CHAPTER V
THE RAID
Tom Swift dropped the tool he was using, and came over to where Nedstood, his chum having vaulted in through the open window.
"Ned," said the young inventor, "there's something queer about thisbusiness."
"I'm beginning to think so myself, Tom. But just what do you mean?"
"I mean it's queer that the smugglers should pick out a place likeShopton--a small town--for their operations, or part of them, whenthere are so many better places. We're quite a distance from theCanadian border. Say, Ned, where was it that Mr. Foger moved to?Hogan's alley, or some such name as that; wasn't it?"
"Logansville, this state, was the place. I once saw Tom Snedeckermail Andy a letter addressed to there. But what has that to do withit?"
Tom's answer was to turn to a large map on the wall of his shop.With a long stick he pointed out the city of Logansville.
"That isn't very far from the Canadian border; is it, Ned?" heasked.
"Say, what are you driving at, Tom? It's right on the border betweenNew York and Canada, according to that map."
"Well, that's a good map, and you can be sure it is nearly right.And, look here. There's the town of Montford, in Canada, almostopposite Logansville."
"Well?"
"Oh, nothing, only I'm going to see Mr. Whitford."
"What do you mean, Tom?"
"I mean that the something queer part about this business may beexplained. They have traces of the smugglers sending their goods toShopton to be re-shipped here, to avoid suspicion, probably. Theyhave a suspicion that airships are used to get the goods over theCanadian border at night."
"But," broke in Ned, "the government agent said that it was acrossthe St. Lawrence River they brought them. Montford is quite adistance from the river. I suppose the smugglers take the goods fromthe river steamers, land them, pack them in airships, and fly acrosswith them. But if you're trying to connect the Fogers, andLogansville, and Montford with the smugglers, I don't see where itcomes in with the St. Lawrence, and the airships, Tom."
"Forget that part of it for a while, Ned. Maybe they are all off onairships, anyhow. I don't take much stock in that theory, though itmay be true."
"Just think of the Fogers," went on Tom. "Mr. Foger has lost all hismoney, he lives in a town near the Canadian border, it is almostcertain that smuggled goods have been shipped here. Mr. Foger has adeserted house here, and--see the connection?"
"By Jove, Tom, I believe you're right!" cried his chum. "Maybe theairships aren't in it after all, and Andy is only making a bluff athaving his repaired, to cover up some other operations in thehouse."
"I believe so."
"But that would mean that Mr. Dillon, the carpenter is not tellingthe truth, and I can't believe that of him."
"Oh, I believe he's honest, but I think Andy is fooling him. Mr.Dillon doesn't know much about airships, and Andy may have had himdoing something in the house, telling him it was repair work on anairship, when, as a matter of fact, the carpenter might be makingboxes to ship the goods in, or constructing secret places in whichto hide them."
"I don't believe it, Tom. But I agree with you that there issomething queer going on in Shopton. The Fogers may, or may not, beconnected with it. What are you going to do?"
"I'm first going to have a talk with Mr. Whitford. Then I'm going tosee if I can't prove, or disprove, that the Fogers are concerned inthe matter. If they're not, then some one else in Shopton must beguilty. But I'm interested, because I have been brought into thisthing in a way, and I want it sifted to the bottom."
"Then you're going to see Mr. Whitford?"
"I am, and I'm going to tell him what I think. Come on, we'll lookhim up now."
"But your noiseless airship?"
"Oh, that's all right. It's nearly finished anyhow, I've just got alittle more work on the carburetor. That will keep. Come on, we'llfind the government agent."
But Mr. Whitford was not at the hotel where he and the other custominspectors had put up. They made no secret of their presence inShopton, and all sorts of rumors were flying about regarding them.Mr. Whitford, the hotel clerk said, had gone out of town for theday, and, as Ned and Tom did not feel like telling their suspicionsto any of the other agents, they started back home.
"I understand they're going to search every house in Shopton, beforethey go away," said the clerk to the boys. "They are going to lookfor smuggled goods."
"They are; eh?" exclaimed Colonel Henry Denterby, who had fought inthe Civil War. "Search my house; eh? Well I guess not! A man's houseis his castle, sir! That's what it is. No one shall enter mine, nomatter if he is a government official, unless I give him permission,sir! And I won't do that, sir! I'll be revolutionized if I do! No,sir!"
"Why, you haven't any smuggled goods concealed, have you, Colonel?"slyly asked a hotel lounger.
"Smuggled goods? What do you mean, sir?" cried the veteran, who wassomething of a fire-eater. "No, sir! Of course not, sir! I pay mytaxes, sir; and all my debts. But no government spy is going to comeinto my house, and upset everything, sir, looking for smuggledgoods, sir. No, sir!"
Some were of one opinion, and some another, and there was quite adiscussion underway concerning the rights of the custom officers, asthe boys came out of the hotel.
Likewise there was talk about who might be the guilty ones, but nonames were mentioned, at least openly.
"Let's go past the Foger house on our way back," proposed Ned, andas he and Tom came in front of it, they heard a pounding going onwithin, but saw no signs of Andy or the carpenter.
"They're keeping mighty close," commented Tom.
The two boys worked that afternoon on the new airship, and in theevening, when Ned came over, Tom proposed that they make anotherattempt to see Mr. Whitford.
"I want to get this thing off my mind," spoke the young inventor,and he and his chum started for the hotel. Once more they passed theFoger house. It was in darkness, but, as the two lads stoodwatching, they saw a flash of a light, as if it came through a crackin a shutter or a shade.
"Some one is in there," declared Tom.
"Yes, probably Andy is getting his own supper. It's queer he wantsto lead that sort of a life. Well, everyone to their notion, as theold lady said when she kissed the cow."
They stood for a few minutes watching the old mansion, and then wenton. As they passed down a lane, to take a short cut, they approacheda small house, that, in times past, had been occupied by thegardener of the Foger estate. Now, that too, was closed. But, infront of it stood a wagon with a big canvass cover over it, and, asthe lads came nearer, the wagon drove off quickly, and in silence.At the same time a door in the gardener's house was heard to shutsoftly.
"Did you see that?" cried Ned.
"Yes, and did you hear that?" asked Tom.
"They're carting stuff away from the old gardener's house," went onNed. "Maybe it's there that the smugglers are working from! Let'shurry to see Mr. Whitford."
"Hold on!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "I've got one suggestion.Ned. Let's tell all we know, and what we think may be the case, butdon't make any rash statements. We might be held responsible. Tellwhat we have seen, and let the government men do the rest."
"All right. I'm willing."
They watched the wagon as it passed on out of sight in the darkness,and then hurried on to see Mr. Whitford. To say that the customofficer was astonished at what the boys related to him, is puttingit mildly. He was much excited.
"I think we're on the right trail!" he exclaimed. "You may have donea big service for Uncle Sam. Come on!"
"Where?" the boys asked him.
"We'll make a raid on the old Foger home, and on the gardener'shouse at once. We may catch the rascals red-handed. You can have thehonor of representing Uncle Sam. I'll make you assistant deputiesfor the night. Here are some extra badges I always carry," and hepinned one each on the two young men.
Mr. Whitford quietly summoned several of his men to his hotel room,and imparted
to them what he had learned. They were eager for theraid, and it was decided to go to the Foger home, and the otherhouse at once, first seeking to gain an entrance to the mansion.
Accompanied by Tom and Ned, Mr. Whitford left the hotel. There werefew persons about, and no attention was attracted. The other agentsleft the hotel one by one, and in the darkness gathered about theseemingly deserted mansion.
"Stand ready now, men," whispered Mr. Whitford. "Tom, Ned and I willgo up the steps first, and knock. If they don't let us in I'm goingto smash the door. Then you follow."
Rather excited by what was about to take place, the two chumsaccompanied the chief custom agent. He rapped loudly on the door ofthe house, where only darkness showed.
There was a moment of silence, and then a voice which Tom and Nedrecognized as that of Andy Foger, asked:
"What do you want?"
"We want to come in," replied Mr. Whitford.
"But who are you?"
"Uncle Sam's officers, from the custom house."
Tom distinctly heard a gasp of surprise on the other side of theportal, and then a bolt was drawn. The door was thrown back, andthere, confronting the two lads and Mr. Whitford, were Andy Fogerand his father.