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Page 12
"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on
the man who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's
treasurer of the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York."
"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have
heard of your concern. You are doing a lot of government work,
are you not?"
"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is
going to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground,
Mr. Swift."
"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a
chair?"
"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a
laugh, which, somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him
insincere. "Our business is such a rushing one that we don't
spend much time anywhere. To get down to brass tacks, we have
come to see you to put a certain proposition before you, Mr.
Swift. You are open to a business proposition, aren't you?"
"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for."
"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want,
and then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give
you facts and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend
to the executive end and leave the details to others," and again
came that laugh which Tom did not like.
"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor,
wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had
reference.
"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer.
In short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we
are willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the
benefit of your advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand
dollars a year! Do you accept?"
CHAPTER IV
MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER
Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all
surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer.
Certainly not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a
big manufacturing concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a
year "right off the reel," as Ned Newton expressed it later. But
Tom only smiled and shook his head in negation.
"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?"
"I can't," answered Tom.
"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr.
Gale, a word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and
his father.
The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment,
and then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the
young inventor.
"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of
course, we recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot
blame us for trying to get talent, as well as material for our
airships, in the cheapest market. But we are not hide-bound, nor
sticklers for any set sum. We'll make that offer fifteen thousand
dollars a year, if you will sign a five-year contract and agree
that we shall have first claim on anything and everything you may
patent or invent in that time. Now, how does that strike you?
Fifteen thousand dollars a year--paid weekly if you wish, and our
Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed up and
signed within ten minutes, if you agree."
"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile;
"but, really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind
offer. I may say liberal offer. I appreciate that."
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