登陆注册
15678700000018

第18章

"That's the names they gave me," said the man."Little man's Field.He gave me his card.I'm going to get a job overhauling his car.There isn't enough work here to keep a man busy, and I told 'em I could do a little on the outside.This place just started, and not many folks know about it yet.""So I judge," Tom said."Well, I'll be glad to have you give me a hand.I fancy the carburetor is out of order."And this, when the young inventor and the mechanician from Meadow Inn reached the stranded Scud, was found to be the case.The storm had passed, and Mary told Tom she would not mind waiting at the Inn until he found whether or not he could get his air craft in working order.

"There you are! That's the trouble!" exclaimed the mechanician, as he took something out of the carburetor."A bit of rubber washer choked the needle valve.""Glad you found it," said Tom heartily."Now I guess we can ride back."1

"If their talk meant anything at all," reasoned the young inventor, "it meant that there was some deal in which Josephus Baxter got the worst of it.'Putting it over on him in the fire,' could only mean that.Of course it isn't any of my business, in a way, but I don't think it is right to stand byand see a fellow inventor defrauded.

"Of course," mused Tom, while his helper put the finishing touches to the carburetor, "it may have been a business deal in which one took as many chances as the other.There are always two sides to every story.Baxter says they took his formulae, but he may have taken something from them to make it even.The only thing is that I'd trust Baxter sooner than I would those two fellows, and he certainly had a narrow squeak at the fire.

"But I have my own troubles, I guess, trying to perfect that fire- fighting chemical, and I haven't much time to bother with Field and Melling, unless they come my way.""There, I reckon she'll work," said the mechanician, as he fastened the last valve in the carburetor."It was an easier job than I expected.Wasn't as much trouble as I had over their car those two fellers you were speaking of--Field and Melling.They're rich guys!""Yes?" replied Tom, questioningly.

"Sure! They've started a big dye company.""A dye company?" repeated the young inventor, all his suspicions coming back as he recalled that Baxter had said his formulae were more valuable for dyes than for fireworks.

"Yes, they're trying to get the business that used to go to the Germans before the war," went on the man.

"Yes, the Germans used to have a monopoly of the dye industry," said Tom, hoping the man would talk on.He need not have worried.He was of the talkative type.

"Well, if these fellers have their way they'll make a million in dyes," proceeded the mechanician, as he stepped down out of the airship."They've built a big plant, and they have offices in the Landmark Building.""Where's that?" asked Tom.

"Over in Newmarket," the man went on, naming the nearest large city to Shopton."The Landmark Building is a regular New York skyscraper.Haven't you seen it?""No," Tom answered, "I haven't.Been too busy, I guess.So Field andMelling have their offices there?"

"Yes, and a big plant on the outskirts for making dyes.They half offered me a job at the factory, but I thought I'd try this out first; I like it here.""It is a nice place," agreed Tom."Well, now let's see if she'll work," and he nodded at the Scud.

It needed but a short test to demonstrate this and soon Tom went back to the Inn for Mary.

"Are you sure we shall not have to make an.other forced landing?" she asked with a smile, a she took her place in the cockpit.

"You can't guarantee anything about an aeroplane," said Tom."But everything is in our favor, and if we do have to come down I have a better landing field than this." He glanced over the meadow near the wayside inn.

"I suppose I'll have to take a chance," said Mary.

However, neither of them need have worried, for the Scud tried, evidently, to redeem herself, and flew back to Shopton without a hitch.After making sure that his engine was running smoothly, Tom found his mind more at ease, and again he caught himself casting about to find some basis for his suspicious thoughts regarding the two men who had talked behind the screen.

"What is their game?" Tom found himself asking himself over and over again."What did they 'put over' on poor Baxter?"Tom had a chance to find out more about this, or at least start on the trail sooner than he expected.For when he landed he saw Koku, the giant, coming toward him with an appearance of excitement.

"Is Rad worse? Is there more trouble with his eyes?" asked the young inventor.

"No, him not much too bad," answered Koku."I keep him good as I can.He sleep now, so I come out to swallow some fresh air.But man come to see you--much mad man.""Mad?" queried Tom.

"Well, what you say--angry," went on Koku."Man what was in Roman Skycracker blaze.""Oh, you mean Mr.Baxter, who was in the fireworks blaze," translated Tom."Where is he, and what's the matter?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 爱上腹黑皇帝:我的皇后生涯

    爱上腹黑皇帝:我的皇后生涯

    一场跨越千年的邂逅,一段苦苦隐忍的爱情。二十一世纪的女盗墓贼在一次盗墓行动中灵魂被牵引到了一个没有历史记载的王朝,附身在刚自尽而亡的皇后身上。原以为可以大肆享受一番,没想到整日除了要处理三宫六院的繁杂琐事以外,还要面对‘绿茶婊’的各种装逼做作无下限。好吧,兵来将挡,水来土掩。只是,原来最最奇葩的还是那个皇帝,一边宠着绿茶婊,一边又对她深情款款。她甚至都怀疑这皇帝是不是得了精神分裂症?
  • 毁灭是第一生产力

    毁灭是第一生产力

    遥远到不可及的星系中一颗环境类似于地球的星球遭受到未知物体的撞击而陷入末日危机之中。幽魂,由生灵死后所诞生的该生灵生前最恐惧的东西。而星球中的人类在末日中借助未知物体带来的幽能科技再次发展。沉睡,因不明原因陷入沉睡的主角在末日后二十年的废墟中醒来,像原始人的模样走向末日后的未来社会,他,会发现什么?
  • 凤来

    凤来

    南相:我本以为此番是为助你渡劫,却不想最终渡的是自己的劫白笙:我愿几世轮回,换你百岁安康“若我是你的劫数,我宁愿从未出现在你的生命里”“是命运要你驻足在我的年华里,因为你是我的劫数”
  • 重生遇上你真好

    重生遇上你真好

    莫名重生,江琉璃有些懵逼,当她慢慢规划人生时,一头大灰狼打乱了她的计划。她居然被一个只见过一面的男神给吃掉了……吃掉了然后她就成了早婚早育的一员,这也算了,为啥都觉得她配不上大灰狼呢?难道没人看到她也很优秀吗?她只是个被大灰狼哄骗的小红帽,明明最可怜的就是她!儿子:妈妈,为什么爸爸要送我去寄宿幼儿园?妈妈:因为爸爸希望你从小学会独立!恩,就是这样的,绝对不是因为你爸爸嫌你是电灯泡。
  • 逆天邪魔传

    逆天邪魔传

    爱与恨,生与死,血与火,一部挽歌,一场盛宴,一个邪魔。
  • 王爷不太冷!

    王爷不太冷!

    一个是逃命掉入山崖的落魄王爷,一个是遭受雷劫忍受三千年孤寂却始终成不了仙的蛇妖,没有交集的他们,在他们人生最低谷,最无助的时候,命运将他们紧紧牵绊在一起。这一生,他背负着满腔热血仇恨。她一生孤寂只愿有个港湾。世有无情人,却有痴情妖。年华已去,岁月静好,她只愿携手与他并看满山梅花开。
  • 白色梦蕾

    白色梦蕾

    我们从相遇到别离,再从别离到相遇。那个蒲公英飞舞的季节,成为我们永恒的回忆。
  • 气者之五行巅峰

    气者之五行巅峰

    世俗之人,摇身一变成为神秘体质的拥有者,五行之变化,五行之奥秘,能否让其站在气界的最巅峰。
  • 唯吾神尊

    唯吾神尊

    一个在班级里武功很差的吊车尾,如论如何都晋升不了级别,因为他没有梦魂,看看这样的一个人,将如何成为神尊吧。
  • 云季流墨

    云季流墨

    云家家破人亡,如今你收留了我云墨,我便护你一世周全,哪怕装扮成男子,但对于越来越守不住的心我又当如何?面对越来越无望的未来,我又当怎样,与你看遍万里河山却终究看不透你的心。