Chapter II
Tom's Indifference
"Did you make this machine yourself?" asked the stranger of Tom, as theyoung inventor worked at the damaged part of his craft.
Mr. Damon had also alighted, taken off his goggles, and was lookingaloft, where the army aircraft were going through various evolutions,and down below, where the young soldiers were drilling under suchconditions, as far as possible, as they might meet with when some oftheir number went "over the top." Mr. Damon was murmuring to himselfsuch remarks as:
"Bless my fountain pen! look at that chap turning upside down! Bless myinkwell!"
"I beg your pardon," remarked Tom Swift, following the remark of theman, whose face he was trying to recall. It was not that Tom had notheard the question, but he was trying to gain time before answering.
"I asked if you made this machine yourself," went on the man, as hepeered about at the Hawk. "It isn't like any I've ever seen before, andI know something about airships. It has some new wrinkles on it, and Ithought you might have evolved them yourself. Not that it's an amateuraffair, by any means!" he added hastily, as if fearing the younginventor might resent the implication that his machine was a home-madeproduct.
"Yes, I originated this," answered Tom, as he put a new turn-buckle inplace; "but I didn't actually construct it--that is, except for somesmall parts. It was made in the shop--"
"Over at the army construction plant, I presume," interrupted the manquickly, as he motioned toward the big factory, not far from Shopton,where aircraft for Uncle Sam's Army were being turned out by thehundreds.
"Might as well let him think that," mused Tom; "at least until I canfigure out who he is and what he wants."
"This is different from most of those up there," and the strangerpointed toward the circling craft on high. "A bit more speedy, I guess,isn't it?"
"Well, yes, in a way," agreed Tom, who was bending over his craft. Hestole a side look at the man. The face was becoming more and morefamiliar, yet something about it puzzled Tom Swift.
"I've seen him before, and yet he didn't look like that," thought theyoung inventor. "It's different, somehow. Now why should my memory playme a trick like this? Who in the world can he be?"
Tom straightened up, and tossed a monkey wrench into the tool box.
"Get everything fixed?" asked the stranger.
"I think so," and the young inventor tried to make his answer pleasant."It was only a small break, easily fixed."
"Then you'll be on your way again?"
"Yes. Are you ready?" called Tom to Mr. Damon.
"Bless my timetable, yes! I didn't think you'd start back again sosoon. There's one young fellow up there who has looped the loop threetimes, and I expect him to fall any minute."
"Oh, I guess he knows his business," Tom said easily. "We'll begetting back now."
"One moment!" called the man. "I beg your pardon for troubling you, butyou seem to be a mechanic, and that's just the sort of man I'm lookingfor. Are you open to an offer to do some inventive and constructivework?"
Tom was on his guard instantly.
"Well, I can't say that I am," he answered. "I am pretty busy--"
"This would pay well," went on the man eagerly. "I am a stranger aroundhere, but I can furnish satisfactory references. I am in need of a goodmechanic, an inventor as well, who can do what you seem to have done sowell. I had hopes of getting some one at the army plant."
"I guess they're not letting any of their men go," said Tom, as Mr.Damon climbed to his seat in the Hawk.
"No, I soon found that out. But I thought perhaps you--"
Tom shook his head.
"I'm sorry," he answered, "but I'm otherwise engaged, and very busy."
"One moment!" called the man, as he saw Tom about to start "Is theSwift Company plant far from here?"
Tom felt something like a thrill go through him. There was anunexpected note in the man's voice. The face of the young inventorlightened, and the doubts melted away.
"No, it isn't far," Tom answered, shouting to be heard above thecrackling bangs of the motor. And then, as the craft soared into theair, he cried exultingly:
"I have it! I know who he is! The scoundrel! His beard fooled me, andhe probably didn't know me with these goggles on. But now I know him!"
"Bless my calendar!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you talking about?"
But Tom did not answer, for the reason that just then the Hawk fellinto an "air pocket," and needed all his attention to straighten herout and get her on a level course again.
And while Tom Swift is thus engaged in speeding his aircraft along theupper regions toward his home, it will take but a few moments toacquaint my new readers with something of the history of the younginventor. Those who have read the previous books in this series need betold nothing about our hero.
Tom Swift was an inventor of note, as was his father. Mr. Swift was nowquite aged and not in robust health, but he was active at times andoften aided Tom when some knotty point came up.
Tom and his father lived on the outskirts of the town of Shopton, andnear their home were various buildings in which the different machinesand appliances were made. Tom's mother was dead, but Mrs. Baggert, thehousekeeper, was as careful in looking after Tom and his father as anywoman could be.
In addition to these three, the household consisted of EradicateSampson, an aged colored servant, and, it might almost be added, hismule Boomerang; but Boomerang had manners that, at times, did not makehim a welcome addition to any household. Then there was the giant Koku,one of two big men Tom had brought back with him from the land wherethe young inventor had been held captive for a time.
The first book of this series is called "Tom Swift and His MotorCycle," and it was in acquiring possession of that machine that Tom methis friend Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town. Mr.Damon owned the motor cycle originally, but when it attempted to climba tree with him he sold it to Tom.
Tom had many adventures on the machine, and it started him on hisinventive career. From then on he had had a series of surprisingadventures. He had traveled in his motor boat, in an airship, and thenhad taken to a submarine. In his electric runabout he showed what thespeediest car on the road could do, and when he sent his wirelessmessage, the details of which can be found set down in the volume ofthat name, Tom saved the castaways of Earthquake Island.
Tom Swift had many other thrilling escapes, one from among the diamondmakers, and another from the caves of ice; and he made the quickestflight on record in his sky racer.
Tom's wizard camera, his great searchlight, his giant cannon, his phototelephone, his aerial warship and the big tunnel he helped to dig,brought him credit, fame, and not a little money. He had not long beenback from an expedition to Honduras, dubbed "the land of wonders," whenhe was again busy on some of his many ideas. And it was to get somerelief from his thoughts that he had taken the flight with Mr. Damon onthe day the present story opens.
"What are you so excited about, Tom?" asked his friend, as the Hawkalighted near the shed Back of the young inventor's home. "Bless myscarf pin! but any one would think you'd just discovered the truemethod of squaring the circle."
"Well, it's almost as good as that, and more practical," Tom said, witha smile, as he motioned to Koku to put away the aircraft "I know whothat man is, now."
"What man, Tom?"
"The one who was questioning me when I was fixing the airship. I keptpuzzling and puzzling as to his identity, and, all at once, it came tome. Do you know who he is, Mr. Damon?"
"No, I can't say that I do, Tom. But, as you say, there was somethingvaguely familiar about him. It seemed as if I must have seen himbefore, and yet--"
"That's just the way it struck me. What would you say if I told youthat man was Blakeson, of Blakeson and Grinder, the rival tunnelcontractors who made such trouble for us?"
"You mean down in Peru, Tom?"
"Yes."
Mr. Damon started in surprise, and then exclaimed:
"Bless my ear mufflers, Tom, but you're right! That was Blakeson! Ididn't know him with his beard, but that was Blakeson, all right! Blessmy foot-warmer! What do you suppose he is doing around here?"
"I don't know, Mr. Damon, but I'd give a good deal to know. It isn'tany good, I'll wager on that. He didn't seem to know me or you,either--unless he did and didn't let on. I suppose it was because ofmy goggles--and you were gazing up in the air most of the time. I don'tthink he knew either of us."
"It didn't seem so, Tom. But what is he doing here? Do you think he isworking at the army camp, or helping make Liberty Motors for theaircraft that are going to beat the Germans?"
"Hardly. He didn't seem to be connected with the camp. He wanted amechanic, and hinted that I might do. Jove! if he really didn't knowwho I was, and finds out, say! won't he be surprised?"
"Rather," agreed Mr Damon. "Well, Tom, I had a nice little ride. Andnow I must be getting back. But if you contemplate a trip anywhere,don't forget to let me know."
"I don't count on going anywhere soon," Tom answered. "I have somethingon hand that will occupy all my time, though I don't just like it.However, I'm going to do my best," and he waved good-bye to Mr. Damon,who went off blessing various parts of his anatomy or clothing, an oddhabit he had.
As Tom turned to go into the house, the unsettled look still on hisface, some one hailed him.
"I say, Tom. Hello! Wait a minute! I've got something to show you!"
"Oh, hello, Ned Newton!" Called back the young inventor. "Well, ifit's Liberty Bonds, you don't need to show me any, for dad and I willbuy all we can without seeing them."
"I know that, Tom, and it was a dandy subscription you gave me. Ididn't come about that, though I may be around the next time Uncle Samwants the people to dig down in their socks. This is somethingdifferent," and Ned Newton, a young banker of Shopton and a lifelongfriend of Tom's, drew a paper from his pocket as he advanced across thelawn.
"There, Tom Swift!" he cried, flipping out an illustrated page,evidently from some illustrated newspaper. "There's the very latestfrom the other side. A London banker friend of mine sent it to me, andit got past the censor all right. It's the first authentic photographof the newest and biggest British tank. Isn't that a wonder?"
Ned held up the paper which had in it a fullpage photograph of amonster tank--those weird machines traveling on endless steel belts ofcaterpillar construction, armored, riveted and plated, with machineguns bristling here and there.
"Isn't that great, Tom? Can you beat it? It's the most wonderfulmachine of the age, even counting some of yours. Can you beat it?"
Tom took the paper indifferently, and his manner surprised his chum.
"Well, what's the matter, Tom?" asked Ned. "Don't you think that great?Why don't you say something? You don't mean to say you've seen thatpicture before?"
"No, Ned."
"Then what's the matter with you? Isn't that wonderful?"