CHAPTER XIII.
CAUGHT IN A STORM
The more Tom tried to reason out the cause of the men's actions, themore he dwelt upon his encounter with the tramp, and the harder heendeavored to seek a solution of the queer puzzle, the morecomplicated it seemed. He rode on until he saw in a valley below himthe buildings of the town of Centreford, and, with a view of them, anew idea came into his mind.
"I'll go get a good dinner," he decided, "and perhaps that will helpme to think more clearly. That's what dad always does when he'spuzzling over an invention." He was soon seated in a restaurant,where he ate a substantial dinner. "I'm just going to stop puzzlingover this matter," he decided. "I'll push on to Albany and tell thelawyer, Mr. Crawford. Perhaps he can advise me."
Once this decision was made Tom felt better.
"That's just what I needed," he thought; "some one to shift theresponsibility upon. I'll let the lawyers do the worrying. That'swhat they're paid for. Now for Albany, and I hope I don't have tostop, except for supper, until I get there. I've got to do somenight riding, but I've got a powerful lamp, and the roads from nowon are good."
Tom was soon on his way again. The highway leading to Albany was ahard, macadam one, and he fairly flew along the level stretches.
"This is making good time," he thought. "I won't be so very late,after all; that is, if nothing delays me."
The young inventor looked up into the sky. The sun, which had beenshining brightly all day, was now hidden behind a mass of hazyclouds, for which the rider was duly grateful, as it was becomingquite warm.
"It's more like summer than I thought," said Tom to himself. "Ishouldn't be surprised if we got rain to-morrow."
Another look at the sky confirmed him in this belief, and he had notgone on many miles farther when his opinion was suddenly changed.This was brought about by a dull rumble in the west, and Tom noticedthat a bank of low-lying clouds had formed, the black, inky massesof vapor being whirled upward as if by some powerful blast.
"Guess my storm is going to arrive ahead of time," he said. "I'dbetter look for shelter."
With a suddenness that characterizes summer showers, the whole skybecame overcast. The thunder increased, and the flashes of lightningbecame more frequent and dazzling. A wind sprang up and blew cloudsof dust in Tom's face.
"It certainly is going to be a thunder storm," he admitted. "I'mbound to be delayed now, for the roads will be mucky. Well, there'sno help for it. If I get to Albany before midnight I'll be doingwell."
A few drops of rain splashed on his hands, and as he looked up tonote the state of the sky others fell in his face. They were bigdrops, and where they splashed on the road they formed littleglobules of mud.
"I'll head for that big tree," thought Tom "It will give me someshelter. I'll wait there--" His words were interrupted by adeafening crash of thunder which followed close after a blindingflash. "No tree for mine!" murmured Tom. "I forgot that they'redangerous in a storm. I wonder where I can stay?"
He turned on all the power possible and sprinted ahead. Around acurve in the road he went, leaning over to preserve his balance, andjust as the rain came pelting down in a torrent he saw just ahead ofhim a white church on the lonely country road. To one side was along shed, where the farmers were in the habit of leaving theirteams when they came to service.
"Just the thing!" cried the boy; "and just in time!"
He turned his motor-cycle into the yard surrounding the church, anda moment later had come to a stop beneath the shed. It was broad andlong, furnishing a good protection against the storm, which had nowburst in all its fury.
Tom was not very wet, and looking to see that the model, which waspartly of wood, had suffered no damage, the lad gave his attentionto his machine.
"Seems to be all right," he murmured. "I'll just oil her up whileI'm waiting. This can't last long; it's raining too hard."
He busied himself over the motor-cycle, adjusting a nut that hadbeen rattled loose, and putting some oil on the bearings. The rainkept up steadily, and when he had completed his attentions to hismachine Tom looked out from under the protection of the shed.
"It certainly is coming down for keeps," he murmured. "This trip isa regular hoodoo so far. Hope I have it better coming back."
As he looked down the road he espied an automobile coming throughthe mist of rain. It was an open car, and as he saw the three men init huddled up under the insufficient protection of some blankets,Tom said:
"They'd ought to come in here. There's lots of room. Maybe theydon't see it. I'll call to them."
The car was almost opposite the shed which was close to the roadside.Tom was about to call when one of the men in the auto looked up. Hesaw the shelter and spoke to the chauffeur. The latter was preparingto steer up into the shed when the two men on the rear seat caughtsight of Tom.
"Why, that's the same car that passed me a while ago," said theyoung inventor half aloud. "The one that contained those men whom Isuspected might be after dad's patent. I hope they--"
He did not finish his sentence, for at that instant the chauffeurquickly swung the machine around and headed it back into the road.Clearly the men were not going to take advantage of the shelter ofthe shed.
"That's mighty strange," murmured Tom. "They certainly saw me, andas soon as they did they turned away. Can they be afraid of me?"
He went to the edge of the shelter and peered out. The auto haddisappeared down the road behind a veil of rain, and, shaking hishead over the strange occurrence, Tom went back to where he had lefthis motor-cycle.
"Things are getting more and more muddled," he said. "I'm sure thosewere the same men, and yet--"
He shrugged his shoulders. The puzzle was getting beyond him.