第2章

"Don't go, father," said Tom."You will be as much interested in this as I am.This is Mr.Gunmore, of the Eagle Park Aviation Association.This is my father, Mr.Gunmore.""I've heard of you," spoke the secretary as he shook hands with the aged inventor."You and your son have made, in aeronautics, a name to be proud of.""And he wants us to go still farther, dad," broke in the youth."Me wants me to build a specially speedy aeroplane, and race for ten thousand dollars.""Hum!" mused Mr.Swift."Well, are you going to do it, Tom? Seems to me you ought to take a rest.You haven't been back from your gold- hunting trip to Alaska long enough to more than catch your breath, and now--""Oh, he doesn't have to go in this right away," eagerly explained Mr.Gunmore."There is plenty of time to make a new craft.""Well, Tom can do as he likes about it," said his father."Do you think you could build anything speedier than your Butterfly, son?""I think so, father.That is, if you'd help me.I have a plan partly thought out, but it will take some time to finish it.Still, I might get it done in time.""I hope you'll try!" exclaimed the secretary."May I ask whether it would be a monoplane or a biplane?""A monoplane, I think," answered Tom."They are much more speedy than the double-deckers, and if I'm going to try for the ten thousand dollars I need the fastest machine I can build.""We have the promise of one or two very fast monoplanes for the meet," went on Mr.Gunmore."Would yours be of a new type?""I think it would," was the reply of the young inventor."In fact, I am thinking of making a smaller monoplane than any that have yet beenconstructed, and yet one that will carry two persons.The hardest work will be to make the engine light enough and still have it sufficiently powerful to make over a hundred miles an hour, if necessary.

"A hundred miles an hour in a small monoplane! It isn't possible!" cried the secretary.

"I'll make better time than that," said Tom quietly, and with not a trace of boasting in his tones.

"Then you'll enter the meet?" asked Mr.Gunmore eagerly.

"Well, I'll think about it," promised Tom."I'll let you know in a few days.Meanwhile, I'll be thinking out the details for my new craft.I have been going to build one ever since I got back, after having seen my Red Cloud crushed in the ice cave.Now I think I had better begin active work.""I hope you will soon let me know," resumed the secretary."I'm going to put you down as a possible contestant for the ten-thousand-dollar prize.That can do no harm, and I hope you win it.I trust--"He paused suddenly, and listened.So did Tom Swift and his father, for they all distinctly heard stealthy footsteps under the open windows of the library.

"Some one is out there, listening," said Tom in low tones.

"Perhaps it's Eradicate Sampson," suggested Mr.Swift, referring to the eccentric colored man who was employed by the inventor and his son to help around the place."Very likely it was Eradicate, Tom.""I don't think so," was the lad's answer."He went to the village a while ago, and said he wouldn't be back until late to-night.He had to get some medicine for his mule, Boomerang, who is sick.No, it wasn't Eradicate; but some one was under that window, trying to hear what we said."As he spoke in guarded tones, Tom went softly to the casement and looked out.He could observe nothing, as the night was dark, and the new moon, which had been shining, was now dimmed by clouds.

"See anything?" asked Mr.Gunmore as he advanced to Tom's side."No," was the low answer.I can't hear anything now, either.""I'll go speak to Mrs.Baggert, the housekeeper," volunteered Mr.Swift."Perhaps it was she, or she may know something about it."He started from the room, and as he went Tom noticed, with something of a start, that his father appeared older that night than he had ever looked before.There was a trace of pain on the face of the aged inventor, and his step was lagging.

"I guess dad needs a rest and doctoring up," thought the young inventor as he turned the electric chandelier off by a button on the wall, in order to darken the room, so that he might peer out to better advantage."I think he's been working too hard on his wireless motor.I must get Dr.Gladby to come over and see dad.But now I want to find out who that was under this window."Once more Tom looked out.The moon had emerged from behind a thin bank of clouds, and gave a little light.

"See anything?" asked Mr.Gunmore cautiously.

"No," whispered the youth, for it being a warm might, the windows were open top and bottom, a screen on the outside keeping out mosquitoes and other insects."I can't see a thing," went on Tom, "but I'm sure--"He paused suddenly.As he spoke there sounded a rustling in the shrubbery a little distance from the window.

"There's something!" exclaimed Mr.Gunmore."I see!" answered the young inventor.

Without another word he softly opened the screen, and then, stooping down to get under the lower sash (for the windows in the library ran all the way to the floor), Tom dropped out of the casement upon the thick grass.

As he did so he was aware of a further movement in the bushes.They were violently agitated, and a second later a dark object sprang from them and sprinted along the path.

"Here! Who are you? Hold on!" cried the young inventor.

But the figure never halted.Tom sprang forward, determined to see who it was, and, if possible, capture him.

"Hold on!" he cried again.There was no answer.

Tom was a good runner, and in a few seconds he had gained on the fugitive, who could just be seen in the dim light from the crescent moon.

"I've got you!" cried Tom.

But he was mistaken, for at that instant his foot caught on theoutcropping root of a tree, and the young inventor went flat on his face."Just my luck!" he cried.

He was quickly on his feet again, and took after the fugitive.The latter glanced back, and, as it happened, Tom had a good look at his face.He almost came to a stop, so startled was he.

"Andy Foger!" he exclaimed as he recognized the bully who had always proved himself such an enemy of our hero."Andy Foger sneaking under my windows to hear what I had to say about my new aeroplane! I wonder what his game can be? I'll soon find out!"Tom was about to resume the chase, when he lost sight of the figure.A moment later he heard the puffing of an automobile, as some one cranked it up.

"It's too late!" exclaimed Tom."There he goes in his car!" And knowing it would be useless to keep up the chase, the youth turned back toward his house.