第37章

"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr.Damon."There the motor is, going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing.You can the easier believe that when I say that I can hear you talk perfectly well.And I guess you hear me, don't you?""Yes," replied Tom."And we don't have to shout, either.This is the best test ever! I think everything is a success.""Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went on."Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right.Will you go for a flightwith me?"

"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though.I'd go with a better heart.""Oh! Mr.Nestor?"

"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him.It is almost as if the earth had opened and swallowed him.His disappearance is a great mystery.""It surely is," agreed Tom."Can't seem to get any trace of him.But if we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, you can make up your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I did at first.""I agree with you," said Mr.Damon.

It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for his flight Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing that all was in readiness for the latest test.He had decided not to go aloft while it was light enough for curiosity seekers to note the flight.

Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his latest improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much occupied at home and in trying to find some trace of her father.

Tom, his father, and Mr.Damon had helped all they could, but there were no results.A private detective had been engaged, but he had no more of a clew than the regular police.

At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr.Damon took their places in the machine.Once more the propellers were turned around, and when the compression had been made, and the spark switched on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the great craft moved over thegrass.

On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr.Damon, and as they left behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two passengers were aware of their almost silent flight.The big aeroplane, the exhaust of which, ordinarily, would have nearly deafened them, was now as silent as a bird.

"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on faster."I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this plane for air scout work.It's a success! A great success!""Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr.Damon."You do well to speak of it so, Tom."For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to himself, that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a success.For it rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and a few hundred feet away no one, not seeing it, would have believed a big aeroplane was in motion.

Tom and Mr.Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and all the fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as steady in flight as she should have been.

"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope stabilizers," he told Mr.Damon.

They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the new Silent Sam was an assured success.

It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell him there was a visitor to see him.

"Who is it?" asked the young inventor.

"Mr.Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer.

"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly."I have nothing to say to him after his clumsy threats.""He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson."Better see him, if only for a minute or so.""All right, I will," assented Tom."Show him in."Mr.Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop.Tom had carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the finished machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might discover some secret.

"Oh, Mr.Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, when he met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what has been done was entirely without our knowledge.And, though this man may have acted as our agent at one time, we repudiate any acts of his that might"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise."Have I been so impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't understand what you are driving at.""Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise."I understood that the man who--""Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" cried the young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused.

"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr.Gale."No, I don't refer to last night.But perhaps I am making a mistake.I--er--I--""Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly.