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Page 67
"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in
the car all the while--concealed in the back you know. We've got
to find out more about these men and their auto, Tom."
"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?"
"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the
private road. The men may come back."
"That's so--they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor.
"We must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have
learned. How can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked
the farmer.
"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station" was the answer.
"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as
soon as we get back we must send some one from the shop to stand
guard over the airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those
file fellows may come back."
"That's so, we can't take any chances."
The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had
had a hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove
Tom and Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they
could catch a train for Shopton.
In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a
minute, to assure his father that everything was all right, and
then get out his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her
the news.
But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that
there was a visitor in the house.
"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He
wants to arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I
told him I thought you were about ready for it."
"A government test !" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the
government even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was
greatly surprised.
CHAPTER XXIV
IN THE MOONLIGHT
With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at
Tom Swift.
"The government officials," he said, "know more than some
people give them credit for--especially in these war times. Our
intelligence bureau and secret service has been much enlarged of
late. But don't be alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose
name was Mr. Blair Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the
government, but I think the time is ripe to use it now--that is,
if you have perfected it to a point where we can use it."
"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically
finished and it is a success, except for a few minor matters that
will not take long to complete.
"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the
efficiency of the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately
damaged by some spy. I'll take that up later. That I am
interested to know how you heard of my Air Scout, as I call it."
"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who
have helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant
cannon or big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and
lull your suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been
doing such good Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress
on the silent motor."
"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom.
"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an
offer for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage
in scout work on the western front," went on the agent, and he
soon convinced Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships,
he had some very pertinent facts at his disposal.
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