A DISMAYING STATEMENT
Trouble is sometimes good in a way; it makes a person resourceful.Tom Swift had had his share of annoyances of late, but they had served a purpose.He had learned to think clearly and quickly.Now, when he found his boat stolen, he at once began to map out a plan of action.
"What will you do first?" asked Mr.Jackson as he saw his employer's son hesitating.
"First I'm going to Andy Foger's house," declared the young inventor."If he's home I'm going to tell him what I think of him.If he's not, I'm going to find him.""Why don't you take your sailboat and run down to his dock?" suggested the engineer."It isn't as quick as your motor-boat, but it's better than walking.""So it is," exclaimed the lad."I will use my catboat.I had forgotten all about it of late.I'm glad you spoke."He was soon sailing down the lake in the direction of the boathouse on the waterfront of Mr.Foger's property.It needed but a glance around the dock to show him that the RED STREAK was not there, but Tom recollected the accident to the steering gear and thought perhaps Andy had taken his boat to some wharf where there was a repair shop and there left it to return home himself.But inquiry of Mrs.Foger, who was as nice a woman as her son was a mean lad, gave Tom the information that his enemy was not at home.
"He telephoned to me that his boat was damaged," said Mrs.Foger gently, "and that he had taken it to get fixed.Then, he said, he and some friends were going on a little cruise and might not be back to-night.""Did he say where he was going?" asked our hero, who did not tell Andy's mother why he wanted to see her son.
"No, and I'm worried about him.Sometimes I think Andy is too--- well, too impetuous, and I'm afraid he will get into trouble."Tom, in spite of his trouble, could hardly forbear smiling.Andy's mother was totally unaware of the mean traits of her son and thought hima very fine chap.Tom was not going to undeceive her.
"I'm afraid something will happen to him," she went on."Do you think there is any danger being out on the lake in a motor-boat, Mr.Swift? I understand you have one.""Yes, I have one," answered Tom.He was going to say he had once had one, but thought better of it."No, there is very little danger this time of year," he added.
"I am very glad to hear you say so," went on Mrs.Foger with a sigh."I shall feel more at ease when Andy is away now.When he returns home, I shall tell him you called upon him and he will return your visit.I am glad to see that the custom of paying calls has not died out among the present generation.It is a pleasant habit, and I am glad to have my son conform to it.He shall return your kind visit.""Oh, no, it's of no consequence," replied Tom quickly, thinking grimly that his visit was far from a friendly one."There is no need to tell your son I was here.I will probably see him in a day or two.
"Oh, but I shall tell him," insisted Mrs.Foger with a kind smile."I'm sure he will appreciate your call."There was much doubt concerning this in the mind of the young inventor, but he did not express it and soon took his leave.Up and down the lake for the rest of the day he cruised, looking in vain for a sight of Andy Foger in the RED STREAK, but the racing boat appeared to be well hidden.
"If I only could find where they've taken mine," mused Tom."Hang it all, this is rotten luck!" and for the first time he began to feel discouraged.
"Maybe you'd better notify the police," suggested Mr.Jackson when Tom returned to the Swift house that night."They might help locate it.""I think I can do as well as the police," answered the youth."If the boat is anywhere it's on the lake, and the police have no craft in which to make a search.""That's so," agreed the engineer."I wish I could help you, but I don't believe it would be wise for me to leave the house, especially since those men have been about lately.""No, you must stay here," was Tom'sopinion."I'll take another day or two to search.By this time Andy and his gang will return, I'm sure, and I can tackle them.""Suppose they don't?"
"Well, then I'll make a tour of the lake in my sailboat and I'll run up to Sandport and tell dad, for he will wonder what's keeping me.I'll know better next time than to leave my boat at the dock without taking out the connection at the spark coil, so no one can start the motor.I should have done that at first, but you always think of those things afterward."The lad began his search again the next morning and cruised about in little bays and gulfs looking for a sight of the RED STREAK or the ARROW, but he saw neither, and a call at Andy's house showed that the red-haired youth had not returned.Mrs.Foger was quite nervous over her son's continued absence, but Mr.Foger thought it was all right.
Another day passed without any results and the young inventor was getting so nervous, partly with worrying over the loss of his boat and partly on his father's account, that he did not know what to do.
"I can't stand it any longer," he announced to Mrs.Baggert the night of the third day, after a telephone message had been received from Mr.Swift.The inventor wanted to know why his son did not return to the hotel to join him and Ned."Well, what will you do?" asked the housekeeper.
