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Page 31
"Because he's gone."
"Gone! Bower gone?"
"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the
experiment shop as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at
the time, that he was doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I
see the game now."
"Oh, you mean--him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure.
"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with
his prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower,
the latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I
only hope he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your
plans."
"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the
bottom of this?"
"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the
machinist.
"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine
Company?"
"Yes."
"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this-
-sending spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful.
We'll investigate."
The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact
that Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left
the Swift plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty
examination of the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's
plans and papers were intact. But they showed evidences of having
been looked over, for they were out of the regular order in which
the young inventor kept them.
"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have
managed to open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made
a hasty copy of some of the drawings of the silent motor, and
passed them out of the window to this gold-tooth man, who tried
to make off with them. Did you find anything on him?" he asked,
as one of the men who had been instructed to search the stranger
came into the office just then.
"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took
off every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's
in the engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in
any of his pockets."
"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me,"
said Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow
get away until I question him."
"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding
him. He won't get away."
"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may
have a secret pocket."
But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful
search did not reveal anything incriminating in the man's
garments.
"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said
Tom. "Maybe they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're
there they're safe enough. But have a search made of the ground
where this man ran."
This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even
dragged the mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his
father had a talk with the stranger, who refused to give his
name. The man was sullen and angry. He talked loudly about his
innocence and of "having the law on" Tom for having tripped him
into the mud.
"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said
the young inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why
did you come on my grounds?"
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