Part 14 (1/2)

With a look of relief, Duffy started to open the door--then froze as he saw not only Mirov, but two police officers and Ames accompanying him.

”Are you the one who's going to put up bail?” one of the officers demanded.

Duffy floundered, scenting danger but unable to pick up any clue from Mirov's face. ”Why--uh--yeah, maybe. How much is it?”

”Ten million! Can you raise it?” Ames snapped sarcastically.

As Duffy gaped in confusion, the officers suddenly flung their weight forward. The door flew open and Duffy was thrown back, almost losing his balance. Beyond, through the small vestibule, Ames caught a glimpse of Tom on the sofa.

”There he is!” Ames shouted.

Moments later, Tom was untied. Mirov and Duffy were handcuffed together.

The young inventor shook hands joyfully with his rescuers. ”Nice going, Harlan! Boy, I was sweating icicles here, wondering if you'd be able to decipher all my double talk!”

”You made the numbers clear enough,” the security chief said with a grin, ”but it took a while to guess what they stood for. And then, of course, we had to trace the address through the telephone company.”

Eying the ugly bruise on Tom's forehead, Ames added, ”Sure you're all right?”

”Right now I feel swell!” Tom declared, chuckling. He told of his kidnaping, while one of the officers took down the details.

The prisoners were taken off to jail in the police squad car. Tom and Ames, meanwhile, in the security chief's high-powered sedan, drove to the scene of Tom's capture.

They found his sports car badly damaged. The right side was wedged against the utility pole, which was leaning at a crazy angle.

Ames whistled and shook his head. ”Boy! You're lucky you got off with just a bruise, Tom!”

”You're telling me,” the young inventor agreed ruefully.

After calling a repair garage to send out a wrecker, they drove to the Swifts' home. Mrs. Swift and Sandy, previously unaware of Tom's plight, were horrified to hear what had happened. The sight of Tom's bruise also upset them.

Tom did his best to allay their concern, but finally allowed himself to be hustled up to bed. Dr. Emerson, the Swifts' family physician, was immediately summoned to the house. He p.r.o.nounced the bruise not serious, but advised that Tom remain quiet, at least for the rest of the day.

Bud came to visit the young inventor that evening, just as Sandy was bringing up a tray. On it was a sizzling T-bone steak.

”Wow! Wish I could have that kind of service,” Bud said jokingly. Then he became serious. ”I'd sure like to meet that creep who snagged you, Tom. What a fiendish trick! You realize you might have been killed?”

”I realize it, all right,” Tom said wryly.

The next morning Tom felt no ill effects from his grim adventure and insisted upon driving to Enterprises. He phoned Admiral Walter, whose report was bleak--the searchers had still gleaned no trace of the buried missile.

Refusing to be discouraged by the news, or lack of news, Tom went to his private laboratory and applied himself once again to the problem of building an ”invisible” submarine. But again success eluded him.

At last Tom shook his head in disgust. ”May as well get that haircut I started out for yesterday,” he decided.

Before leaving, Tom phoned Phyl Newton to thank her for the gift of fruit and nuts she had brought over the previous evening after learning of his dangerous experience. They chatted for a while and wound up by making a date for lunch.

Tom drove back to town in the family car and got a haircut. Then he picked up Phyl at her home and took her to the yacht club. Here they lunched on the terrace overlooking the sparkling blue waters of Lake Carlopa.