TOM IN DANGER
"Garret! Garret Jackson!" cried Tom as he struggled through the hedge of bushes and ran after the men."Where are you, Garret? Come on and help me chase these men!"But there came no answer to Tom's hail.He could not hear the sound of the retreating footsteps of the men now and concluded that they had made their escape.Still he would not give up, but dashed on, slipping and stumbling, now and then colliding with a tree.
"What can they be doing here?" thought Tom in great anxiety."Are they after some more of dad's inventions because they didn't get his turbine motor?""Hello!Who's there?Who are you?" called a voice suddenly.
"Oh, Garret! Where have you been?" asked the young inventor, recognizing the tones of his father's keeper."I've been calling you.Some of those scoundrels are around again!""Why if it isn't Tom!" ejaculated the engineer."However in the world did you get here? I thought you were at Sandport.""I'll explain later, Garret.Just now I want to catch those men, if I can.""Which men?"
"Happy Harry and another one.I saw them hiding down by the orchard path.Come on, they're right ahead of us."But though they hunted as well as they were able to in the fast- gathering darkness, there was no trace of the intruders.They had to give up, and Tom, after going to the boathouse to see that the ARROW was all right, returned to the house, where he told the engineer and housekeeper what had brought him back and how he had surprised the two men.
"Is everything all right, Garret?" he concluded."Dad is nervous and frightened.I must telephone him at the hotel to-night and let him know, for I promised to come back.I can't, though, until to-morrow.""Everything is all right as far as I know," answered Jackson."I've kept a careful watch and the burglar alarm has been in working order.Mrs.
Baggert and I haven't been disturbed a single night since you went away.It's curious that the men should be here the very night you come back.Maybe they followed you.""I hardly think so, for they didn't know I was coming.""You can't tell what those fellows know," commented the engineer."But, anyhow, I don't suppose they could have gotten here from Sandport as soon as you did.""Oh, yes they could, in their automobile," declared Tom."But I don't believe they knew I was coming.They knew we were away, however, and thought it would be a good time to steal something, I guess.Are you sure nothing has been taken?""Perfectly sure, but you and I will take a look around the shop."They made a hasty examination, but found nothing disturbed and no signs that anyone had tried to break in.
"I think I'll telephone dad that everything is all right," decided Tom."It is as far as his inventions are concerned, and if I tell about seeing the men it will only worry him.I can explain that part better when I see him.But when I go back, Garret, you will have to be on your guard, since those men are in the neighborhood.""I will, Tom.Don't worry."
Mr.Swift was soon informed by his son over the telephone that nothing in the shops had been disturbed, and the inventor received the news with evident satisfaction.He requested Tom to come back to the hotel in the morning, in order that the three of them might go for a ride about the lake in the afternoon, and Tom decided to make an early start.
