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Page 19
"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said
Tom, a bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this
man, nor did he like his coming on the factory grounds
unannounced and in this secret manner. "I told you I could not
accept your offer. It is not altogether a matter of money. My
word was final."
"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly,
"of course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps
you did not consider we had offered you enough and--"
"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said
Tom; "but I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans.
Jackson!" he called to one of his mechanics who was passing,
"kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, and then let me know how it was
any one came in here without a permit."
"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly
waiting.
"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale,
and his manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you--to
ask you to reconsider your offer--so I came back."
"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop
grounds," said Tom. "Good-day!"
The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not
respond, but there was a look on his face as he turned away that,
had Tom seen it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he
did not see. Instead, he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon.
"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric
man. "I hope you will be able to work it out!"
"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man--
Mr. Gale--didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked
up on us before I was aware any one was near but ourselves."
"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He
may have heard you mention a silent motor--"
"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom.
"That's the germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am
working on that-- Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk,"
and he smiled at the homely proverb. "I'll have to work in
secret, once I've started."
"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his
friend.
"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful
part airships are playing in the present war. It really is a
struggle to see which will be the master of the sky--the Allies
or the Germans--and, up to recently, the Huns had the advantage.
Then the Allies, recognizing how vital it was, began to forge
ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his troops under General Pershing
is leading everything, or will lead shortly. We have been a bit
slow with our aircraft production, but now we are booming along.
Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky."
"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!"
Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their
aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and
British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into
the World War.
"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names
for themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they
ought to do better," declared Tom.
"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon.
"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it
perfected. Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy
as they can be made. It is only the terrific noise that is a
handicap. It is a handicap to the pilots and observers in the
craft, as they cannot communicate except through a special
speaking tube, and this is not always satisfactory or sure. Then,
too, the noise of an airship proclaims its approach to the enemy,
sometimes long before it can be seen.
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