate, awakened." + +<P> +"Excuse me," murmured Ned. "But we'd better be getting a move on." + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Tom. He dropped into a side pocket a small +but powerful electric flash lamp, and then he and Ned let +themselves out. + +<P> +There had been a bright moon, but it was now overcast by clouds. +However, there was sufficient light to enable the two lads to see +objects quite clearly. All about them were the various buildings +that made up the manufacturing and experimental plant of Tom Swift +and his father. Farthest away from the house was the big shed +where once Tom had kept a balloon, but which was now given over to +his several airships. In front of it was a big, level grassy +space, needed to enable the aircraft to get a "running start" +before they could mount into the clouds. + +<P> +"See anything of Koku?" whispered Ned. + +<P> +"No," answered Tom, in the same cautious voice. "I guess he must +be hiding--" + +<P> +"There he goes now!" hissed Ned, pointing to a big figure that was +approaching the hangar. It was undoubtedly that of the giant, and +he could be seen, in the dim light, stalking cautiously along. + +<P> +"I wonder where the uninvited guests are?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Probably in the airship shed," answered Ned. "Koku was after them +as soon as the alarm went off, and they couldn't have gotten away. +They must be inside there yet. But what can their game be?" + +<P> +"It's hard to say," admitted Tom. "They may be trying to get +something belonging to me, or they may imagine they can pick up +some valuable secrets. Or they may--" He stopped suddenly, and +then exclaimed: + +<P> +"Come on, Ned! They're after one of the airships! That's it! My +big biplane is all ready to start, and they can get it in motion +inside of a few seconds. Oh, why didn't I hurry?" he added, +bitterly. + +<P> +But the hangar was still some distance away, and it would take two +or three minutes of running to reach it. + +<P> +Meanwhile, and at the instant Tom had his thought of the possible +theft of his biggest aircraft, something happened. + +<P> +The doors of the shed were suddenly thrown open, and the two boys +could see the large airship being wheeled out. The hazy light of +the moon behind the clouds shone on the expanse of white planes, +and on the fish-tail rudder, one of Tom's latest ideas. + +<P> +"Hey, there!" cried Tom, warningly. + +<P> +"Leave that alone!" yelled Ned. + +<P> +"Koku! Koku!" shouted Tom, shrilly. "Get after those fellows!" + +<P> +"Me get!" boomed out the giant, in his deep voice. + +<P> +He had been standing near the entrance to the hangar, probably +waiting for developments, and watching for the arrival of Tom and +Ned. The big form was seen to leap forward, and then several dark +shadows swarmed from around the airship, and were seen to fling +themselves upon the giant. + +<P> +"That's a fight!" cried Ned. "They're attacking him!" + +<P> +"Koku can take care of himself!" murmured Tom. "But come on. I +don't see what their game is." + +<P> +He understood a moment later, however, for while several of the +midnight visitors were engaged in a hand-to-hand tussle with the +giant there came a sharp, throbbing roar of the airship motor in +motion. The propellers were being whirled rapidly about. + +<P> +"Koku! Koku!" cried Tom, for he was still some distance off. +"Never mind them! Don't let the airship be taken!" + +<P> +But Koku could only grunt. Big and strong as he was, half a dozen +men attacking him at once hampered him. He threw them from him, +one after another, and was gradually making his way toward the now +slowly-moving airship. But would he be in time? + +<P> +Tom and Ned could not hope to reach the machine before Koku, +though they were running at top speed. + +<P> +"Koku! Koku!" yelled Tom. "Don't let them get away!" + +<P> +But Koku could only grunt--harder this time--for he fell heavily, +being tripped by a stick thrust between his legs. He lay for a +moment stunned. + +<P> +"They're going to get away!" panted Tom, making an effort to +increase his speed. + +<P> +"That's what!" agreed Ned. + +<P> +Even as they spoke the roar of the airship motor increased. +Several of the dark forms which had been engaged in the struggle +with Koku were seen to pick themselves up, and run toward the +airship, that was now in motion, moving on the bicycle wheels over +the grass plot, preparatory to mounting upward in the sky. + +<P> +"Stop! Stop!" commanded Tom. But it was all in vain. + +<P> +The men leaped aboard the airship, which could carry six persons, +and a moment later, with a deafening roar, as the engine opened up +full, the big craft shot upward, taking away all but two of the +midnight visitors. These, who had seemingly been stunned by Koku, +now arose from the ground, and staggered off in the darkness. + +<P> +"Get them!" cried Tom. + +<P> +"We must see to Koku!" added Ned, "Look, there goes your airship, +Tom!" + +<P> +"Yes, I know. But we can't stop that now. Let's see if we can get +a clew in these fellows!" + +<P> +He pointed toward the two who had run off in the dark underbrush +surrounding the hangar plaza, and he and Ned trailed them as well +as they could. But from the first they knew it would be useless, +for there were many hiding places, and, a little way beyond, was a +clump of trees. + +<P> +After a short search Tom gave up reluctantly, and came back to +where Koku was now sitting on the ground. + +<P> +"Are you hurt?" he asked of the giant. + +<P> +"My mind hurt--that all," said the big man. + +<P> +"I guess he means his feelings are hurt," Tom explained. "Do you +know who they were, Koku?" + +<P> +"No, master." + +<P> +"But we must do something!" cried Ned. "They've got your airship, +Tom." + +<P> +"I know it," said the young inventor, calmly. "But we can't do +anything now. You can hardly hear her, let alone see her. She's +moving fast!" + +<P> +He pointed upward to the darkness. Like some black bird of prey +the airship was already lost to sight, though it would have seemed +as if her white planes might render her visible. But she had moved +so swiftly that, during the short search, she had already +disappeared. + +<P> +"Aren't you going to do anything?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"Certainly," spoke Tom. "I'm going to telephone an alarm to all +the nearby towns. This is certainly a queer game, Ned." + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XII A Strange Disappearance</H3> + + +<P> +Disappointed and puzzled, Tom and Ned went to where Koku was +standing in rather a dazed attitude. The giant, like all large +bodies, moved slowly, not only bodily but mentally. He could +understand exactly what had happened, except that he had not +prevailed over the "pygmies" who had attacked him. They had been +too many for him. + +<P> +"Let's take a look inside," suggested Tom, when, by another glance +upward, he had made sure that all trace of his big airship was +gone. "Maybe we can get a clew. Then, Koku, you tell us what +happened." + +<P> +"It all happened to me," said the giant, simply. "Me no make +anything happen to them." + +<P> +"That's about right," laughed Tom, ruefully. "It all happened to +us." + +<P> +The lights in the hangar were switched on, but a careful search +revealed little. The men, half a dozen or more, had come evidently +well prepared for the taking away of Tom Swift's airship, and they +had done so. + +<P> +Entrance had been effected by forcing a small side door. True, the +burglar alarm had given notice of the presence of the men, but Tom +and Ned had not acted quite quickly enough. Koku had been at the +hangar almost as soon as the men themselves, but he had watched +and waited for orders, instead of going in at once, and this had +given the intruders time to wheel out the craft and start the +motor. + +<P> +"Why didn't you jump right in on them when you saw what they were +up to, Koku?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Me wait for master. Me think master want to see who men were. Me +go in--they run." + +<P> +"Well, of course that's so, in a way," admitted Tom. "They +probably would have run, but they'd have run <i>without</i> my airship +instead of <i>with</i> it, if they hadn't had time to get it outside the +hangar. However, there's no use in crying over lost biplanes. The +next thing is how to get her back. Did you know any of the men, +Koku?" + +<P> +"No, master." + +<P> +"Then we haven't any clew that way. They laid their plans well. +They just let you tangle yourself up with them, Koku, while the +head ones got the motor going; an easy matter, since it was all +ready to start. Then they tripped you, Koku, and as many of them +as could, made a jump for the machine. Then they were off." + +<P> +"Well, what's the next thing to do?" asked Ned, when another look +about the shed had shown that not the slightest clew was +available. + +<P> +"I'm going to do some telephoning," Tom stated. "A big airship +like mine can't go scooting around the country without being +noticed. And those fellows can't go on forever. They've got to +have gasolene and oil, and to get them they'll have to come down. +I'll get it back, sooner or later; but the question is: Why did +they take her?" + +<P> +"To sell," suggested Ned. + +<P> +"I think not," Tom said. "A big airship like mine isn't easy to +sell. People who would buy it would ask questions that might not +easily be answered. I'm inclined to think that some other reason +made them take her, and it's up to us to find out what it was. +Let's go into the house." + +<P> +"Hark!" suddenly exclaimed Ned, holding up his hand for silence. +They all heard footsteps outside the hangar. + +<P> +Tom sprang to the door, flashing his electric light, and a voice +exclaimed: + +<P> +"Golly! Chicken thieves!" + +<P> +"Oh, is it you, Eradicate?" asked the young inventor, with a +laugh. "No, it isn't chicken thieves--they were after bigger game +this time." + +<P> +"Suffin happen?" asked the colored man. "Massa Swift he heah a +noise, an' see a light, an' he sent me out yeah t' see what all am +gwine on." + +<P> +"Yes, something happened," admitted Tom. "They got the <i>Eagle</i>, +Rad." + +<P> +"What! Yo' big airship?" + +<P> +"Yes." + +<P> +"Huh! Dat's too bad, Massa Tom. I suah am sorry t' heah dat. Who +done it?" + +<P> +"We don't know, Rad." + +<P> +"Maybe it was dat low-down cousin ob mine what tried t' git mah +chickens, onct!" + +<P> +"No, Rad, it wasn't your cousin. But I'll telephone the alarm to +the police. They may be able to help me get the <i>Eagle</i> back." + +<P> +Within the next hour several messages were sent to the authorities +of nearby towns, asking them to be on the watch for the stolen +airship. This was about all that could be done, and after Mr. +Swift had been told the story of the night's happenings, everyone +went back to bed again. + +<P> +Further search the next morning brought forth no clews, though +Tom, Ned and the others beat about in the bushes where the men had +disappeared. + +<P> +One or two reports were heard from surrounding towns, to the +effect that several persons had heard a strange throbbing sound in +the night, that, possibly, was caused by the passage of the +airship overhead. One such report came from Waterford, the home +town of Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Let's go over there," suggested Ned, to his chum. "I'd like to +see our friend, and maybe we can get some other clews by +circulating around there." + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know," spoke Tom, rather listlessly. + +<P> +"Why not?" Ned wanted to know. + +<P> +"Well, I ought to be working on my photo telephone," was the +answer. "I've got a new idea now. I'm going to try a different +kind of current, and use a more sensitive plate. And I'll use a +tungsten filament lamp in the sending booth." + +<P> +"Oh, let your experiments go for a little while, Tom," suggested +Ned. "Come on over to Mr. Damon's. The trouble with you is that +you keep too long at a thing, once you start." + +<P> +"That's the only way to succeed," remarked Tom. "Really, Ned, +while I feel sorry about the airship, of course, I ought to be +working on my telephone. I'll get the <i>Eagle</i> back sooner or later." + +<P> +"That's not the way to talk, Tom. Let's follow up this clew." + +<P> +"Well, if you insist on it I suppose I may as well go. We'll take +the little monoplane. I've fixed her up to carry double. I guess--" + +<P> +Tom Swift broke off suddenly, as the telephone at his elbow rang. + +<P> +"Hello," he said, taking off the receiver. "Yes, this is Tom +Swift. Oh, good morning, Mrs. Damon! Eh! What's that? Mr. Damon +has disappeared? You don't tell me! Disappeared! Yes, yes, I can +come right over. Be there in a few minutes. Eh? You don't know +what to make of it? Oh, well, maybe it can easily be explained. +Yes, Ned Newton and I will be right over. Don't worry." + +<P> +Tom hung up the receiver and turned to his chum. + +<P> +"What do you think of that?" he asked. + +<P> +"What is it?" + +<P> +"Why, Mr. Damon mysteriously vanished last night, and this morning +word came from his bankers that every cent of his fortune had +disappeared! He's lost everything!" + +<P> +"Maybe--maybe--" hesitated Ned. + +<P> +"No, Mr. Damon isn't that kind of a man," said Tom, stoutly. "He +hasn't made away with himself." + +<P> +"But something is wrong!" + +<P> +"Evidently, and it's up to us to find out what it is. I shouldn't +be surprised but that he knew of this coming trouble and started +out to prevent it if he could." + +<P> +"But he wouldn't disappear and make his wife worry." + +<P> +"No, that's so. Well, we'll have to go over there and find out all +about it." + +<P> +"Say, Tom!" exclaimed Ned, as they were getting the small, but +swift monoplane ready for the flight, "could there be any +connection with the disappearance of Mr. Damon and the taking of +the <i>Eagle</i>?" + +<P> +Tom started in surprise. + +<P> +"How could there be?" he asked. + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know," answered Ned. "It was only an idea." + +<P> +"Well, we'll see what Mrs. Damon has to say," spoke the young +inventor, as he took his seat beside Ned, and motioned to Koku to +twirl the propeller. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIII The Telephone Picture</H3> + + +<P> +"Oh, Tom Swift! I'm so glad to see you!" + +<P> +Mrs. Damon clasped her arms, in motherly fashion, about the young +inventor. He held her close, and his own eyes were not free from +tears as he witnessed the grief of his best friend's wife. + +<P> +"Now, don't worry, Mrs. Damon," said Tom, sympathetically. +"Everything will be all right," and he led her to a chair. + +<P> +"All right, Tom! How can it be?" and the lady raised a tear-stained +face. "My husband has disappeared, without a word! It's +just as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up! I can't find +a trace of him! How can it be all right?" + +<P> +"Well, we'll find him, Mrs. Damon. Don't worry. Ned and I will get +right to work, and I'll have all the police and detectives within +fifty miles on the search--if we have to go that far." + +<P> +"Oh, it's awfully good of you, Tom. I--I didn't know who else to +turn to in my trouble but you." + +<P> +"And why shouldn't you come to me? I'd do anything for you and Mr. +Damon. Now tell me all about it." + +<P> +Tom and Ned had just arrived at the Damon home in the airship, to +find the wife of the eccentric man almost distracted over her +husband's strange disappearance. + +<P> +"It happened last night," Mrs. Damon said, when she was somewhat +composed. "Last night about twelve o'clock." + +<P> +"Twelve o'clock!" cried Tom, in surprise "Why that's about the +time--" + +<P> +He stopped suddenly. + +<P> +"What were you going to say?" asked Mrs. Damon. + +<P> +"Oh--nothing," answered Tom. "I--I'll tell you later. Go on, +please." + +<P> +"It is all so confusing," proceeded Mrs. Damon. "You know my +husband has been in trouble of late--financial trouble?" + +<P> +"Yes," responded Tom, "he mentioned it to me." + +<P> +"I don't know any of the details," sighed Mrs. Damon, "but I know +he was mixed up with a man named Peters." + +<P> +"I know him, too," spoke Tom, grimly. + +<P> +"My husband has been very gloomy of late," went on Mrs. Damon. "He +foolishly entrusted almost his entire fortune to that man, and +last night he told me it was probably all gone. He said he saw +only the barest chance to save it, but that he was going to take +that chance." + +<P> +"Did he go into details?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"No, that was all he said. That was about ten o'clock. He didn't +want to go to bed. He just sat about, and he kept saying over and +over again: 'Bless my tombstone!' 'Bless the cemetery!' and all +such stuff as that. You know how he was," and she smiled through +her tears. + +<P> +"Yes," said Tom. "I know. Only it wasn't like him to bless such +grewsome things. He was more jolly." + +<P> +"He hasn't been, of late," sighed his wife. "Well, he sat about +all the evening, and he kept figuring away, trying, I suppose, to +find some way out of his trouble." + +<P> +"Why didn't he come to my father?" cried Tom. "I told him he could +have all the money he needed to tide him over." + +<P> +"Well, Mr. Damon was queer that way," said his wife. "He wanted to +be independent. I urged him to call you up, but he said he'd fight +it out alone." + +<P> +"As I said, we sat there, and he kept feeling more and more blue, +and blessing his funeral, and the hearse and all such things as +that. He kept looking at the clock, too, and I wondered at that." + +<P> +"'Are you expecting someone?' I asked him. He said he wasn't, +exactly, but I made sure he was, and finally, about half-past +eleven, he put on his hat and went out." + +<P> +"'Where are you going?' I asked him." + +<P> +"'Oh, just to get a breath of air. I can't sleep,' he said. I +didn't think much of that, as he often used to go out and walk +about a bit before going to bed. So he went out, and I began to +see about locking up, for I never trust the servants." + +<P> +"It must have been about an hour later when I heard voices out in +front. I looked, and I saw Mr. Damon talking to a man." + +<P> +"Who was he?" asked Tom, eagerly, on the alert for the slightest +clew. + +<P> +"I thought at the time," said Mrs. Damon, "that it was one of the +neighbors. I have learned since, however, that it was not. Anyhow, +this man and Mr. Damon stood talking for a little while, and then +they went off together. I didn't think it strange at the time, +supposing he was merely strolling up and down in front with Mr. +Blackson, who lives next door, He often had done that before." + +<P> +"Well, I saw that the house was locked up, and then I sat down in +a chair to wait for Mr. Damon to come back. I was getting sleepy, +for we don't usually stay up so late. I suppose I must have dozed +off, but I was suddenly awakened by hearing a peculiar noise. I +sat up in alarm, and then I realized that Mr. Damon had not come +in." + +<P> +"I was frightened then, and I called my maid. It was nearly one +o'clock, and my husband never stays out as late as that. We went +next door, and found that Mr. Blackson had not been out of his +house that evening. So it could not have been he to whom Mr. Damon +was speaking." + +<P> +"We roused up other neighbors, and they searched all about the +grounds, thinking he might have been overcome by a sudden faint. But +we could not find him. My husband had disappeared--mysteriously +disappeared!" and the lady broke into sobs. + +<P> +"Now don't worry," said Tom, soothingly, as he put his arms about +her as he would have done to his own mother, had she been alive, +"We'll get him back!" + +<P> +"But how can you? No one knows where he is." + +<P> +"Oh, yes!" said Tom, confidently, "Mr. Damon himself knows where +he is, and unless he has gone away voluntarily, I think you will +soon hear from him." + +<P> +"What do you mean by--voluntarily?" asked the wife. + +<P> +"First let me ask you a question," came from Tom. "You said you +were awakened by a peculiar noise. What sort of a sound was it?" + +<P> +"Why, a whirring, throbbing noise, like--like--" + +<P> +She paused for a comparison. + +<P> +"Like an airship?" asked Tom, with a good deal of eagerness. + +<P> +"That was it!" cried Mrs. Damon. "I was trying to think where I +had heard the sound before. It was just like the noise your +airship makes, Tom!" + +<P> +"That settles it!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +<P> +"Settles what?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"The manner of Mr. Damon's disappearance. He was taken away--or +went away--in my airship--the airship that was stolen from my shed +last night!" + +<P> +Mrs. Damon stared at Tom in amazement. + +<P> +"Why--why--how could that be?" she asked. + +<P> +Quickly Tom told of what had happened at his place. + +<P> +"I begin to see through it," he said. "There is some plot here, +and we've got to get to the bottom of it. Mr. Damon either went +with these men in the airship willingly, or he was taken away by +force. I'm inclined to think he went of his own accord, or you +would have heard some outcry, Mrs. Damon." + +<P> +"Well, perhaps so," she admitted. "But would he go away in that +manner without telling me?" + +<P> +"He might," said Tom, willing to test his theory on all sides. "He +might not have wanted you to worry, for you know you dislike him +to go up an airships." + +<P> +"Yes, I do. Oh, if I only thought he did go away of his own +accord, I could understand it. He went, if he did, to try and save +his fortune." + +<P> +"It does look as though he had an appointment with someone, Tom," +suggested Ned. "His looking at the clock, and then going out, and all +that." + +<P> +"Yes," admitted the young inventor, "and now I'm inclined to +change my theory a bit. It may have been some other airship than +mine that was used." + +<P> +"How so?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"Because the men who took mine were unprincipled fellows. Mr. +Damon would not have gone away with men who would steal an +airship." + +<P> +"Not if he knew it," admitted Ned. "Well, then, let's consider two +airships--yours and the other that came to keep the appointment +with Mr. Damon. If the last is true, why should he want to go away +in an airship at midnight? Why couldn't he take a train, or an +auto?" + +<P> +"Well, we don't know all the ins and outs," admitted Tom. "Taking +a midnight airship ride is rather strange, but that may have been +the only course open. We'll have to let the explanation go until +later. At any rate, Mrs. Damon, I feel sure that your husband did +go off through the air--either in my <i>Eagle</i> or in some other +craft." + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad to hear you say so, Tom Swift, though it sounds a +dreadful thing to say. But if he did go off of his own accord, I +know he did it for the best. And he may not have told me, for fear +I would worry. I can understand that. But why isn't he back now?" + +<P> +Tom had been rather dreading that question. It was one he had +asked himself, and he had found no good answer for it. If there +had been such need of haste, that an airship had to be used. why +had not Mr. Damon come back ere this? Unless, as Tom feared to +admit, even to himself, there had been some accident. + +<P> +Half a dozen theories flashed through his mind, but he could not +select a good, working one,--particularly as there were no clews. +Disappearing in an airship was the one best means of not leaving a +trace behind. An auto, a motor boat, a train, a horse and +carriage--all these could be more or less easily traced. But an +airship-- + +<P> +If Mr. Damon wanted to cover up his tracks, or if he had been +taken away, and his captors wanted to baffle pursuit, the best +means had been adopted. + +<P> +"Now don't you worry," advised Tom to Mrs. Damon. "I know it looks +funny, but I think it will come out all right. Ned and I will do +all we can. Mr. Damon must have known what he was about. But, to +be on the safe side, we'll send out a general alarm through the +police." + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know what I'd done if you hadn't come to help me!" +exclaimed Mrs. Damon. + +<P> +"Just you leave it to me!" said the young inventor, cheerfully. +"I'll find Mr. Damon!" + +<P> +But, though he spoke thus confidently, Tom Swift had not the +slightest notion, just then, of how to set about his difficult +task. He had had hard problems to solve before, so he was not +going to give up this one. First he wanted to think matters out, +and arrange a plan of action. + +<P> +He and Ned made a careful examination of the grounds of the Damon +homestead. There was little they could learn, though they did find +where an airship had landed in a meadow, not far away, and where +it had made a flying start off again. + +<P> +Carefully Tom looked at the marks made by the wheels of the +airship. + +<P> +"They're the same distance apart as those on the <i>Eagle</i>," he said +to his chum, "and the tires are the same. But that isn't saying +anything, as lots of airships have the same equipment. So we won't +jump to any conclusions that way." + +<P> +Tom and Ned interviewed several of the neighbors, but beyond +learning that some of them had heard the throbbing of the midnight +airship, that was as far as they got on that line. + +<P> +There was nothing more they could do in Waterford, and, leaving +Mrs. Damon, who had summoned a relative to stay with her, the two +chums made a quick trip back through the air to Shopton. As +Eradicate came out to help put away the monoplane Tom noticed that +the colored man was holding one hand as though it hurt him. + +<P> +"What's the matter, Rad?" asked the young investor. + +<P> +"Oh, nuffin--jest natcherly nuffin, Massa Tom." + +<P> +But Eradicate spoke evasively and in a manner that roused Tom's +suspicions. + +<P> +"Boomerang, your mule, didn't kick you; did he?" + +<P> +"No, sah, Massa Tom, no sah. 'Twern't nuffin laik dat." + +<P> +"But what was it? Your hand is hurt!" + +<P> +"Well, Massa Tom, I s'pose I done bettah tell yo' all. I'se had a +shock!" + +<P> +"A shock?" + +<P> +"Yas, sah. A shock. A lickrish shock." + +<P> +"Oh, you mean an electrical shock. That's too bad. I suppose you +must have touched a live wire." + +<P> +"No, sah. 'Twern't dat way." + +<P> +"How was it, then?" + +<P> +"Well, yo' see, Massa Tom, I were playin' a joke on Koku." + +<P> +"Oh, you were; eh? Then I suppose Koku shocked you," laughed Tom. + +<P> +"No, sah. I--I'll tell you. Dat giant man he were in de telefoam +boof in de pattern shop--you know--de one where yo' all been +tryin' to make pishures." + +<P> +"Yes, I know. Go on!" exclaimed Tom, impatiently. + +<P> +"Well, he were in dere, Massa Tom, an' I slipped into de boof in +de next shop--de odder place where yo' all been 'speermentin'. I +called out on de telefoam, loud laik de Angel Gabriel gwine t' +holler at de last trump: 'Look out, yo' ole sinnah!' I yell it +jest t' scare Koku." + +<P> +"I see," said Tom, a bit severely, for he did not like Eradicate +interfering with the instruments. "And did you scare Koku?" + +<P> +"Oh, yas, sah, Massa Tom. I skeered him all right; but suffin else +done happen. When I put down de telefoam I got a terrible shock. +It hurts yit!" + +<P> +"Well," remarked Tom, "I suppose I ought to feel sorry for you, +but I can't. You should let things alone. Now I've got to see if +you did any damage. Come along, Ned." + +<P> +Tom was the first to enter the telephone booth where Eradicate had +played the part of the Angel Gabriel. He looked at the wires and +apparatus, but could see nothing wrong. + +<P> +Then he glanced at the selenium plate, on which he hoped, some +day, to imprint an image from over the wire. And, as he saw the +smooth surface he started, and cried. + +<P> +"Ned! Ned, come here quick!" + +<P> +"What is it?" asked his chum, Crowding into the booth. + +<P> +"Look at that plate! Tell me what you see!" + +<P> +Ned looked. + +<P> +"Why--why it's Koku's picture!" he gasped. + +<P> +"Exactly!" cried Tom. "In some way my experiment has succeeded +when I was away. Eradicate must have made some new connection by +his monkeying. Ned, it's a success! I've got my first photo +telephone picture! Hurray!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIV Making Improvements</H3> + + +<P> +Tom Swift was so overjoyed and excited that for a few moments he +capered about, inside the booth, and outside, knocking against his +chum Ned, clapping him on the back, and doing all manner of boyish +"stunts." + +<P> +"It's a success, Ned! I've struck it!" cried Tom, in delight. + +<P> +"Ouch! You struck <i>me</i>, you mean!" replied Ned, rubbing his +shoulder, where the young inventor had imparted a resounding blow +of joy. + +<P> +"What of it?" exclaimed Tom. "My apparatus works! I can send a +picture by telephone! It's great, Ned!" + +<P> +"But I don't exactly understand how it happened," said Ned, in +some bewilderment, as he gazed at the selenium plate. + +<P> +"Neither do I," admitted Tom, when he had somewhat calmed down. +"That is, I don't exactly understand what made the thing succeed +now, when it wouldn't work for me a little while ago. But I've got +to go into that. I'll have to interview that rascal Eradicate, and +learn what he did when he played that trick on Koku. Yes, and I'll +have to see Koku, too. We've got to get at the bottom of this, +Ned." + +<P> +"I suppose so. You've got your hands full, Tom, with your photo +telephone, and the disappearance of Mr. Damon." + +<P> +"Yes, and my own airship, too. I must get after that. Whew! A lot +of things to do! But I like work, Ned. The more the better." + +<P> +"Yes, that's like you, Tom. But what are you going to get at +first?" + +<P> +"Let me see; the telephone, I think. I'll have Rad and Koku in +here and talk to them. I say, you Eradicate!" he called out of the +door of the shop, as he saw the colored man going past, holding +his shocked arm tenderly. + +<P> +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom, I'se comin'! What is it yo' all wants, Massa +Tom?" + +<P> +"I want you to show me exactly what you did to the wires, and +other things in here, when you played that Angel Gabriel trick on +your partner Koku." + +<P> +"Partner! He ain't mah partner!" exclaimed Eradicate with a scowl, +for there was not the best of feeling between the two. Eradicate +had served in the Swift family many years, and he rather resented +the coming of the giant, who performed many services formerly the +province of the colored man. + +<P> +"Well, never mind what he is, Rad," laughed Tom. "You just show me +what you did. Come now, something happened in here, and I want to +find out what it was." + +<P> +"Oh, suffin done happened all right, Massa Tom. Yas, sah! Suffin +done happened!" cried Eradicate, with such odd emphasis that Tom +and Ned both laughed. + +<P> +"An' suffin happened to me," went on the colored man, rubbing his +shocked arm. + +<P> +"Well, tell us about it," suggested Tom. + +<P> +"It was dish yeah way," proceeded Eradicate. And he told more in +detail how, seeing Koku cleaning and sweeping out the other +telephone booth, he had thought of the trick to play on him. Both +telephones had what are called "amplifiers" attached, that could +be switched on when needed. These amplifiers were somewhat like +the horn of a phonograph--they increased, or magnified the sound, +so that one could hear a voice from any part of the shop, and need +not necessarily have the telephone receiver at his ear. + +<P> +Seeing Koku near the instrument, Eradicate had switched on the +amplifier, and had called into his instrument, trying to scare the +giant. And he did startle Koku, for the loud voice, coming so +suddenly, sent the giant out of the booth on the run. + +<P> +"But you must have done something else," insisted Tom. "Look here, +Rad," and the young inventor pointed to the picture on the plate. + +<P> +"Mah gracious sakes!" gasped the colored man. "Why dat's Koku +hisse'f!" and he looked in awe at the likeness. + +<P> +"That's what you did, Rad!" + +<P> +"Me? I done dat? No, sah, Massa Tom. I neber did! No, sah!" +Eradicate spoke emphatically. + +<P> +"Yes you did, Rad. You took that picture of Koku over my photo +telephone, and I want you to show me exactly what you did--what +wires and switches you touched and changed, and all that." + +<P> +"Yo--yo' done say I tuck dat pishure, Massa Tom?" + +<P> +"You sure did, Rad." + +<P> +"Well--well, good land o' massy! An' I done dat!" + +<P> +Eradicate stared in wonder at the image of the giant on the plate, +and shook his head doubtingly. + +<P> +"I--I didn't know I could do it. I never knowed I had it in me!" +he murmured. + +<P> +Tom and Ned laughed long and loud, and then the young inventor +said: + +<P> +"Now look here, Rad. You've done me a mighty big service, though +you didn't know it, and I want to thank you. I'm sorry about your +arm, and I'll have the doctor look at it. But now I want you to +show me all the things you touched when you played that joke on +Koku. In some way you did what I haven't been able to do, You took +the picture. There's probably just one little thing I've +overlooked, and you stumbled on it by accident. Now go ahead and +show me." + +<P> +Eradicate thought for a moment, and then said: + +<P> +"Well, I done turned on de current, laik I seen you done, Massa +Tom." + +<P> +"Yes, go on. You connected the telephone." + +<P> +"Yas, sah. Den I switched on that flyer thing yo' all has rigged +up." + +<P> +"You switched on the amplifier, yes. Go on." + +<P> +"An'--an' den I plugged in dish year wire," and the colored man +pointed to one near the top of the booth. + +<P> +"You switched on that wire, Rad! Why, great Scott, man! That's +connected to the arc light circuit--it carries over a thousand +volts. And you switched that into the telephone circuit?" + +<P> +"Dat's what I done did, Massa Tom; yas, Bah!" + +<P> +"What for?" + +<P> +"Why, I done want t' make mah voice good an' loud t' skeer dat +rascal Koku!" + +<P> +Tom stared at the colored man in amazement. + +<P> +"No wonder you got a shock!" exclaimed the young inventor. "You +didn't get all the thousand volts, for part of it was shunted off; +but you got a good charge, all right. So that's what did the +business; eh? It was the combination of the two electrical +circuits that sent the photograph over the wire." + +<P> +"I understand it now, Rad; but you did more than I've been able to +do. I never, in a hundred years, would have thought of switching +on that current. It never occurred to me. But you, doing it by +accident, brought out the truth. It's often that way in +discoveries. And Koku was standing in the other telephone booth, +near the plate there, when you switched in this current, Rad?" + +<P> +"Yas, sah, Massa Tom. He were. An' yo' ought t' see him hop when +he heard mah voice yellin' at him. Ha! ha! ha!" + +<P> +Eradicate chuckled at the thought. Then a pain in his shocked arm +made him wince. A wry look passed over his face. + +<P> +"Yas, sah, Koku done jump about ten feet," he said. "An'--an' den +I jump too. Ain't no use in denyin' dat fact. I done jump when I +got dat shock!" + +<P> +"All right, Rad. You may go now. I think I'm on the right track!" +exclaimed Tom. "Come on, Ned, we'll try some experiments, and +we'll see what we can do." + +<P> +"No shocks though--cut out the shocks, Tom," stipulated his chum. + +<P> +"Oh, sure! No shocks! Now let's bet busy and improve on +Eradicate's Angel Gabriel system." + +<P> +Tom made a quick examination of the apparatus. + +<P> +"I understand it, I think," he said. "Koku was near the plate in +the other booth when Rad put on the double current. There was a +light there, and in an instant his likeness was sent over the +wire, and imprinted on this plate. Now let's see what we can do. +You go to that other booth, Ned. I'll see if I can get your +picture, and send you mine. Here, take some extra selenium plates +along. You know how to connect them." + +<P> +"I think so," answered Ned. + +<P> +"This image is really too faint to be of much use," went on Tom, +as he looked at the one of Koku. "I think I can improve on it. But +we're on the right track." + +<P> +A little later Ned stood in the other booth, while Tom arranged +the wires, and made the connections in the way accidently +discovered by Eradicate. The young inventor had put in a new +plate, carefully putting away the one with the picture of the +giant, This plate could be used again, when the film, into which +the image was imprinted, had been washed off. + +<P> +"All ready, Ned," called Tom, over the wire, when he was about to +turn the switch. "Stand still, and I'll get you." + +<P> +The connection was made, and Tom uttered a cry of joy. For there, +staring at him from the plate in front of him was the face of Ned. + +<P> +It was somewhat reduced in size, of course, and was not extra +clear, but anyone who knew Ned could have told he was at the other +end of the wire. + +<P> +"Do you get me, Tom?" called Ned, over the telephone. + +<P> +"I sure do! Now see if you can get me." + +<P> +Tom made other connections, and then looked at the sending plate +of his instrument, there being both a sending and receiving plate +in each booth, just as there was a receiver and a transmitter to +the telephone. + +<P> +"Hurray! I see you, Tom!" cried Ned, over the wire. "Say, this is +great!" + +<P> +"It isn't as good as I want it," went on Tom. "But it proves that +I'm right. The photo telephone is a fact, and now persons using +the wire can be sure of the other person they are conversing with. +I must tell dad. He wouldn't believe I could do it!" + +<P> +And indeed Mr. Swift was surprised when Tom proved, by actual +demonstration, that a picture could be sent over the wire. + +<P> +"Tom, I congratulate you!" declared the aged inventor. "It is good +news!" + +<P> +"Yes, but we have bad news of Mr. Damon," said Tom, and he told +his father of the disappearance of the eccentric man. Mr. Swift at +once telephoned his sympathy to Mrs. Damon, and offered to do +anything he could for her. + +<P> +"But Tom can help you more than I can," he said. "You can depend +on Tom." + +<P> +"I know that," replied Mrs. Damon, over the wire. + +<P> +And certainly Tom Swift had many things to do now. He hardly knew +at what to begin first, but now, since he was on the right road in +regard to his photo telephone, he would work at improving it. + +<P> +And to this end he devoted himself, after he had sent out a +general alarm to the police of nearby towns, in regard to the +disappearance of Mr. Damon. The airship clew, he believed, as did +the police, would be a good one to work on. + +<P> +For several days after this nothing of moment occurred. Mr. Damon +could not be located, and Tom's airship might still be sailing +above the clouds as far as getting any trace of it was concerned. + +<P> +Meanwhile the young inventor, with the help of Ned, who was given +a leave of absence from the bank, worked hard to improve the photo +telephone. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XV The Airship Clew</H3> + + +<P> +"Now Ned, we'll try again. I'm going to use a still stronger +current, and this is the most sensitive selenium plate I've turned +out yet. We'll see if we can't get a better likeness of you--one +that will be plainer." + +<P> +It was Tom Swift who was speaking, and he and his chum had just +completed some hard work on the new photo telephone. Though the +apparatus did what Tom had claimed for it, still he was far from +satisfied. He could transmit over the wire the picture of a person +talking at the telephone, but the likeness was too faint to make +the apparatus commercially profitable. + +<P> +"It's like the first moving pictures," said Tom. "They moved, but +that was about all they did." + +<P> +"I say," remarked Ned, as he was about to take his place in the +booth where the telephone and apparatus were located, "this +double-strength electrical current you're speaking of won't shock +me; will it? I don't want what happened to Eradicate to happen to +me, Tom." + +<P> +"Don't worry. Nothing will happen. The trouble with Rad was that +he didn't have the wires insulated when he turned that arc current +switch by mistake--or, rather, to play his joke. But he's all +right now." + +<P> +"Yes, but I'm not going to take any chances," insisted Ned. "I +want to be insulated myself." + +<P> +"I'll see to that," promised Tom. "Now get to your booth." + +<P> +For the purpose of experiments Tom had strung a new line between +two of his shops, They were both within sight, and the line was +not very long; but, as I have said, Tom knew that if his apparatus +would work over a short distance, it would also be successful over +a long one, provided he could maintain the proper force of +current, which he was sure could be accomplished. + +<P> +"And if they can send pictures from Monte Carlo to Paris I can do +the same," declared Tom, though his system of photo telephony was +different from sending by a telegraph system--a reproduction of a +picture on a copper plate. Tom's apparatus transmitted the +likeness of the living person. + +<P> +It took some little time for the young inventor, and Ned working +with him, to fix up the new wires and switch on the current. But +at last it was complete, and Ned took his place at one telephone, +with the two sensitive plates before him. Tom did the same, and +they proceeded to talk over the wire, first making sure that the +vocal connection was perfect. + +<P> +"All ready now, Ned! We'll try it," called Tom to his chum, over +the wire. "Look straight at the plate. I want to get your image +first, and then I'll send mine, if it's a success," + +<P> +Ned did as requested, and in a few minutes he could hear Tom +exclaim, joyfully: + +<P> +"It's better, Ned! It's coming out real clear. I can see you +almost as plainly as if you were right in the booth with me. But +turn on your light a little stronger." + +<P> +Tom could hear, through the telephone, his chum moving about, and +then he caught a startled exclamation. + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Tom anxiously. + +<P> +"I got a shock!" cried Ned. "I thought you said you had this thing +fixed. Great Scott, Tom! It nearly yanked the arm off me! Is this +a joke?" + +<P> +"No, old man. No, of course not! Something must be wrong. I didn't +mean that. Wait, I'll take a look. Say, it does seem as if +everything was going wrong with this invention. But I'm on the +right track, and soon I'll have it all right. Wait a second. I'll +be right over." + +<P> +Tom found that it was only a simple displacement of a wire that +had given Ned a shock, and he soon had this remedied. + +<P> +"Now we'll try again," he said. This time nothing wrong occurred, +and soon Tom saw the clearest image he had yet observed on his +telephone photo plate. + +<P> +"Switch me on now, Ned," he called to his chum, and Ned reported +that he could see Tom very plainly. + +<P> +"So far--so good," observed Tom, as he came from the booth. "But +there are several things I want yet to do." + +<P> +"Such as what?" questioned Ned. + +<P> +"Well, I want to arrange to have two kinds of pictures come over +the wire. I want it so that a person can go into a booth, call up +a friend, and then switch on the picture plate, so he can see his +friend as well as talk to him. I want this plate to be like a +mirror, so that any number of images can be made to appear on it. +In that way it can be used over and over again. In fact it will be +exactly like a mirror, or a telescope. No matter how far two +persons may be apart they can both see and talk to one another." + +<P> +"That's a big contract, Tom." + +<P> +"Yes, but you've seen that it can be done. Then another thing I +want to do is to have it arranged so that I can make a photograph +of a person over a wire." + +<P> +"Meaning what?" + +<P> +"Meaning that if a certain person talks to me over the wire, I can +turn my switch, and get a picture of him here at my apparatus +connected with my telephone. To do that I'll merely need a sending +apparatus at the other end of the telephone line--not a receiving +machine." + +<P> +"Could you arrange it so that the person who was talking to you +would have his picture taken whether he wanted it or not?" asked +Ned. + +<P> +"Yes, it might be done," spoke Tom, thoughtfully. "I could conceal +the sending plate somewhere in the telephone booth, and arrange +the proper light, I suppose." + +<P> +"That might be a good way in which to catch a criminal," went on +Ned. "Often crooks call up on the telephone, but they know they +are safe. The authorities can't see them--they can only hear them. +Now if you could get a photograph of them while they were +telephoning--" + +<P> +"I see!" cried Tom, excitedly. "That's a great idea! I'll work on +that, Ned." + +<P> +And, all enthusiasm, Tom began to plan new schemes with his photo +telephone. + +<P> +The young inventor did not forget his promise to help Mrs. Damon. +But he could get absolutely no clew to her husband's whereabouts. +Mr. Damon had completely and mysteriously disappeared. His +fortune, too, seemed to have been swallowed up by the sharpers, +though lawyers engaged by Tom could fasten no criminal acts on Mr. +Peters, who indignantly denied that he had done anything unlawful. + +<P> +If he had, he had done it in such a way that he could not be +brought to justice. The promoter was still about Shopton, as well +groomed as ever, with his rose in his buttonhole, and wearing his +silk hat. He still speeded up and down Lake Carlopa in his +powerful motor boat. But he gave Tom Swift a wide berth. + +<P> +Late one night, when Tom and Ned had been working at the new photo +telephone, after all the rest of the household had retired, Tom +suddenly looked up from his drawings and exclaimed: + +<P> +"What's that?" + +<P> +"What's what?" inquired Ned. + +<P> +"That sound? Don't you hear it? Listen!" + +<P> +"It's an airship--maybe yours coming back!" cried the young +banker. + +<P> +As he spoke Ned did hear, seemingly in the air above the house, a +curious, throbbing, pulsating sound. + +<P> +"That's so! It is an airship motor!" exclaimed Tom. "Come on out!" + +<P> +Together they rushed from the house, but, ere they reached the +yard, the sound had ceased. They looked up into the sky, but could +see nothing, though the night was light from a full moon. + +<P> +"I certainly heard it," said Tom. + +<P> +"So did I," asserted Ned. "But where is it now?" + +<P> +They advanced toward the group of work-buildings. Something +showing white in the moonlight, before the hangar, caught Ned's +eyes. + +<P> +"Look!" he exclaimed. "There's an airship, Tom!" + +<P> +The two rushed over to the level landing place before the big +shed. And there, as if she had just been run out for a flight, was +the <i>Eagle</i>. She had come back in the night, as mysteriously as she +had been taken away. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVI Success</H3> + + +<P> +"Well, this gets me!" exclaimed Tom. + +<P> +"It sure is strange," agreed Ned. "How did she come here?" + +<P> +"She didn't come alone--that's sure," went on Tom. "Someone +brought her here, made a landing, and got away before we could get +out." + +<P> +The two chums were standing near the <i>Eagle</i>, which had come back so +mysteriously. + +<P> +"Just a couple of seconds sooner and we'd have seen who brought +her here," went on Tom. "But they must have shut off the motor +some distance up, and then they volplaned down. That's why we +didn't hear them." + +<P> +Ned went over and put his hand on the motor. + +<P> +"Ouch!" he cried, jumping back. "It's hot!" + +<P> +"Showing that she's been running up to within a few minutes ago," +said Tom. "Well, as I said before, this sure does get me. First +these mysterious men take my airship, and then they bring her back +again, without so much as thanking me for the use of her." + +<P> +"Who in the world can they be?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"I haven't the least idea. But I'm going to find out, if it's at +all possible. We'll look the machine over in the morning, and see +if we can get any clews. No use in doing that now. Come on, we'll +put her back in the hangar." + +<P> +"Say!" exclaimed Ned, as a sudden idea came to him. "It couldn't +be Mr. Damon who had your airship; could it, Tom?" + +<P> +"I don't know. Why do you ask that?" + +<P> +"Well, he might have wanted to get away from his enemies for a +while, and he might have taken your <i>Eagle</i>, and--" + +<P> +"Mr. Damon wouldn't trail along with a crowd like the one that +took away my airship," said Tom, decidedly. "You've got another +guess coming, Ned. Mr. Damon had nothing to do with this." + +<P> +"And yet the night he disappeared an airship was heard near his +house." + +<P> +"That's so. Well, I give up. This is sure a mystery. We'll have a +look at it in the morning. One thing I'll do, though, I'll +telephone over to Mr. Damon's house and see if his wife has heard +any news. I've been doing that quite often of late, so she won't +think anything of it. In that way we can find out if he had +anything to do with my airship. But let's run her into the shed +first." + +<P> +This was done, and Koku, the giant, was sent to sleep in the +hangar to guard against another theft. But it was not likely that +the mysterious men, once having brought the airship back, would +come for it again. + +<P> +Tom called up Mrs. Damon on the telephone, but there was no news +of the missing man. He expressed his sympathy, and said he would +come and see her soon. He told Mrs. Damon not to get discouraged, +adding that he, and others, were doing all that was possible. But, +in spite of this, Mrs. Damon, naturally, did worry. + +<P> +The next morning the two chums inspected the airship, so +mysteriously returned to them. Part after part they went over, and +found nothing wrong. The motor ran perfectly, and there was not so +much as a bent spoke in the landing wheels. For all that could be +told by an inspection of the craft she might never have been out +of the hangar. + +<P> +"Hello, here's something!" cried Tom, as he got up from the +operator's seat, where he had taken his place to test the various +controls. + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"A button. A queer sort of a button. I never had any like that on +my clothes, and I'm sure you didn't. Look!" and Tom held out a +large, metal button of curious design. + +<P> +"It must have come off the coat of one of the men who had your +airship, Tom," said his chum. "Save it. You may find that it's a +clew." + +<P> +"I will. No telling what it may lead to. Well, I guess that's all +we can find." + +<P> +And it was. But Tom little realized what a clew the button was +going to be. Nothing more could be learned by staring at the +returned airship, so he and Ned went back to the house. + +<P> +Tom Swift had many things to do, but his chief concern was for the +photo telephone. Now that he was near the goal of success he +worked harder than ever. The idea Ned had given him of being able +to take the picture of a person at the instrument--without the +knowledge of that person--appealed strongly to Tom. + +<P> +"That's going to be a valuable invention!" he declared, but little +he knew how valuable it would prove to him and to others. + +<P> +It was about a week later when Tom was ready to try the new +apparatus. Meanwhile he had prepared different plates, and had +changed his wiring system. In the days that had passed nothing new +had been learned concerning the whereabouts of Mr. Damon, nor of +the men who had so mysteriously taken away Tom's airship. + +<P> +All was in readiness for the trial. Tom sent Ned to the booth that +he had constructed in the airship hangar, some distance away from +the house. The other booth Tom had placed in his library, an +entirely new system of wires being used. + +<P> +"Now Ned," explained Tom, "the idea is this! You go into that +booth, just as if it were a public one, and ring me up in the +regular way. Of course we haven't a central here, but that doesn't +matter. Now while I'm talking to you I want to see you. You don't +know that, of course." + +<P> +"The point is to see if I can get your picture while you're +talking to me, and not let you know a thing about it." + +<P> +"Think you can do it, Tom?" + +<P> +"I'm going to try. We'll soon know. Go ahead." + +<P> +A little later Ned was calling up his chum, as casually as he +could, under the circumstances. + +<P> +"All right!" called Tom to his chum. "Start in and talk. Say +anything you like--it doesn't matter. I want to see if I can get +your picture. Is the light burning in your booth?" + +<P> +"Yes, Tom." + +<P> +"All right then. Go ahead." + +<P> +Ned talked of the weather--of anything. Meanwhile Tom was busy. +Concealed in the booth occupied by Ned was a sending plate. It +could not be seen unless one knew just where to look for it. In +Tom's booth was a receiving plate. + +<P> +The experiment did not take long. Presently Tom called to Ned that +he need stay there no longer. + +<P> +"Come on to the house," invited the young inventor, "and we'll +develope this plate." For in this system it was necessary to +develope the receiving plate, as is done with an ordinary +photographic one. Tom wanted a permanent record. + +<P> +Eagerly the chums in the dark room looked down into the tray +containing the plate and the developing solution. + +<P> +"Something's coming out!" cried Ned, eagerly. + +<P> +"Yes! And it's you!" exclaimed Tom. "See, Ned, I got your picture +over the telephone. Success! I've struck it! This is the best +yet!" + +<P> +At that moment, as the picture came out more and more plainly, +someone knocked on the door of the dark room. + +<P> +"Who is it?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Gen'man t' see you," said Eradicate. "He say he come from Mistah +Peters!" + +<P> +"Mr. Peters--that rascally promoter!" whispered Tom to his chum. +"What does this mean?" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVII The Mysterious Message</H3> + + +<P> +Tom Swift and his chum looked at one another strangely for a +moment in the dim, red light of the dark room. Then the young +inventor spoke: + +<P> +"I'm not going to see him. Tell him so, Rad!" + +<P> +"Hold on a second," suggested Ned. "Maybe you had better see him, +Tom. It may have something to with Mr. Damon's lost fortune." + +<P> +"That's so! I didn't think of that. And I may get a clew to his +disappearance, though I don't imagine Peters had anything to do +with that. Wait, Rad. Tell the gentleman I'll see him. Did he give +any name, Rad?" + +<P> +"Yas, sah. Him done say him Mistah Boylan." + +<P> +"The same man who called to see me once before, trying to get me +to do some business with Peters," murmured Tom. "Very well, I'll +see him as soon as this picture is fixed. Tell him to wait, Rad." + +<P> +A little later Tom went to where his caller awaited in the +library. This time there were no plans to be looked at, the young +inventor having made a practice of keeping all his valuable papers +locked in a safe. + +<P> +"You go into the next room, Ned," Tom had said to his chum. "Leave +the door open, so you can hear what is said." + +<P> +"Why, do you think there'll be trouble? Maybe we'd better have +Koku on hand to--" + +<P> +"Oh, no, nothing like that," laughed Tom. "I just want you to +listen to what's said so, if need be, you can be a witness later. +I don't know what their game is, but I don't trust Peters and his +crowd. They may want to get control of some of my patents, and +they may try some underhanded work. If they do I want to be in a +position to stop them." + +<P> +"All right," agreed Ned, and he took his place. + +<P> +But Mr. Boylan's errand was not at all sensational, it would seem. +He bowed to Tom, perhaps a little distantly, for they had not +parted the best of friends on a former occasion. + +<P> +"I suppose you are surprised to see me," began Mr. Boylan. + +<P> +"Well, I am, to tell the truth," Tom said, calmly. + +<P> +"I am here at the request of my employer, Mr. Peters," went on the +caller. "He says he is forming a new and very powerful company to +exploit airships, and he wants to know whether you would not +reconsider your determination not to let him do some business for +you." + +<P> +"No, I'm afraid I don't care to go into anything like that," said +Tom. + +<P> +"It would be a good thing for you," proceeded Mr. Boylan, eagerly. +"Mr. Peters is able to command large capital, and if you would +permit the use of your airships--or one of them--as a model, and +would supervise the construction of others, we could confidently +expect large sales. Thus you would profit, and I am frank to admit +that the company, and Mr. Peters, also, would make money. Mr. +Peters is perfectly free to confess that he is in business to make +money, but he is also willing to let others share with him. Come +now, what do you say?" + +<P> +"I am sorry, but I shall have to say the same thing I said +before," replied Tom. "Nothing doing!" + +<P> +Mr. Boylan glanced rather angrily at the young inventor, and then, +with a shrug of his shoulders, remarked: + +<P> +"Well, you have the say, of course. But I would like to remind you +that this is going to be a very large airship company, and if your +inventions are not exploited some others will be. And Mr. Peters +also desired me to say that this is the last offer he would make +you." + +<P> +"Tell him," said Tom, "that I am much obliged, but that I have no +business that I can entrust to him. If he wishes to make some +other type of airship, that is his affair. Good-day." + +<P> +As Mr. Boylan was going out Tom noticed a button dangling from the +back of his caller's coat. It hung by a thread, being one of the +pair usually sewed on the back of a cutaway garment. + +<P> +"I think you had better take off that button before it falls," +suggested Tom. "You may lose it, and perhaps it would be hard to +match." + +<P> +"That's so. Thank you!" said Mr. Boylan. He tried to reach around +and get it, but he was too stout to turn easily, especially as the +coat was tight-fitting. + +<P> +"I'll get it for you," offered Tom, as he pulled it off. "There is +one missing, though," he said, as he handed the button to the man. +And then Tom started as he saw the pattern of the one in his hand. + +<P> +"One gone? That's too bad," murmured Mr. Boylan. "Those buttons +were imported, and I doubt if I can replace them. They are rather +odd." + +<P> +"Yes," agreed Tom, gazing as if fascinated at the one he still +held. "They are rather odd." + +<P> +And then, as he passed it over, like a flash it came to him where +he had seen a button like that before. He had found it in his +airship, which had been so mysteriously taken away and returned. + +<P> +Tom could hardly restrain his impatience until Mr. Boylan had +gone. The young inventor had half a notion to produce the other +button, matching the one he had just pulled off his visitor's +coat, and tell where he had found it. But he held himself back. He +wanted to talk first to Ned. + +<P> +And, when his chum came in, Tom cried: + +<P> +"Ned, what do you think? I know who had my airship!" + +<P> +"How?" asked Ned, in wonder. + +<P> +"By that button clew! Yes, it's the same kind--they're as alike as +twins!" and Tom brought out the button which he had put away in +his desk. "See, Boylan had one just like this on the back of his +coat. The other was missing. Here it is--it was in the seat of my +airship, where it was probably pulled off as he moved about. Ned, +I think I've got the right clew at last." + +<P> +Ned said nothing for several seconds. Then he remarked slowly: + +<P> +"Well, Tom, it proves one thing; but not the other." + +<P> +"What do you mean?" + +<P> +"I mean that it may be perfectly true that the button came off Mr. +Boylan's coat, but that doesn't prove that he wore it. You can be +reasonably sure that the coat was having a ride in your <i>Eagle</i>, but +was Boylan in the coat? That's the question." + +<P> +"In the coat? Of course he was in it!" cried Tom. + +<P> +"You can't be sure. Someone may have borrowed his coat to take a +midnight ride in the airship." + +<P> +"Mr. Boylan doesn't look to be the kind of a man who would lend +his clothes," remarked Tom. + +<P> +"You never can tell. Someone may have borrowed it without his +knowledge. You'd better go a bit slow, Tom." + +<P> +"Well, maybe I had. But it's a clew, anyhow." + +<P> +Ned agreed to this. + +<P> +"And all I've got to do is to find out who was in the coat when it +was riding about in my airship," went on Tom. + +<P> +"Yes," said Ned, "and then maybe you'll have some clew to the +disappearance of Mr. Damon." + +<P> +"Right you are! Come on, let's get busy!" + +<P> +"As if we hadn't been busy all the while!" laughed Ned. "I'll lose +my place at the bank if I don't get back soon." + +<P> +"Oh, stay a little longer--a few days," urged Tom. "I'm sure that +something is going to happen soon. Anyhow my photo telephone is +about perfected. But I've just thought of another improvement." + +<P> +"What is it?" + +<P> +"I'm going to arrange a sort of dictaphone, or phonograph, so I +can get a permanent record of what a person says over the wire, as +well as get a picture of him saying it. Then everything will be +complete. This last won't be hard to do, as there are several +machines on the market now, for preserving a record of telephone +conversations. I'll make mine a bit different, though." + +<P> +"Tom, is there any limit to what you're going to do?" asked Ned, +admiringly. + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I'm going to stop soon, and retire," laughed the young +inventor. + +<P> +After talking the matter over, Tom and his chum decided to wait a +day or so before taking any action in regard to the button clew to +the takers of the airship. After all, no great harm had been done, +and Tom was more anxious to locate Mr. Damon, and try to get back +his fortune, as well as to perfect his photo telephone, than he +was to discover those who had helped themselves to the <i>Eagle</i>. + +<P> +Tom and Ned put in some busy days, arranging the phonograph +attachment. It was easy, compared to the hard work of sending a +picture over the wire. They paid several visits to Mrs. Damon, but +she had no news of her missing husband, and, as the days went by, +she suffered more and more under the strain. + +<P> +Finally Tom's new invention was fully completed. It was a great +success, and he not only secured pictures of Ned and others over +the wire, as he talked to them, but he imprinted on wax cylinders, +to be reproduced later, the very things they said. + +<P> +It was a day or so after he had demonstrated his new attachment +for the first time, that Tom received a most urgent message from +Mrs. Damon. + +<P> +"Tom," she said, over the telephone, "I wish you would call. +Something very mysterious has happened." + +<P> +"Mr. Damon hasn't come back; has he?" asked Tom eagerly. + +<P> +"No--but I wish I could say he had. This concerns him, however. +Can you come?" + +<P> +"I'll be there right away." + +<P> +In his speedy monoplane Tom soon reached Waterford. Ned did not +accompany him this time. + +<P> +"Now what is it, Mrs. Damon?" asked the young inventor. + +<P> +"About half an hour before I called you," she said, "I received a +mysterious message." + +<P> +"Who brought it?" asked Tom quickly. + +<P> +"No one. It came over the telephone. Someone, whose voice I did +not know, said to me: 'Sign the land papers, and send them to us, +and your husband will be released.'" + +<P> +"That message came over the wire?" cried Tom, excitedly. + +<P> +"Yes," answered Mrs. Damon. "Oh, I am so frightened! I don't know +what to do!" and the lady burst into tears. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVIII Another Call</H3> + + +<P> +Tom Swift, for the moment, did not know what to do. It was a +strange situation, and one he had never thought of. What did the +mysterious message mean? He must think it all out, and plan some +line of action. Clearly Mrs. Damon was not able to do so. + +<P> +"Now let's get at this in some kind of order," suggested the +youth, when Mrs. Damon had calmed herself. It was his habit to +have a method about doing things. "And don't worry," he advised. +"I am certain some good will come of this. It proves one thing, +that's sure." + +<P> +"What is it, Tom?" + +<P> +"That Mr. Damon is alive and well. Otherwise the message would not +have said he would be 'released.' It wasn't from anyone you know; +was it?" + +<P> +"No, I'm sure I never heard the voice before." + +<P> +Tom paused a moment to think how useful his photo telephone and +phonograph arrangement might have been in this case. + +<P> +"How did the telephone call come in?" inquired the young inventor. + +<P> +"In the usual way," answered Mrs. Damon. "The bell rang, and, as I +happened to be near the instrument, I answered it, as I often do, +when the maid is busy. A voice asked if I was Mrs. Damon, and of +course I said I was. Then I heard this: 'Sign the land papers, and +send them to us, and your husband will be released.'" + +<P> +"Was that all?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"I think so--I made a note of it at the time." Mrs. Damon looked +into a small red book. "No, that wasn't all," she said, quickly. +"I was so astonished, at hearing those strange words about my +husband, that I didn't know what to say. Before I could ask any +questions the voice went on to say, rather abruptly: 'We will call +you again.'" + +<P> +"That's good!" cried Tom. "I only hope they do it while I am here. +Perhaps I can get some clew as to who it was called you. But was +this all you heard?" + +<P> +"Yes, I'm sure that was all. I had forgotten about the last words, +but I see I have them written down in my note book." + +<P> +"Did you ask any questions?" inquired Tom. + +<P> +"Oh, indeed I did! As soon as I got over being stunned by what I +heard, I asked all sorts of questions. I demanded to know who was +speaking, what they meant, where they were, and all that. I begged +them to tell me something of my husband." + +<P> +"And what did they say?" + +<P> +"Not a thing. There wasn't a sound in the telephone. The receiver was +hung up, breaking the connection after that message to me--that +mysterious message." + +<P> +"Yes, it was mysterious," agreed Tom, thoughtfully. "I can't +understand it. But didn't you try to learn from the central +operator where the call had come from?" + +<P> +"Oh, yes, indeed, Tom! As soon as I found out the person speaking +to me had rung off, I got the girl in the exchange." + +<P> +"And what did she say?" + +<P> +"That the call came from an automatic pay station in a drug store +in town. I have the address. It was one of those telephones where +you put your money for the call in a slot." + +<P> +"I see. Well, the first thing to do is for me to go to that drug +store and find out, if I can, who used the telephone about that +time. It's a slim chance, but we'll have to take it. Was it a +man's voice, or a woman's?" + +<P> +"Oh, a man's, I'm sure. It was very deep and heavy. No woman could +speak like that." + +<P> +"So much is settled, anyhow. Now about the land papers--what was +meant?" + +<P> +"I'll tell you," said Mrs. Damon. "You know part of our +property--considerable land and some buildings--is in my +name. Mr. Damon had it fixed so a number of years ago, in order to +protect me. No one could get this property, and land, unless I signed +the deeds, or agreed to sign them. Now all of Mr. Damon's fortune is +tied up in some of Mr. Peters's companies. That is why my husband has +disappeared." + +<P> +"He didn't disappear--he was taken away against his will; I'm +positive of that!" exclaimed Tom. + +<P> +"Perhaps so," agreed Mrs. Damon, sadly. "But those are the papers +referred to, I'm sure." + +<P> +"Probably," assented Tom. "The rascals want to get control of +everything--even your possessions. Not satisfied with ruining Mr. +Damon, they want to make you a beggar, too. So they are playing on +your fears. They promise to release your husband if you will give +them the land." + +<P> +"Yes, that must be it, Tom. What would you advise me to do? I am +so frightened over this!" + +<P> +"Do? Don't you do anything!" cried Tom. "We'll fool these rascals +yet. If they got those papers they might release Mr. Damon, or +they might not--fearing he would cause their arrest later. But +we'll have him released anyhow, and we'll save what is left of +your fortune. Put those land papers in a safe-deposit box, and let +me do the rest. I'm going to catch those fellows!" + +<P> +"But how, Tom? You don't know who they are. And a mere message +over a telephone won't give you a clew to where they are." + +<P> +"Perhaps not an ordinary message," agreed Tom. "But I'm going to +try some of my new inventions. You said they told you they were +going to call again?" + +<P> +"That's what they said, Tom." + +<P> +"Well, when they do, I want to be here. I want to listen to that +message. If you will allow me, I'll take up my residence here for +a while, Mrs. Damon." + +<P> +"Allow you? I'll be only too glad if you will, Tom. But I thought +you were going to try to get some clew from the drug store where +the mysterious message came from." + +<P> +"I'll let Ned Newton do that. I want to stay here." + +<P> +Tom telephoned to Ned to meet him at Mrs. Damon's house, and also +to bring with him certain things from the laboratory. And when Ned +arrived in an auto, with various bits of apparatus, Tom put in +some busy hours. + +<P> +Meanwhile Ned was sent to the drug store, to see if any clews +could be obtained there as to who had sent the message. As Tom had +feared, nothing could be learned. There were several automatic +'phones in the place, and they were used very often during the day +by the public. The drug clerks took little or no notice of the +persons entering or leaving the booths, since the dropping of a +coin in the slot was all that was necessary to be connected with +central. + +<P> +"Well, we've got to wait for the second call here," said Tom, who +had been busy during Ned's absence. He had fitted to Mrs. Damon's +telephone a recording wax phonograph cylinder, to get a record of +the speaker's voice. And he had also put in an extension +telephone, so that he could listen while Mrs. Damon talked to the +unknown. + +<P> +"There, I guess we're ready for them," said Tom, late that +afternoon. But no queer call came in that day. It was the next +morning. about ten o'clock, after Mrs. Damon had passed a restless +night, that the telephone bell rang. Tom, who was on the alert, +was at his auxiliary instrument in a flash. He motioned to Mrs. +Damon to answer on the main wire. + +<P> +"Hello," she spoke into the transmitter. "Who is this?" + +<P> +"Are you Mrs. Damon?" Tom heard come over the wire in a deep +voice, and by the manner in which Mrs. Damon signalled the young +inventor knew that, at the other end of the line, was the +mysterious man who had spoken before. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIX"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIX The Buzzing Sound</H3> + + +<P> +"Are you Mrs. Damon?" came the question again--rather more +impatiently this time, Tom thought. + +<P> +"Yes," answered the lady, glancing over at Tom. The extension +telephone was in the same room. Softly Tom switched on the +phonograph attachment. The little wax cylinder began to revolve +noiselessly, ready to record the faintest word that came over the +wire. + +<P> +"You got a message from me yesterday," went on the hoarse voice. +In vain Tom tried to recall whether or not he had heard it before. +He could not place it. + +<P> +"Who are you?" asked Mrs. Damon. She and Tom had previously agreed +on a line of talk. "Tell me your name, please." + +<P> +"There's no need for any names to be used," went on the unknown at +the other end of the wire. "You heard what I said yesterday. Are +you willing to send me those land title papers, if we release your +husband?" + +<P> +"But where shall I send them?" asked Mrs. Damon, to gain time. + +<P> +"You'll be told where. And listen--no tricks! You needn't try to +find out who I am, nor where I am. Just send those papers if you +want to see your husband again." + +<P> +"Oh, how is he? Tell me about him! You are cruel to keep him a +prisoner like this! I demand that you release him!" + +<P> +Tom had not told Mrs. Damon to say this. It came out of her own +heart--she could not prevent the agonized outburst. + +<P> +"Never mind about that, now," came the gruff voice over the wire. +"Are you willing to send the papers?" + +<P> +Mrs. Damon looked over to Tom for silent instructions. He nodded +his head in assent. + +<P> +"Yes, I--I will send them if you tell me where to get them to you--if +you will release Mr. Damon," said the anxious wife. "But tell me who +you are--and where you are!" she begged. + +<P> +"None of that! I'm not looking to be arrested. You get the papers +ready, and I'll let you know to-morrow, about this time, where to +send them." + +<P> +"Wait a minute!" called Mrs. Damon, to gain more time. "I must +know just what papers you want." + +<P> +"All right, I'll tell you," and he began to describe the different +ones. + +<P> +It took a little time for the unknown to give this information to +Mrs. Damon. The man was very particular about the papers. There +were trust deeds, among other things, and he probably thought that +once he had possession of them, with Mrs. Damon's signature, even +though it had been obtained under a threat, he could claim the +property. Later it was learned that such was not the case, for +Mrs. Damon, with Tom's aid, could have proved the fraud, had the +scoundrels tried to get the remainder of the Damon fortune. + +<P> +But at the time it seemed to the helpless woman that everything +she owned would be taken from her. Though she said she did not +care, as long as Mr. Damon was restored to her. + +<P> +As I have said, the telephoning of the instructions about the +papers took some time. Tom had counted on this, and had made his +plans accordingly. + +<P> +As soon as the telephone call had come in, Tom had communicated +with a private detective who was in waiting, and this man had gone +to the drug store whence the first call had come. He was going to +try to make the arrest of the man telephoning. + +<P> +But for fear the scoundrel would go to a different instrument, Tom +took another precaution. This was to have one of the operators in +the central exchange on the watch. As soon as Mrs. Damon's house +was in connection with another telephone, the location of the +latter would be noted, and another private detective would be sent +there. Thus Tom hoped to catch the man at the 'phone. + +<P> +Meanwhile Tom listened to the hoarse voice at the other end of the +wire, giving the directions to Mrs. Damon. Tom hoped that soon +there would be an arrest made. + +<P> +Meanwhile the talk was being faithfully recorded on the phonograph +cylinder. And, as the man talked on, Tom became aware of a curious +undercurrent of sound. It was a buzzing noise, that Tom knew did +not come from the instrument itself. It was not the peculiar +tapping, singing noise heard in a telephone receiver, caused by +induced electrical currents, or by wire trouble. + +<P> +"This is certainly different," mused Tom. He was trying to recall +where he had heard the noise before. Sometimes it was faint, and +then it would gradually increase, droning off into faintness once +more. Occasionally it was so loud that Mrs. Damon could not hear +the talk about the papers, and the man would have to repeat. + +<P> +But finally he came to an end. + +<P> +"This is all now," he said, sharply. Tom heard the words above the +queer, buzzing, humming sound. "You are keeping me too long. I +think you are up to some game, but it won't do you any good, Mrs. +Damon. I'll 'phone you to-morrow where to send the papers. And if +you don't send them--if you try any tricks--it will be the worse +for you and Mr. Damon!" + +<P> +There was a click, that told of a receiver being placed back on +the hook, and the voice ceased. So, also, did the queer, buzzing +sound over which Tom puzzled. + +<P> +"What can it have been?" he asked. "Did you hear it, Mrs. Damon?" + +<P> +"What, Tom?" + +<P> +"That buzzing sound." + +<P> +"Yes, I heard, but I didn't know what it was. Oh, Tom, what shall +I do?" + +<P> +"Don't worry. We'll see if anything happened. They may have caught +that fellow. If not I'll plan another scheme." + +<P> +Tom's first act was to call up the telephone exchange to learn +where the second call had come from. He got the information at +once. The address was in the suburbs. The man had not gone to the +drug store this time. + +<P> +"Did the detective get out to that address?" asked Tom eagerly of +the manager. + +<P> +"Yes. As soon as we were certain that he was the party you wanted, +your man got right after him, Mr. Swift." + +<P> +"That's good, I hope he catches him!" cried the young inventor. "We'll +have to wait and find out." + +<P> +"He said he'd call up and let you know as soon as he reached the +place," the telephone manager informed Tom. + +<P> +There was nothing to do but wait, and meanwhile Tom did what he +could to comfort Mrs. Damon. She was quite nervous and inclined to +be hysterical, and the youth thought it wise to have a cousin, who +had come to stay with her, summon the doctor. + +<P> +"But, Tom, what shall I do about those papers?" Mrs. Damon asked +him. "Shall I send them?" + +<P> +"Indeed not!" + +<P> +"But I want Mr. Damon restored to me," she pleaded. "I don't care +about the money. He can make more." + +<P> +"Well, we'll not give those scoundrels the satisfaction of getting +any money out of you. Just wait now, I'll work this thing out, and +find a way to catch that fellow. If I could only think what that +buzzing sound was--" + +<P> +Then, in a flash, it came to Tom. + +<P> +"A sawmill! A planing mill!" he cried. "That's what it was! That +fellow was telephoning from some place near a sawmill!" + +<P> +The telephone rang in the midst of Tom's excited comments. + +<P> +"Yes--yes!" he called eagerly. "Who is it--what is it?" + +<P> +"This is Larsen--the private detective you sent." + +<P> +"Oh, yes, you were at the drug store." + +<P> +"Yes, Mr. Swift. Well, that party didn't call up from here." + +<P> +"I know, Larsen. It was from another station. We're after him. +Much obliged to you. Come on back." + +<P> +Tom was sure his theory was right. The man had called up the Damon +house from some telephone near a sawmill. And a little later Tom's +theory was proved to be true. He got a report from the second +detective. Unfortunately the man had not been able to reach the +telephone station before the unknown speaker had departed. + +<P> +"Was the place near a sawmill?" asked Tom, eagerly. + +<P> +"It was," answered the detective over the wire. "The telephone is +right next door to one. It's an automatic pay station and no one +seems to have noticed who the man was who telephoned. I couldn't +get a single clew. I'm sorry." + +<P> +"Never mind," said Tom, as cheerfully as he could. "I think I'm on +the right track now. I'm going to lay a trap for this fellow." + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XX"></A> +<H3>Chapter XX Setting The Trap</H3> + + +<P> +Troublesome problems seemed to be multiplying for Tom Swift. He +admitted as much himself after the failure to capture the man who +had telephoned to Mrs. Damon. He had hoped that his plan of +sending detectives to the location of the telephones would +succeed. Since it had not the youth must try other means. + +<P> +"Now, Ned," he said to his chum, when they were on their way from +Mrs. Damon's, it being impossible to do anything further there. +"Now, Ned, we've got to think this thing out together." + +<P> +"I'm willing, Tom. I'll do what I can." + +<P> +"I know you will. Now the thing to do is to go at this thing +systematically. Otherwise we'll be working around in a circle, and +won't get anywhere. In the first place, let's set down what we do +know. Then we'll put down what we don't know, and go after that." + +<P> +"Put down what you don't know?" exclaimed Ned. "How are you going +to put down a thing when you don't know it?" + +<P> +"I mean we can put a question mark after it, so to speak. For +instance we don't know where Mr. Damon is, but we want to find +out." + +<P> +"Oh, I see. Well, let's start off with the things we do know." + +<P> +The two friends were at Tom's house by now, having come from +Waterford in Tom's airship. After thinking over all the exciting +happenings of the past few days, Tom remarked: "Now, Ned, for the +things we do know. In the first place Mr. Damon is missing, and +his fortune is about gone. There is considerable left to Mrs. +Damon, however, but those scoundrels may get that away from her, +if we don't watch out. Secondly, my airship was taken and brought +back, with a button more than it had when it went away. Said +button exactly matched one off Mr. Boylan's coat." + +<P> +"Thirdly, Mr. Damon was either taken away or went away, in an +airship--either in mine or someone else's. Fourthly, Mrs. Damon +has received telephonic communications from the man, or men, who +have her husband. Fifthly, Mr. Peters, either legally or +illegally, is responsible for the loss of Mr. Damon's fortune. +Now: there you are--for the things we do know." + +<P> +"Now for the things we don't know. We don't know who has taken +Mr. Damon away, nor where he is, to begin with the most important." + +<P> +"Hold on, Tom, I think you're wrong," broke in Ned. + +<P> +"In what way?" + +<P> +"About not knowing who is responsible for the taking away of Mr. +Damon. I think it's as plain as the nose on your face that Peters +is responsible." + +<P> +"I can't see it that way," said Tom, quickly. "I will admit that +it looks as though Boylan had been in my airship, but as for +Peters taking Mr. Damon away--why, Peters is around town all the +while, and if he had a hand in the disappearance of Mr. Damon, do +you think he'd stay here, when he knows we are working on the +case? And would he send Boylan to see me if Boylan had been one of +those who had a hand in it? They wouldn't dare, especially as they +know I'm working on the case." + +<P> +"Peters is a bad lot. I'll grant you, though, he was fair enough +to pay for my motor boat. I don't believe he had anything to do +with taking Mr. Damon away." + +<P> +"Do you think he was the person who was talking to Mrs. Damon +about the papers?" + +<P> +"No, Ned. I don't. I listened to that fellow's voice carefully. It +wasn't like Peters's. I'm going to put it in the phonograph, too, +and let you listen to it. Then see what you say." + +<P> +Tom did this, a little later. The record of the voice, as it came +over the wire, was listened to from the wax cylinder, and Ned had +to admit that it was not much like that of the promoter. + +<P> +"Well, what's next to be done?" asked the young banker. + +<P> +"I'm going to set a trap," replied Tom, with a grin. + +<P> +"Set a trap?" + +<P> +"Yes, a sort of mouse-trap. I'm glad my photo telephone is now +perfected, Ned." + +<P> +"What has that got to do with it?" + +<P> +"That's going to be my trap, Ned. Here is my game. You know this +fellow--this strange unknown--is going to call up Mrs. Damon to-morrow. +Well, I'll be ready for him. I'm going to put in the booth +where he will telephone from, one of my photo telephones--that is, +the sending apparatus. In Mrs. Damon's house, attached to her +telephone, will be the receiving plate, as well as the phonograph +cylinder." + +<P> +"When this fellow starts to talk he'll be sending us his picture, +though he won't know it, and we'll be getting a record of his +voice. Then we'll have him just where we want him." + +<P> +"Good!" cried Ned. "But, Tom, there's a weak spot in your mouse-trap." + + +<P> +"What is it?" + +<P> +"How are you going to know which telephone the unknown will call +up from? He may go to any of a hundred, more or less." + +<P> +"He might--yes. But that's a chance we've got to take. It isn't so +much of a chance, though when you stop to think that he will +probably go to some public telephone in an isolated spot, and, +unless I'm much mistaken he will go to a telephone near where he +was to-day. He knows that was safe, since we didn't capture him, +and he's very likely to come back." + +<P> +"But to make the thing as sure as possible, I'm going to attach my +apparatus to a number of public telephones in the vicinity of the +one near the sawmill. So if the fellow doesn't get caught in one, +he will in another. I admit it's taking a chance; but what else +can we do?" + +<P> +"I suppose you're right, Tom. It's like setting a number of +traps." + +<P> +"Exactly. A trapper can't be sure where he is going to get his +catch, so he picks out the place, or run-way, where the game has +been in the habit of coming. He hides his traps about that place, +and trusts to luck that the animal will blunder into one of them." + +<P> +"Criminals, to my way of thinking, are a good bit like animals. +They seem to come back to their old haunts. Nearly any police +story proves this. And it's that on which I am counting to capture +this criminal. So I'm going to fit up as many telephones with my +photo and phonograph outfit, as I can in the time we have. You'll +have to help me. Luckily I've got plenty of selenium plates for +the sending end. I'll only need one at the receiving end. Now +we'll have to go and have a talk with the telephone manager, after +which we'll get busy." + +<P> +"You've overlooked one thing, Tom." + +<P> +"What's that, Ned?" + +<P> +"Why, if you know about which telephone this fellow is going to +use, why can't you have police stationed near it to capture him as +soon as he begins to talk?" + +<P> +"Well, I did think of that, Ned; but it won't work." + +<P> +"Why not?" + +<P> +"Because, in the first place this man, or some of his friends, +will be on the watch. When he goes into the place to telephone +there'll be a look-out, I'm sure, and he'd either put off talking +to Mrs. Damon, or he'd escape before we had any evidence against +him." + +<P> +"You see I've got to get evidence that will stand in the courts to +convict this fellow, and if he's scared off before we get that, +the game will be up." + +<P> +"That's what my photo telephone will do--it will get the evidence, +just as a dictaphone does. In fact, I'm thinking of working it out +on those lines, after I clear up this business." + +<P> +"Just suppose we had detectives stationed at all the telephones +near the sawmill, where this fellow would be likely to go. In the +first place no one has seen him, as far as we know, so there's no +telling what sort of a chap he is. And you can't go up to a +perfect stranger and arrest him because you think he is the man +who has spirited away Mr. Damon." + +<P> +"Another thing. Until this fellow has talked, and made his offer +to Mrs. Damon, to restore her husband, in exchange for certain +papers, we have no hold over him." + +<P> +"But he has done that, Tom. You heard him, and you have his voice +down on the wax cylinder." + +<P> +"Yes, but I haven't had a glimpse of his face. That's what I want, +and what I'm going to get. Suppose he does go into the telephone +booth, and tell Mrs. Damon an address where she is to send the +papers. Even if a detective was near at hand he might not catch +what was said. Or, if he did, on what ground could he arrest a man +who, very likely, would be a perfect stranger to him? The +detective couldn't say: 'I take you into custody for telephoning +an address to Mrs. Damon.' That, in itself, is no crime." + +<P> +"No, I suppose not," admitted Ned. "You've got this all thought +out, Tom." + +<P> +"I hope I have. You see it takes quite a combination to get +evidence against a criminal--evidence that will convict him. +That's why I have to be so careful in setting my trap." + +<P> +"I see, Tom. Well, it's about time for us to get busy; isn't it?" + +<P> +"It sure is. There's lots to do. First we'll go see the telephone +people." + +<P> +Tom explained to the 'phone manager the necessity for what he was +about to do. The manager at once agreed to let the young inventor +have a free hand. He was much interested in the photo telephone, +and Tom promised to give his company a chance to use it on their +lines, later. + +<P> +The telephone near the sawmill was easily located. It was in a +general store, and the instrument was in a booth. To this +instrument Tom attached his sending plate, and he also substituted +for the ordinary incandescent light, a powerful tungsten one, that +would give illumination enough to cause the likeness to be +transmitted over the wire. + +<P> +The same thing was done to a number of the public telephones in +that vicinity, each one being fitted up so that the picture of +whoever talked would be transmitted over the wire when Tom turned +the switch. To help the plan further the telephone manager marked +a number of other 'phones, "Out of Order," for the time being. + +<P> +"Now, I think we're done!" exclaimed the young inventor, with a +sigh, late that night. He and Ned and the line manager had worked +hard. + +<P> +"Yes," answered the young banker, "the traps are set. The question +is: Will our rat be caught?" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXI The Photo Telephone</H3> + + +<P> +Tom Swift was taking, as he afterward confessed, "a mighty big +chance." But it seemed the only way. He was working against +cunning men, and had to be as cunning as they. + +<P> +True, the man he hoped to capture, through the combination of his +photo telephone and the phonograph, might go to some other +instrument than one of those Tom had adjusted. But this could not +be helped. In all he had put his new attachment on eight 'phones +in the vicinity of the sawmill. So he had eight chances in his +favor, and as many against him as there were other telephones in +use. + +<P> +"It's a mighty small margin in our favor," sighed Tom. + +<P> +"It sure is," agreed Ned. They were at Mrs., Damon's house, +waiting for the call to come in. + +<P> +"But we couldn't do anything else," went on Tom. + +<P> +"No," spoke Ned, "and I have a great deal of hope in the +proverbial Swift luck, Tom." + +<P> +"Well, I only hope it holds good this time!" laughed the young +inventor. + +<P> +"There are a good many things that can go wrong," observed Ned. +"The least little slip-up may spoil your traps, Tom." + +<P> +"I know it, Ned. But I've got to take the chance. We've just got +to do something for Mrs. Damon. She's wearing herself out by +worrying," he added in a low voice, for indeed the wife of his +friend felt the absence of her husband greatly. She had lost +flesh, she ate scarcely anything, and her nights were wakeful ones +of terror. + +<P> +"What if this fails?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"Then I'm going to work that button clew to the limit," replied +Tom. "I'll go to Boylan and see what he and Peters have to say." + +<P> +"If you'd done as I suggested you'd have gone to them first," +spoke Ned. "You'll find they're mixed up in this." + +<P> +"Maybe; but I doubt it. I tell you there isn't a clew leading to +Peters--as yet." + +<P> +"But there will be," insisted Ned. "You'll see that that I'm right +this time." + +<P> +"I can't see it, Ned. As a matter of fact, I would have gone to +Boylan about that button I found in my airship only I've been so +busy on this photo telephone, and in arranging the trap, that I +haven't had time. But if this fails--and I'm hoping it won't--I'll +get after him," and there was a grim look on the young inventor's +face. + +<P> +It was wearying and nervous work--this waiting. Tom and Ned felt +the strain as they sat there in Mrs. Damon's library, near the +telephone. It had been fitted up in readiness. Attached to the +receiving wires was a sensitive plate, on which Tom hoped would be +imprinted the image of the man at the other end of the wire--the +criminal who, in exchange for the valuable land papers, would give +Mr. Damon his liberty. + +<P> +There was also the phonograph cylinder to record the man's voice. +Several times, while waiting for the call to come in, Tom got up +to test the apparatus. It was in perfect working order. + +<P> +As before, there was an extension telephone, so that Mrs. Damon +could talk to the unknown, while Tom could hear as well. But he +planned to take no part in the conversation unless something +unforeseen occurred. + +<P> +Mr. Damon was an enthusiastic photographer, and he had a dark room +adjoining his library. It was in this dark room that Tom planned +to develop the photo telephone plate. + +<P> +On this occasion he was not going to use the metal plate in which, +ordinarily, the image of the person talking appeared. That record +was but a fleeting one, as in a mirror. This time Tom wanted a +permanent picture that could, if necessary, be used in a court of +justice. + +<P> +Tom's plan was this: If the person who had demanded the papers +came to one of the photo telephones, and spoke to Mrs. Damon, Tom +would switch on the receiving apparatus. Thus, while the man was +talking, his picture would be taken, though he would not know of +the thing being done. + +<P> +His voice would also be recorded on the wax cylinder, and he would +be equally unaware of this. + +<P> +When Tom had imprinted the fellow's image on the prepared plate, +he would go quickly to the dark room and develop it. A wet print +could be made, and with this as evidence, and to use in +identification, a quick trip could be made to the place whence the +man had telephoned. Tom hoped thus to capture him. + +<P> +To this end he had his airship in waiting, and as soon as he had +developed the picture he planned to rush off to the vicinity of +the sawmill, and make a prisoner of the man whose features would +be revealed to him over the wire. + +<P> +It was a hazardous plan--a risky one--but it was the best that he +could evolve. Tom had instructed Mrs. Damon to keep the man in +conversation as long as possible, in order to give the young +inventor himself time to rush off in his airship. But of course +the man might get suspicious and leave. That was another chance +that had to be taken. + +<P> +"If I had thought of it in time," said Tom, musingly, as he paced +up and down in the library waiting for the 'phone to ring, "if I +had thought of it in time I would have rigged up two plates--one +for a temporary, or looking-glass, picture, and the other for a +permanent one. In that way I could rush off as soon as I got a +glimpse of the fellow. But it's too late to do that now. I'll have +to develop this plate." + +<P> +Waiting is the most wearisome work there is. Tom and Ned found +this to be the case, as they sat there, hoping each moment that +the telephone bell would ring, and that the man at the other end +of the wire would be the mysterious stranger. Mrs. Damon, too, +felt the nervous strain. + +<P> +"This is about the hour he called up yesterday," said Tom, in a +low voice, after coming back from a trip to the window to see that +his airship was in readiness. He had brought over to help in +starting it, for he was using his most powerful and speedy craft, +and the propellers were hard to turn. + +<P> +"Yes," answered Mrs. Damon. "It was just about this hour, Tom. Oh, +I do hope--" + +<P> +She was interrupted by the jingle of the telephone bell. With a +jump Tom was at the auxiliary instrument, while Mrs. Damon lifted +off the receiver of her own telephone. + +<P> +"Yes; what is it?" she asked, in a voice that she tried to make +calm. + +<P> +"Do you know who this is?" Tom heard come over the wire. + +<P> +"Are you the--er--the person who was to give me an address where I +am to send certain papers?" + +<P> +"Yes. I'm the same one. I'm glad to see that you have acted +sensibly. If I get the papers all right, you'll soon have your +husband back. Now do as I say. Take down this address." + +<P> +"Very well," assented Mrs. Damon. She looked over at Tom. He was +intently listening, and he, too, would note the address given. The +trap was about to be sprung. The game had walked into it. Just +which telephone was being used Tom could not as yet tell. It was +evidently not the one nearest the planing mill, for Tom could not +hear the buzzing sound. It was well he had put his attachment on +several instruments. + +<P> +"One moment, please," said Mrs. Damon, to the unknown at the other +end of the wire. This was in accordance with the pre-arranged +plan. + +<P> +"Well, what is it?" asked the man, impatiently. "I have no time to +waste." + +<P> +Tom heard again the same gruff tones, and he tried in vain to +recognize them. + +<P> +"I want you take down a message to Mr. Damon," said his wife. +"This is very important. It can do you no harm to give him this +message; but I want you to get it exact. If you do not promise to +deliver it I shall call all negotiations off." + +<P> +"Oh, all right I'll take the message; but be quick about it. Then +I'll give you the address where you are to send the papers." + +<P> +"This is the message," went on Mrs. Damon. "Please write it down. +It is very important to me. Have you a pencil?" + +<P> +"Yes, I have one. Wait until I get a bit of paper. It's so dark in +this booth--wait until I turn on the light." + +<P> +Tom could not repress a pleased and joyful exclamation. It was +just what he had hoped the man would do--turn on the light in the +booth. Indeed, it was necessary for the success of the trap that +the light be switched on. Otherwise no picture could be +transmitted over the wire. And the plan of having the man write +down a message to Mr. Damon was arranged with that end in view. +The man would need a light to see to write, and Tom's apparatus +must be lighted in order to make it work. The plot was coming +along finely. + +<P> +"There!" exclaimed the man at the other end of the wire. "I have a +light now. Go ahead with your message, Mrs. Damon. But make it +short. I can't stay here long." + +<P> +Then Mrs. Damon began dictating the message she and Tom had agreed +upon. It was as long as they dared make it, for they wanted to +keep the man in the booth to the last second. + +<P> +"Dear Husband," began Mrs. Damon. What the message was does not +matter. It has nothing to do with this story. Sufficient to say +that the moment the man began writing it down, as Tom could tell +over the sensitive wire, by the scratching of the pencil--at that +moment Tom, knowing the light was on in the distant telephone +booth, switched on the picture-taking apparatus. His receiving +apparatus at once indicated that the image was being made on the +sensitive plate. + +<P> +It took only a few seconds of time, and with the plate in the +holder Tom hastened to the dark room to develop it. Ned took his +chum's place at the telephone, to see that all worked smoothly. +The photo telephone had done it's work. Whose image would be found +imprinted on the sensitive plate? Tom's hands trembled so that he +could scarcely put it in the developing solution. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXII The Escape</H3> + + +<P> +Ned Newton, listening at the auxiliary telephone heard the man, to +whom Mrs. Damon was dictating her message to her husband, utter an +exclamation of impatience. + +<P> +"I'm afraid I can't take down any more," he called. "That is +enough. Now you listen. I want you to send me those papers." + +<P> +"And I am willing to," went on Mrs. Damon, while Ned listened to +the talk, the phonograph faithfully recording it. + +<P> +"I wonder whose picture Tom will find," mused Ned. + +<P> +The unknown, at the other end of the wire, began giving Mrs. Damon +a description of just what papers he wanted, and how to mail them +to him. He gave an address that Ned recognized as that of a cigar +store, where many persons received their mail under assumed names. +The postal authorities had, for a long time, tried to get evidence +against it + +<P> +"That's going to make it hard to get him, when he comes for the +papers," thought Ned. "He's a foxy criminal, all right. But I +guess Tom will turn the trick." + +<P> +Mrs. Damon was carefully noting down the address. She really +intended to send the papers, if it proved that there was no other +way in which she could secure the release of her husband. But she +did not count on all of Tom's plans. "Why doesn't he develop that +plate?" thought Ned. "He'll be too late, in spite of his airship. +That fellow will skip." + +<P> +It was at that moment that Tom came into the library. He moved +cautiously, for he realized that a loud sound in the room would +carry to the man at the other end of the wire. Tom motioned for +Ned to come to him. He held out a dripping photographic plate. + +<P> +"It's Peters!" said Tom, in a hoarse whisper. + +<P> +"Peters?" gasped Ned. "How could it be? His voice--" + +<P> +"I know. It didn't sound a bit like Peters over the 'phone, but +there's his picture, all right!" + +<P> +Tom held up the plate. There, imprinted on it by the wonderful +power of the young inventor's latest appliance, was the image of +the rascally promoter. As plainly as in life he was shown, even to +his silk hat and the flower in his button-hole. He was in a +telephone booth--that much could be told from the photograph that +had been transmitted over the wire, but which booth could not be +said--they were nearly all alike. + +<P> +"Peters!" gasped Ned. "I thought he was the fellow, Tom." + +<P> +"Yes, I know. You were right, and I was wrong. But I did not +recognize his voice. It was very hoarse. He must have a bad cold." +Later this was learned to have been the case. "There's no time to +lose," whispered Tom, while Mrs. Damon was doing her best to +prolong the conversation in order to hold the man at the other end +of the wire. "Ned, get central on the other telephone, and see +where this call came from. Then we'll get there as fast as the +airship will take us." + +<P> +A second and temporary telephone line had been installed in the +Damon home, and on this Ned was soon talking, while Tom, putting +the photographic plate away for future use, rushed out to get his +airship in shape for a quick flight. He had modified his plans. +Instead of having a detective take a print of the photo telephone +image, and make the arrest, Tom was going to try to capture Peters +himself. He believed he could do it. One look at the wet plate was +enough. He knew Peters, though it upset some of his theories to +learn that it was the promoter who was responsible for Mr. Damon's +disappearance. + +<P> +The man at the other end of the wire was evidently getting +impatient. Possibly he suspected some trick. "I've got to go now," +he called to Mrs. Damon. "If I don't get those papers in the +morning it will be the worse for Mr. Damon." + +<P> +"Oh, I'll send you the papers," she said. + +<P> +By this time Ned had gotten into communication with the manager of +the central telephone exchange, and had learned the location of +the instrument Peters was using. It was about a mile from the one +near the sawmill. + +<P> +"Come on!" called Tom to his chum, as the latter gave him this +information. "The Firefly is tuned up for a hundred miles an hour! +We'll be there in ten minutes! We must catch him red-handed, if +possible!" + +<P> +"He's gone!" gasped Mrs. Damon as she came to the outer door, and +watched Tom and Ned taking their places in the airship, while Koku +prepared to twirl the propellers. + +<P> +"Gone!" echoed Tom, blankly. + +<P> +"Yes, he hung up the receiver." + +<P> +"See if you can't get him back," suggested the young inventor. +"Ask Central to ring that number again. We'll be there in a jiffy. +Maybe he'll come to the telephone again. Or he may even call up +his partners and tell them the game is working his way. Try to get +him back, Mrs. Damon." + +<P> +"I will," she said. + +<P> +And, as she hurried back to the instrument, Tom and Ned shot up +toward the blue sky in an endeavor to capture the man at the other +telephone. + +<P> +"And to think it was Peters!" cried Tom into Ned's ear, shouting +to be heard above the roar of the motor exhaust. + +<P> +"I thought he'd turn out to be mixed up in the affair," said Ned. + +<P> +"Well, you were right. I was off, that time," admitted Tom, as he +guided his powerful craft above the trees. "I was willing to admit +that he had something to do with Mr. Damon's financial trouble, +but as for kidnapping him--well, you never can tell." + +<P> +They drove on at a breath-catching pace, and it seemed hardly a +minute after leaving Mrs. Damon's house before Tom called: + +<P> +"There's the building where the telephone is located." + +<P> +"And now for that rascal Peters!" cried Ned. + +<P> +The airship swooped down, to the great astonishment of some +workmen nearby. + +<P> +Hardly had the wheels ceased revolving on the ground, as Tom made +a quick landing, than he was out of his seat, and running toward +the telephone. He knew the place at once from having heard Ned's +description, and besides, this was one of the places where he had +installed his apparatus. + +<P> +Into the store Tom burst, and made a rush for the 'phone booth. He +threw open the door. The place was empty! + +<P> +"The man--the man who was telephoning!" Tom called to the +proprietor of the place. + +<P> +"You mean that big man, with the tall hat, who was in there so +long?" + +<P> +"Yes, where is he?" + +<P> +"Gone. About two minutes ago." + +<P> +"Which way?" + +<P> +"Over toward Shopton, and in one of the fastest autos that ever +scattered dust in this section." + +<P> +"He's escaped us!" said Tom to Ned. "But we'll get him yet! Come +on!" + +<P> +"I'm with you. Say, do you know what this looks like to me?" + +<P> +"What?" + +<P> +"It looks as if Peters was scared and was going to run away to +stay!" + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXIII On The Trail</H3> + + +<P> +Such a crowd had quickly gathered about Tom's airship that it was +impossible to start it. Men and boys, and even some girls and +women, coming from no one knew where, stood about the machine, +making wondering remarks about it. + +<P> +"Stand back, if you please!" cried Tom, good-naturedly. "We've +got to get after the fellow in the auto." + +<P> +"You'll have hard work catching him, friend, in that rig," +remarked a man. "He was fracturing all the speed laws ever passed. +I reckon he was going nigh onto sixty miles an hour." + +<P> +"We can make a hundred," spoke Ned, quietly. + +<P> +"A hundred! Get out!" cried the man. "Nothing can go as fast as +that!" + +<P> +"We'll show you, if we once get started," said Tom. "I guess we'll +have to get one of these fellows to twirl the propellers for us, +Ned," he added. "I didn't think, or I'd have brought the selfstarting +machine," for this one of Tom's had to be started by +someone turning over the propellers, once or twice, to enable the +motor to begin to speed. On some of his aircraft the young +inventor had attached a starter, something like the ones on the +newest autos. + +<P> +"What are you going to do?" asked Ned, as Tom looked to the +priming of the cylinders. + +<P> +"I'm going to get on the trail of Peters," he said. "He's at the +bottom of the whole business; and it's a surprise to me. I'm going +to trail him right down to the ground now, and make him give up +Mr. Damon and his fortune," + +<P> +"But you don't know where he is, Tom." + +<P> +"I'll find out. He isn't such an easy man to miss--he's too +conspicuous. Besides, if he's just left in his auto we may catch +him before he gets to Shopton." + +<P> +"Do you think he's going there?" + +<P> +"I think so. And I think, Ned, that he's become suspicious and +will light out. Something must have happened, while he was +telephoning, and he got frightened, as big a bluff as he is. But +we'll get him. Come on! Will you turn over the propellers, please? +I'll show you how to do it," Tom went on to a big, strong man +standing close to the blades. + +<P> +"Sure I'll do it," was the answer. "I was a helper once at an +airship meet, and I know how." + +<P> +"Get back out of the way in time," the young inventor warned him. +"They start very suddenly, sometimes." + +<P> +"All right, friend, I'll watch out," was the reply, and with Tom +and Ned in their seats, the former at the steering wheel, the +craft of the air was soon throbbing and trembling under the first +turn, for the cylinders were still warm from the run from Mrs. +Damon's house. + +<P> +The telephone was in an outlying section of Waterford--a section +devoted in the main to shops and factories, and the homes of those +employed in various lines of manufacture. Peters had chosen his +place well, for there were many roads leading to and from this +section, and he could easily make his escape. + +<P> +"But we'll get after him," thought Tom, grimly, as he let the +airship run down the straight road a short distance on the bicycle +wheels, to give it momentum enough so that it would rise. + +<P> +Then, with the tilting of the elevation rudder, the craft rose +gracefully, amid admiring cheers from the crowd. Tom did not go up +very far, as he wanted to hover near the ground, to pick out the +speeding auto containing Peters. + +<P> +But this time luck was not with Tom. He and Ned did sight a number +of cars speeding along the highway toward Shopton, but when they +got near enough to observe the occupants they were disappointed +not to behold the man they sought. Tom circled about for some +time, but it was of no use, and then he headed his craft back +toward Waterford. + +<P> +"Where are you going?" asked Ned, yelling the words into the ear +of his chum. + +<P> +"Back to Mrs. Damon's," answered Tom, in equally loud tones. + +<P> +It was impossible to talk above the roaring and throbbing of the +motor, so the two lads kept silent until the airship had landed +near Mrs. Damon's home. + +<P> +"I want to see if Mrs. Damon is all right," Tom explained, as he +jumped from the still moving machine. "Then we'll go to Shopton, +and cause Peters's arrest. I can make a charge against him now, +and the evidence of the photo telephone will convict him, I'm +sure. And I also want to see if Mrs. Damon has had any other +word." + +<P> +She had not, however, though she was more nervous and worried than +ever. + +<P> +"Oh, Tom, what shall I do?" she exclaimed. "I am so frightened! +What do you suppose they will do to Mr. Damon?" + +<P> +"Nothing at all!" Tom assured her. "He will be all right. I think +matters are coming to a crisis now, and very likely he'll be with +you inside of twenty-four hours. The game is up, and I guess +Peters knows it. I'm going to have him arrested at once." + +<P> +"Shall I send those land papers, Tom?" + +<P> +"Indeed you must not! But I'll talk to you about that later. Just +put away that phonograph record of Peters's talk. I'll take along +the photo telephone negative, and have some prints made--or, I +guess, since we're going in the airship, that I'd better leave it +here for the present. We'll use it as evidence against Peters. +Come on, Ned." + +<P> +"Where to now?" + +<P> +"Peters's house. He's probably there, arranging to cover up his +tracks when he lights out." + +<P> +But Shallock Peters did better than merely cover up his tracks. He +covered himself up, so to speak. For when Ned and Tom, after a +quick flight in the airship, reached his house, the promoter had +left, and the servants, who were quite excited, did not know where +he had gone. + +<P> +"He just packed up a few clothes and ran out," said one of the +maids. "He didn't say anything about our wages, either, and he +owes me over a month." + +<P> +"Me too," said another. + +<P> +"Well, if he doesn't pay me some of my back wages soon, I'll sue +him!" declared the gardener. "He owes me more than three months, +but he kept putting me off." + +<P> +And, so it seemed, Peters had done with several of his employes. +When the promoter came to Shopton he had taken an elaborate house +and engaged a staff of servants. Peters was not married, but he +gave a number of entertainments to which the wealthy men of +Shopton and their wives came. Later it was found that the bills +for these had never been paid. In short, Peters was a "bluff" in +more ways than one. + +<P> +Tom told enough of his story to the servants to get them on his +side. Indeed, now that their employer had gone, and under such +queer circumstances, they had no sympathy for him. They were only +concerned about their own money, and Tom was given admittance to +the house. + +<P> +Tom made a casual search, hoping to find some clew to the +whereabouts of Mr. Damon, or to get some papers that would save +his fortune. But the search was unsuccessful. + +<P> +There was a safe in the room Peters used for an office, but when +Tom got there the strong box was open, and only some worthless +documents remained. + +<P> +"He smelled a rat, all right," said Tom, grimly. "After he +telephoned to Mrs. Damon something happened that gave him an +intimation that someone was after him. So he got away as soon as +he could." + +<P> +"But what are you going to do about it, Tom?" + +<P> +"Get right after him. He can't have gotten very far. I want him +and I want Boylan. We're getting close to the end of the trail, +Ned." + +<P> +"Yes, but we haven't found Mr. Damon yet, and his fortune seems to +have vanished." + +<P> +"Well, we'll do the best we can," said Tom, grimly. "Now I'm going +to get a warrant for the arrest of Peters, and one for Boylan, and +I'm going to get myself appointed a special officer with power to +serve them. We've got our work cut out for us, Ned." + +<P> +"Well, I'm with you to the end." + +<P> +"I know you are!" cried Tom. + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXIV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXIV The Lonely House</H3> + + +<P> +The young inventor had little difficulty in getting the warrants +he sought. In the case of Boylan, who seemed to be Peters's righthand +man, when it came to criminal work, Tom made a charge of +unlawfully taking the airship. This would be enough to hold the +man on until other evidence could be obtained against him. + +<P> +As for Peters, he was accused of taking certain valuable bonds and +stocks belonging to Mr. Damon. Mrs. Damon gave the necessary +evidence in this case, and the authorities were told that later, +when Peters should have been arrested, other evidence so +skillfully gotten by Tom's photo telephone, would be brought +before the court. + +<P> +"It's a new way of convicting a man--by a photo telephone--but I +guess it's a good one," said the judge who signed the warrants. + +<P> +"Well, now that we've got what we want, the next thing to do is to +get the men--Peters, and the others," said Tom, as he and Ned sat +in Tom's library after several hours of strenuous work. + +<P> +"How are you going to start?" the young banker wanted to know. "It +seems a strange thing that a man like Mr. Damon could be made away +with, and kept in hiding so long without something being heard of +him. I'm afraid, Tom, that something must have happened to him." + +<P> +"I think so too, Ned. Nothing serious, though," Tom added, +quickly, as he saw the look of alarm on his chum's face. "I think +Mr. Damon at first went away of his own accord." + +<P> +"Of his own accord?" + +<P> +"Yes. I think Peters induced him to go with him, on the pretense +that he could recover his fortune. After getting Mr. Damon in +their power they kept him, probably to get the rest of his fortune +away from him." + +<P> +"But you stopped that, Tom," said Ned, proud of his chum's +abilities. + +<P> +"Well, I hope so," admitted the young inventor. "But I've still +got plenty to do." + +<P> +"Have you a starting point?" + +<P> +"For one thing," Tom answered, "I'm going to have Mrs. Damon mail +a fake package to the address Peters gave. If he, or any of his +men, call for it, we'll have a detective on the watch, and arrest +them." + +<P> +"Good!" + +<P> +"Of course it may not work," spoke Tom; "but it's something to +try, and we can't miss any chances." + +<P> +Accordingly, the next day, a package containing only blank paper, +made up to represent the documents demanded by Peters as the price +of releasing Mr. Damon, was mailed to the address Mrs. Damon had +received over the wire from the rascally promoter. Then a private +detective was engaged to be on the watch, to take into custody +whoever called for the bundle. Tom, though, had not much hope of +anything coming of this, as it was evident that Peters had taken +the alarm, and left. + +<P> +"And now," said Tom, when he had safely put away the wax record, +containing the incriminating talk of Peters, and had printed +several photographs, so wonderfully taken over the wire, "now to +get on the trail again." + +<P> +It was not an easy one to follow. Tom began at the deserted home +of the alleged financier. The establishment was broken up, for +many tradesmen came with bills that had not been paid, and some of +them levied on what little personal property there was to satisfy +their claims. The servants left, sorrowful enough over their +missing wages. The place was closed up under the sheriff's orders. + +<P> +But of Peters and his men not a trace could be found. Tom and Ned +traveled all over the surrounding country, looking for clews, but +in vain. They made several trips in the airship, but finally +decided that an automobile was more practical for their work, and +kept to that. + +<P> +They did find some traces of Peters. As Tom had said, the man was +too prominent not to be noticed. He might have disguised himself, +though it seemed that the promoter was a proud man, and liked to +be seen in flashy clothes, a silk hat, and with a buttonhole +bouquet. + +<P> +This made it easy to get the first trace of him. He had been seen +to take a train at the Shopton station, though he had not bought a +ticket. The promoter had paid his fare to Branchford, a junction +point, but there all trace of him was lost. It was not even +certain that he went there. + +<P> +"He may have done that to throw us off," said Tom. "Just because +he paid his way to Branchford, doesn't say he went there. He may +have gotten off at the next station beyond Shopton." + +<P> +"Do you think he's still lingering around here?" asked Ned. + +<P> +"I shouldn't be surprised," was Tom's answer. "He knows that there +is still some of the Damon property left, and he is probably +hungry for that. We'll get him yet, Ned." + +<P> +But at the end of several days Tom's hopes did not seem in a fair +way to be realized. He and Ned followed one useless clew after +another. All the trails seemed blind ones. But Tom never gave up. + +<P> +He was devoting all his time now to the finding of his friend Mr. +Damon, and to the recovery of his fortune. In fact the latter was +not so important to Tom as was the former. For Mrs. Damon was on +the verge of a nervous collapse on account of the absence of her +husband. + +<P> +"If I could only have some word from him, Tom!" she cried, +helplessly. + +<P> +To Tom the matter was very puzzling. It seemed utterly impossible +that Mr. Damon could be kept so close a prisoner that he could not +manage to get some word to his friends. It was not as if he was a +child. He was a man of more than ordinary abilities. Surely he +might find a way to outwit his enemies. + +<P> +But the days passed, and no word came. A number of detectives had +been employed, but they were no more successful than Tom. The +latter had given up his inventive work, for the time being, to +devote all his time to the solution of the mystery. + +<P> +Tom and Ned had been away from Shopton for three days, following +the most promising clew they had yet received. But it had failed +at the end, and one afternoon they found themselves in a small +town, about a hundred miles from Shopton. They had been motoring. + +<P> +"I think I'll call up the house," said Tom. "Dad may have received +some news, or Mrs. Damon may have sent him some word. I'll get my +father on the wire." + +<P> +Connection to Tom's house was soon made, and Ned, who was +listening to his chum's remarks, was startled to hear him cry out: + +<P> +"What's that you say? My airship taken again? When did it happen? +Yes, I'm listening. Go on, Father!" + +<P> +Then followed a silence while Tom listened, breaking in now and +then with an excited remark, Suddenly he called: + +<P> +"Good-by, Dad! I'm coming right home!" + +<P> +Tom hung up the receiver with a bang, and turned to his chum. + +<P> +"What do you think!" he cried. "The <i>Eagle</i> was taken again last +night! The same way as before. Nobody got a glimpse of the +thieves, though. Dad has been trying to get in communication with +me ever since. I'm glad I called up. Now we'll get right back to +Shopton, and see what we can do. This is the limit! Peters and his +crowd will be kidnapping us, next." + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Ned. + +<P> +He and Tom were soon off again, speeding in the auto toward +Shopton. But the roads were bad, after a heavy rain, and they did +not make fast time. + +<P> +The coming of dusk found them with more than thirty miles to go. +They were in an almost deserted section of the country when +suddenly, as they were running slowly up a hill, there was a +sudden crack, the auto gave a lurch to one side of the roadway and +then settled heavily. Tom clapped on both brakes quickly, and gave +a cry of dismay. + +<P> +"Broken front axle!" he said. "We're dished, Ned!" + +<P> +They got out, being no more harmed than by the jolting. The car +was out of commission. The two chums looked around Except for a +lonely house, that bore every mark of being deserted, not a +dwelling was in sight where they might ask for aid or shelter. + +<P> +And, as they looked, from that lonely house came a strange cry--a +cry as though for help! + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXV The Airship Capture</H3> + + +<P> +"Did you hear that?" cried Ned. + +<P> +"I certainly did," answered Tom. "What was it." + +<P> +"Sounded to me like a cry of some sort." + +<P> +"It was. An animal, I'd say." + +<P> +The two chums moved away from the broken auto, and looked at each +other. Then, by a common impulse, they started toward the lonely +house, which was set back some distance from the road. + +<P> +"Let's see who it was," suggested Tom, "After all, though it looks +deserted, there may be someone in the house, and we've got to have +some kind of help. I don't want to leave my car on the road all +night, though it will have to be repaired before I can use it +again." + +<P> +"It sure is a bad break," agreed Ned. + +<P> +As they walked toward the deserted house they heard the strange +cry again. It was louder this time, and following it the boys +heard a sound as if a blow had been struck. + +<P> +"Someone is being attacked!" cried Tom. "Maybe some poor tramp has +taken shelter in there and a dog is after them. Come on, Ned, +we've got to help!" + +<P> +They started on a run for the lonely house, but while still some +distance away a curious thing happened. + +<P> +There was a sudden cry--an appeal for help it seemed--but this +time in the open. And, as Tom and Ned looked, they saw several men +running from the rear of the old house. Between them they carried +an inert form, + +<P> +"Something's wrong!" exclaimed Tom, "There's crooked work going on +here, Ned." + +<P> +"You're right! It's up to us to stop it! Come on!" + +<P> +But before the boys had taken half a dozen more steps they heard +that which caused them great surprise. For from a shed behind the +house came the unmistakable throb and roar of a motor. + +<P> +"They're going off in an auto!" cried Ned. + +<P> +"And they're carrying someone with them!" exclaimed Tom. + +<P> +By this time they had gotten to a point where they could see the +shed, and what was their astonishment to see being rolled from it +a big biplane. At the sight of it Tom cried: + +<P> +"It's the <i>Eagle</i>! That's my airship, Ned!" + +<P> +"You're right! How did it get here?" + +<P> +"That's for us to find out. I shouldn't wonder, Ned, but what +we're at last on the trail of Peters and his crowd!" + +<P> +The men--there were four or five of them, Ned guessed--now broke +into a run, still carrying among them the inert form of another. +The cries for help had ceased, and it seemed as if the unfortunate +one was unconscious. + +<P> +A moment later, and before the boys could do anything, had they +the power, the men fairly jumped aboard Tom Swift's biggest +airship. The unconscious one was carried with them. + +<P> +Then the motor was speeded up. The roar and throbbing were almost +deafening. + +<P> +"Stop that! Hold on! That's my machine!" yelled Tom. + +<P> +He might as well have spoken to the wind. With a rush and a roar +the big <i>Eagle</i> shot away and upward, carrying the men and their +mysterious, unconscious companion. It was getting too dark for Tom +and Ned to make out the forms or features of the strangers. + +<P> +"We're too late!" said Ned, hopelessly. + +<P> +"Yes, they got away," agreed Tom. "Oh, if only I had my speedy +little monoplane!" + +<P> +"But who can they be? How did your airship get here? And who is +that man they carried out of the house?" cried Ned. + +<P> +"I don't know the last--maybe one of their crowd who was injured +in a fight." + +<P> +"What crowd?" + +<P> +"The Peters gang, of course. Can't you see it, Ned?" + +<P> +Unable to do anything, the two youths watched the flight of the +<i>Eagle</i>. She did not move at her usual speed, for she was carrying +too heavy a load. + +<P> +Presently from the air overhead, and slightly behind them, the +boys heard the sound of another motor. They turned quickly. + +<P> +"Look!" cried Ned. "Another airship, by all that's wonderful!" + +<P> +"If we could only stop them!" exclaimed Tom. "That's a big +machine, and they could take us aboard. Then we could chase the +<i>Eagle</i>. We could catch her, too, for she's overloaded!" + +<P> +Frantically he and Tom waved their caps at the man who was now +almost overhead in his airship. The boys did not call. They well +knew, with the noise of the motor, the occupant of the airship +could not hear them. But they waved and pointed to the slowly-moving +<i>Eagle</i>. + +<P> +To their surprise and delight the man above them shut off his +engine, and seemed about to come down. Then Tom cried, knowing he +could be heard: + +<P> +"Help us capture that airship? It's mine and they've stolen it!" + +<P> +"All right! Be with you in a minute!" came back the answer from +above. + +<P> +The second biplane came down to earth, ands as it ceased running +along on its bicycle wheels, the occupant jumped out. + +<P> +"Hello, Tom Swift!" he called, as he took off his goggles. + +<P> +"Why--why it's Mr. Halling!" cried the young inventor, in delight, +recognizing the birdman who had brought him the first news of Mr. +Damon's trouble, the day the airship became entangled in the +aerials of the wireless on Tom's house. + +<P> +"What are you doing here, Tom?" asked Mr. Hailing. "What has +happened?" + +<P> +"We're looking for Mr. Damon. That's a bad crowd there," and he +pointed toward the other aircraft. "They have my <i>Eagle</i>. Can you +help me catch them?" + +<P> +"I certainly can--and will! Get aboard! I can carry four." + +<P> +"Then you have a new machine?" + +<P> +"Yes, and a dandy! All the latest improvements--self-starter and +all! I'm glad of a chance to show it to you." + +<P> +"And I'm glad, too!" cried Tom. "It was providential that you +happened along. What were you doing here?" + +<P> +"Just out on a trial spin. But come on, if we're going to catch +those fellows!" + +<P> +Quickly Tom, Ned, and Mr. Halling climbed into the seats of the +new airship. It was started from a switch, and in a few seconds it +was on the wing, chasing after the <i>Eagle</i>. + +<P> +Then began a strange race, a race in the air after the unknown +strangers who had Tom's machine. Had the <i>Eagle</i> not been so heavily +laden it might have escaped, for Tom's craft was a speedy one. But +this time it had to give the palm to Mr. Grant Halling's. Faster +and faster in pursuit flew the <i>Star</i>, as the new craft was called. +Faster and faster, until at last, coming directly over the <i>Eagle</i>, +Mr. Halling sent his craft down in such a manner as to "blanket" +the other. In an instant she began to sink, and with cries of +alarm the men shut off the motor and started to volplane to the +earth. + +<P> +But they made an unskillful landing. The <i>Eagle</i> tilted to one side, +and came down with a crash. There were cries of pain, then +silence, and a few seconds later two men ran away from the +disabled airship. But there were three senseless forms on the +ground beside the craft when Tom, Ned and Mr. Halling ran up. In +the fading light Tom saw a face he knew--three faces in fact. + +<P> +"Mr. Damon!" he cried. "We've found him, Ned!" + +<P> +"But--too late--maybe!" answered Ned, in a low voice, as he, too, +recognized the man who had been missing so long. + +<P> +Mr. Halling was bending over the unconscious form of his friend. + +<P> +"He's alive!" he cried, joyfully. "And not much hurt, either. But +he has been ill, and looks half starved. Who are these men?" + +<P> +Tom gave a hasty look. + +<P> +"Shallock Peters and Harrison Boylan!" he cried. "Ned, at last +we've caught the scoundrels!" + +<P> +It was true. Chance had played into the hands of Tom Swift. While +Mr. Halling was looking after Mr. Damon, reviving him, the young +inventor and Ned quickly bound the hands and feet of the two +plotters with pieces of wire from the broken airship. + +<P> +Presently Mr. Damon opened his eyes. + +<P> +"Where am I? What happened? Oh, bless my watch chain--it's Tom +Swift! Bless my cigar case, I--" + +<P> +"He's all right!" cried Tom, joyfully. "When Mr. Damon blesses +something beside his tombstone he's all right." + +<P> +Peters and Boylan soon revived, both being merely stunned, as was +Mr. Damon. They looked about in wonder, and then, feeling that +they were prisoners, resigned themselves to their fate. Both men +were shabbily dressed, and Tom would hardly have known the once +spick and span Mr. Peters. He had no rose in his buttonhole now. + +<P> +"Well, you have me, I see," he said, coolly. "I was afraid we were +playing for too high a stake." + +<P> +"Yes, we've got you," replied Tom, + +<P> +"But you can't prove much against me," went on Peters. "I'll deny +everything." + +<P> +"We'll see about that," added the young inventor, grimly, and +thought of the picture in the plate and the record on the wax +cylinder. + +<P> +"We've got to get Mr. Damon to some place where he can be looked +after," broke in Mr. Halling. "Then we'll hear the story." + +<P> +A passing farmer was prevailed on to take the party in his big +wagon to the nearest town, Mr. Hailing going on ahead in his +airship. Tom's craft could not be moved, being badly damaged. + +<P> +Once in town Peters and Boylan were put in jail, on the charges +for which Tom carried warrants. Mr. Damon was taken to a hotel and +a doctor summoned. It was as Mr. Halling had guessed. His friend +had been ill, and so weak that he could not get out of bed. It was +this that enabled the plotters to so easily keep him a prisoner. + +<P> +By degrees Mr. Damon told his story. He had rashly allowed Peters +to get control of most of his fortune, and, in a vain hope of +getting back some of his losses, had, one night--the night he +disappeared, in fact--agreed to meet Peters and some of his men to +talk matters over. Of this Mr. Damon said nothing to his wife. + +<P> +He went out that night to meet Peters in the garden, but the +plotters had changed their plans. They boldly kidnapped their +victim, chloroformed him and took him away in Tom's airship, which +Boylan and some of his tools daringly stole a short time +previously. Later they returned it, as they had no use for it at +the lonely house. + +<P> +Mr. Damon was taken to the house, and there kept a prisoner. The +men hoped to prevail on the fears of his wife to make her give up +the valuable property. But we have seen how Tom foiled Peters. + +<P> +The experience of Mr. Damon, coupled with rough treatment he +received, and lack of good food, soon made him ill. He was so weak +that he could not help himself, and with that he was kept under +guard. So he had no chance to escape or send his wife or friends +any word. + +<P> +"But I'm all right now, Tom, thanks to you!" said he. "Bless my +pocketbook, I don't care if my fortune is lost, as long as I'm +alive and can get back to my wife." + +<P> +"But I don't believe your fortune will be lost," said Tom. "I +think I have the picture and other evidence that will save it," +and he told of his photo telephone, and of what it had +accomplished. + +<P> +"Bless my eyelashes!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a young man you are, +Tom Swift!" + +<P> +Tom smiled gladly. He knew now that his old friend was himself +once more. + +<P> +There is little left to tell. Chance had aided Tom in a most +wonderful way--chance and the presence of Mr. Halling with his +airship at just the right moment. + +<P> +Tom made a diligent effort to find out who it was that had +chloroformed him in the telephone booth that time, but learned +nothing definite. Peters and Boylan were both examined as to this +on their trials, but denied it, and the young inventor was forced +to conclude that it must have been some of the unscrupulous men +who had taken his father's patent some time before. + +<P> +"They may have heard of your prosperity, and thought it a good +chance to rob you," suggested Ned. + +<P> +"Maybe," agreed Tom. "Well, we'll let it go at that. Only I hope +they don't come again." + +<P> +Mr. Damon was soon home with his wife again, and Peters and Boylan +were held in heavy bail. They had secreted most of Mr. Damon's +wealth, falsely telling him it was lost, and they were forced to +give back his fortune. The evidence against them was clear and +conclusive. When Tom went into court with his phonograph record of +the talk of Peters, even though the man's voice was hoarse from a +cold when he talked, and when his picture was shown, in the +telephone booth, the jury at once convicted him. + +<P> +Boylan, when he learned of the missing button in Tom's possession, +confessed that he and some of his men who were birdmen had taken +Tom's airship. They wanted a means of getting Mr. Damon to the +lonely house without being traced, and they accomplished it. + +<P> +As Tom had surmised, Peters had become suspicious after his last +talk with Mrs. Damon, and had fled. He disguised himself and went +into hiding with the others at the lonely house. Then he learned +that the authorities of another city. where he had swindled many, +were on his trail, and he decided to decamp with his gang, taking +Mr. Damon with them. For this purpose Tom's airship was taken the +second time, and a wholesale escape, with Mr. Damon a prisoner, +was planned. + +<P> +But fate was against the plotters. Two of them did manage to get +away, but they were not really wanted. The big fish were Peters +and Boylan, and they were securely caught in the net of the law. +Peters was greatly surprised when he learned of Tom's trap, and of +the photo telephone. He had no idea he had been incriminating +himself when he talked over the wire. + +<P> +"Well, it's all over," remarked Ned to Tom, one day, when the +disabled auto and the airship had been brought home and repaired. +"The plotters are in prison for long terms, and Mr. Damon is +found, together with his fortune. The photo telephone did it, +Tom." + +<P> +"Not all of it--but a good bit," admitted the young inventor, with +a smile. + +<P> +"What are you going to do next, Tom?" + +<P> +"I hardly know. I think--" + +<P> +Before Tom could finish, a voice was heard in the hall outside the +library. + +<P> +"Bless my overshoes! Where's Tom? I want to thank him again for +what he did for me," and Mr. Damon, now fully recovered, came in. +"Bless my suspender button, but it's good to be alive, Tom!" he +cried. + +<P> +"It certainly is," agreed Tom. "And the next time you go for a +conference with such men as Peters, look out for airships." + +<P> +"I will, Tom, I will!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my watch chain, +I will!" + +<P> +And now, for a time, we will say good-bye to Tom Swift, leaving +him to perfect his other inventions. + +<PRE> +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Photo Telephone +by Victor Appleton + +************************************************************************ + +This file should be named 17tom10h.txt or 17tom10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 17tom11h.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 17tom10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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